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It screwed me up. I dreamt about it day and night. It attracted but frightened me. Lastly, it was my job...
It fell to me to work at Ivanovo parachute works, among its ideological staff. And you may take it from me, it is not easy to exploit parachutes having no idea of what freefall is.
I used to have some uncertain feeling that there was some mystery while being between heaven and earth. The mystery which overcomes life instinct. The one I’ve seen in the fiery eyes of the children of Icarus.
"I shall do it for sure!”, I said to myself... and determined to jump... Several months later I found myself on a drop-zone in the Vladimir Region. And it was just the preamble of the story!
Drop-zone is a big area intended for parachute jumps. Picturesque scenery is vivified by aircrafts, takeoff strip, wind cones and a lodge where admins, dispatchers and medical staff are located. Also there one can have a meal, shelter oneself from the weather, prepare for a jump.
Prior to jump a fist-time skydiver must spend a whole day on the drop-zone. First goes registration, medical inspection and settlement (one jump cost me 700 rubles). Then goes briefing. A first-time skydiver must practice to perfection feet position while landing. This phase of jump is considered to be the most dangerous and unpredictable. So, we jumped and jumped and jumped... Looking at our instructor (as handsome as George Clouny and constantly smoking) we felt the importance of the moment. Fluids of his masculinity anticipated opened canopy over my head. I was given a chance to fly…
Then we were set out with equipment (D-6 main canopy, reserve canopy, helmet, harness/container) and signed our names in a special register. While waiting our turn for boarding we saw first heroes jumping. From the ground opened parachutes looked like blowballs. It was so wonderful!...
Meanwhile the aircraft landed to take our group . My heart missed a beat … there was no turning back...
Though D-6 parachute is designed with first-time skydiver in mind, doubt came upon me. But I realized that I really needed this jump. So, it's hit-or-miss!
In AN-28 aircraft we benched along the boards. I was trying not to think. Here the instructor is going (he will “see us off” from the aircraft). On seeing his smiling face my heart beat with joy.
So, the door was closed and the aircraft took off. My heart sank. The view was so magnificent! Houses and aircrafts were as plain as the nose on your face! Then the door opened and the instructor beckoned the first guy from our group. I was the fourth. The first skydiver walked toward the exit door. He did all the exiting procedures as we were touch during briefing, went out of the airplane and disappeared. Done!
 Then two more guys stepped into the sky. My turn…I stood up, approached the exit door and looked down. My heart beat high. I felt the instructor smacked me on my shoulder... made a step and felt the air underfoot. I opened my eyes and saw only sky around me. My heart missed a beat. I counted seconds as we were taught during the briefing. Then I closed my eyes and pulled the ripcord. My parachute opened quickly. What a relief! There was no longer any sense of falling or speed. It was mostly like floating in the air. I had never seen such a beautiful scenery! People and objects on the ground looked so small! I didn't fear any more. I felt quite comfortable. I was a stranger in the sky, but I wasn’t punished for that.
Relief grew into delight. Silence deafened…Seconds in the sky were hanging like minutes on the ground. While descending I could see grass and leaves. The ground was approaching. I tucked and landed. I didn’t keep my feet. Nothing ached, I was safe and sound! My feelings were subtle. I jumped to feet and picked up my parachute. It was so exciting! I couldn’t express all my feelings! Face relaxed into smile!
Meanwhile the aircraft made a circle and five more canopies opened in the sky...
Guys from our group were going toward the lodge holding their canopies. Their faces were shining with happiness. "Good job!”, said our instructor.
Several hours later I was at home. I looked into the mirror. The face of the person who has just stepped into the sky…Something in me had changed. The sky was deep in my eyes...
I’m still imaging the flight. I’m all in the sky, in the air white and soft like cotton. It tested my stamina in full and my life now seems to be shining with different colors.
People surround me. From the next room some voices are heard. It's time for dinner… It’s time to return back to the Earth...
Juliya Chudakova
Advertising and PR manager
JSC “Polyot”
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