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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1978-08-17, Page 17imes-Advocate Serving South Huron, North Middlesex & North Lambton Since 1873 second section / August 17, 1978 Faith in cloth and strings must for area parachutists 1 LANDING ON TARGET — Wes Marshall, an experienced jumper, makes a last minute steering adjustment before lan­ ding on target at the Grand Bend Parachute Club landing field.T-A photo r ■/ in between. “When you jump you start counting arch thousand, two thousand, three thousand, four thousand, and check. You then look over your shoulder and if you don’t see anything up there, you won’t. You then deploy your emergency chute,” Bob Wright tells his Saturday class of beginners in this matter-of-fact manner. The idea of leaping out of a plane with only cloth and strings for protection doesn’t seem to bother the student jumpers. “I’m not nervous, I’m excited,” said Bob White, London, before his first jump. “I can’t wait to do it. It is something I always wanted to do.” Student jumpers use what is called a static line for their first few jumps. The line releases the parachute Jumping out of a plane at 3,000 feet may not be everyone’s idea of a Saturday afternoon’s en­ tertainment, but the activity is catching on in the Grand Bend area. The Grand Bend Sport Parachute Club has trained 70 people since the parachute season started in April, They expect to be even busier in the fall. The cost for the thrill of jumping from a plane over the Grand Bend area is $75 for the first jump. Those who want to try it a second time only have to pay $12. The first jump fee includes a $50,000 insurance policy to cover any damage a parachuter might cause when he hits the ground, or some more valuable object. It also covers the mem­ bership fee for the Canadian sport parachute association, equipment rental, in­ struction, and the plane ride. Once a person owns his own equipment the cost is cut to $2 a jump. But before anyone takes the first lunge that person is 'given a five-hour theory course and two hours of ground practise. The course, taught by experienced jumper Bob,Wright, covers everything from how to get out of the plane safely to how to get back on the ground, and everything you should do Staffa folk enjoy play By MRS. J. TEMPLEMAN Staffa Womens Institute members, their husbands and friends, attended the production of “Oklahoma!”, Wednesday evening at the i Huron Country Playhouse.I Mr. & Mrs. Tom Scott are | holidaying in the Western provinces. Miss Darlene Templeman accompanied, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Neilson, Stratford, on a trip to Ottawa last week end. Mr. and Mrs. Bob Maver, Exeter visited recently with Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Miller. Barbara Templeman is holidaying for a few days with the Martyn girls, Russeldale. automatically when they jump so their only concern is exiting the plane properly and getting into the proper position. More experienced jumpers free fal£ and then pull a ripcord to release their chute. The parachute student jumpers use allows them to travel forward at five miles per hour. They can change directions by pulling on one of two cords which turns the parachute either right or left. The cords,, known as risers, adjust panels in the back of the chute to cause the turning motion. Every jumper has two chutes strapped to him. The back chute is the regular one used in the jump, and the front chute is used for emergencies. If a jumper counts to the check point and there is no tug from the chute then he is in trouble. If the chute totally malfunctions, the parachuter from a 3,000 foot jump only has 15 seconds before he hits the ground. By the time his count is done, he has only ten seconds left and can’t waste any time opening his emergency chute. If everything runs properly they hve a 2’/2 minute ride. Although there is an in­ creasing number of people trying the sport, not many of the jumpers stay with it very long. “The vast majority of people don’t stay with it. On the average they have one jump and quit. They just want to experience it once,” said Bob Wright. One of those who came back for a second jump was Kelsey Lawson, London. “I didn’t feel apprehensive before my first jump. I felt secure with the training they had given me,” he said. Lawson said he didn’t have time to be scared on the way down. “There are so many things you have to do and remember that you don’t have time to think about it until you are back on the ground.” Recently the Grand Bend Club equipped their jumpers with radios. An instructor on the ground tells students which way to turn in order to land on target. If the in­ structor fails to get radio contact, he uses a large red arrow on the ground which he points in the direction he wants the parachuter to turn. A parachuter falls about four feet a second. If he is facing properly into the wind thejolt upon landing is equal to jumping off a picnic table. The ride down is longer. LAST MINUTE CHECK — Wes Marshall checks over Ron Williams' equipment before Williams takes his second parachute jump. Seventy people have taken the first jump course at Grand Bend since April. T-A photo 1978 Honey Crop Hwy. 84 3 Miles West of Hensall per [b. Bring your own containers CLOSED SUNDAYS 8 A.M.-9 P.M. 236-4979 A aiscowr SPECIAL PRICES ON 2 & 3-Piece Suits CHARGEX A DIVISION OF EXETER B LOTS OF FREE PARKING * This Thurs., Fri. & Sat., Aug. 17, 18 & 19 < ’/a Price We've Shaved Prices Even Lower For The Final Three Days of Our SUMMER CLEARANCE SALE • All Summer Slacks • All Summer Hats & Caps • Swim Wear • Short Sleeve Shirts SPECIAL RACK • Spring & Summer Jackets • Dress and Casual Shoes Thanks for Shopping at Mcknights Len McKnight & Son s Men's Wear MAIN ST. Phone 235-2320 We sell practically everything that’s needed to build a house from the ground up. We can even supply the light bulbs when the house is finished. 16 Branches to Serve You: AMHERSTBURG EXETER GODERICH GRAND BEND HARROW KINCARDINE KINGSVILLE KITCHENER OWEN SOUND RIDGETOWN SOUTHAMPTON THEDFORD WEST LORNE WINDSOR EAST WINDSOR WEST MATTHEWS 736-2151 235-1422 524-8321 238-2374 738-2221 396-3403 733- 2341 744-6371 376-3181 674-5465 797-3245 296-4991 768-1520 727-6001 734- 1221 254-1143 About a hundred years ago, Conklin Lumber Company got its start in Kingsville, Ontario. Today, with head office in London, the company has 16 branches stretching from Windsor, north to Owen Sound and east to Kitchener. These branches are called Discount Dave’s Home Centres. But Conklin’sis still the parent company. The Discount Dave’s concept was developed to meet the rapdily expanding do-it-yourself market. All the branches were remodelled. Product lines were greatly expanded. And a new “Cash & Carry” policy was introduced. Since its inception, Discount Dave’s has had a remarkable growth pattern. But some things don’t change. Conklin’s is still the name rec­ ognized by most contractors. Forthem, it’s a. name they have grown to respect and depend on. They know that at “Conklin’s” they have a choice of top quality products, competitively priced. They know they can take advantage of the new Cash & Carry policy. But they also know that the company does provide delivery service, that they can get the right products at the right price, delivered to the job site when they need them—without any costly delays. Conklin Lumber and Discount Dave’s. We’re two companies and yet we are one. T ivy xJLuJL JLuJL £ CENTRES y LUMBER CO LTD.