On 02 Nov 2011, at 17:45, Chuck Hards wrote:
Patrick, have you ever done any parasailing or gliding? Seems that a bit of "flying" would be infinitely preferable to just a straight 'chute drop. Or is it more of a nostalgic thing with you?
Yes, got my commercial glider ticket in Heber several years ago. But for me at least, jumping isn't just a "chute drop" rather it's like being a part of the sky for a few minutes. Really a great feeling. Airplanes and even gliders are noisy. The old parachutes are quiet. And looking up at that canopy that I first saw above my head when I was 16 is just plain special (the other day when it opened above me I looked up and said aloud "Hello, old friend". Plus as Steve mentioned, there's also the freefall. It's the closest I think a human can come to being like a bird. In fact, one of the slogans Skydive Utah uses in its advertising is "Discover why the birds sing". You've got to try it Chuck. What's say we have Utah-Astronomy Day at Skydive Utah next spring? Folks can make their first jumps during the day and then bring out telescopes during one of the DZ's definitely "non-Utah" parties that evening... patrick