Pictures While You Fall

In 20 seconds, while three sky divers were free-falling from a height of 9000 feet, an Auckland parachutist, Derek Doull, took these spectacular pictures of Hugh Martin-Levorsen (Nelson Parachute Club), the present holder of the New Zealand sky diving record and Alan Edwards (Canterbury Sky Diving Club) over Nelson airport. These pics demonstrate forcibly the degree of manoeuvreability that can be attained by experienced sky divers. When Derek took the top pic the two men in it were a considerable distance away. By using arms, legs and body properly, two of them manoeuvred into a closer position for the second pic, and the last was taken only 8ft away. The three men free-fell from 9000 to 2500ft before opening their chutes. It took them between 38 and 40 secs to do so.

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Note the two divers using arms, legs and body to work themselves into position

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Hugh Martin-Levorsen, with a corner of Richmond at bottom right of pic, nears the photographer

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Close-up of a sky diver