Terminal Velocity!
And the moment came for me to get on the plane…
I barely made in time for the plane to take-off. The instructor was looking for me to get ready with harness, instructions and training. We went through the training in a few minutes. My family was outside the prep area and didn’t know that it was my turn! I called them and said, “I am going up in the plane!”.
I was “in the zone” – concentrating on the task at hand and occasionally observing myself. I was ready, waived to my family on my way to the plane. I could see the anxiety and concern over their face. My daughters were anxious- ready to see their Dad glide down the parachute. My wife was concerned – NOT ready to see her husband jump out of a perfectly functioning plane! Answered few on-camera questions to the Videographer who was going to shoot the dive. I was the last one to get on the plane. The door shut behind me and I sat looking through the glass windows and small door….
Is my heart racing?…No, beating as usual. As if I am getting in the car…
On the way up, my instructor repeated the instructions, asked me if I am nervous or scared. I said I am cool, ready for the jump! We reached 14000 ft altitude – that’s half of Mount Everest or 2.7 miles in the air!!! The temperature was in 40’s up there. Instructor cautioned me that when I jump, I may feel a cold air slapped on my face that may cause difficulty in breathing. He asked me to stay relaxed and keep breathing normally. I soaked in every word he said. The crew gave the signal to open the door… Bitter cold air gushed in. First jumper and her instructor got ready. Within a second, she jumped out along with her Videographer and instructor. Up next…my turn!!!
Is my heart racing?… Still, normal. Focused on the task at hand.
Moved forward, sat at the edge of the door, staring down at mother earth, clouds, green pastures, lakes…imagined that somewhere down there is my family looking up to catch a glimpse of me gliding down safely… Cold wind gushed in. “Ready, Set, Arch…” Folded my arms and before I knew it, I was out of the plane, face down, legs arched up, just like the instructor told me. Instinct took over….I felt the freezing cold air slapped on my face, flooding through my hair and almost making it impossible to breath. Constant szzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz sound of air, felt tremendous rush, adrenaline shot up and I opened my mouth in an exhilarating scream!!! “Bad idea” – my brain said. I was falling down at Terminal Velocity, more than 120mph straight down. As soon as I opened my mouth, air rushed in at breathtaking speed, making breathing difficult. Ok…correction – “don’t open your mouth”, my brain instructed…”Just enjoy the ride and soak in the incredibly beautiful vista…”
What about my heart? Is it racing now? Again, not more than usual. Am I scared? Didn’t feel like… No doubt, No uncertainty, No fear, I was 100% committed and locked in with the experience. And here is something strange… I am travelling at 120mph straight down from 14000 ft., my body is feeling tremendous adrenaline rush, and at the same time my mind is experiencing profound calmness…. Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. I was overtaken by supreme confidence and trust that everything is going to be just fine. I am looking at the breathtaking landscape, trying to soak in all the beauty. Because of the height at which I was flying, I didn’t feel the change in depth. Everything seemed constant, seemed like I am stationery, gliding like a bird at one spot, using the cushion of air, whereas in reality I was falling down fast… really really fast! Thought – how fortunate I am to have this experience!!!
3-4 seconds into the jump…Instructor signaled to open my arms. By this time, even though it has been just a few seconds, I felt like I belonged there, supremely comfortable, I conquered the only thing that bothered me – the cold blast of air. Also managed to breathe normally.
Opened my arms…and what a feeling….took a deep breath, taking in the cold crisp air never felt more assuring, never felt so refreshing!!! Life is beautiful. Embracing the fast moving wind, using it as a cushion, felt very safe. Again, everything seemed to be in slow-motion. The Videographer occasionally came close to me for a close-up. Waived “Victory” sign to him. Tried changing positions to see what effect it has on the speed. Loved it. Was in that free-fall mode for about 50 seconds, which of course felt like eternity…
Next, it was time to open the parachute. By now I had travelled about 9,000 ft in a free fall! Still, 5000 ft from the ground, and the instructor deployed the parachute….Suddenly, felt like, I was flying at tremendous speed and someone just scooped me up in the air…Felt a big pull, the harness adjusted itself and the parachute was fully deployed. The constant sound of wind suddenly stopped. I was gliding, like a feather, like a leaf very slowly but elegantly moving in circles. It was so calm up there… I thought it was a reflection of how I felt inside. The calmness around me has somehow transcended into the calmness within.., or was it the other way round?… All I remember is the profound tranquility… Duality disappeared, I was the wind, I was the cold air, I was the speed, I was the vista!!! It was magical, seconds felt like an eternity and the happiness, the calmness magnified exponentially.
My instructor saw that I was getting too comfortable. He asked me “Do you want to do some advance maneuvers?” I said “lets do it!”. He asked me to scoot back a little, so that I was sitting in the harness like I would in a chair. It doesn’t get more comfortable than that, I thought! He then started pulling the parachute strings which made it horizontal, tilt in all directions, quick circles and some more. That was cool. We glided like that for about 6-7 minutes and then it was time to prep for landing.
My first thought was – No way! I want to be here! But like all great things, this one too had to end. By now, I had a clear idea of where my family was. I started waving at them, hoping they would see my parachute. And they did. I could just imagine the relief, happiness and exhilaration that they might have felt after seeing my parachute gliding down safely – just like the way my daughters expected, and just as safely as my wife expected. Landing was another breeze. My instructor had perfect control over the parachute all along and he landed both of us with quite ease. I slid town and he used his feet to bring us to a complete halt. It was amazing. What a rush!!! I just travelled from 14000 ft to the ground in 8-9 unbelievable minutes.
Now I could scream, but with the ear-pressure I couldn’t hear how loud I was screaming! Gave high-five to my instructor and the Videographer, and I rushed back to my family. Another round of high-fives and hugs followed, and then the reality sunk in… I REALLY jumped out of a perfectly functioning plane, from 14000 ft, free-falling at 120mph, and gliding all the way down to earth……WOW!!!
After settling down, I shared the out-of-body experience with my wife. On our way back there was a local community fair where my daughters played for a while. Driving back home, we came across a rare and beautiful sight of lush green meadows, still wet with recent shower and a beautifully arching double rainbow peeking from behind the trees into the sky. We all loved watching the double rainbow. Took some pictures there. The last one we saw was on our 10th wedding anniversary. And I thought what a way to celebrate ones 40th Birthday! Throughout the day the weather cooperated, just completed my first skydive and now mother nature has unleashed her beauty with a double rainbow; as if she, too, is saying “Happy Birthday Son!”
Felt incredibly privileged, honored and special. This feeling will always stay with me. It’s reassuring to know that I can always re-live these moments over and over again, and my near and dear ones can experience it through this post.
Terminal Velocity!
And the moment came for me to get on the plane…
I barely made in time for the plane to take-off. The instructor was looking for me to get ready with harness, instructions and training. We went through the training in a few minutes. My family was outside the prep area and didn’t know that it was my turn! I called them and said, “I am going up in the plane!”.
I was “in the zone” – concentrating on the task at hand and occasionally observing myself. I was ready, waived to my family on my way to the plane. I could see the anxiety and concern over their face. My daughters were anxious- ready to see their Dad glide down the parachute. My wife was concerned – NOT ready to see her husband jump out of a perfectly functioning plane! Answered few on-camera questions to the Videographer who was going to shoot the dive. I was the last one to get on the plane. The door shut behind me and I sat looking through the glass windows and small door….
Is my heart racing?…No, beating as usual. As if I am getting in the car…
On the way up, my instructor repeated the instructions, asked me if I am nervous or scared. I said I am cool, ready for the jump! We reached 14000 ft altitude – that’s half of Mount Everest or 2.7 miles in the air!!! The temperature was in 40’s up there. Instructor cautioned me that when I jump, I may feel a cold air slapped on my face that may cause difficulty in breathing. He asked me to stay relaxed and keep breathing normally. I soaked in every word he said. The crew gave the signal to open the door… Bitter cold air gushed in. First jumper and her instructor got ready. Within a second, she jumped out along with her Videographer and instructor. Up next…my turn!!!
Is my heart racing?… Still, normal. Focused on the task at hand.
Moved forward, sat at the edge of the door, staring down at mother earth, clouds, green pastures, lakes…imagined that somewhere down there is my family looking up to catch a glimpse of me gliding down safely… Cold wind gushed in. “Ready, Set, Arch…” Folded my arms and before I knew it, I was out of the plane, face down, legs arched up, just like the instructor told me. Instinct took over….I felt the freezing cold air slapped on my face, flooding through my hair and almost making it impossible to breath. Constant szzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz sound of air, felt tremendous rush, adrenaline shot up and I opened my mouth in an exhilarating scream!!! “Bad idea” – my brain said. I was falling down at Terminal Velocity, more than 120mph straight down. As soon as I opened my mouth, air rushed in at breathtaking speed, making breathing difficult. Ok…correction – “don’t open your mouth”, my brain instructed…”Just enjoy the ride and soak in the incredibly beautiful vista…”
What about my heart? Is it racing now? Again, not more than usual. Am I scared? Didn’t feel like… No doubt, No uncertainty, No fear, I was 100% committed and locked in with the experience. And here is something strange… I am travelling at 120mph straight down from 14000 ft., my body is feeling tremendous adrenaline rush, and at the same time my mind is experiencing profound calmness…. Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. I was overtaken by supreme confidence and trust that everything is going to be just fine. I am looking at the breathtaking landscape, trying to soak in all the beauty. Because of the height at which I was flying, I didn’t feel the change in depth. Everything seemed constant, seemed like I am stationery, gliding like a bird at one spot, using the cushion of air, whereas in reality I was falling down fast… really really fast! Thought – how fortunate I am to have this experience!!!
3-4 seconds into the jump…Instructor signaled to open my arms. By this time, even though it has been just a few seconds, I felt like I belonged there, supremely comfortable, I conquered the only thing that bothered me – the cold blast of air. Also managed to breathe normally.
Opened my arms…and what a feeling….took a deep breath, taking in the cold crisp air never felt more assuring, never felt so refreshing!!! Life is beautiful. Embracing the fast moving wind, using it as a cushion, felt very safe. Again, everything seemed to be in slow-motion. The Videographer occasionally came close to me for a close-up. Waived “Victory” sign to him. Tried changing positions to see what effect it has on the speed. Loved it. Was in that free-fall mode for about 50 seconds, which of course felt like eternity…
Next, it was time to open the parachute. By now I had travelled about 9,000 ft in a free fall! Still, 5000 ft from the ground, and the instructor deployed the parachute….Suddenly, felt like, I was flying at tremendous speed and someone just scooped me up in the air…Felt a big pull, the harness adjusted itself and the parachute was fully deployed. The constant sound of wind suddenly stopped. I was gliding, like a feather, like a leaf very slowly but elegantly moving in circles. It was so calm up there… I thought it was a reflection of how I felt inside. The calmness around me has somehow transcended into the calmness within.., or was it the other way round?… All I remember is the profound tranquility… Duality disappeared, I was the wind, I was the cold air, I was the speed, I was the vista!!! It was magical, seconds felt like an eternity and the happiness, the calmness magnified exponentially.
My instructor saw that I was getting too comfortable. He asked me “Do you want to do some advance maneuvers?” I said “lets do it!”. He asked me to scoot back a little, so that I was sitting in the harness like I would in a chair. It doesn’t get more comfortable than that, I thought! He then started pulling the parachute strings which made it horizontal, tilt in all directions, quick circles and some more. That was cool. We glided like that for about 6-7 minutes and then it was time to prep for landing.
My first thought was – No way! I want to be here! But like all great things, this one too had to end. By now, I had a clear idea of where my family was. I started waving at them, hoping they would see my parachute. And they did. I could just imagine the relief, happiness and exhilaration that they might have felt after seeing my parachute gliding down safely – just like the way my daughters expected, and just as safely as my wife expected. Landing was another breeze. My instructor had perfect control over the parachute all along and he landed both of us with quite ease. I slid town and he used his feet to bring us to a complete halt. It was amazing. What a rush!!! I just travelled from 14000 ft to the ground in 8-9 unbelievable minutes.
Now I could scream, but with the ear-pressure I couldn’t hear how loud I was screaming! Gave high-five to my instructor and the Videographer, and I rushed back to my family. Another round of high-fives and hugs followed, and then the reality sunk in… I REALLY jumped out of a perfectly functioning plane, from 14000 ft, free-falling at 120mph, and gliding all the way down to earth……WOW!!!
After settling down, I shared the out-of-body experience with my wife. On our way back there was a local community fair where my daughters played for a while. Driving back home, we came across a rare and beautiful sight of lush green meadows, still wet with recent shower and a beautifully arching double rainbow peeking from behind the trees into the sky. We all loved watching the double rainbow. Took some pictures there. The last one we saw was on our 10th wedding anniversary. And I thought what a way to celebrate ones 40th Birthday! Throughout the day the weather cooperated, just completed my first skydive and now mother nature has unleashed her beauty with a double rainbow; as if she, too, is saying “Happy Birthday Son!”
Felt incredibly privileged, honored and special. This feeling will always stay with me. It’s reassuring to know that I can always re-live these moments over and over again, and my near and dear ones can experience it through this post.