Tasmanian Daredevil

By Carolyne Jasinski

The author of this article, Carolyne Jasinski, recounts the great experience she was treated to by Australia-based Skydiving Tasmania. After reaching an altitude of 3000 meters in a small plane, she and the instructor she was strapped to, Brad Jones, took the great plunge. Once out of the airplane, it takes about 30 seconds to freefall. Eventually the freefall turns into a slower 5 minute descent, where skydivers can navigate the parachute. Brad Jones and the other skydivers show clients what the city of Hobart looks like as they fall. When asked why Jones decided to be a skydiver, he said, "I nearly died in a car accident. I realized there was more to life than I was giving it so I decided to jump at every opportunity."

March 11, 2009