Welcome to Taupo
Ok.
There's only one way we're really getting out of this plane.
This plane is small and the three instructors plus students strapped in makes for cramped conditions. I'm up here with Stray compatriots, Ian (see the Cicada incident) and Charlotte, a Dane.
5,000 ft. Put your hat and goggles on.
It's 6:30 pm in the evening and we are about to jump out of a perfectly serviceable aircraft.
It's ok though, Peter, my instructor from Hungary has told me what to do.
Be the Banana. And then when he taps you on the arm, spread your arms like him.
10,000 ft.
I'm preaching zen and acceptance to myself.
This is an inherently safe activity. Ok, so we saw them packing parachutes in the Hangar and that was a bit freaky but...
12,000 ft.
Lip of the plane baby.
And we're out the door.
45 seconds of freefalling over Lake Taupo.
It's incredible, you see the ground rushing to meet you. The plane and sanctuary are long gone.
You do some spirals but mostly it's the view that's just amazing. It's a really clear sunny day and I'm falling out of the sky.
At 5,000 ft, Peter pulls the ripcord and thankfully the chute extends. The force it wrenches you up with is incredible but you slow down impressively.
Nothing left for it but to sail on down and hold your stomach as Peter practises big swerves and turns.
"Welcome to Taupo", he says.
Welcome to Taupo indeed.
There's only one way we're really getting out of this plane.
This plane is small and the three instructors plus students strapped in makes for cramped conditions. I'm up here with Stray compatriots, Ian (see the Cicada incident) and Charlotte, a Dane.
5,000 ft. Put your hat and goggles on.
It's 6:30 pm in the evening and we are about to jump out of a perfectly serviceable aircraft.
It's ok though, Peter, my instructor from Hungary has told me what to do.
Be the Banana. And then when he taps you on the arm, spread your arms like him.
10,000 ft.
I'm preaching zen and acceptance to myself.
This is an inherently safe activity. Ok, so we saw them packing parachutes in the Hangar and that was a bit freaky but...
12,000 ft.
Lip of the plane baby.
And we're out the door.
45 seconds of freefalling over Lake Taupo.
It's incredible, you see the ground rushing to meet you. The plane and sanctuary are long gone.
You do some spirals but mostly it's the view that's just amazing. It's a really clear sunny day and I'm falling out of the sky.
At 5,000 ft, Peter pulls the ripcord and thankfully the chute extends. The force it wrenches you up with is incredible but you slow down impressively.
Nothing left for it but to sail on down and hold your stomach as Peter practises big swerves and turns.
"Welcome to Taupo", he says.
Welcome to Taupo indeed.
posted by Christophe at 10:53 p.m.
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