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.

Photographer Keith Hewes, D-11908, takes a unique angle on the U.S. Air Force 4-way team over Front Range Skydivers in Calhan, Colorado, where ground level is 6,509 feet MSL.

Ron Griffith, D-16869, captures a 10-way falling through the warm Florida skies over Skydive City in Zephyrhills, Florida.

As a high layer of clouds shadows the drop zone, photographer Ron Griffith, D-16869, snaps a shot of jumpers exiting a Twin Otter over Skydive City in Zephyrhills, Florida.

Brian Rogers, D-16358, caught this shot of 10-way speed star champions "DeLand XTZ" during the 1995 U.S. National Skydiving Championships held in DeLand, Florida.  Rogers served on staff as chief cameraman among a crew of 40 filming the event.

Photographer David Keith, D-5441, took this shot of fellow videoman Martin Evans, tandem instructor Mike Ince and his passenger over SkyDance SkyDiving in Davis, California.  Keith's inverted flying style provided the unique angle on the formation.

Photographer Ron Griffith, D-16869, captures Norwegian Frode Lund during a "chute assis" jump (also called sit-flying) at Skydive City's Easter boogie held in Zephryhills, Florida.