When you want to check out a new main parachute, chances are you’ll make a solo jump, open higher than usual and spend some time flying the new wing to get used to how it handles. Almost everyone who jumps a new main canopy does. After all, it makes sense. It’s a mystery how the new parachute will steer and flare compared to what you are used to, and who wouldn’t want to make a few jumps on it under controlled conditions with plenty of altitude to learn how to fly it?

A jumper experienced a main-parachute malfunction when the slider remained at the top of the lines after deployment and would not allow the parachute to inflate. He released the main parachute, deployed his reserve and landed safely.

As of August 2, 2018, 39 members will appear on the ballot in the upcoming election for USPA’s Board of Directors. All 22 seats on the board are up for grabs, with 18 members vying for the eight National Director slots and 21 members running as Regional Director candidates.

By Pete Jabczynski| D-25812

At Skydive Chicago in Ottawa, Illinois, T.J. Hine, D-13580, catches the photographer’s eye as he prepares to exit for his 5,000th jump.

Brian Genereux hangs from a helicopter during the Bay Area Skydiving’s Grand Reopening Boogie on Memorial Day weekend.

Photo by Jessice Brownlow | D-30516

During a weekend of jumping out of history at Jumptown in Orange, Massachusetts, Casey Tylek exits Whiskey 7, a World War II-era C-47 that carried 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers during the D-Day invasions.

Photo by David Bryce | D-20372

Having just landed, a tandem pair watches another pair come in on its final approach at Skydive Orange in Virginia.

Photo by David Cherry | D-33500

A multicultural group of jumpers—(clockwise from top) Herman Landsman of the Netherlands, Mathieu Boyer of France, Samantha Joseph of the U.S., Hani Lapodi of the United Arab Emirates, Nicolás Fierro of Chile and Robert Compton of the U.S.—form a star over the Pyramid of Khafre in Giza, Egypt.

Photo by Bruno Brokken | USPA #96017

Photo by David Wybenga | D-31862

At Skydive Arizona in Eloy during the Arizona Challenge, a formation skydiving event organized by former and current members of champion 4-way FS team Arizona Airspeed, participants build the event’s grand-finale formation, a representation of the team’s triangular logo.

Jumpers fly head down during the Sun Path Sequentials freefly event at Skydive Midwest in Sturtevant, Wisconsin.

Photo by David Cherry | D-33500

Following the annual TeXXas 20-Ways event at Skydive Spaceland–Houston in Rosharon, Texas, 20 talented women from around the state completed this 20-way Texas star on their second try, impressing the female air traffic controller on duty in the process.

Photo by Alan Levy | D-18332

At Skydive Spaceland–Dallas in Whitewright, Texas, Debbie Bohannon, the wife of the late Richard “Bo” Bohannon, releases his ashes during a tandem skydive with instructor Ernie Long and friends (from left) Dave Eisele, Gary Haas and Scott Kucel.

Zach Lewis | D-21616

Bill Wenger, D-3774 and a U.S. Army Golden Knight from 1974-1980, has dedicated much of his life to coaching and developing military skydivers, bringing dozens of teams to the USPA National Collegiate Parachuting Championships. He helped pioneer the 8-way FS discipline and earned numerous medals in FS and accuracy at national and world competitions. His peers describe him as “a great guy,” “humble,” “hard working” and “a great father” (to current Golden Knight Jason Wenger).

Paint and marker
 

Heather Weter and Karen Figenshau | B-47715 and A-80088
Ozark, Missouri, and St. Louis, Missouri

Photo by Roy Wimmer Jaglom  |  USPA #279679
Matt Leonard from Team Control Tower flies his canopy over new USPA Foreign Affiliate DZ Skydive Bovec in Slovenia.