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Aviation History
1961
1961 - 0882.PDF
FREE-FALL CHAMPIONSHIPS BY JEREMY JOHNSTON(of the British team) I FEEL the rush of air, the peace, the exhilaration and thrillof free fall. I am falling through space in the stable spread-eagled position. Slowly adopting the "frog" position by bending my arms and curling my legs up behind me like a scorpion,I isolate the target 4,500ft below and turn quickly to face it by twisting my body to the right and moving my arms and legs.By dropping my arms close to my side in the "delta" position I now glide forward as well as rushing earthwards at over 200ft/sec.Glancing at my altimeter and stopwatch on my reserve (chest) parachute as I fall below 3,000ft, I re-stabilize in a swallow-diveattitude by arching my back and extending my arms and legs. I feel a sensation of lift due to deceleration. At 2,000ft I draw myarms in and snatch the ripcord. The day is Sunday, June 18, and the International Parachute Championships at Leutkirch have justfinished. Leutkirch is an unspoilt rural town in the Allgau district of South-ern Bavaria. Three kilometres away is a private grass airstrip owned by Fiirst (Duke) yon Waldburg 201 Zeil. Here, amid picturesquesurroundings, an international parachute tournament is held every second year—alternating with the world championships (whichnext year will be in Orange, Massachusetts). Six West European countries—France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Germany andBritain—were represented, together with US Armed Forces, Europe. Belgium and Sweden were also invited, and the formersent one lone individual. The championships were an unreserved success: the Teutonic organization was masterful, goodwill andhospitality unbelievable, and the beer cold! The aircraft used were new to our parachutists. There was aSikorsky H-34 helicopter, supplied by the German Army and capable of carrying ten parachutists, which seemed tailor-madeto represent the end-product of the perfect free-fall aircraft. The other aeroplanes used were three Piper Super Cubs by courtesyof the Burda Staffel Advertising and Publishing Co. These proved a bit of a struggle in exit. Both the "chopper" and the Pipers flewat 80kt when dropping parachutists. We owe a grateful debt to the weather. For once, being farenough away from England, it was made to order. In fact I think every member of the British team, except possibly Dave Francombe,has sloughed his skin several times a la reptile. Each country was represented by two teams, each of threeparachutists. Class 1 was for holders of FAI A and B licences, and Class 2 for those with Cs and Ds. Each competitor had fourchampionship descents: in Class 1 two immediate openings from both 500m and 800m with spot landings, while Class 2 did two jumpand pulls from 800m and two free falls from 1,500m, also with spot landings. The target was in the middle of a 50m radius circle, and fourpoints were deducted for every metre away from the centre of the target. In the 500m and 800m jumps all points were forfeited ifthe delay exceeded 3 sec. In descents from 1,500m with & 15-20sec delay, a maximum of 200 points per jump was given. Fifty pointswere deducted for every second less than 15, and the parachutist scored zero if he delayed more than 20sec. The maximum points awarded for style was 100. The parachutistmust become and remain stable immediately after leaving the aircraft and must not turn through more than 360°, otherwise hewould lose 100 points. He was allowed to turn towards the target and "track." With Mike McArdle as team manager, the British team comprisedDavid Francombe (RAF Abingdon), Douglas Peacock (RAF Abingdon), and Jeremy Johnston (SAS Skydivers and Ripcord The British team at Leutkirch: from the left, Leslie Howe, Jeremy John- ston, Douglas Peacock, David Francombe, John Think and James McLoughlin. The heading photograph shows the author in free fall from the H-34 helicopter during the international championships (note helping boot at lower right)
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