A Drop in The Bucket List
A Drop in the Bucket List
The View From 10,500 Feet
When Dave Gilbert began receiving phone calls from 80-year-olds, who wanted to jump out of airplanes, he couldn’t figure out what had happened to prompt them to call him. Gilbert owns Madera Parachute Center and has been parachuting himself for over 27 years. After a few of these calls, he asked one of the callers why the interest. It turns out that the movie Bucket List with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman had a skydiving scene and it had renewed the sense of adventure in many movie goers. It just goes to show that you’re never too old to try something adventurous.
There seems to be two types of people in this world; those who would love, or do love, jumping out of perfectly good airplanes and the rest of the people who would never jump out of an airplane no matter what. There appears to be no one in between.
For those that think it would be fun to jump out of an airplane, this story is for you. On a March afternoon I went to the Madera Parachute Center off of Highway 99 and Avenue 17 in Madera. The first thing they had me do was to watch a brief video that shows the step-by-step progress of your descent from 10,500 feet up, down to the ground, at speeds of up to 120 miles per hour. Who wouldn't want to do this? I thought as I watched the video. Then, they brought out my parachute packet and explained how all of the equipment works. The slight apprehension I had, completely dissipated when I found out about the second parachute because it automatically opens if your first one doesn't open by 2,000 feet. Redundancy completely put me at ease. Then, it's time for the gear. They gave me a full jump suit that will NOT, I repeat NOT compliment any person’s figure. My ensemble included a lovely leather cap, that is also not complimentary. Then they place a passenger harness around me that attaches me to the tandem instructor. Goggles so that I can actually see the amazing view at 10,500 feet finishes off my skydiving attire. I am now dressed for the occasion.
A propeller plane pulled up and we all got in. There was a pilot, two skydiving instructors, myself and a nice lady from Reedley named Pauline Aguilar. There is only one seat, and the pilot had it. The remaining four of us sat on the floor of the plane with about 40 square feet of space to share. I began to mentally review my instructions as the plane took off and began its ascent. Once at 10,500 feet above the ground, the door of the plane opened and cold air rushed in. Pauline and owner Dave Gilbert placed their feet out of the door and poof. They were gone. When it was our turn, instructor Tom Berg and I did the same; feet out on the step, I leaned my head back, crossed my arms then, leaned out of the plane. In just a few seconds, the plane was gone and there was only air. Once freefalling (the very best part of the experience in my opinion), I had been told to arch my back and keep my legs bent all the way back. I am now going about 120 miles per hour falling from the sky like a meteor. It was exhilarating, the speed, the air on your cheeks, the mental realization that your body is that high up without a mechanical device to embrace it. Since I sky dove tandem, I had not a bit of fear, after all, if I go, so does my partner and he didn't seem the suicidal type. The plane circled above our fall because it shows up on radar and we didn't. What a good idea, I thought. Glad they came up with that one. Then, too soon in my opinion, the cord was pulled and our parachute came out, slowing us to a snail’s pace of 15 miles per hour. Now we could actually hear each other talk and soak up the view of the Central Valley from the air. My added bonus was that my tandem partner's week day job is a geologist so that my skydiving experience was enhanced with an educational experience as well. Did you know Mendota has a very large slough? And that people take flat bottom boats there to hunt and fish? We twirled around, which was fun but kind of made me car sick, or air sick, and zigzagged back to earth. The second most fun part of the journey was the landing. The wind, or lack thereof, would determine if we were going to slide in on our gluteus maximus, or land on our feet. I had to know the correct position of my feet depending on what my partner decided. We practiced both and as the earth got larger and larger and the ants now began to look like people, I was ready. Sliding in was the determination and up went me feet. Better his hit the ground first, versus mine, I thought. And that was it. Back to terra firma safe and sound.
If you go, I would recommend eating first. It might be two to three hours before you’re up in the sky and you don't want an empty stomach to distract you from the experience. Talk to the other people who are there and find out why they've come out because the camaraderie of those skydiving enhances the experience. Ask the instructors what their favorite skydive was, Dave has some great stories. Book 2 or 3 jumps in a row; my regret was that I didn't get to climb back in the plane and do it again right away. After I experienced it once, the second time would have had a different effect on me, and you will be able to take in more of the sights without having to concentrate on where your hands and feet should be. And finally, I would recommend Madera Parachute Center. They are the closest one to the Reedley/Kingsburg area, it's a small operation which allows for much closer supervision of the staff and equipment, and the Madera airport is relatively isolated which makes you feel less like you’re cattle being herded and more like the individual that you are. Another fact that I found out at the end of my jump is that Madera Parachute Center goes up to 10,500 feet. Other companies doing the same thing, charge you quite a bit extra to reach that height. While 10,500 feet up in the air sounds high, it really isn't when you're up there. For more information go to www.skydivemadera.com or 559-673-2688 during the week or 559-674-1278 during the weekend. It really is fun. Go for it!
The View From 10,500 Feet
When Dave Gilbert began receiving phone calls from 80-year-olds, who wanted to jump out of airplanes, he couldn’t figure out what had happened to prompt them to call him. Gilbert owns Madera Parachute Center and has been parachuting himself for over 27 years. After a few of these calls, he asked one of the callers why the interest. It turns out that the movie Bucket List with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman had a skydiving scene and it had renewed the sense of adventure in many movie goers. It just goes to show that you’re never too old to try something adventurous.
There seems to be two types of people in this world; those who would love, or do love, jumping out of perfectly good airplanes and the rest of the people who would never jump out of an airplane no matter what. There appears to be no one in between.
For those that think it would be fun to jump out of an airplane, this story is for you. On a March afternoon I went to the Madera Parachute Center off of Highway 99 and Avenue 17 in Madera. The first thing they had me do was to watch a brief video that shows the step-by-step progress of your descent from 10,500 feet up, down to the ground, at speeds of up to 120 miles per hour. Who wouldn't want to do this? I thought as I watched the video. Then, they brought out my parachute packet and explained how all of the equipment works. The slight apprehension I had, completely dissipated when I found out about the second parachute because it automatically opens if your first one doesn't open by 2,000 feet. Redundancy completely put me at ease. Then, it's time for the gear. They gave me a full jump suit that will NOT, I repeat NOT compliment any person’s figure. My ensemble included a lovely leather cap, that is also not complimentary. Then they place a passenger harness around me that attaches me to the tandem instructor. Goggles so that I can actually see the amazing view at 10,500 feet finishes off my skydiving attire. I am now dressed for the occasion.
A propeller plane pulled up and we all got in. There was a pilot, two skydiving instructors, myself and a nice lady from Reedley named Pauline Aguilar. There is only one seat, and the pilot had it. The remaining four of us sat on the floor of the plane with about 40 square feet of space to share. I began to mentally review my instructions as the plane took off and began its ascent. Once at 10,500 feet above the ground, the door of the plane opened and cold air rushed in. Pauline and owner Dave Gilbert placed their feet out of the door and poof. They were gone. When it was our turn, instructor Tom Berg and I did the same; feet out on the step, I leaned my head back, crossed my arms then, leaned out of the plane. In just a few seconds, the plane was gone and there was only air. Once freefalling (the very best part of the experience in my opinion), I had been told to arch my back and keep my legs bent all the way back. I am now going about 120 miles per hour falling from the sky like a meteor. It was exhilarating, the speed, the air on your cheeks, the mental realization that your body is that high up without a mechanical device to embrace it. Since I sky dove tandem, I had not a bit of fear, after all, if I go, so does my partner and he didn't seem the suicidal type. The plane circled above our fall because it shows up on radar and we didn't. What a good idea, I thought. Glad they came up with that one. Then, too soon in my opinion, the cord was pulled and our parachute came out, slowing us to a snail’s pace of 15 miles per hour. Now we could actually hear each other talk and soak up the view of the Central Valley from the air. My added bonus was that my tandem partner's week day job is a geologist so that my skydiving experience was enhanced with an educational experience as well. Did you know Mendota has a very large slough? And that people take flat bottom boats there to hunt and fish? We twirled around, which was fun but kind of made me car sick, or air sick, and zigzagged back to earth. The second most fun part of the journey was the landing. The wind, or lack thereof, would determine if we were going to slide in on our gluteus maximus, or land on our feet. I had to know the correct position of my feet depending on what my partner decided. We practiced both and as the earth got larger and larger and the ants now began to look like people, I was ready. Sliding in was the determination and up went me feet. Better his hit the ground first, versus mine, I thought. And that was it. Back to terra firma safe and sound.
If you go, I would recommend eating first. It might be two to three hours before you’re up in the sky and you don't want an empty stomach to distract you from the experience. Talk to the other people who are there and find out why they've come out because the camaraderie of those skydiving enhances the experience. Ask the instructors what their favorite skydive was, Dave has some great stories. Book 2 or 3 jumps in a row; my regret was that I didn't get to climb back in the plane and do it again right away. After I experienced it once, the second time would have had a different effect on me, and you will be able to take in more of the sights without having to concentrate on where your hands and feet should be. And finally, I would recommend Madera Parachute Center. They are the closest one to the Reedley/Kingsburg area, it's a small operation which allows for much closer supervision of the staff and equipment, and the Madera airport is relatively isolated which makes you feel less like you’re cattle being herded and more like the individual that you are. Another fact that I found out at the end of my jump is that Madera Parachute Center goes up to 10,500 feet. Other companies doing the same thing, charge you quite a bit extra to reach that height. While 10,500 feet up in the air sounds high, it really isn't when you're up there. For more information go to www.skydivemadera.com or 559-673-2688 during the week or 559-674-1278 during the weekend. It really is fun. Go for it!