🚀 go-pugleaf

After "only" 3months i have my copy of Air and Space in my hands.
It's the Oct/Nov. issue with the article of skydiving with the
Russians.I just want to say thanks to Mark Smith for taking the time
to send me the details of which vol. and number.
Looking at the pictures (and my photos) and reading the article
brought back the memories of the Moscow Boogie '92.
The people,the place,the jumps,the food (well, not so fond memories
there!!)and the general atmosphere all around.were great.
Standing out most in the memory dept. are some jumps we did out
of their Mi8 and Mi6 choppers.One 14way from 14,000 out the rear
of the Mi8,everything got settled by 12k then we hit the cloud.
Every thousand feet just brush the ice off the goggles and scream
at the person next to you(with exhileration,not fear!) We could see
the whole formation but just held it together.(concerning the recent
discussion on this topic...no flames please..I totally enjoyed it)
The cloud lasted to 4,500 (break-off height for the Russians),they
split,the rest of us came in,turned one more point,yelled,yahooed
and broke off.When we all had landed we got together and everybody
said it was a great jump!! 2points from 14,000!!!!we were all soaked
from head to toe in the front from the cloud,but totally happy!

Another jump that stands out is one that six of us "foriegners"did
using the Russian paratroopers gear.(photo on p.62).Out of the
Antonov at 100meters (static-line).That was a buzz,standing in the
door looking down,seeing the blades of grass,then looking straight
across ans seeing your friends standing on the side of the DZ waving
and taking photo's.....waiting for the buzzer and the slap on the
rig....then go!!!...getting tossed around by the 120mph slipstream
(the An2 had to go flat out to stay up at 100mts!),then the softest
of openings from the huge,cotton round....3 occillations and boom....
on the deck!!The adrenalin was pumping for about 2 hours after that!!
After in the bar with the vodka and 13proof beer flowing freely,there
was a presentation of paratrooper badges and patches to the newly
inducted Russian paratroopers...they now hold pride of place in my
collection and will soon be afixed to my gear-bag and rig.

The next boogie should be in early July,so if anybody is interested
let me know and i will give you as much info as i can.
they even let you fly the planes...i got to fly 05..the one on the front
cover.....hence this out-pouring of memories!!!Where else but Russia can
you do the thing we did!!!

No tut-tutting or tsk-tsking or flames please....what we did we did of
our own free will and totally enjoyed orselves doing it.

                          Fluro