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| 1.
Orientation and documentation. |
Entrance |
Bunk rooms |
toilet and shower facilities. |
Classroom briefing. |
| 2.
Familiarisation with and Fitting of Equipment |
How to wear the MC-1C and reserve. |
This is the MC-1C |
Exit Positions.
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Introduction to our two Aircraft
We teach both a 'Sit-down' and a 'Stand up' military exit enabling
our jumpers to be experienced in both types of exit. This enables us
to use most types of aircraft for Parachute drops.
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Cessna 208 'Caravan' |
Antonov AN2 'Colt' former Soviet Block Paratrooper training
aircraft.
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| Introduction to the
Reserve Parachute and Emergency drills |
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Practicing the 'stand up' exit utilising the hanger door as a
training aid. |
Practicing Parachute Landing Falls. |
The course has a meal before the first jump. |
Am I really going to jump out of that thing??? |
| Monday
Afternoon. |
Draw Equipment |
fit equipment |
Equipment check. |
Using an aerial photograph of the airfield Ian briefs the First
time jumpers on obstacles and wind direction. |
First 'Chalk' walking out to the AN2. |
First jumpers out. |
Almost down. |
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And down. |
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after landing drills. |
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you have just got to pose for that photo. |
DZ RV point. |
| You jumped
it so now is the time to learn to pack it.... |
Your canopy is stretched out and checked for damage. |
then the canopy is flaked out and ready to be check. |
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stowing the canopy. |
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stowing the rigging lines. |
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Sometimes you work late to repack the chutes
for the following day. Everything stops for the evening meal and
then its time for that first pint. All war stories must now start
with the sentence "No shit, there I was. I thought I was going
to die"...and then you tell the rest of the story.
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Tuesday |
After an early breakfast it skit on and waiting
for the second jump of the course. |
Sometimes there can be a bit of a wait. |
Now its that long walk again....Some of our
experienced jumpers turn up to make up the Stick numbers and to
boost your confidence.
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Action Stations.
Every jumper will tell you the second jump is the
worst. |
This is now fun. You have conquered your fear and
your now getting into Parachuting. |
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Now PLF has taken on a new meaning. Pack like F***k.
Every packs as quick as they can so they can get up on the next lift.
You now have the bug. |
Everyone helps everyone else and the instructors
fuss over the students making sure everything is OK before the next
jump of the day. |
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Wednesday.
Your doing well and you have cracked the two jump hurdle. Today you
change aircraft and get taught a different exit. Many countries
basic Parachute courses use only civilian light aircraft so we teach
both exits so there are no surprises if you continue in the sport.
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The jumpers are visibly more relaxed and confident. |
Emplaning . |
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Inside the Cessna |
Moving to your despatch station. |
Last man....er!... Woman out. |
Jumpers view on exit. |
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get up and run around your canopy to collapse it. |
Pack like F**k again. |
Your there ! |
More war stories on the patio. |
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Thursday.
Now everyone is keen to get on with it and are
waiting for the days jumping to start
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Then a rush of activity and the first stick is ready to go. |
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Friday
Today you completed your last jump making the
five you needed to qualify for your Dutch B wing.
Simon Woerlee ,the camp commandant usual
presents the wings and certificate himself
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For every jumper this is a proud moment and one you have earned. You
have conquered your fear and put your trust in a Parachute to save
your life. This is now your sport and if you wish to continue we at
Pathfinder will give you every opportunity. Now it gets exciting.
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Simon presenting Eric with his Dutch wings. |
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| END
EX. Now the adventure begins..... |
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Dutch B Wing
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This part of Pathfinder appeals more to the
Paratroopers amongst us. We were asked many years ago to jump onto
an area of grassy fields to one side of the town of Den Burg in the
North of Holland for a VE day celebrations. It was there we had the
idea of forming our group
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AN2 'Colt' Exit over
Teuge, Holland |
Wings collecting the hard way
This part of Pathfinder is really in two
sections. There are those of us who are badge collectors and jump
around the world on other countries Parachute course to gain their
wings. Its one thing to go into an army surplus store and purchase a
set of wings to add to your collection but to go to that country,
train with their Paratroopers, eat and drink with them. Jump
using their equipment and aircraft and to be presented with their
wings afterwards is firstly a great honour and secondly is so much
more satisfying. If your a Paratrooper its one thing but for those
of our group who were not paratroopers, to be allowed to experience
the end product is a great honour and one not lost on our jumpers.
You will never hear a Pathfinder jumper tell someone he is a
Paratrooper if he has not completed his countries selection course
and jumped the minimum required parachute jumps to gain their wings.
They refer to themselves as Military Trained Parachutist and they
rightly proud of that title. Jumping round parachutes is a lot
harder than Ram Air or Square Parachutes and takes a different type
of bottle. They don't jump at night, they don't jump with a
weapons container and they don't jump low level. Having said that
some of our jumpers have attended foreign Para courses where they
have been allowed to do just that.It still does not make them
paratroopers but at least they now understand why we have the mind
set that we do.
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Keeping alive the memories of our veterans
sacrifices for freedom.
Pathfinder members
jump over Ginkle Heath, Holland, 2008 |
Exit over the
Engineers memorial during the Arnhem Anniversary display. Holland |
| Then you have the other section of Pathfinder that jumps
in WW2 Allied uniforms sometimes onto war time Drop Zones that have
not been jumped on since 1944 or in the case of the John Frost Bridge
had never been jumped onto by a round Parachute. Pathfinder made
history by being the first group of our type to be invited to jump
there. We have re-enacted SOE jumps in the Alps and recently in
Poland, Allied Para drops at Normandy in France and Arnhem in Holland. We
realise what a great honour this is to be allowed to jump on such
hallowed ground and try to do justice to the memory of those that went
before us. |
Pathfinder jumpers
exit over DZ N Normandy in 2004. |
| Through our vast array of Military
contacts around the world we are able to attend many Foreign military
Parachute courses and jump on War Time DZ several anniversary events.
The list is growing all the time. If you think this is for you feel
free to contact me or surf the web site for more information.
Check the history pages to see what we have done in the past and this
will give you a good idea of what you could be doing in the future. |
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Charity Parachuting: Raising Funds
for Charity |
| Many people who make a parachute jump do so
whilst raising funds for a worthwhile cause. Make a donation to
your favourite Charity who will pay for your charity Parachute
course in return for you raising a minimum amount of funds for
them. By doing this you get your course for FREE . Here is how
you can take advantage of this system and jump for FREE
In return for raising a minimum amount of sponsorship money the charity
of your choice will pay for your jump and training and in return
we will make a donation to them on your behalf! We offer
only the one type of course so your choice is an easy one
Five jump Round Static line course: minimum amount to be
raise by you. 460 Euro
Your chosen charity will receive a 100 Euro donation and you
will receive your parachute jump for FREE! We will make this donation
for you even if you only complete one jump.
We will send your donation to the charity of your choice stating
that you have completed a Parachute course and raised the sum of (Its
up to you if your want to raise more money for your chosen charity).
We will also produce a personal certificate for you showing how much
you have raised and what you have achieved. Book on line but add
charity jump to your e-mail heading.
All Payments must be made by PAYPAL. You do not need to have a
PAYPAL account to pay be this means. Please contact us for
instructions.
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Dave Rashbrook Former 10 Para and now Pathfinder UK
member walks off Ginkle Heath,
Arnhem,Holland having jumped with Charity bear 'Sgt
Hotspur' for the Holidays for Heroes' fund. |
Please note. If you do not have a pet charity Pathfinder
is actively supporting the building of a New Museum for the British
Airborne Forces .This is to be a large 'Living History' Museum where
school children will be able to see the roll our service personal have
played in the past to help secure the freedom they enjoy today. Due to
government cuts and red tape the money provided has fallen badly short
and the museum has had to fall back on charitable donations to secure
this project. As former Paratroopers we want to help in this
worthwhile cause. If you would like to help your donation can be made
in support of the AIRBORNE ASSAULT Museum Duxford. Further
information on the museum can be found at http://www.airborneassault.org.uk/home/html/phase-two.html
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Poppies Air Dropped by Pathfinder and laid at the
DZ memorial on Ginkle Heath.
Roy
Mobsby
Jump/Operations Coordinator
Pathfinder Parachute Group UK
http://www.pathfindergroupuk.com/
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