Richard Rodgers, "Theme of the Fast Carriers" from Victory at Sea
Drop altitude 1500 feet AGL, time of drop 0905
KFBG 161256Z 36011G15KT 7SM BKN045 BKN200 19/12 A2995 RMK SLP143
Conditions at: KFBG observed 1256 UTC 16 May 2005
Temperature: 19.0°C (66°F)
Dewpoint: 12.0°C (54°F) [RH = 64%]
Pressure (altimeter): 29.95 inches Hg (1014.3 mb)
[Sea-level pressure: 1014.3 mb]
Winds: from the N (360 degrees) at 13 MPH (11 knots; 5.7 m/s)
gusting to 17 MPH (15 knots; 7.8 m/s)
Visibility: 7 miles (11 km)
Ceiling: 4500 feet AGL
Clouds: broken clouds at 4500 feet AGL
broken clouds at 20000 feet AGL
Weather: no significant weather observed at this time
First jump in a month and a half almost didn't happen. It was raining this morning, so we had to depart from a different airfield and jump onto Ste Mere Eglise DZ.
Winds gusted over 13 knots on our approach and we ended up having to racetrack for about 20 minutes before we actually exited. I had a smooth exit, assumed a good body position, but had some of the worst twists I've ever had in a MC-1 series parachute. I looked up to see that I was still spinning and started pulling the risers apart to snap out of the twists. At the same time I realized that I was absolutely hauling ass at altitude due to fast winds at altitude. As I dropped below 500 feet, the winds shifted significantly, but my desire to avoid landing on the flight landing strip led to an extended walk back. My parachute landing fall was uneventful and I had a clean recovery. It was good to exit early, and land, though!
The cognitive dissonance Richard Rodgers music comes from pulling out a tape I recorded some 19 years ago and playing it in the tape player on the way here. An instrumental about aircraft carriers in the Pacific doesn't fit for an Army parachute jump, though...
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