Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
Sender: valrik@carina.unm.edu (Rick J. Valles)
Followup-To: Skydiving in Las Cruces
Distribution: World
Keywords: "Country Skydiving"
Lines: 49
Actually, the Belen (Albuquerque) DZ looks a lot like driving out to the Pecos
Parachute School, although our hangar space is quite comfy. The view of the
surrounding New Mexico country is breathtaking and we have some of the
greatest sunsets! Our DZ is at 5,200 MSL and we do have our share of cold
weather, but not enough to complain about (I still do!).
Our Beech C-18 (yes, C-18!) jump pilot just hit his 10,000th hour flying. He
is also a jumper, I, rigger and all the rest. I just recently made PP-ASEL
under his flight instruction, as well as used one of his reserve pack jobs!
(for a total of 8 round and 3 square rides!)
The people are quite friendly and always willing to help. For entertainment,
there's always Dan on the Flute or little Jimmy McAnally trying to trip over
your lines while you pack. :)
So, if you are looking for a DZ where you can jump and also get your Pilot's
license, it's an ideal place.
Speaking of our Mr. Daniel (D.B. Swooper) Briggs, I'm going to organize his
PhD graduation Skydive, hopefully over the Very Large Array (VLA) radio
telescopes on the St. Augustine Plains about 52 n.m. southwest of our DZ.
I flew over it this afternoon to scout it out, but unfortunately Dan couldn't
join me. We will have to wait until the dishes are pulled into their in-tight
configuration, but it will make an awesome 16x20 for his office and maybe the
cover of Parachutist (or at least the Belen newspaper!)! I figure that if I
organize it, I won't have to snivel on the load or snivel even harder
to go out last! Woosh-Swoop! Oh, I should mention that the VLA is special
since D.B. is attached (at the hip) to the National Radio Astronomy Observatory,where he is doing his thesis on applied mathematics as it relates to image
enhancement of radio telescopic photographs, or something like that. If he
can only avoid hitting the tails of King Air's...!!!
Anyway, sorry for being so "talkative," but I'm still on a high from flying
down to the VLA this afternoon and having a really great "greaser" cross-wind
landing when I got back at sunset. You should've been there D.B.! The plains
where the VLA is located is still snow covered from 12/4. It looks so serene.
Well, happy holidays to y'all and I hope you all get the rigs and goodies you
will be looking for under the tree. I know one jumper who is getting a Sabre
from his jumper wife. Hey, there's an idea: ZP underware for those REALLY
scary dives! Oops. Underwear! Been around software too long!
Rick J. "Rocket J." Valles
Captain, "Rocket J. and the Flying Squirrels" precision freefall team
(Sometimes also known as, "Cut-Away O'Mally and The 'Functions" and
