SKYWHUFFO 1 #1 September 9, 2006 JAY BLEW IT UP HE IS THE MAN! CHECK OUT THE VIDEO ON INDYSTAR.COM I don't know how to make it a clickey. IndyStar.com Local News Metro & State September 9, 2006 Skydiver sets record - more than 630 jumps in 24 hrs Related articles • Video report: Skydiving team in action Related links • Jay Stokes' web site and blog Star report GREENSBURG, Ind. -- A skydiver attempting to set a world record by jumping 600 times within 24 hours apparently reached his goal this morning. Skydiver Jay Stokes falls to the ground while attempting to make 600 jumps in a 24 hours and establish a new world record. - Danese Kenon / The Star According to a Web page dedicated to recording Jay Stokes' progress, the skydiver at 7:55 a.m. had made between 635 and 645 jumps. His day at Greensburg Municipal Airport had started at 5:45 a.m. Friday with a quick breakfast with one of his sons, Evan. A minister was on hand to offer a prayer for the mission's success. Then, at 8 a.m., it began, a ballet of sorts on the ground and in the skies where every second counted as Stokes, 50, Yuma, Ariz., jumped from a plane in his pursuit of a Guinness World Record. Stokes, who teaches others how to skydive, spends part of the summer working at the Greensburg airport and selected it as the location to attempt his new world record. There was nothing leisurely about the quest. To set a new record, he needed to complete a jump every 2 minutes and 24 seconds. At that rate, he would need to jump 26 times per hour to reach the 600-jump mark. Everything about the event was designed around conserving time, from the height he jumped (2,100 feet) to how quickly he could get to the ground (about 40 to 45 seconds). The day quickly took on a rhythm. Each time, the plane carrying Stokes and a safety officer would rise into the sky. At the appropriate moment, Stokes would jump while the pilot would nosedive and speed back to earth so it could pick Stokes up again. From the ground, spectators could hear the fluttering of Stokes' parachute. As soon as the chute opened, Stokes would yank down on one of its steering toggles to begin a spiral that would allow him to reach the ground more quickly. Then, as his feet touched down, he would be met by two volunteers, who stripped him of his deployed chute as he ran to another volunteer, who would belt on a new parachute. By this time, the plane was ready to go, and another volunteer would push a block into place where Stokes could step up, grab hold of the plane with his left hand and swing inside. Inside the plane, another volunteer strapped him in as the plane roared back into the sky. In part, the day was about besting the current record of 534 jumps in 24 hours, a feat Stokes achieved in California in 2003. But it was about more than records , said Stokes, who has made more than 15,000 jumps in his career. Like his other record-setting events, Friday's effort was aimed at raising awareness for the Special Olympics. A second charity that aids families of soldiers, sailors and Marines killed in action or during training exercises will also benefit from the fundraising effort. For Stokes, it is a personal quest. His other son, Nick, 26, is disabled and has participated in Special Olympics events since he was 5. "I to say this, but in our society, we don't necessarily look at people that are handicapped as normal. But the fact is, they are as normal as anybody else out there," he said. "The bottom line is, I know we can accomplish 600 jumps in 24 hours. That's a doable thing," said Stokes, who discovered a love for parachuting while serving in the Army and its Special Forces branch for 24 years before returning to civilian life in 1998. In all, Stokes, hoped to raise $60,000. Donations will be split 50-50 between the charities; or, if a donation is made specifically to one charity, the entire amount will go to that organization. Sponsors are paying the costs of the planes and other equipment so that all the money raised will go to the nonprofits, Stokes explained. This was Stokes' fifth effort at establishing a skydiving record. During the 24-event, he was to rely on 23 parachute systems, which include a main chute and a backup, as well as a device that will automatically deploy his chute if he needs assistance. He also had three planes at his disposal, with a half-dozen pilots who each flew two-hour shifts at a time. Stokes, whose birthday was Friday, planned to take in liquids during the event and had the use of oxygen on the plane to help overcome the constant fumes of the revving engines. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #2 September 9, 2006 Picked up by AP Congrats, Jay!!Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #3 September 9, 2006 QuotePicked up by AP Congrats, Jay!! I R O N M A N ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
