'It's a whole new world'
Sky divers train students, faculty
Sky-Hi Sky Divers, has trained more than 400 persons to parachute and sky dive, two thirds of them students and faculty at the University of Kansas.
Jim Garrison, sky diving instructor and manager of the club, said of sky diving, "It's a whole new world."
Garrison's club offers discount rates for University students to encourage students to jump. Student rates are $35 for the first jump, $5 for the next five jumps, and $3.50 for the next on if a sky diver has his own equipment.
After five jumps most divers end up buying their own equipment running anywhere from $90 to $600 Garrison said. Garrison said it could cost $330 for a parachute, $120 to $130 for a harness, $30 for boots, $35 to $40 for a helmet, and $25 for coveralls. A parachute can be bought though, said one of the student divers, for as little as $50 from an army's surplus store, and the other parts of the equipment can be bought second-hand.
Garrison said there were 1,200,000 jumps in 1968 and that
the injury rate was very low, out of proportion to the number of jumps made—less than one tenth of one per cent of those diving received injuries. In the two years Garrison has been teaching sky diving in Lawrence, there have been between 2,500 and 3,000 jumps and out of this number there have been only two broken bone injuries. Only three times has a parachutist ever had to use his reserve parachute because of failure of the main chute to open.
8 KANSAN
Apr.1 1970
Before the first jump the beginning parachutist is given lessons on how to jump, how to fall and what to do in case of emergencies. The first jumps are static line jumps in which the rip chord catches on the bottom of the plane and pulls open the beginner's chute. Later the parachutist jumps from the plane, counts three seconds and pulls his own rip chord. When a beginner has enough experience at jumping he may attempt to dive, which is jumping from the plane, counting off the seconds till he falls to a height of 2,500 feet, and then pulling the rip chord.
Most of the "first timers" land within 100 yards of their target, Garrison said. By means of a walkie-talkie system the beginner's are given ground instructions to help them manuever themselves to a landing.
After the initial parachute jumps and a few dives a diver may go up to 12,500 feet and fall a full 30 seconds before hitting his chute at 2,500 feet. Garrison said the standard height for pulling a chute was 2,500 feet. The divers, jumping spread eagle, will reach a maximum velocity of 120 m.p.h. after 12 seconds.
One diver who had just completed a free fall from 7,500 feet was asked his reaction to diving. Still breathing heavily he answered, "It's a true emotional experience." He said electrocardiograms had been taken on sky divers as they were free falling
and that scientists' reactions were that they had never thought the human heart could beat as fast as it did during the free fall.
Garrison said sky diving was introduced in 1951 and had grown faster than any other sport introduced to the United States. At the time it was introduced the Soviet Union dominated the sport, though presently the U.S. holds 70 per cent of all parachuting records.
The United States Parachuting Association sets the 2,500 feet standard for chute pulling and sets the types of license one can hold.
Garrison has had 940 free falls and 300 jumps landing with
combat equipment. Of these only once was he injured, breaking three ribs when he landed 60 m.p.h. on an asphalt road.
For
Complete
Motorcycle
ACTORS WANTED
Insurance
Auditions for an original script APRIL 1 & 2, 1970
Gene Doane
U.C.C.F.
1201 Oread
7-10 p.m.
Agency
824 Mass. St.
VI 3-3012
Get Caught in the Rain With "Cravenette"
It's time to shed those dank, damp, muggy clothes and come over to "Cravenette", the dry, crisp, fashionable side. Bring your outerwear—trench coats, jackets, heavy woolens—to Acme for its "Cravenette". We will shower proof them with the same process recommended and used by some of your favorite manufacturers-SurJac McGregor, Alligator, 77 Originals, Ken Venturi, and others.
Stay dry as a bone, not soaked to the bone!
at our Three convenient locations
ACME Laundry and Dry Cleaners
DOWNTOWN
1111 Mass.
VI 3-5155
MALLS
23rd and La.
VI 3-0895
HILLCREST
9th and Iowa
VI 3-0928