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Jumped out of a heli with a parachute!

As previously told, I got an awesome birthday present last year which I had to postpone until this year. The gift was a ride in a helicopter and to jump out of it at 10 000ft. (with a tandem partner and a parachute, obviously). We tried to arrange it a few times during the summer / early Autumn, but as we live in Norway the weather isn’t always cooperative. But at September 19th, we finally got the chance!

The jump was scheduled at 18:00 that Sunday, and Kjell, Sindre and I drove almost two hours to Trøgstad in Wolvoline (that would be Kjell’s Volvo). After some minor troubles finding the place, we found the people and I got dressed and prepared. I met my tandem partner, and another guy was also scheduled to do a tandem jump in the same ride. When we were dressed and ready we all drove a couple of minutes to someone’s garden (!), where the helicopter was ready. A few more instructions about the jump and landing was given and the four of us, and the pilot, were placed in the helicopter and we flew off.

We flew for only a few minutes in the helicopter which was fine by me since my ankles’ naked skin were completely exposed and got pretty cold. I couldn’t see much either because I had the other tandem couple between my legs. Suddenly the two of them started to irk forwards, and disappear completely. My tandem partner and I started to irk forwards, but I couldn’t see anything else except for the helicopter roof, since I had to maintain a certain position when jumping out. I felt a slight movement, we tipped over and suddenly we were in free fall, looking at the world far far below me. And we dropped fast. Very fast. After a few seconds the parachute was pulled out, and things got way more comfortable.

We had maybe a couple of minutes flying around. I got to steer some, and my tandem partner had fun going in circles making me feel like I was in a rollercoaster. But the view was the most amazing thing. There was nothing between you and the world, and everywhere you look, you can see land far far away. It’s quiet and there’s nothing to distract you from enjoying the view.

Suddenly we were approaching the ground pretty fast and just like that we had our feet on the ground again. And that was it. I couldn’t stop smiling until some hours later when I was in the car on the way back home, too exhausted to keep my eyes open. But I don’t think I’d dive in a parachute again – once was enough, really. But riding a helicopter again, without the cold ankles and blocked view? Yes please!

Photos from the jump:

September 21st, 2010 in Personal happenings | tags: birthday, parachuting |  Print This Post | No Comments

Jumped out of a heli with a parachute! due Spring 2010

For my birthday in October Sindre and some friends bought me a tandemjump from 10 000ft. from a helicopter with a parachute! That’s two things I always wanted to do: riding a helicopter and parachuting in free fall. I guess Sindre actually listened when we were watching TV of someone parachuting and I discreetly mentioned how badly I wanted to try that. That’s my good Yeti! Sindre had arranged with some parachuters in Trøgstad, 1 hour driving from Oslo, so I get to see my hometown and Oslofjorden from the air.

The jump was planned October 10th in the morning and we told our friends, a chauffeur was arranged, my parents calmed and my excitement built up. When the big day arrived, it rained. The jump was thus postponed to October 17th. Cue arranging, telling friends, calming down my folks and building up a greater load of excitement. To my delight that Saturday morning was a beautiful, sunny day with no visible clouds in the sky. I got up early (I hate that), did my morning routine, got dressed in warm clothes and a permanent grin started to develop on my face. Sindre made coffee to bring and packed his backpack with his camera to take pictures. About 20 minutes before our chauffeur, Kjell, was arriving we got a call. The jump was cancelled again because of too strong wind. *sigh*

Sad couple: Parachute jump cancelled again

We came to the conclusion that we had to postpone the jump to Spring next year, sometime during March or April. The winter’s coming in fast (well, it’s Norway) and it gets too cold to mess around at 10 000ft in November. But I am gonna get my jump!

People say a picture is saying more than 1 000 words. So here it is.

October 17th, 2009 in Personal happenings | tags: birthday, parachuting |  Print This Post | 1 Comment