As every pilot knows, the most pointless thing on earth (after helicopters) is jumping out of a perfectly serviceable aeroplane. Unfortunately, someone forgot to mention this to CP16!!
Tony, John, Andy, Morgan, Phil and honourary CP16 member, Jess set off for Taupo early on Sunday afternoon. The weather was, to be honest, crap on the way down there and I'm sure a few of us thought that we would be cancelled but fortunately (or unfortunately for the more aprehensive amongst us), the weird weather caused by the lake meant that the skys were clear when we arrived.
It didn't take long to get weighed and briefed on the jump and to get into our jump suits. While this was going on we were being filmed for the video that they make of the experience and we get told to do a little dance and smile/wave etc.. I'm sure we are all thankful that Tony isn't planning on giving up flying to take up dancing instead! Unfortunately, Andy was unable to jump due to their strict weight restrictions for tandem jumps.
After meeting up with our Tandem Masters (TM) and cameramen/woman we were taken out to the bright yellow PAC750XL that would climb us to 12000ft for the jump. Now it's not a very big aeroplane and let me just say that had anyone 'dropped one' then I'm sure we all would have been bailing out well before we were meant to!
It took 15 minutes or so to climb up, during which were were harnessed to our TM and put on our helmets and goggles. According to Phil's TM, skydiving is a lot safer than flying itself and he even went to far as to say he never goes on board an aircraft without a parachute. We wonder what he does when he goes on holiday!
At 12000ft (about 2 miles up) the door was slid open and about 10 seconds later Jess was first out the door. It didn't take long for the aircraft to empty but not before everyone gave one last pose for the exit photo. Phil's 'chipmunk' look will stick with him for ever, John had the look of someone who had been told they had approximately 45 seconds to live, as for Morgan, well the men in white coats couldn't be far away and Tony's grin was the worst fake smile in the history of fake smiles.
As you'll see by the photos, any apprehension was short lived and everyone had probably THE best experience of their life during the freefall and then under the chute. Unfortunately it was all over far too quickly but we are all sure that it won't be the last time we do it.
As we say, life is too short so get out there and do it if you haven't already. It will be the best experience of your life (after reading our website , of course!!).
www.taupotandemskydiving.com
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