The Coconino sun., 1927-03-04
Harold Sykes Tells How It Feels 10 Travel
By Parachute


ing less than a bowling gale, and re-
quired enough work to steady any
ones nerves.
He Makes Discovery
made one rather startling discov-
cry in getting out, and that was that
the exhaust pipe was very, very hot,
as my knee came into contact with it..
Apparently the remedy for that was
to move on. The safest part Of the
wing to walk on is the front edge, per-
haps 10 inches wide, and apparently
about three. This portion is thick,
and seemed to be solid wood or metal
under the fabric, Though no stop was
made for investigation as to the exact
nsstsva Of construction. After getting
in front of the front guy wires, it
was considerably safer than it looked,
with a full-sized hurricane to hold a
person from accidentally falling for
ward
After getting out to the chute, the
idea was to sit down on the wing, with
the feet hanging over the front edge,
and the right arm around the strut,
and buckle the two ropes from the
ring to the canvas harness around the
waist. Then the sack was to be ur-
laced, but held tight shut so that the
wind wouldn't whip out the parachute
prematurely. This was accomplished
in what seemed to be satisfactory
manner, remembering that it was not
part of the game to put one of the
ropes around back of the strut or guy
wire, as this trick from advice re-
ceived, is looked upon unfavorably by
all pilots. 1t has a tendency to take
part of the plane with the parachute,
or else the parachute refuses to leave
the plane until they both are at rest
somewhere below.
Mr.. MilhauSen was to signal when
the zero hour arrived, as he would be
the best judge of when the plane was
over the right place for satisfactory
drop. The direction and velocity of
the wind when the plane left the
ground were taken into account, so
that unless it had changed, the jump
er and chute should land somewhere
on the field.
| looked back, and after waiting
perhaps minute, the signal was Civ
en-; the pilot throttling down his mo-
tor at the same time.
Rolls OFF Wing
With this type of parachute per-
son does not jump, strictly speaking. |
He is sitting down, and merely leans
forward and rolls off the front edge
of the wing.
This was done.
Previous instructions were that as
the jumper went over, he could grab |
the ring as he left, or not, just as he
chose. did. The ropes attached to
the belt are long enough SO that the /
ring will be within arms reach over
head. This is after the chute is open
and all is serene.
The sensation Of the chute dragging |
back was very distinct. Even as it /
was leaving the saclt, Il seemed to be
holding back, very much as though /
you were riding a bicycle, and someone
grabbed hold of your coat tail The
rope tying the bottom of the sack to
The strut was long enough so that the
sack would go just over the front edge
IF the wing and hang in an inverted
position.
Things seemed u, happen rather
'apidly after leaving the plane BY
lie tllliS 4 COAAu lOGdtE EAtG CEliC II WAS
partly open. Don't know now why /
lad to locate it, except that / had
ort Of friendly curiosity in knowing
whether it had entered into the spirit
# the occasion 1t had, and was open
ng beautifully. Yes, very beautiful
y, it seemed when ! finally saw it, APP
under me, and back of my
light ear. | was probably in an i'm
,erted position about that time, as
he ground was, oddly enough, over
lead and sort Of on one corner; that
5, not level, like it ought to be- The
lane was gone; don't know where
just disappeared, though it did seem
S though the motor could be heard
omewhere in the distance.
The parachute did not jerk espe-
ially, as it was pulling back all the
ime, and when it was opening, did
ot do so instantly. The ring was
irnly elutched in both hands, as it
7as the most substantial object in the
ear vicinity Once during the descent
regarded tha two rornS con14pcfinorsi