Bird Woman

An account of one Saturday in October 2011... What a day!

I dragged Alex along to the Black Knights Parachute Centre. We had to get up very early, that was not a good thing but I was booked in to do a very good thing so I tried not to moan. We arrived at Black Knights at 10:00 am and were told that it was too windy for me to throw myself out of a plane so we had to wait. 

Waiting...

Pops arrived to offer some support, he was in the middle of a Grim Rider escapade, needed to get a shot of a castle for the latest certificate; think I might have to sign us up for that venture next year.

Men talking about bikes

At two o'clock, they started asking people if they wanted to re-book, I chose not to. Pops decided that there wasn't a chance that I would get to do it and headed off with his photographers head on. 

A couple of hours later we got the green light and the smallest plane I have seen in my life was towed down a field by a quad bike (!) and men in flying suits climbed on board. These suits increased surface area so the chaps could fly across the sky - they were the 'Bird Men'. Anyway, as the plane took off and flew over our heads, the reality of what I had signed up for hit home, I am not ashamed to tell you that my eyes leaked slightly (might have been a bit of dirt getting in there). 

Ten bodies and it was full...

Next thing I know, there are several parachutes floating from the sky, all very surreal to be honest. My name was called (they couldn't say Syrichas!) and I went to get kitted up, a rather fetching ensemble if I do say so myself. I was particularly attracted to the head wear, a lovely baby blue, think it set off the shape of my head very well. 

There really is nothing to say.

I had trouble getting my legs in the jumpsuit, had to sit down and really concentrate on legs going in leg holes, I blame the nerves. I then waddled out and had my photo taken for the Hall of Fame, at this point I pondered exactly which hall I would enter, those who successfully opened the parachute or those that didn't!?! 

Second into the plane meaning last one out

The ascent was alarming, nine of us plus the pilot were in that little plane and it was very cosy. At 5000 feet they told me that this was the height the parachute would be opened, it was very high and I couldn't believe that we had to go up to 14000 feet. Anyway, we reached that height in less that fifteen minutes, which was nice, and I saw Blackpool Tower. 

I was the last to jump. Watching the others leave the plane was odd, slow motion. When it was my turn I had to hang out of the plane with my legs curled underneath it, held there by four clamps and a bit of material - I was bricking it! Next thing I know we were falling, it was awesome; we reached 124mph and experienced free fall for 9000 feet, it was over so quickly. Needless to say I had a stupid grin on my face by this point. My landing was pretty impressive, just walked, no falling over, no landing on my arse... 

One of those dots is me...

Legs up to allow for heroic landing...

And I'm done!

So, made it without any nasty accident and raised £700 for cancer research. Alex says that next time I should forget the parachute and do a Mary Poppins, not sure what to make of that...