Page 63 - Drop Zone News Today

Divers instructors helmet captures the last jump of the day. >> you see a guy jump out of a plane. he sales over flat land. looks like nothing could possibly go wrong. >> the instructor floats towards the drop zone, an open field. the only object in sight, a trailer used to pick up the jumpers. >> it was like the moth to the flame. he was just drawn to that trailer. it was like, come on. theres a whole field. really hes going to hit that? >> hit it, he does. the sky diver injures his arm and eve...

>> april 2011. 4,000 feet above colorados fremont county airport, a sky divers instructors helmet captures the last jump of the day. >> you see a guy jump out of a plane. he sales over flat land. looks like nothing could possibly go wrong. >> the instructor floats towards the drop zone, an open field. the only object in sight, a trailer used to pick up the jumpers. >> it was like the moth to the flame. he was just drawn to that trailer. it was like, come on. theres a whole field. really hes goin...

Plane. he sales over flat land. looks like nothing could possibly go wrong. >> the instructor floats towards the drop zone, an open field. the only object in sight, a trailer used to pick up the jumpers. >> it was like the moth to the flame. he was just drawn to that trailer. it was like, come on. theres a whole field. really hes going to hit that? >> hit it, he does. the sky diver injures his arm and eventually is amputated. but it hasnt stopped him from sky diving again. >> ive never been sky ...

Out of planes all morning. on their fifth jump of the day, they decide to ratchet up the adrenaline to try one of the most dangerous formations a flock can perform. its called the stack. >> its when you get a number of wing suiters actually flying one over top of the other. you can only see whats in front of your eyes. so you have a hard time seeing the people behind you. you have to rely on those people to do the right thing and not fly into you. definitely, a large risk whenever a stack goes w...

I look down. maybe i should just land there. >> ferguson decides to land about 80 yards north of his intended target until a sudden burst of wind knocks him back on course. >> all of a sudden, it was like i got a big gust of wind from my backside. almost like a downdraft. like just pushing down on me. >> ferguson is heading directly for the trailer, parked inside the drop zone, which is used to pick up jumpers once they land. >> i got fixated on the trailer. and when you get fixation, nine times...

Attention to the safety of his team members who start reforming around him. >> i need to make sure i am aiming myself back towards the drop zone to make sure im safe and to make sure everybody else gets back. i consider that my responsibility as the person on the bottom. >> but as quickly as bland reorients himself, unbelievably, it happens again. another pocket of dead air, and another midair collision. this time, two different wing-suit fliers. as they tumble in the sky, the team reaches 5,000...

The day was going great. this was my third jump that day. i tell the other two jumpers that i will film them coming out. >> ferguson gets out on the strut of the plane to capture the other sky divers as they jump the nearly 4,000 feet to earth. >> i just let go of the aircraft and just watch it fly away, which is what you do. >> after free falling for several seconds, ferguson pulls his parachute and plots a plan for landing. >> i was facing into the wind the whole time. im thinking, im not goin...

To do the right thing and to not fly into you. definitely a large risk whenever a stack goes wrong. >> but all seems okay on exit. team leader scott bland points the flock toward the drop zone as scotty burns and another wing-suit diver shoot the action from the wing. and thats when it happens. fellow wing suiter zach hits a pocket of dead air caused by another fliers wake. >> i started to see zach slightly move backwards. i went, oh, no. oh, oh, dont do that. >> hes dropping like a bowling ball...

>> how about go to the command center. >> go with it. youve got to act like youre at nasa. >> admiral gregory. >> knowledge cave. >> a knowledge cave. and a white lab coat for chuck. >> i almost said drop zone. >> so this is how it goes. >> mike murphys here. >> now over to the command center. and seriously, chuck goes like this, pffft. >> chuck, i think thats very transparent. >> we want to make everybody feel as if theyre welcome. >> chuck, weve got one thing. and we are going to drive it like...

The whole time. im thinking, im not going to make it back. i look down. maybe i should just land there. >> ferguson decides to land about 80 yards north of his intended target until a sudden burst of wind knocks him back on course. >> all of a sudden, it was like i got a big gust of wind from my backside. almost like a downdraft. like just pushing down on me. >> ferguson is heading directly for the trailer, parked inside the drop zone, which is used to pick up jumpers once they land. >> i got fi...