Photographer Brian Erler closes in on Dick Spates, Marc Tripari, Josh Dolan and Ken Pelkey as they take a break from their DZ staff duties to make a fun jump over Skydive Space Center in Titusville, Florida.

Photographer Brad Hood gets up close with the Perris Valley Ghostriders as they practice for the upcoming '97 National Championships of Canopy Formation over Perris Valley, California.

Dave Major of Aerial Focus took this shot of tandem instructor Jim Wallace and student Paige MacDonald over Skydive Elsinore in Southern California.  Wallace is one of America's most experienced skydiving instructors.

Freefall photographer Michael McGowan, D-5709, took this shot of skydivers completing a Mission Impossible skydive over the fantastic back drop of San Carlos, Mexico.  Arizona jumper George Jicha organizes several Mission Impossible Invitationals each year.

Photographer Jan Davis, D-11120, of Aerial Focus took this shot of Harry Parker screaming down the slope during the '97 Blade Running competition at Squaw Valley in California.  A full report of the event begins on page 24.

Freefall photographer Joe Jennings, D-13033, gets this once-in-a-lifetime shot of AFF student George Bush checking his altitude over Yuma, Arizona.  Reserve-side jumpmaster Andy Serrano keeps a close watch.  A full report begins on page 20.

February 10, 1997: Former presi- dent of the United States George Herbert Walker Bush stepped on to the raised platform in front of 800 skydivers at the Parachute Industry Association’s biennial Interna­tional Symposium in Houston, Texas, and strapped on a 1943-vintage Switlik para­chute. 

Michael McGowan, D-5709, expands his photography horizons on this freefly jump with Kei Niizuma and Ron Noffz at Skydive Arizona's Valentine's Day Boogie in Eloy.  Bob Cregaw watches from a distance.  A complete report begins on page 48.

Photographer Brian Erler, D-14757, took this photograph of skysurfer Sean McCormick and videographer Cliff Burch practiciing over Skydive Space Center in Titusville, Florida.  the pair will compete in the SSI Pro Tour, beginning this month.

Freefall photographer Jo Stanley took this picture of the German 8-way team completing a double satellite during a practice jump over Skydive DeLand in DeLand Florida.  This European team is one of many that uses DeLand as a training ground.

Brad Hood, D-10270, of Jump Run Productions follows this 16-way diamond through the skies of Perris Valley in Southern California.  This photo was taken during the DZ's Thanksgiving boogie.  Hood is a frequent contributor to Parachutist.

Freefall photographer Tom Sanders, D-6503, catches members of World Team '96 as they swoop to thier slots on one of 12 world record attempts in Anapa, Russia.  The group's largest formation was a 297-way.  A full report begins on page 26.

From the state of Maine, Scott Jaszlics, D-12215, swoops the pond after a jump at Skydive Lebanon.  Freefall photographer Gustavo Cabana of Argentina, now a resident of Perris, California, captured this image in late June.

Freefall photographer Bruce Therrien, D-8634, of Paracam Productions took this shot of a 12-way exiting a Beech King Air 99 owned by Skydive Lebanon in Maine.  Therrien is a frequent contributor to Parachutist; his work was last featured in March '96.

Photographer Michael McGowan, D-5709, follows an unidentified jumper down to the beaches of San Carlos, Mexico, during a "Mission: Impossible" invitational boogie.  See the story on page 17 for a recap of this exotic adventure.

Photographer Brad Hood, D-10270, of Jump Run Productions took this shot of a 104-way building over Perris Valley, California, last month.  The skydive was practice for jumpers in the base of the 300-way attempts to be held in Slovakia this fall.

The July cover represents three decades of photos from the Parachutist files.  As USPA celebrates its 50th birthday, we'd like to say "thanks" to all those who've contributed over the years.  See page 17 for a list of photographers who made this cover possible.

Michael McGowan, D-5709, captures a coloful 4-way over Pensacola Beach in Florida.  the Skydive was part of a weekly, Friday afternoon demo by jumpers from Skydive the Emerald Coast based out of Elberta, Alabama—located just across the stateline.

Cameraman Michael McGowan, D-5709, captures the essence of accuracy competition as he photographs Dick Rapacilo during the POPS annual winter meet held in Umatilla, Florida.

Cameraman Greg Gasson shoots video of teammate Chifumi Sakakibara during a practice jump before attending last year's world freestyle championships in Germany, where the pair took second place.  Cover photo by Brent Finley, D-15461.