8A = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SKY DIVING
WEDNESDAY,NOV.28,2001
Kerry Green, Galena freshman, and Sean McKee, Fayetteville, Ark., freshman, showed up at Skydive Kansas City in Butler, Mo., on November 10 to jump out of an airplane for the first time from 3,500 feet above the earth.
3,500 feet above the ceiling.
They decided to make their jumps using the static line method of training. This method entails about six hours of training before the jump. A student's first static line jump is made from 3,500 feet using a line that deploys the main parachute moments after leaving the plane.
Green and McKee completed all of their training, which included instructional videos, classroom work with an instructor and training in a mock parachute harness. They geared up and walked to the plane as they prepared to make the jump. Their instructor and Sky dive Kansas City co-owner John Hall made sure their static lines were properly connected to the plane, and they were ready for take off. The plane climbed to
3,500 feet, Hall opened the plane's door and Green and McKee's adrenaline levels shot through the roof. They climbed out one at a time and watched for Hall's signal before dropping from the plane. They fell toward the earth for a few seconds until their static line pulled their parachute and they began the peaceful ride to the ground.
the ground. "It was a huge rush,the most amazing feeling I've ever felt." Green said.
John Hall, Skydive Kansas City co-owner and Chief Instructor, explains the various parts of a parachute and what it should look like after opening. Green said skydiving was something he always wanted to try and he finally fulfilled his dream of jumping.
Green tightens his leg straps in preparation for the jump. All students are given a gear check by their instructor before jumping to make sure everything is connected and stowed correctly.
Green is left with an armful of gear and a grin after his first jump. "It was a huge rush, the most amazing feeling I've ever felt," Green said after his jump.
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