It's A Long Way Down

Work required that I go to the US for some meetings in Houston, Texas. I took a few extra days to visit my family in Utah. While I was there, I was able to check off one of the items on my "Bucket List".

JUMP OUT OF A PERFECTLY GOOD AIRPLANE--AND LIVE TO TELL ABOUT IT!!!!

I have always wanted to jump out of a plane to experience what a free fall was like. It is an adrenaline rush that I will definitely do again. The pictures below verify that I did actually make the jump. Initially, you are required to jump in tandem with an experienced person.

Getting into the plane.

One the plane waiting to get up to 13,000 feet above the ground. This is the "friend" who got me to jump with him.

Free fall with the Great Salt Lake in the background.

Yes, that is me. Thumbs up!!! So far, so good. (You really don't have to worry about the free fall--it is the landing that matters). We dropped for about a minute in the freefall.

It is a rush falling at approx 130 mph. My fat cheeks are blowing in the breeze.

Pulling the ripcord.

The chute is deploying (thank goodness). It took about 4 minutes to float down after the parachute deployed.

The landing--smooth and sweet.

I really did it--and I survived.


I would recommend this for you to try. I didn't start to get nervous until the door in the plane came open and the 3 jumpers in front of me went out. Looking out of the door of the plane with the wind hitting me in the face really made it hit home. It really is a long way down to the ground from 13K feet. The first 2 seconds out of the door, everything is just a blur. Then I got oriented and the thrill of the jump kicked in.