Years later...
Posted on 07/16/2011 5:25:17 PM PDT by nuconvert
A skydiver's worst fear is having the parachute fail to properly deploy, and if this occurs at 15,000 feet, death would seem certain. But Michael Holmes is living proof that humans are remarkably resilient, and that blind luck -- or miracles -- sometimes come into play. Holmes, whose frightening plunge was captured on video (see below), landed in dense vegetation and not only survived with only moderate injuries, he continues to skydive
Holmes' amazing ordeal, which occurred five years ago in New Zealand, will be featured Sunday night at 10 and 10:30 (Eastern and Pacific) in the National Geographic series, "The Indestructibles,"which showcases miraculous survival stories. The network has combined video from Holmes' helmet-cam and that of fellow skydiver Jonathan King, who watched helplessly as his friend spiraled toward earth, his chute only partially deployed, from nearly three miles high.
(Excerpt) Read more at grindtv.com ...
In the air, altitude is life. The higher something goes wrong if it's going to anyway, the better. Having your main streamer at 15k is way better than having it do the same thing at 1k. It gives you time to sort it out or implement Plan B.
But then, who but military HAHO folks open at 15k? :-)
I had to watch the video again. He seemed somewhat resigned. He yells, but not in the way most would think.
Years later...
Trash packing maybe ?
Hey..You were just a number....Funny u should remember it!....*W*
“They don’t make an airplane big enough to hold all the people it would take to throw me out.”
Amen. I used to fly fighters, but it is different if the airplane no longer functions. Never punched out, but put my hand next to the ejection handle a couple of times...but jumping out of a perfectly good airplane?
“That’ll be the day”, as the Duke would put it.
You are pushing it with 17000 in a DC3 however I was at 13000 in a DC3 and that in itself is a great "happy hour lala time".
BTW, a DC3 is a 26 max load limit via carrying capability aircraft...
I knew a Senior Master Sergeant in a USAF special tactics unit that augered into the Florida Glades an survived.....TWICE !
Of course recovery was years between each impact ..
And each time he fought administrokia to return to jump status.
Perfect cutaways each time an reserves failed on both.
He packed his own chutes before anyone thinks conspiracy etc by his troops.
Man I miss it. Quit when I got married.
I miss it so. What a blast.
I’m thinking it was his reserve. He had the rip cord in his hand at one point but I dont know why. His rigro probably was catching up on repacks late one night after the dz closed.
A little crw. Noice!
Yeah. I think “Oh sh%t, I’m dead. Bye” is pretty resigned to what’s probably gonna happen. lol
It wasn’t a blood curdling scream or anything like that. That’s what struck me.
I've hiked at nearly 15,000' and could only walk about 50 yards at a time before stopping to catch my breath and take a break before continuing on to the top of the mountain.
Beautiful streamer, open for me,
Blue skies above me and no canopy;
Counted nine thousands, counted too long,
Reached for the rip cord, the damn thing was gone.
Beautiful streamer, why must it be?
White silk above me is what I should see,
Just like my mother that looks over me;
To hell with the rip cord, ‘twas not made for me.
Beautiful streamer, follow me down,
Time is elapsing and here comes the ground;
Six hundred feet and then I can tell,
If I’ll go to heaven or end up in hell.
Beautiful streamer, this is the end,
Gabriel is blowing, my body won’t mend;
All you jump happy son’s of a gun,
Take this last warning as jumping’s no fun.
Beautiful streamer
Open for me
Blur sky above me, but no canopy
I’ve snowboarded at 15k in Chile. Why do you need O2 at that height?
The FAA requires it of all occupants of unpressurized aircraft @ 15000’ and above. Lack of O2 will eventually lead to unconsciousness. Unconsciousness and inflight aircraft don’t mix well. Payne Stewart was an unfortunate victim of this condition.
Either there is an exception for jump aircraft or the rule has changed since the early '80's. I've exited many DC3's and C47's with forty jumpers aboard.
Maybe he shoulda sub'd that part out....
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.