BOB WHITE
The Kentucky Standard
John Thornton and Joel Gentz could have spent spring break with their friends in Cancun.
But that wasn’t exciting enough for the two Purdue University ROTC cadets.
Instead, Thornton and Gentz headed to Bardstown where they spent two days being trained in a sport offering exciting enough for anyone.
Greene County Sport Parachute’s Jim Moore took the pair under his wing for one weekend in March to teach them everything they needed to know to make their first solo jumps.
After hours of training they were able to do three tandem jumps Saturday. The final first-day jump was just before sunset and both agreed the view from above could not be beat.
The next day, Thornton and Getz headed back to the grass airstrip to resume their training.
They knew if all went well during their training, they might fall alone from 10,000 feet.
But first came more training and more tandem jumps.
While each jump may seem the same as the last to those on the ground, instructor Jim Moore said each additional jump provides something new for the student.
“The first jump is what we call sensory overload,” Moore said as he mimicked eye-blinders with his hands. “Every jump after that, the student sees a little bit more.” Moore’s hands widened away from his eyes as he tried to express the panoramic view someone like himself, with nearly 3,400 jumps under his belt, might enjoy while falling from the sky..jpg)
Inside a trailer cluttered with parachute gear, Moore had Getz practice freefall forms on a plywood skid on the floor.
The pair also learned how to pack a chute, by watching another spring-breaker, Eastern Kentucky University student Nathan Pertusset, advance to the solo jumper level.
All three agreed the training received in Bardstown was professional, but comfortable.
“They do a great job,” Thornton said. “They’re not overly commercial. This isn’t an assembly line. You get a lot of one-on-one time.”
As the sun rose higher in the sky, more experienced jumpers from throughout central Kentucky began arriving at the grass strip, eager for another jump. T
he DeHavilland Beaver aircraft used for jumpers has floor capacity for up to eight jumpers. Only the pilot gets a chair.
For less than a $10 bill, experienced jumpers get a lift to 10,000 feet and a place to put their feet on the ground in the landing zone.
Thornton, strapped to the instructor, joined Pertusset and six other jumpers for the first flight of the day.
Getz waited on the ground for his pal to get his last tandem jump in. 
About 15 minutes later a couple tiny bodies are seen falling from the Beaver. Even though the single-engine plane ascends to a height that makes it hard to see, the signature sound of its rotary-piston engine makes it easy to follow.
Keeping track of the tiny bodies falling out is another story. Eventually, chutes are deployed to give ground-watchers something to see as a pair of veteran jumpers make their way to the ground.
The Beaver made another round to ascend even higher where the rest of the jumpers exited the plane.
“That’s John,” Getz said pointing to a colorful chute carrying the extra weight of the instructor and student. One of the veteran jumpers skidded along his butt upon landing, Pertusset flared his chute a bit early, but not bad for a first jump on a new chute. Thornton and his trainer made a perfect, textbook tandem landing.
Everyone made it safe and sound to the ground.
The students had completed their tandem training.
Thornton logged his final tandem jump in a book, along with the instructor’s critique of his handling of the chute.
Their training complete, both were ready for their next step – a solo jump. In the end, the spring-breakers spent about the same amount of money in Bardstown as did their buddies who went to Cancun. They said it was money well spent and an experience they’ll never forget.
“This is definitely addictive,” Thornton said. “I think we’ll be doing more of this.”
With the training the pair received at Bardstown’s Greene County Sport Parachute, they will be able to jump at any location they choose throughout the country. While you don’t have to spend a weekend of training to make a jump in Bardstown, a full-length course allows students to move up into the world of skydiving.
To learn more about parachuting in Bardstown log on to www.skydiveky.com or call 348-9531.
Bob White can be reached at 348-9003 Ext. 116 or by e-mail at bwhite@kystandard.com.
Re-published with permission from The Kentucky Standard. Story and photos by Bob White
