| History
of Skydiving in SA |
|
| I cannot remember the
time .....maybe it was
around 1987 I think. We
were out at the Mmabatho
boogie. We were jumping
out of a Herc. Which is
always great. Unfortunately
I was on a load that was
put up at the front of
the plane - this is a no
no for me as I cannot keep
up when we exit. That was
always a good reason to
jump on Dave's load. I
was kindly always put at
the ramp for the first
out.
Up
we went and climbed
fast as only the Herc
can do. When we came
on jump run "On" went
the red light - everyone
up and final preparation
with the oxygen bottled
passed around one more
time. Get bunched up
and green light on
for "GO" Exit
was pretty fast with
the run-in speed of
the Herc and no-one
wants to miss the DZ.
I have two speeds and
that is slow and stop.
I was at top speed
slow and lagging behind
by about three metres
when the rest of my
group exited and I
just went out at my
usual dead slow pace!
The
formation was a long
way away from me and
I was in a fast track
(now I move as fast as
anyone) but alas ......not
fast enough. I just went
and went and went but
to no avail and I did
not make it to the formation
and we were all a long
way from the DZ. Everyone
in a track now I turned
and tracked away from
the others that were
now under me. I open
and realised that I have
a long walk ahead of
me.
Coming
down I saw the fence
and thought I could go
over it. I could not
change direction or I
would have frapped so
I was to ride it in or
nothing . Down....down
I came and the fence
came closer and closer
and me coming to the
terrifying realisation
that I was going to hit
the fence which was three
metres high .........WHAM
I hit it and my peg leg
went through and there
I was hanging upside
down.
Great
- now what !! I could
not get my leg off. I
would have fallen and
broken my neck. So I
just hung there. There
was no-one around. Everyone
in my group had done
a better job of tracking
in the right direction
and moved faster under
canopy. I hung there
for about half an hour
until other jumpers realised
that I was missing and
came to my rescue and
got me out of my precarious
situation.
A
long walk back and pack
up for another jump .....but
this time on the ramp
first!!
SUBMITTED
BY: Dave Barr
D319 |
|
Hi All
The ball has been put in motion for
the 2009 SA Skydiving reunion / celebration
which is going to generate awareness,
images and content for our book !
March 7th is the big day, and the
place to be is the Pretoria Skydiving
Club (Wonderboom Airport) starting
from around midday. Unlike the smaller
club reunions of the past, this is
going to be a gathering of skydivers
and ex-skydivers from all over the
country and, hopefully, all over the
world. Apart from the current generation
of skydivers, it is our hope that we
will be joined for the day and night,
by the men and woman that filled the
skies during the 60's, 70's the 80's
and 90's, and who have now stopped.
By the nature of reunions, the more
that confirm, the more others will
join in, and before long we will have
a day that will in itself go down in
history as the biggest get together
of South Africa sky people ever ! It
is an opportunity to make contact again
with friends from some of the very
best times of your life !!
Please help us to make this day huge.
We are working on having historic gear
on show, a canopy swoop demonstration
from some of the top canopy pilots
....and more ! Details to follow.
We look forward to seeing all of you.
In the meantime please keep those stories
rolling in.
Please use only one address: ralex@iafrica.com
Those registered with Facebook can
search "2009 SA Skydiving
Reunion" to view the
growing group.
Blue Skies !
Terryl (Cliffe) D 342 and Jeff (Ayliffe)
D 374
World Cup ’74 Programme
Cover: Ashley
Leach D46 (blue helmet) SA Airforce
Jakkals
de Jager D32 (Red helmet) SA Army
Photo: Greg
Sinclair David D126
