[freepersup]

a jumper in freefall and in a track position, (think of the ski jumpers at the Olympics, but head down) gets about a 1:1 glide ratio... exiting from 12,000' agl, a tracker could cover approximately 2 miles (10,000') before opening their parachute...

seems I read (which I question) that their descent rate was 30 mph and their forward speed was about 90-100 mph...

[gortklattu]

The bridge was only 1100 feet above the river, right? That does not give them much time for opening. When I jumped, the minimum pack opening altitude for the D's was 2000 agl. Is it still so?

Hey, that dude wanted a thrill and ended his life with one.

I've jumped with several members of the USAPT, and knew Mike Wosley, who was killed in their crash in 72 or 73. You were jumping in the 80's?