October 2,1979
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By Beth Eakes and
Corky Williams
The rain poured. At 6:30
Saturday morning September
22, ten Guilford students were
determined to beat the odds of
inclimate weather to challenge
the even higher risk of sky
diving.
The day was organized by
Corky Williams and John Winn
as an opportunity to experience
the thrill of skydiving. Cunning
ham Parachute Service, one of
the foremost advanced schools
in the country, led the group
from its sandhills location.
Ben Frothingham, a first time
jumper, commented that the
day was a "well-organized in
troduction to a very unique
experience."
Enthusiastic conversation, an
extra hour of sleep and general
apprehension characterized the
ride to the drop zone.
Arriving in Roseland, North
Carolina, the group met jump
master Steve Cox who served as
their instructor throughout the
day. Five hours of intense
training proceeded the final
step into space.
The students were drilled in
the areas of aircraft procedure,
canopy control, parachute land
ing and emergency procedure.
The arch was also stressed: legs
apart, arms outspread about
shoulder level, spine bowed
until you feel the strain at the
small of your back.
The arch, assumed upon exit
from the plane, puts all the
weight in the stomach, forcing
the body into a horizontal
position facing the ground.
The student is to assume the
arch position and count "arch
thousand, two thousand" on up
After rigorous training the first plane load takes the anticipatory
walk to the plane.
to five thousand The static line,
attached to the parachute auto
matically deploys the chute in
about three seconds
If by the count of five, there is
no opening shock, the main
chute has malfunctioned. The
jumper must immediately pull
the rip cord on the reserve chute
strapped to his stomach.
The procedure is to unstrap
the capewells -- two hinged
metal plates near each shoulder
on the harness revealing two
thick wire rings.
Thumbs go into the rings
which when pulled, free the
main chute. Then the jumper
pulls his reserve chute ripcord.
Emphasis is placed on safety
at the Cunningham school. Only
with a thorough understanding
of these factors will Captain
Cunningham, the head of the
service, allow anyone to jump.
One of the problems with
skydiving today is the absence
of safety standards in teaching.
Captain Cunningham noted that
virtually anyone could establish
a school and warned that per
sons considering the sport
should be selective in the school
they choose.
To establish safety standards,
Captain Cunningham is working
with the United States Parachu
ting Association and the Fede
ral Aviation Administration to
keep a tight grip on equipment
and procedures.
Every experienced jumper
packs his own parachute, and
every chute is inspected.
Among the Guilford gorup,
Peter Clyde Johnston was the
first brave soul to jump. After
landing among the trees, due to
a miscalculation from ground
control, Peter was ready to go
Guilfordian
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Dana Karlin floats to earth with the quietude and awe of her first
skydiving experience.
again.-
Catrina Kothe made the final
jump of the day, landing a bit
off course but uninjured. Six
other students jumped during
the afternoon without injury
while Bill Evans and Ned Beattie
waited until Sunday morning.
Unfortunately, the Sunday jump
was postponed because of rain.
Participants included Ned
Beattie, Katie Branch, Beth
Eakes, bill Evans, Ben Froth
ingham, Letitia Johnson, Peter
Skydiving, the ultimate
escape from boredom
. . . Corky Williams
Fohnston, Dana Karlin, Catrina
Kothe, Bob Wall, Corky Will
iams and John Winn.
After the sun had set, the
group was once more on the
road; only this time it was for a
hearty meal and a vivacious
swim at the Williams residence.
Refreshed and full of new
energy, everyone returned to
the drop zone to present the
traditional case of beer to the
page five
jumpmaster The rest of the
evening consisted of parachute
talk and carousing.
Despite the weather, and the
odds of injury, the group re
turned to Guilford with a
broadened awareness into the
world of experience.