The Tampa Tribune from Tampa, Florida • 212

Parachutingcontinued Eager to experience a jump, parachutists hurl out the door of an airplane. about 3,200 feet, and you won't have to worry about freezing up, not. pulling the rip cord and splattering to your death. For everybody, the first five jumps are "static line" jumps. The rip cord is automatically pulled by a line connected to the plane; thus the chute opens almost instantly and there is no free fall.

The instruction, all equipment and the plane ride necessary for your first jump cost $50 at the Zephyrhills Jump Center. While fear is a natural element in the first jump, many jumpers say it's the second jump that's thejnost frightening. On your second jump, they say, you're fully aware of what you're doing and still do it. COST OF EQUIPMENT AND JUMPING It's a cheap sport but it need not be terribly expensive either. of gear.

You can pack your own main chute if you wish but a reserve chute must be packed by a licensed rigger. It must be inspected and repacked every 60 days and will bear a tag to that effect. THE SENSATION So what does it feel like, falling through the air like that? It's tough to describe, skydivers say. "It's just, a rush, mentally and said one skydiver. "It's every dream you've every had about flying," said another." However, you do not get the sensation of falling because there are no stationary objects to relate to.

"It feels like you're standing in front of a fan," said Ted Bern-hardi, a 26-year-old New Yorker with about 400 jumps. SMITTY THE JUMPER H.T. Smith just calls me of Wichita. time wrote documentaries for WFLA-TV. He's prepared more than 2,500 learners for their first jumps.

Basically, Hooper said, there are four basic topics covered before the jump: exiting from the plane in the proper position; maneuvering and controlling the main chute; emergency procedures; and landing instructions. Depending on the site of the class and how quickly you pick it up, covering the four topics will take three to six hours. Among other things, you'll be suspended in a parachute harness and asked questions about proper procedure. Landings will be practiced off a platform about four feet high. If you get this far, the chances are excellent that you'll go ahead and make your first jump.

Of all the people Hooper has taught, only four backed out once they had gone through the ground instruction. The first jump is made from Once you learn how and continue jumping without buying any of your own equipment, it'll cost you about 15 per jump. That would include the cost of renting all necessary gear and the price of the plane ride. If you own or borrow all your gear, the plane trip alone will cost about $7 at most commercial centers. You can expect to spend about $55 for an altimeter; $30 for a helmet; $40 for boots (many experienced jumpers simply use tennis shoes or the like); $75 for a jump suit.

It's possible to pick up a main chute for 125. Like any other sport, there's a top line of equipment. The latest in chutes is Strato-Star, a square-shaped high-performance chute for the very experienced skydiver. It costs about $600. A Strato-Cloud little bigger than the star, is about $750.

A top-of-the line reserve chute costs about $250, and the harness and chute container $300. So it's quite easy to get on the plane with over $1,000 worth 12 Florida Accent Sunday, Januar2; maa-e his 211th and last jump in.