nightjumps 1 #1 November 21, 2003 I got a call from a DZO (where I used to work). He asked me if I was available to put out a student today. I responded, "Sure." Then he tells me, "He's ninety years old," and then he paused. As I was going through the algorithm of "what ifs" in my brain, the DZO says, "He was a wing-walker in the '30's. "Alright, lets, do it. But, if he has any difficulty in training, I'm calling it." I introduce myself and review the waiver and in the medical statement, he's put "None." Hmmm, so I starts the probing questions, knees problems, orthopedics, any heart medicine.... nope, nope, nope. He says, "Son, all I take is vitamins." As we continue, he's jumped three or four times in the past, "Although I don't remember what years they were, do I need to know that?" No sir. We go through training and he's smoking it. Nomenclature of the equipment, approaching the aircraft, the exit, canopy control, landing, obstacles, everything. We went over the Canopy Flight Planner and he's telling me after the first review, word for word, where he's getting out; where he's going to be at 1000", 600'. 300'. During training he had a little bit of a problem with the "Climb all the way out and hang," so I modified his exit to a poised exit. We go up in the plane and he's just as calm as can be. "Dillard, are you ready to skydive?" "Yup." Open the door and he covers his handles and I'm spotting. Tell him to put his feet out and stop. He does it. "Climb all the way out." He needed a litle help pulling the student rig up so I gave him a hand. GO! He looks at the ground, literally smiles and jumps. Couple of line twists (little canted exit). He twists out of it. He's flying the canopy like a maniac. Left turns, right turns, he's really pulling those toggles down and playing. He flares perfectly and lands. I land about 20 yards from him and holler out "You OK?!?!?" He gives me a thumbs up. It was a good day. Here's the good part... During the training the news was out to interview him. The reporter asks him, "Why would anyone your age want to jump out of a perfectly good airplane?" Dillard replies, "Ya know, I think folks worry too much. When you jump out of the plane the parachute is going to work or it isn't. If it doesn't, you're not going to have to worry for long and if it does; its the greatest ride of your life." We go into the hangar and I fill out his log book and ask him to sign mine. He signs it. He takes his logbook and pats his 55 year old wife on the ass and says, "You ready to go home, baby?" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masher 1 #2 November 21, 2003 Cool. I like his attitude.... -- Arching is overrated - Marlies Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ypelchat 0 #3 November 21, 2003 Well obviously, you had a funny day. Congratulations! you've had a hell of a student. Many young students don't react the way this 90 year old student did. Your post was definitely worth reading! Thanks. Yves. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shmali 0 #4 November 21, 2003 These are the type of people that definitely make the sport better. A couple of months back we had an 89 (or at least very close to that) year old woman come out to our dz and do a tandem. Everyone was extra cautious, but she was a trooper. From her reaction you'd have sworn she was a giddy teenager. When asked if she'd go again she said in a heart beat. Pineappe Death Juice, If you have to ask you'd rather not know! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bodypilot1 0 #5 November 21, 2003 Quote He takes his logbook and pats his 55 year old wife on the ass and says, "You ready to go home, baby?" *** See what a great piece of ass will do for ya?www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites nightjumps 1 #6 November 21, 2003 QuoteEveryone was extra cautious... Brother, you have no idea.... The DZO and I personally took his rig off the student rack, double checked everything and repacked it like it was a reserve. We were hand-ironing the folds, he was double checking the line order... We spent two hours making sure we'd gone over everything with a fine tooth comb before he even showed up. I think it was more stressful on us, than him. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites ypelchat 0 #7 November 21, 2003 QuoteQuoteEveryone was extra cautious... Brother, you have no idea.... The DZO and I personally took his rig off the student rack, double checked everything and repacked it like it was a reserve. We were hand-ironing the folds, he was double checking the line order... We spent two hours making sure we'd gone over everything with a fine tooth comb before he even showed up. I think it was more stressful on us, than him. Dude, this means only one thing: You care! Yves. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites shmali 0 #8 November 21, 2003 ---------------------------- We spent two hours making sure we'd gone over everything with a fine tooth comb before he even showed up ---------------------------- It's always better to be too cautious then not cautious enough. I'm glad to hear that everything went well. Pineappe Death Juice, If you have to ask you'd rather not know! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Amazon 7 #9 November 21, 2003 Sweet... Just what I am plannning on still doing when I am 90.... women in my family tend to live to VERY old age Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Michele 1 #10 November 21, 2003 Hey, Biggie. Thanks for sharing that. Tonight I needed to read something like that, and voila, there it is. Well done, and congratulations. And thanks for bringing it to the boards. You made me smile...and that, my friend, was missing from my whole day. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites flygirl03 0 #11 November 21, 2003 DILLARD ROCKS!!! nightjumps, what a cool experience for you!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ earthbound misfit Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Lee03 0 #12 November 21, 2003 That's AWESOME! This means there's hope for all of us when we get to be 90! -------- To put your life in danger from time to time ... breeds a saneness in dealing with day-to-day trivialities. --Nevil Shute, Slide Rule Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites testpilot 0 #13 November 21, 2003 Excellent!!! Dave D830 http://www.skydiving.co.za Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites hooked 0 #14 November 21, 2003 That was such a rewarding story to read, thanks for posting it!!!! Does he plan more jumps? You said he was a student, but will he continue or did he just want this one jump, on his own? J -------------------------------------- Sometimes we're just being Humans.....But we're always Human Beings. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Kramer 0 #15 November 21, 2003 Wow...I really liked reading that, it made me feel good. I hope I'm that cool ...uh... 71 years from now! -Kramer The FAKE KRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMER!!!!!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites CrazyDave 0 #16 November 21, 2003 DUDE!... ive heard of an 80 yr old doin a tandem... but on his own! - awsome i'd of liked to see that. congrats to him! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites ypelchat 0 #17 November 21, 2003 QuoteWow...I really liked reading that, it made me feel good. I hope I'm that cool ...uh... 71 years from now! -Kramer [hijaack] Dude that's cool! In 71 years, you'll jump from a flying saucer! [/hijack] Yves. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites WayneRATS 0 #18 November 21, 2003 woooha thats all i'll say see we really are all just big kids inside ------------------------ Can You Ere Me Now? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites ypelchat 0 #19 November 21, 2003 QuoteSee we really are all just big kids inside Yup! The only difference between a kid and an adult, is the price of toys! Yves. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites nightjumps 1 #20 November 21, 2003 QuoteThanks for sharing that. Tonight I needed to read something like that, and voila, there it is. Well done, and congratulations. And thanks for bringing it to the boards. You made me smile...and that, my friend, was missing from my whole day. I got to put a 90 year old out and it made ~Michele smile. It doesn't get any better of a day than that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites nightjumps 1 #21 November 21, 2003 QuoteDoes he plan more jumps? You said he was a student, but will he continue or did he just want this one jump, on his own? This was a birthday jump for his 90th. When he was leaving he said, "Good Lord willin, I'll see you guys next year!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites hooked 0 #22 November 21, 2003 I hope he gets to do a jump next year as well!! J -------------------------------------- Sometimes we're just being Humans.....But we're always Human Beings. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites KolibrieLinda 0 #23 November 21, 2003 We go into the hangar and I fill out his log book and ask him to sign mine. He signs it. He takes his logbook and pats his 55 year old wife on the ass and says, "You ready to go home, baby?" A wife of 35 years younger. A skydive. This guy... What a guy. What a story to tell. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites jumperconway 0 #24 November 21, 2003 Congrats! What's the old addage We don't stop living because we grow old, We grow old because we stop living.? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites katiebear21 0 #25 November 21, 2003 Awesome story. Thanks so much for sharing. Katie Get your PMS glass necklace here Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Prev 1 2 Next Page 1 of 2 Join the conversation You can post now and register later. 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nightjumps 1 #6 November 21, 2003 QuoteEveryone was extra cautious... Brother, you have no idea.... The DZO and I personally took his rig off the student rack, double checked everything and repacked it like it was a reserve. We were hand-ironing the folds, he was double checking the line order... We spent two hours making sure we'd gone over everything with a fine tooth comb before he even showed up. I think it was more stressful on us, than him. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ypelchat 0 #7 November 21, 2003 QuoteQuoteEveryone was extra cautious... Brother, you have no idea.... The DZO and I personally took his rig off the student rack, double checked everything and repacked it like it was a reserve. We were hand-ironing the folds, he was double checking the line order... We spent two hours making sure we'd gone over everything with a fine tooth comb before he even showed up. I think it was more stressful on us, than him. Dude, this means only one thing: You care! Yves. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shmali 0 #8 November 21, 2003 ---------------------------- We spent two hours making sure we'd gone over everything with a fine tooth comb before he even showed up ---------------------------- It's always better to be too cautious then not cautious enough. I'm glad to hear that everything went well. Pineappe Death Juice, If you have to ask you'd rather not know! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #9 November 21, 2003 Sweet... Just what I am plannning on still doing when I am 90.... women in my family tend to live to VERY old age Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Michele 1 #10 November 21, 2003 Hey, Biggie. Thanks for sharing that. Tonight I needed to read something like that, and voila, there it is. Well done, and congratulations. And thanks for bringing it to the boards. You made me smile...and that, my friend, was missing from my whole day. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites flygirl03 0 #11 November 21, 2003 DILLARD ROCKS!!! nightjumps, what a cool experience for you!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ earthbound misfit Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Lee03 0 #12 November 21, 2003 That's AWESOME! This means there's hope for all of us when we get to be 90! -------- To put your life in danger from time to time ... breeds a saneness in dealing with day-to-day trivialities. --Nevil Shute, Slide Rule Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites testpilot 0 #13 November 21, 2003 Excellent!!! Dave D830 http://www.skydiving.co.za Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites hooked 0 #14 November 21, 2003 That was such a rewarding story to read, thanks for posting it!!!! Does he plan more jumps? You said he was a student, but will he continue or did he just want this one jump, on his own? J -------------------------------------- Sometimes we're just being Humans.....But we're always Human Beings. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Kramer 0 #15 November 21, 2003 Wow...I really liked reading that, it made me feel good. I hope I'm that cool ...uh... 71 years from now! -Kramer The FAKE KRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMER!!!!!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites CrazyDave 0 #16 November 21, 2003 DUDE!... ive heard of an 80 yr old doin a tandem... but on his own! - awsome i'd of liked to see that. congrats to him! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites ypelchat 0 #17 November 21, 2003 QuoteWow...I really liked reading that, it made me feel good. I hope I'm that cool ...uh... 71 years from now! -Kramer [hijaack] Dude that's cool! In 71 years, you'll jump from a flying saucer! [/hijack] Yves. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites WayneRATS 0 #18 November 21, 2003 woooha thats all i'll say see we really are all just big kids inside ------------------------ Can You Ere Me Now? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites ypelchat 0 #19 November 21, 2003 QuoteSee we really are all just big kids inside Yup! The only difference between a kid and an adult, is the price of toys! Yves. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites nightjumps 1 #20 November 21, 2003 QuoteThanks for sharing that. Tonight I needed to read something like that, and voila, there it is. Well done, and congratulations. And thanks for bringing it to the boards. You made me smile...and that, my friend, was missing from my whole day. I got to put a 90 year old out and it made ~Michele smile. It doesn't get any better of a day than that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites nightjumps 1 #21 November 21, 2003 QuoteDoes he plan more jumps? You said he was a student, but will he continue or did he just want this one jump, on his own? This was a birthday jump for his 90th. When he was leaving he said, "Good Lord willin, I'll see you guys next year!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites hooked 0 #22 November 21, 2003 I hope he gets to do a jump next year as well!! J -------------------------------------- Sometimes we're just being Humans.....But we're always Human Beings. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites KolibrieLinda 0 #23 November 21, 2003 We go into the hangar and I fill out his log book and ask him to sign mine. He signs it. He takes his logbook and pats his 55 year old wife on the ass and says, "You ready to go home, baby?" A wife of 35 years younger. A skydive. This guy... What a guy. What a story to tell. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michele 1 #10 November 21, 2003 Hey, Biggie. Thanks for sharing that. Tonight I needed to read something like that, and voila, there it is. Well done, and congratulations. And thanks for bringing it to the boards. You made me smile...and that, my friend, was missing from my whole day. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flygirl03 0 #11 November 21, 2003 DILLARD ROCKS!!! nightjumps, what a cool experience for you!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ earthbound misfit Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lee03 0 #12 November 21, 2003 That's AWESOME! This means there's hope for all of us when we get to be 90! -------- To put your life in danger from time to time ... breeds a saneness in dealing with day-to-day trivialities. --Nevil Shute, Slide Rule Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
testpilot 0 #13 November 21, 2003 Excellent!!! Dave D830 http://www.skydiving.co.za Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hooked 0 #14 November 21, 2003 That was such a rewarding story to read, thanks for posting it!!!! Does he plan more jumps? You said he was a student, but will he continue or did he just want this one jump, on his own? J -------------------------------------- Sometimes we're just being Humans.....But we're always Human Beings. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kramer 0 #15 November 21, 2003 Wow...I really liked reading that, it made me feel good. I hope I'm that cool ...uh... 71 years from now! -Kramer The FAKE KRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMER!!!!!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CrazyDave 0 #16 November 21, 2003 DUDE!... ive heard of an 80 yr old doin a tandem... but on his own! - awsome i'd of liked to see that. congrats to him! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ypelchat 0 #17 November 21, 2003 QuoteWow...I really liked reading that, it made me feel good. I hope I'm that cool ...uh... 71 years from now! -Kramer [hijaack] Dude that's cool! In 71 years, you'll jump from a flying saucer! [/hijack] Yves. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WayneRATS 0 #18 November 21, 2003 woooha thats all i'll say see we really are all just big kids inside ------------------------ Can You Ere Me Now? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ypelchat 0 #19 November 21, 2003 QuoteSee we really are all just big kids inside Yup! The only difference between a kid and an adult, is the price of toys! Yves. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nightjumps 1 #20 November 21, 2003 QuoteThanks for sharing that. Tonight I needed to read something like that, and voila, there it is. Well done, and congratulations. And thanks for bringing it to the boards. You made me smile...and that, my friend, was missing from my whole day. I got to put a 90 year old out and it made ~Michele smile. It doesn't get any better of a day than that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nightjumps 1 #21 November 21, 2003 QuoteDoes he plan more jumps? You said he was a student, but will he continue or did he just want this one jump, on his own? This was a birthday jump for his 90th. When he was leaving he said, "Good Lord willin, I'll see you guys next year!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hooked 0 #22 November 21, 2003 I hope he gets to do a jump next year as well!! J -------------------------------------- Sometimes we're just being Humans.....But we're always Human Beings. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KolibrieLinda 0 #23 November 21, 2003 We go into the hangar and I fill out his log book and ask him to sign mine. He signs it. He takes his logbook and pats his 55 year old wife on the ass and says, "You ready to go home, baby?" A wife of 35 years younger. A skydive. This guy... What a guy. What a story to tell. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumperconway 0 #24 November 21, 2003 Congrats! What's the old addage We don't stop living because we grow old, We grow old because we stop living.? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
katiebear21 0 #25 November 21, 2003 Awesome story. Thanks so much for sharing. Katie Get your PMS glass necklace here Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
