Not a bird, not a plane ...

| 17 Jul 2012 | 12:14

Ilya Ladyzhensky from Wantage, jumps with Desiree Larson from New York City. Photo by Nicholas Ortiz

Scuba Joe, the tandem instructor at Sussex Airport, goes over the jumping and landing instructions one more time. Photo by Gale Miko

Chris Pirl of Wantage folds the parachutes at Sussex Airport on Saturday during a skydive. Photo by Gale Miko

Alex Divirsk of Hoboken on a skydive jump at Sussex airport. Photo by Gale Miko

And it's a smooth landing for Alex Divirsk of Hoboken at Sussex Airport. Photo by Gale Miko

Megan Clifford of Hoboken went on her first skydive at Sussex Airport on Saturday. Clifford says there isn't much that scares her and the jump was great. Photo by Gale Miko

Back to the hanger to refold the parachute. Photo by Gale Miko

SUSSEX AIRPORT — Chris Pirl of Wantage has been folding parachutes for over a year now. He says that when you get really good you can fold one in seven minutes.

Saturday was a perfect day for new skydivers to take a jump. First, though, skydivers get a serious lesson in how to operate the parachute and all the rules of the skies.

Scuba Joe, the tandem instructor at the airport, fitted Megan Cliford, Alex Divirsk and Jesse Vanderhoff, who'd all come up from Hoboken, for their first skydive jump. As a tandem jumper, Scuba Joe connects to a student skydiver by means of a harness. That way he guides the student through the jump.

One important thing to remember: When he gives the signal at six thousand feet to pull the handle for the parachute to open, do as he says. If you don't, though, Scuba Joe will pull it for the student at five thousand feet.

MOST VIEWED

MOST COMMENTED