During the 1998 Canadian National Championships we met Francis Jackson.
Francis was from South Africa and was studying at University of Toronto.
He brought with him a form of skydiving from the United States called Freeflying.
This type of skydiving involved flying on all axis of your body. Head up,
head down or even planed out flat in a tracking dive. My buddy Erik and I
quickly left the flat flying world of Relative Work and got right into Freefly
Skydiving.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Here Francis shows contempt for RW skydiving by using Erik and his new RW jumpsuit as a skyboard. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
He gets stabilized and rides The Viking down a few thousand feet. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At the 1998 Nationals party, Francis demonstrated his fire breathing skills. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
He juggles what he doesn't eat. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
It seemed something was always exploding on the Drop Zone |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I don't even know what this was.... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
But it blowed up real good! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This is Geoff. He still owes me money. Dude, if you see this, give me a call. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The view from above Skydive Arizona |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Another Flareless Landing |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Me after a sit dive with my 170 Sabre |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A quick hop through the desert to Coolidge. See the price for jumps near the bowl? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Erik uses a disposible camera for this shot |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mike Mullen's King Air is the worlds fastest jumpship. Less thank 13 minutes to 13,000 feet. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Here's Mike back on the ground before all the jumpers landed |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Another Viking self portrait. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We made it back to Skydive Arizona just in time for a Skyvan last load. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Back home we worked on bringing Freefly to our friends at Markham |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This jump with Randy was shot by Derek Radford. It made the cover of Canpara - Canada's Skydiving Magazine. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Randy and I did some sit flying. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unfortunately we weren't happy with the DZ's policy and safety went downhill sofar as to let an inexperienced pilot fly a tail dragger... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Viking and I refused to even get in the plane with him on regular tricycle gear. Fortunately nobody was seriously injured in what could have been a nightmare. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Actually, Geoff, the guy that owes me the money is credited for getting his students and passengers out safely. Oh and if the pilot is ever reading this....F-U. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Getting ready to leave the Twin Otter over Skydive City, Zephyrhills Florida |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Everyone mugs for the camera |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mari & Paul doing a Tandem skydive over Z-Hills |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The US Army Golden Nights were practicing that day |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
