Jump from C-130 at PLAB cancelled the previous day.
Reveille at 2am
Simple warm-up exercises at 3am
Pre-jump training at 3.30am
Load up parachutes and other stores at 4am
Breakfast at 5am
Up the bus at 6am
[From this point onwards, I lost my sense of time.]
Arrive at SBAB
Unload stores at RV point
Chinook-interior orientation
Back to RV point
Watch the first sortie fit up, enter the chinook. Chinook takes off, and flies circles in the air around the airbase. Streamers let out from chinook, floats straight downwards, to much cheers, considering the c-130 jump was cancelled due to ’strong winds’.
And the first pass of sortie 1 makes their exit.
*Fast forward*
I fit up my parachute and reserve. Noticed that my mains is serial number 108 [block number of old home], and my reserve is serial number 656 [block number of current home]. I must be feeling damn sian.
Routine fit-up checks by jumpmasters, and we sat down to wait for our turn to load up the chinook.
…which got delayed due to the chinook going back to refuel.
More time-wasting.
Finally, the walk down to the compass ring. Chinook hovers down and lands. Hear the mighty roar and feel the huge blasts of wind. As I walked towards the chinook, the turbo suddenly started up, generating lots of noise and heat, that we had to run all the way into the chinook to avoid them as much as possible.
“Fasten safety belt!” And we have lift-off.
Looked out the window to beautiful scenery.
The never-ending, fast-paced “patta-patta” sounds produced by the rotary wings is the best metaphor for my heartbeat.
“500ft, prepare for action!”
“First pass, unfasten safety belt!”
“Stand up!”
“Hook up!”
“Check static line!”
“Check equipment!” “Helmet, capewell, life jacket, chest strap, reserve snap, ripcord, leg straps, pack tie, static line, clear and hook-up!”
“Sound off for equipment check!” “7 okay!” “6 okay!” “5 okay!” “4 okay!” “3 okay!” “2 okay!” “1 okay, stick okay!”
“move forward!” “Right left right left.”
“5 seconds, stand at the door!” “Right! Left! Right! Left!”
“Green on… GO!”
The people of the second and third pass started cheering as we watched the first pass sink out of view as they jumped out the back ramp. Being in the third pass, I cheered along too.
The guy on my right looked really nervous.
Second pass out.
As the chinook made a turn, it was our turn.
“Stand at the door” “right left right left”
“Go!” “right left right left”
“Go!” “right left right left”
“Go!” “right left right left”
“Go!” “right left right left”
And I found myself standing at the edge of the ramp.
“Go!”
-to be continued-
