100 years old and flying
Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2011 1:03 pm
Not microlight related, but a cool story.... 
.... (from IOL.co.za)
100 years old and flying
11 April | 07:38
By Ntando Makhubu
Having declined a ride in a hot air balloon and dismissing it as too slow, Cornelius van Dam opted to jump from an aircraft instead to mark his 100th birthday this year.
Strapped tightly to Pretoria Skydiving Club tandem jumper Robert Verner, Van Dam took a leap out of an aircraft flying at 11 000 feet on Sunday.
Van Dam declared that he would do it again.
“It felt so good. I loved flying in the air.
“In fact I will be back for another jump when I turn 101,” he said.
Van Dam, a retired air photographer, said he decided that skydiving was what he wanted to do after flying for years and taking aerial photographs.
“This is like a second childhood for me and I must do it before I die,” he said.
Before they took off, Verner, who has been in the business of tandem jumping for 15 years, said the prospect of flying with Van Dam was exciting.
Verner said that although they did not anticipate any problems they took a few precautions before the flight.
They had an extra oxygen tank in the aircraft and there was also a good medical team to step in if the need arose.
Verner and Van Dam did 40 seconds of free fall, after which the parachute, attached to Verner, opened up.
The pair then flew through the air for three minutes to land on the ground to applause from the crowd gathered at Wonderboom airport.
Friends and family were out in force to watch the tandem jump, and waited in anticipation as the aircraft took to the skies.
There was a lot of excitement when the pair and their pink and blue parachute were spotted drifting along and towards the landing strip.
Van Dam’s son Chris said they were all excited by his father’s tenacity at taking the leap.
“It has been his life’s desire to skydive, so we did all we could to make it possible,” he said. - Pretoria News
.... (from IOL.co.za)100 years old and flying
11 April | 07:38
By Ntando Makhubu
Having declined a ride in a hot air balloon and dismissing it as too slow, Cornelius van Dam opted to jump from an aircraft instead to mark his 100th birthday this year.
Strapped tightly to Pretoria Skydiving Club tandem jumper Robert Verner, Van Dam took a leap out of an aircraft flying at 11 000 feet on Sunday.
Van Dam declared that he would do it again.
“It felt so good. I loved flying in the air.
“In fact I will be back for another jump when I turn 101,” he said.
Van Dam, a retired air photographer, said he decided that skydiving was what he wanted to do after flying for years and taking aerial photographs.
“This is like a second childhood for me and I must do it before I die,” he said.
Before they took off, Verner, who has been in the business of tandem jumping for 15 years, said the prospect of flying with Van Dam was exciting.
Verner said that although they did not anticipate any problems they took a few precautions before the flight.
They had an extra oxygen tank in the aircraft and there was also a good medical team to step in if the need arose.
Verner and Van Dam did 40 seconds of free fall, after which the parachute, attached to Verner, opened up.
The pair then flew through the air for three minutes to land on the ground to applause from the crowd gathered at Wonderboom airport.
Friends and family were out in force to watch the tandem jump, and waited in anticipation as the aircraft took to the skies.
There was a lot of excitement when the pair and their pink and blue parachute were spotted drifting along and towards the landing strip.
Van Dam’s son Chris said they were all excited by his father’s tenacity at taking the leap.
“It has been his life’s desire to skydive, so we did all we could to make it possible,” he said. - Pretoria News
