Dien Bien girl practiced parachuting for 4 months to get 3 memorable seconds 'in the sky'

The entire time from jumping out of the plane to the moment my feet touched the ground was only a few dozen seconds. “Even now, when I recall the moment I jumped out of the plane door, I still feel nervous and confused,” Nguyen Thu Hang said.

Early morning of March 26, exactly one day before her 25th birthday, at Tuy Hoa airport ( Phu Yen ), Thu Hang and about 50 people took the opportunity to practice more to prepare for the upcoming 3 "once in a lifetime" seconds.

They are students K23 and K24 of the free-fall parachute training course organized and trained annually by the Southern Aviation Club (Air Division 370).

At exactly 6 o'clock, after putting on the parachute bag and checking the safety of the main and auxiliary parachutes, the pilots, Thu Hang and dozens of students were ordered to march from the assembly area to the runway to board the plane.

Dien Bien girl practiced parachuting for 4 months to get 3 memorable seconds "in the sky". Video : Nguyen Thu Hang

On the helicopter, the instructor stood near the door, loudly shouted “jump” and patted the students on the shoulder. One by one, they performed the move.

It was Thu Hang's turn to stomp her left foot on the edge of the plane door and then jump, launching herself into the air. 10X tried to count to 3 seconds and then pulled hard on the armrest to open the parachute, stabilizing her position.

On a round umbrella like a blooming flower in the sky from a height of 800m, the girl from Dien Bien opened her eyes wide, taking in the beautiful landscape from a bird's eye view.

“The feeling of jumping out of the plane and falling freely for the first 3 seconds before opening the parachute is indescribable. I practiced hard for several months, overcoming my fear of heights to have this precious moment,” Thu Hang recalled.

4 months of "sweat and tears"

Before learning about skydiving, Thu Hang had traveled across Vietnam by motorbike twice. She also experienced many emotions from going to the forest, climbing mountains to going to the sea, diving...

“So, when I moved to Ho Chi Minh City and learned about the parachute training course in the South, I decided to register immediately without wasting time thinking,” Hang said.

To be accepted into the Southern Aviation Club's parachute training course, Hang had to undergo a number of rigorous health tests and needed a bit of luck.

Once accepted, the young girl and the students began to learn from theory to practice every Saturday and Sunday, from 8am to 5pm to ensure mastery of all techniques, skills, and movements of a military parachutist.

“Students must attend the minimum number of theory classes and practice the correct technical movements and handle unexpected situations well before they can participate in parachute practice at military airports.

On average, the course lasts about 4-6 months and has 3 jumps, corresponding to each airport," 10X shared.

According to the Air Defense - Air Force's parachute practice plan for teachers, parachute staff, pilots and students, the parachute season will take place at Tuy Hoa (Phu Yen), Chu Lai (Quang Nam), Bien Hoa (Dong Nai) and Hoa Lac (Hanoi) airports.

During the learning process, students must memorize the parameters, features, operating principles, and drop speed of the round military parachute type, coded D6.

At the same time, they are also thoroughly trained in how to center the parachute, retract the parachute, and fold it according to safety standards.

The two most important moves are jumping out of the plane door and counting 3 seconds before pulling the parachute cord.

“In addition, you also have to master the 'three-closed' position to ensure a safe landing without injury and learn to handle countless unexpected situations in the air such as the parachute cord being twisted or hooked around your leg, two parachutes colliding...

With each important move like that, we have to "sweat and cry" to practice repeatedly until we can do it smoothly," the young girl added.

… in exchange for 3 “unforgettable” seconds

Thu Hang admitted that keeping calm and mentally stable when skydiving is more important than the long training process.

After 4 months, when the annual parachute season comes at Tuy Hoa airport (usually from late March to July, when the wind is not too strong at the parachute airports), the students eagerly await the moment to reap the "results".

Before the official parachute jump day, everyone had to gather for a final practice in the afternoon and sleep at the military barracks at 9pm.

At exactly 3am, the students woke up. They had about an hour to clean themselves, change clothes and have a snack before getting on the bus to the airport, which was still dark.

“We had our blood pressure and heart rate measured, then spent 30 minutes warming up, practicing specialized movements and skills, and wearing protective gear.

After that, the students stood in groups, waiting for their turn to put on their 12kg parachute backpacks, then went through the safety lock checks by professional staff and walked out onto the runway to board the plane,” Hang recounted.

Photo: Nguyen Do Trong Binh

On the plane, the students were all nervous. When they reached an altitude of 800m, everyone became even more nervous.

The command “jump” is given, the first student in the ready position starts to push his feet against the plane door and jump down.

The others followed suit, enjoying the moment they had been waiting for the most.

Thu Hang overcame her fears and tried things she never dared to think of.

In turn, Thu Hang also gathered all her courage and confidence, stomped her feet and jumped out of the plane, launching herself into the air.

Falling for 1 second, 2 seconds, then 3 seconds, 10X jerked the armrest to open the parachute, applying the correct skills and movements that he had practiced for many days to stabilize his position.

The umbrella slowly drifted with the wind, while the young girl tried to open her eyes to admire the beautiful Tuy Hoa scenery from above. On one side was the sea, on the other side were the fields, blending with the blue of the sky with the highlight being the umbrellas opened like giant white flowers.

After a few dozen seconds of immersing herself in the beautiful scenery, Hang calculated the altitude and wind direction, then tried to control the parachute to the center and land.

“For me, the first 3 seconds when jumping out of the plane are the most valuable and emotional. At that time, I was in free fall, tumbling and screaming before the parachute opened.

When everything was safe, I lay on the grass watching the other parachute 'flowers' land, feeling happy and proud, just wanting to call my family to show off my achievement," Hang expressed.

For the 25-year-old girl, skydiving is the most rewarding and proud experience because it is not always possible to do.

In the coming years, if possible, the 10X Dien Bien wants to return and conquer this adventurous sport at Chu Lai airport, Bien Hoa.

Photo: Dang Thai Tai

Vietnamnet.vn

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/co-gai-dien-bien-kho-luyen-nhay-du-4-thang-de-lay-3-giay-dang-nho-tren-troi-2387879.html