Skydiving by Steve Dale Plane

_. Friday.June 19.1987 CN

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Steve Dale and jump master Theresa Baron (left) float toward the landing site. Baron (right) p disengages the harness from the back-ta-Earth writer. Anythingfor a story- even skydiving By Steve Dale plane. Perhaps that's because I had absolutely t all began a couple of weeks ago no idea what to expect. Would it feel like a when Eric Zorn, a Tribune reporter giant roUer coaster ride? I hoped not, because I used to get sick on those rides. Here's how it who claims to be my friend, sent this went: D note to my editor: "James Baron of the Hinckley Parachute As I pull into Hinckley, I can't help but Center near Aurora says he is introducing a notice that it's not exactly O'Hare Airport. new tandem parachute technique that allows a There's only one runway and one hangar. In- novice diver to free-fall 4,000 feet strapped to side the hangar, I meet Baron. He has 20 year.; an instructor before the chute opens. Why not of parachuting experience and more than .send Steve Dale?" 2,500 jumps. Either the word guinea pig is embossed on He's an imposing-looking guy, but he talks my forehead or Zorn is the secret beneficiary with confidence as he explains that I'll be of my life insurance policy. parachuting with an instructor linlcedto me in The reactions when I decided to do the story four places by a harness. The rectangular- shaped parachute is on the instructor's back, were not what I expected. A buddy who is an and the instructor will be attached to the har- attorney was quite serious when he suggested that I make out my will. And my dad, whom I ness on my back. I figured would understand my need for adven- Baron says that before I jump, I'll need, ture, said, "Do not-I repeat do not-under about an hour of intensive training. Instructor any circumstances teU your mother until at Byron Marshall provides the first lesson, in least one year after you've done this stupid parachute landing falls (PLFs). thing." In the middle of the Hinckley landing field Not the kind of encouragement I expected. there are some steps and a pile of gravel, But I was determined-and honestly excited- where we practice landing. "Always land like about the prospect of jumping out of an air- Continued on page 66 ee SectIon7 .June 1i, 1987 . CN

P.Sot:II ::_ . :.;...... ':".".; '.\.... ".. plane and rehearse. 'while the resa pushes open the door. She plane's still on the ground. guides me outside, and for about Skydiving We return to the hangar, and five seconds-which seems like as she tightens the harness on an eternity-we straddle the Continued from page 64 my back, Theresa offers one last- wing of the plane. Oddly, I this, facing into the wind," he minute tip. "As you free-fall re- worry about falling. says. "Keep your feet together, member to arch your back in a The plane's traveling at about eyes on the horizon, rotate your sprcad-eagle position." This sta- 80 miles per hour, She yells hips and fall to the ground." bilizes the fall. She handily flops above the noise: "You ready?" As I jump off the steps, I won- the 40-pound backpack with the I wonder if it matters what my der how will I know from 9,000 parachutes onto her back. response is, but I yell back, feet which way to jump into the The tiny Cessna plane propel- "Vou bet!" wind. I do three PLFs before lers begin to spin. and it takes I don'( remember much of the Marshall approves. Marshall as- ofT right over the PLF practice next 10 seconds, except sures me that landing under the area. I'm scated on the floor of screaming. And I didn't scream 425-square-foot parachute will be the plane next to the pilot, where Geronimo. The rush of air softer than the practice PLFs. the copilot's chair would normal- makes it very noisy. Mv next instructor is Theresa ly be. I can feel the plane rattle It doesn't help much, but I Baron, Jim's 26-year-old daugh- as we gain altitude. grab onto Theresa. She pries one ter. She will also be my instruct- Remarkably, I'm still pretty re- hand loose, (She later said this or in the air, or jump master. laxed. The buildings appear to was no easy task. "You were Theresa has been jumping since shrink in size. We're now at holding on for dear life.") . her 18th birthday and has done about 7.000 feet. The idea is to As she begins to pry the other 950 jumps. When she's not circle back to Hinckley, where hand loose. I realize that panic diving out of airplanes, Theresa our target landing area is. There- won't help my current condition. is an advertising marketing rep- sa is now serving ~ a cheerful I remember that spread-eagle po- resentative. tour guide. "Look. there's De sition. Theresa explains that we'll be Kalil and Northern Illinois Uni- Theresa yells. "All right. you're free-falling at a speed of 120 vcrsltY. That's where mv dorm okav now." miles per hour. or 174 feet per was ,;'hen I was a student. Oh, Free-faJling doesn't feel like a second. Thc plan is to free faJl there you can see the tennis roller-coaster ride. It.s more like until she taps me on the courts: .. ." dreaming that you're faJling, ex- shoulder at 4,000 feet. That's While she presents a lovely cept there isn't that awful sensa- when I pull the rip cord. When tour of De Kalb, I'm really not tion of falling-when you feel the chute opens, the rate of de- paying much attention. I'm your stomach leave your body. scent slows to 1,000 feet per thinking maybe I shouJd have , There's a tap on my right minute. The entire jump will written that will. " I" shoulder and I immediately pull take about 4ihminutes. We reach 8,000 feet; it's time the cord. There's a sudden jolt, She adds, "That's Plan A. If for the jump. Theresa attaches we actually gain altitude and the chute doesn't open. we go to herself to my harness. She says. suddenly all the noise of free-fall Plan B, and I'll pull the cord on "Are you sure you're okay?" disappears. It's peaceful, almost my back-up chute." My only response is, "Where's like being in another world. I ask if there's a Plan 'c. She the seat belt? It's the law." I can now carry on a normal just laughs. She laughs and gives me a Theresa and I get into the air- reassuring pat on the back. The- Continuedon page68 . "But we're not at the mercy of "Would ou consider ever jump- a puppe~;". saysTheresa. ingagaiIi?" . . - . Theresa gUIdesus to a perfect - .- I' Skydiving landing. She J1itsthe Uqet;' and _ Wi~out hesitation. I would. CODtiDaed.lrom page 66 I probably wiD. It's the :~dioi is so~ soft, I. don't ',and m &c::t, conve~ation,. even 'a~ ab~ut ~ 'get 'ffIe dIanCe to try -oUt the onlyway. to By. ,,' - 3,5.00; feet. "I feel like a those 'PLFs we rehearsed. '' Tandem jumps are' ,offered,by I marionetJe puppet, just dangling Jim' Baron greets us' on' the 'appointment only for $125-.CaB I here."' . groUpg".and his first question is" 377-9219 or 81S-2~9230. '