Eclipse Jump

[skybytch 273]

I have fun on every skydive; whether it's a small or large RW group, a solo to 3 way freefly jump, whatever. But today I did one of those jumps that remind me of what is really important to me in this sport... today I got to do a relaxed and fun skydive on a beautiful day with my friends. And I got to do it during a solar eclipse too.
There was a solar eclipse this evening that was very visible in southern California. We talked at work this morning about jumping while it was going on; I'd already planned ahead and left my rig at the dz store on Sunday. Around 4 o'clock, Frank from our dz store calls up and tells my coworker Steve to let manifest know we wanted to be on the "eclipse load" - exiting at the highest (most coverage) point of the eclipse. Steve got us on the load with a phone call, and shortly after we'd talked Keely into joining us so she manifested by telephone too.
Work finally ended and we were off to the dz. Picked up my rig from the store and stood around chatting. Frank and Brenda both planned to jump with us, and AFF/tandem I/camera flier Dana Bartel asked to join us. Okay, picture this. We have Dana with thousands of belly jumps but very limited freefly experience, me with hundreds of belly jumps and very limited freefly experience, Frank with thousands of belly jumps but the last couple hundred have all been freefly, Brenda with 900 jumps and the last several hundred have not been belly flying, Keely with a few hundred jumps and very little belly flying experience and Steve with almost two thousand jumps and one of those people who seem to be able to do it all (we hate him). We all ended up wearing freefly clothing but we planned a simple 5 way belly round for the jump. Steve would fly video and shoot stills.
After we had checked out the eclipse the safe way, manifest announced an 8 minute call and we all threw our gear on and headed to the loading area. A quick run through at the mockup - the exit would be a three way round (Dana, Keely and Brenda) with Frank and I diving after them.
They didn't pack the plane so it was a reasonably comfortable ride to altitude. While we were climbing I mentioned to Frank that this was my first eclipse jump. He told me that his 51st jump was at night during an eclipse, and he's made a point of jumping during every eclipse possible since.
The Otter had gotten us to altitude too soon (dang Super Otters...), so the pilot held at about 11500 for a few minutes so the exit timing would be right. Our pilot timed it perfect and got us a bit of extra altitude - we got out at 13500 instead of the normal 12500.
Jump run, red light, the door opens. Steve and Dana are checking the spot, the rest of us are getting ready. Green light and Steve, Dana and Brenda climb out. Keely gets in the door and takes grips, then looks at Frank and I. "Ready?" A big smile and a nod back, she gives the count and we're skydiving.
The exit funneled, but the three way quickly rebuilt. Frank and I docked shortly after to finish the five way round; Steve was sitflying below us, close enough that we could see the red lights on his camera gear. We smiled and geeked each other and Steve as we spun the round in a slow turn with Steve orbiting the opposite direction beneath us, the partially eclipsed Sun in the background.
Steve came up and over the top then got below us again. Frank and Dana shared a kiss pass and then we were pulling each other in for kisses all around the star. Steve came back up to us at break off, I waved at him then turned and tracked.
A butter soft opening (Thanks Laura!) and a quick turn to face the dz later, I turned my head to check out the sun. With dark goggles on to "protect my eyes", I still couldn't see anything. But the light seemed different; it was still an hour before sunset but it looked like sunset.
I landed in the grass landing area (a picture perfect stand up). Everyone else in our group had landed there too, so we walked back across the runway together, talking about how great that jump was.
So... nothing spectacular. We didn't turn mega-points or do a bunch of transitions or build a CRW stack on the bottom. We just went out and had fun in freefall together. And that to me, my friends, is really what skydiving is all about - fun, friends and freefall.
pull & flare,
lisa
"Try not. Do or do not. There is no try." - Yoda sez

[dove 0]

Sweet! Thanks so much for sharing Lisa! That sounds awesome!
dove

[iynx 0]

Very cool. Sounds like an excellent jump. Do you have any pictures of the ecplise jump that you could post? Sad as it is, I've never actually seen an ecplise in real time. I always forget about it until after it's happened and then I hear everyone else talk about it =)
Good judgement comes from experience, and experience?- well, that comes from poor judgement.

[skip 0]

man: I am in complete awe. Sounds like lots of fun.
.:skip

[quade 4]

Why didn't I think of that?
quade
http://futurecam.com

[freeflir29 0]

I wanna see the stills!!!! "Here I come to save the BOOBIES!"

[Shark 0]

Lisa,
It was a trip! I think I got some stills from home. It also got some reflections that gave a crescent type of image. Pretty cool if it prints out.

[jceman 1]

Lisa,
I'm jealous -- sounds like a great jump. Please post some pics if you get the chance.

[SudsyFist 0]

Lisa,
I'm totally jealous! I was *trying* to schedule work around an afternoon trip to the dz, but it didn't work out. [sad]
Instead, though, we got a group together to watch the eclipse in Pacific Beach, right on the sand. The marine layer played nice (clear, with random little fluffy clouds), and it was FANTASTIC! I admit we did look a bit silly there on the beach gazing up into the sky through folded x-ray pics (some passersby actually joined in on the fun!), but when tiny clouds would obscure the sun just enough to sneak a glance with the naked eye, oooohs and aaaahs flooded the area from all around us!
I wish I had brought a camera... not for pictures of the actual eclipse, but for that striking moment where a couple- hundred-or-so people marveled together at the sight of a thin crescent sun hung lazily above the Pacific... magnificent.
Steve

[drenaline 0]

Hey Liz, you always getting the kewl stuff of skydiving, me jealous! kewl jump!!
"Life is full of danger, so why be afraid?"
drenaline

[SkydiveMonkey 0]

Anyone have pics?
Wynona's got herself a big brown beaver
and she shows it off to all her friends ....

[skybytch 273]

The pics... Steve has the pics.
Steve? Can you post the best of the pics?
Oh, and Steve? Dub! Dub! Duuuuuuubbbbb.... (sorry, private joke...)
pull & flare,
lisa
"Try not. Do or do not. There is no try." - Yoda sez