Local skydiving clubs offer lessons, jump opportunities

by Matt Cough/In staff writer

The Earth is over two and a half miles below and suddenly it is getting closer at an incredible rate. At times, this rate is 120 m.p.h.

Later, the instructor will remind you that you just jumped out of a perfectly good airplane, but for now you ignore looking up at the underbelly of the twin-prop cargo plane and instead take in the view below.

The adrenaline threatens to force your heart right out of your body. After 30-some seconds, freefall is over. The parachute opens and you float gently, slowly down towards the ground. This is skydiving. Skydiving is a fast-growing sport in the U.S. The United States Parachute Association, a non-profit safety organization dedicated to promoting the safe enjoyment of skydiving, boasts a membership of 34,000 individuals and 300 drop-zones.

Over three million jumps take place each year in America. This number includes USPA members as well as an estimated 300,000 first-timers.

There are two ways in which the adventurous person can experience their first jump. First, one can take a brief course on how to jump, at the end of which the individual can jump solo. This usually ranges from $180 to $300, with the prices going down as more courses are taken.

If the idea of having to pull the cord on your chute yourself scares you, the second option is tandemjumping. Tandem-jumping entails having the instructor strapped to the back of the jumper. Tandemj umping is sometimes cheaper, but sometimes more expensive, than solo-jumping, depending upon the location. There are several places to skydive in the area. These include the United Parachute Club at the New Hanover Airport in Gilbertsville, Freefall Adventures at the Cross Keys Airport in Williamstown, NJ. and, if you are in the Poconos over the winter, Above the Poconos Skydivers at the Hazelton Airport. All of these drop zones are members of the USPA, whose members adhere to USPA Basic Safety Requirements.

For more information on the USPA contact them on the web at www.uspa.org, or phone (703) 836-3495.

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The United Nations imposed sanctions on Afghanistan for refusing to hand over suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden, which prompted protesters into the streets of Kabul.

The sanctions took effect at midnight. preceding last minute pleas from the Taliban army. Protesters gathered into the streets of Kabul, burning US flags and shouting anti American slogans.

11/15, Gennany

Mannesmann, the German telecommunications giant, denounced a $106.4 billion friendly takeover offer made " by Vodafone Airtouch of Britain.

The German giant's action sets in motion a battle that could attract other possible corporations that have already been involved in negotiations.

Such companies would include MCI Worldcom and

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