Skydiving

Skydiving

INTRODUCTION Bob Gates is the owner of, and instructor at, Cleveland Parachute Center in Cleveland, Ohio. He is married and has two children who are both skydivers. Interviewer: How did you get started in skydiving? Bob: My dad was one of the pioneers. When he thought I was mature enough, he put me through a class. So I started jumping because I grew up around it.

FIRST JUMP Interviewer: How old were you when you made your first jump? Bob: I was 13. It was scary and exciting at the same time. I remember wondering as I left the airplane what the heck I was doing. Interviewer: Did you jump by yourself the first time? Bob: Yes. It was a static line jump, where the parachute is opened for you. The static line is 10 feet (3 m) long and is attached to equipment in the plane. When you jump and are 10 feet out, the line pulls a pin that releases the parachute. It takes about five seconds for the parachute to open fully. You steer the parachute down and land it yourself. I remembered to do the arch, which means to spread out and push your hips forward. That helps make you stable as you fall through the air. Interviewer: What happens if you don't do that?

Bob: You can flip. If you're flipping when the chute's opening, you can get tangled in the lines. Interviewer: What did it feel like the first time you jumped? Bob: I remember the quietness. No matter where you are, even if you think it's real quiet, there's noise. But during that first ride down there was absolute silence. Interviewer: There's no sound of wind rushing? Bob: No. It was definitely a unique experience to have no sound.

SCARIEST MOMENT Interviewer: What's the scariest thing that's ever happened to you? Bob: I had a canopy collision once, which means my canopy collided with someone else's. The other person fell away, and I was left tangled so that my legs were tied up in the chute. I was dropping to Earth, and the chute was opening up and collapsing, then opening up and collapsing. There was a moment when I didn't think I was going to make it. Luckily, it opened and stayed open just before I hit, so I lived through that one.

Interviewer: If your legs are tangled, does that mean you're not able to land? Bob: It means I couldn't get rid of the chute or do anything. I had opened my reserve chute, so I had both chutes out, but they were still collapsing and opening. My legs were still tangled in the lines when I landed. Instead of landing on my feet, I landed on my back. I survived that, but it was a scary moment.