Elizabethtown, Pa. - They say you're never too old to learn something new. But that's not quite the case with parachute jumping - or the training it takes to become an expert.

Jumping from a perfectly good airplane takes courage and confidence - courage to leap into open air, and confidence that your parachute will land you safely on the ground. That's where Dave DeWolf comes in.

"It's our bodies that's doing the flying," said the master parachute rigger. "The front of our body. So we can catch the air and we go higher. Make an arch, go faster."

Every January for almost 40 years, the Elizabethtown skydiver has hosted the nation's largest civilian parachute rigging certification course. With more than 12,000 jumps to his credit, DeWolf knows what it takes to ensure a safe and happy landing.

DeWolf has has trained more than 1,000 parachute riggers to do the same. The eight-day course is instructor-heavy, featuring 19 instructors training 30 civilian and military jumpers. The 12-hour days are fast paced, demanding total dedication to detail.

"It's just like car racing or any other sport," said master rigger Mark Lancaster. "It's not for everybody. You have a select few that really don't need to be here."

Dave's course is not for beginners. Eligible attendees must have logged 100 or more skydives using a main parachute they packed themselves. During the course, each student is required to pack at least 20 reserve parachutes.

In addition, they learn minor chute and harness repairs and how to inspect their chutes for damage. Graduates leave as senior riggers, able to pack their own reserve chutes. In a sport that doesn't allow do-overs, parachute packing is serious business. But to watch Dave at work, you know it's also fun.

 

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