Happy Birthday VXJON

[graeme]

HBJON

[Matelotman]

Happy birthday

[j2 lot]

Happy birthday John

[meatball]

Happy birthday old chap.

[cla5h]

Congrats Jon, one year closer to death

On the plus side...

[cloggie]

Happy birthday Jon

[VXJON]

Thanks guys

Actually 30 this year



Been meaning to post this for the last couple of weeks but been busy with a new job

As Mark hinted I decided that before I hit 30 I had to tick something off the LIST. So with that in mind I did a tandem parachute dive at the star of the month. Even a couple of weeks later I'm struggling to find the words to describe the sheer buzz of freefall, I was asked by Andy the cameraman and a friend of Mark's, what was the scariest experience of my live and TBH I can't name anything that would come close to those last couple of seconds in the plane. Watching the other guys plummet to earth from 14k feet was the first time I really thought about calling it off. Luckily peer pressure came into play and I realized that, yes its scary but there would no backing down with Mark and Chun watching.

5 sec into the drop (after I opened my eyes) and Ive already forgotten about waving to the cameraman and docking with Mark Mid air, hell Id even forgot about the tubby dude strapped to my back. Its the sheer rush of adrenaline that wipes all thought from my head, leaving behind what can only be described as euphoria Hard to really pick out any moments in the general adrenaline high but one that stands out was just after the chute opened and I watched open mouthed as Mark and Andy continued to fall towards earth.

The ride down under the canopy was almost calming after the buzz of freefall esp. since it was a cloudy so the only thing to look at was a slightly surreal cloudscape from above:D

For anyone considering a jump, just go for it its an awesome experience and if possible for me, the start of a new hobby


Massive thanks to Mark for his support and encouragement

[smee]

happy birthday old boy
And celebrating with a parachute jump well done

[g1zmo26]

Happy birthday mate

Stuart

[wil_scotland]

Happy Birthday mate

[ryallm]

For anyone considering a jump, just go for it its an awesome experience and if possible for me, the start of a new hobby

Good lad - get that AFF course booked You are most welcome to join me on a trip to Empuria next spring

It was great fun jumping with John and sharing the thrill of a first skydive. I dived out straight after him but it took me a few thousand feet to catch up. I was hovering a few feet in front of him for a good few seconds before he noticed I was there - too busy looking at the ground! Quite a funny moment in the plane on the way up. There was a lot of cloud cover with spectacular views between the gaps down to the fields in a patchwork below. Just as the plane is climbing above the cloud I see John peering out the window looking a tad nervous. 'That looks really, really high' he says. At this point I show him my alti and point out we are only at 4 grand and we are going another 10,000ft higher He looks chastened

I have seen some tandem passengers who are jibbering wrecks, but John was pretty cool overall. A skydiver in the making hopefully

Mark

[Mandy]

Happy birthday Jon

[kenny]

Top stuff Jon, I would never have the bollocks to do that.