Trans4mers 2014

Blog post by Matt Kingston, Blesma Member

The Blesma has, for the last two consecutive years, run an expedition to California to give former servicemen and women the opportunity to throw themselves out of a perfectly good airplane and learn to Skydive.  This is my blog of the third year.

You may ask yourself, why?  Learning to skydive doesn't give us new transferable skills. It doesn’t really help me or anyone else with their physical rehabilitation but what it does give us is the opportunity to be part of a group that is facing similar issues, to talk to other people that understand the problems we face.  To be given the chance to prove to ourselves and to each other that no matter what restrictions we face, there is always a solution to any problem.  An objective can be achieved in a different way – it might hurt a bit more, or it might be uncomfortable, but we can still get it done.  Not only is this trip a great way of catching up with the ‘lads’ and sharing stories, it is also a soldier’s way of mental healing. The blokes might not even know they are doing it. Adventure training in the military was there for people to relax and have a good time but also to bond, find new limits and learn new skills. THAT is why we are here………. oh, and there was also rumours of a hoofing run ashore in San Diego!

The instructors were Dave, Kim, and Andy who were supported by Harriet and Ed (Blesma Member) for admin support, Paul the camera man, Russ for maintenance and repairs and Dave Coulton the event manager.

I have not jumped out of a plane in the military, let alone skydived.  Walking inside the hanger at Netheravon military airfield, it suddenly dawned on me that I might actually be doing so.  I entered the lecture room for introductions and a presentation, I realised that 18 other blokes had the same idea! We met the Instructors - Dave, Andy and Kim, who we quickly realised were highly trained, experienced skydivers that genuinely had a passion for the Transformers Project.

After some short introductions, we moved out to the hanger for some kit familiarisation and basic ‘flying’ lessons, covering body positions, alternative ideas for our missing limbs/prosthetics and safety briefs.  Each bloke faced their own individual challenges that were quickly resolved with the help of the instructors, after which we moved onto Basingstoke wind tunnel

Day 1 - We arrived at the very relaxed Elsinore Skydive centre at 08:30.  Hoping to make a good impression and fly the flag, we all wore our Blesma T-shirts. 

Getting on the plane, I was rehearsing my procedures and going through the motions again and again, I knew then inside and out.  I was last to exit the plane, watching the pros throw themselves out with no hesitation turned my stomach. “You’re a f****ing bootneck, get it done” was all that was going through my head.  At the door, I looked down, still confident I knew my drills in and out…. up, down, out the door. Silence, my senses were overloaded, spinning towards the earth, my mind didn't compute I was speeding towards a big brown and green blog and it took me what seemed an eternity to engage my brain and start the drills, HARD ARCH!  I took control and tried to make myself slow down, stop ’flapping’ (not literally).  I reached the end of my drill sequence and was about to make the final movement of arch, reach, locate, PULL, but I found myself suspended beneath my canopy?  I looked up to see my lines were twisted, a minor nuisance factor, all I cared about was, was is it BIG and is it RECTANGULAR! YES!! I unwound the twist and began my control checks. Annoyed I hadn't pulled my own canopy, I began my relaxed descent to the airfield.  It was amazing, on one side a mountain range and the other Lake Elsinore.

Day 3 - We started the morning at Skydive Elsinore and tried to squeeze in a couple of jumps and get everyone onto level 3 ready for Monday morning.  Luke got the first one in, me next. Just as I was about to board the plane it was cancelled due to high winds and dangerous landing conditions.  With very little prospect of things improving we hit the road for San Diego.

After some great food, awards were presented and we were given a guided tour of the station.  The guys were great and very accommodating and everyone had to have a go on the Fireman's Pole….obviously.

On behalf of Blesma I would like to thank the Wounded Warrior Project and the San Diego Fire Department for a brilliant evening and hosting us.

Day 12 - Hop ’n’ Pop

After a relatively relaxed weekend where guys were resting stumps (and heads) we were straight back into it Monday morning.

A normal Skydive normally consists of exiting the plane at about 13,000 feet, 45 to 60 seconds of free fall then a parachute (canopy) deployment around 5000 feet. But not today…

On a Hop ’n’ Pop you jump at 5,000 feet, and to pass the jump you have to exit the plane, get stable and deploy your canopy within 10 seconds.  This jump was playing on my mind a little.

Once up in the plane there’s no turning back. At the door, 3…2….1 GO. Out, stable, deploy…. done, 5 seconds I think I counted. This was the turning point of my sky-diving career: all fear was gone and I now had total confidence in my ability, the drills and the equipment - time to start having some real fun in the air.

Day 14 (last day) - Qualified to fly……