ROF= Ring of fire Odyssey MEF-H = Marine Expeditionary Force- Hargus
ITW 85 = Into The West Journey
Monday July 26, 2010
Lost Prairie Airfield, Marion, Montana Skydive Lost Prairie Osprey Sport Parachute Club
FreeBird T-Bird
Bucket list time for T-bird to cross off skydiving from the list. This wasn't planned at the start of this ITW journey but we criss-crossed the West and diverted to be at Lost Prairie Airport, Marion , Montana for one of the biggest jump meets in the US this week.
Skydive Lost Prairie operates out of the Lost Prairie airfield, Osprey Sport Parachute Club, and jumpers from all over the US, and many countries,... make the pilgrimage here for the week to 10 days of skydiving.
Yes they do offer skydiving lessons and you can become licensed?/ certified? Not sure of the correct term; I chose to be a pilot and stay IN the plane.
We didn't have the time to go through the course to be certified individual jumper, but T-bird has staked out a "Tandem Jump" with a certified, licensed instructor as the best, safest, way to do a skydive parachute jump.
Marion is about 30 miles west of Kalispell, Montana, Hwy 2west like you're heading up to Libby, Montana. A few miles west of Marion, turn north on Lost Prairie Rd. A few miles of dirt road and hang a right at the sign.
You can tell from the tents, campers,... mostly tents that these are the hard core jumpers; just like ski bums. Jump bums? I say that with affection and respect.
These are people that would just about rather parachute jump ... than eat. They cut costs on expenses so they can pursue what is their passion. I like that! I understand priorities.
T-bird is socked away for a few hours to do paperwork, tandem jumping instruction school with master jumper Clayton, go over the instructions until passed as competent, practice jump sequence rules, practice landing techniques, ... ect...
So,... I get to do one of my favorite things; walk around the airport and see what's there. It;s not easy to do after 911.
The jump plane today is a supper twin otter; a de Havilland Canada DHC-6 twin otter, a really good plane for jumping with high wings and a large exit door.
getting closer to jump time, time to suit up. Final check... it;s go time.
Getting the plane ready. Pilot Sue does preflight checklist. Sue already has her ATP - Airline Transport Pilots license. I think Sue has the pulse of a skydiver driver.
This pod of jumpers is about 14 people and they're going up to 13,000' to jump and free-fall almost a minute. No static line for these guys. These are the last of the independents.
T-Bird on deck.
T-Bird on deck and ready for boarding sequence/ seat assignment.
Taxi out.
Sue has a full load of jumpers and climbs out slow to gain airspeed; Sue is a very good pilot!
They are out of the plane; skydivers are like ant size in the sky. I'm zoomed in to the max and can't find them. tiny specs in Big Sky country.
searching.... I don't even know what color pattern their chute is.
I'm zoomed out to the max looking for a tandem chute.
Got it! Touchdown T-Bird! The Eagle has landed!
Coming in ... see the wind flag? wind coming straight into the camera lens... then Clayton turns the chute into the wind to land; He's good! That extra bit of lift made a softer landing.
A triumphal walk back across the field.
Debrief with the team.
A last look around.
Goodbye Lost Prairie, Goodbye Osprey Sport Parachute Club; I'll never forget you. Our differences don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. No matter what,... we'll still always have Lost Prairie. Gee, this is almost as good as Casablanca.
Goodbye Tin Man, goodbye Scarecrow, goodbye Lion, goodby Chocolate Moose.
T-Bird,... baby... you did this all on your own. You got guts kiddo. I am so proud of you!
You never drink twice from the same stream.
