1998-2000, I was on the USAF Special Tactics and Recovery Specialist (STARS) Parachute Team. Many weekends a month were spent away from my primary duties as an Air Operations instructor at the Pararescue School. The Team made up of operators from all over the US, we traveled to NFL, MLB, Air Shows and NASCAR events and performed demonstration parachute jumps to increase exposure for recruiting purposes.
One demo weekend, the team had a crazy cop car ride through downtown and the South Side streets of Chicago for a night jump we did into Comiskey Park. Our plane could not land at Meigs Field by the lake and it was diverted to Midway Airport due to low clouds and threatening weather. We said the show must go on, its not our policy to canx early. We developed a plan to meet the aircraft at its new location. The White Sox front office pulled some strings and one of Chicago’s finest showed up at our hotel near Soldier Field. Dressed in our performance uniforms, we threw our parachutes in the trunk of the blue and white radio car and the four of us jumpers loaded up and off we went. Jake and Elwood Blues would have been damn proud of this radical drive…
Peeling out in front of the downtown Crowne Plaza Hotel, and with no fear of the cities tight and twisting rain slicked streets. We dodged and weaved with the steering wheel loosely held in one hand by our newfound friend and public servant. We were in and out of on-coming traffic, either fully on the accelerator or the breaks, trying to beat a tight window of time. The V8 engine bawl was awesome to hear echoing as we turned under and between support posts of the elevated “L” tracks. Cool as a cucumber, the senior officer talked to us like he was on a Sunday drive. I have had less fear on bad weather, low level helicopter sorties over the everglades then I did on this car ride.
I reminisced back to middle school years and my Uncle Jerry driving all us cousins to a mid afternoon Dolphins Game at the Orange Bowl. To beat the traffic he tucked in behind an Ambulance and drafted it South past the bumper to bumper traffic on Interstate 95’s shoulder at high speed for about 17 miles. Regardless if it was South bound I-95 in Miami or South side Chi-town rain soaked streets, it was – real good times!
We arrived at the airport and the USAF reserve C-130 crew wanted to cancel for weather. Nope we said, we don’t cancel until we are over the top and we absolutely see that, we can’t go. Our Go criteria was, winds less than 18 knots and we must be able to see our calculated release point and the designated landing area. Timing is crucial on these demonstrations as they are timed to pre game festivities. It’s a math equation of time and speed. The plane flies to the release point at a certain speed, you fall through the sky at a certain speed, your parachute flies at a certain speed. You reverse plan from when you need to be walking off the field with your parachutes to when you take off from the airfield. Because of practice you know how long each different event takes. Being late is not an option. Its called time on target and you must be disciplined to “it”.
Well, our Go criteria was met, and off we went. Diving into the bright city back lit night sky with lightning on the horizon and falling through the pointy end of the rain drops stinging our cheeks due to us wearing our open face helmets. We deployed our parachutes up wind, set up our flight stagger and landing patterns. We all touched down on 2nd base to the roar of the sparse rain soaked crowd. We met the fans, management and players and watched the game from a skybox.
Multiple people we met commented, “I can’t believe you guys jumped in that.” Focused on our target with clear direction of our left and right limits. Other than being wet and feeling like I had needles going into my face for a few seconds it was easygoing. Hundreds of training jumps in all types of scenarios validate the required focus and made for success.
The best way to be reap uncommon rewards among common peoples efforts, is to “stay in it” past where others quit, well passed. No matter what your “it” is.
Now get out there and attack!
Authored By: Joe Barnard, Director