I don't speak Portuguese but this guy has a pretty cool passenger.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/1NOnOHtnSC4

That is amazing! One of the coolest photos on the cover of Parachutist Magazine (June, 1999) is a parachutist in free fall with his pet falcon chasing him. When he opened, his falcon flew formation with him.

The skydiver is Norman Kent.

I agree Dan, now how cool is that!

Ever wonder if the Vulture wonders why he doesn’t taste like deer gluteus maximus ? Good thing he had on some solid kicks!

That is totally cool, John. Almost don’t need to speak Portuguese to know what he is saying…he’s one happy dude. That was one nice docking by the Vulture too!

Once when I was flying my ram air parachute back to the dropzone I had a Red Tail hawk join up on me just like the beginning of that video….he swooped in and set up at my 11 o’clock about 6 feet out in front of me and kept glancing over his shoulder. We flew like that for about 30 seconds or so and then he got bored and peeled off. I sounded just like the guy in that video, except in English.

We had a turkey buzzard come join us inside a B-52 once when we were flying a low level route near Big Bend....the docking did not go smoothly for the buzzard and he spatted on the aft bulkhead door... smelled like old vomit.

Resurrecting an old thread.

I just found the original copy of the Parachutist (June 1999) and saw that Norman Kent was the photographer but the parachutist is Ken Franklin.

No article in this issue but I remember reading about Ken in another Parachutist that covered his Falconry hobby.

Still a cool photo.

Dan

Yes. Thank you, Dan. That is what I meant to say as Norman Kent is as accomplished a skydiving photographer as Carl Boenish, Randy Deluca, Ray Cottingham or Andy Keech ever were. Names that should conjure up other fond memories.

Yes. Thank you, Dan. That is what I meant to say as Norman Kent is as accomplished a skydiving photographer as Carl Boenish, Randy Deluca, Ray Cottingham or Andy Keech ever were. Names that should conjure up other fond memories.

That is amazing! One of the coolest photos on the cover of Parachutist Magazine (June, 1999) is a parachutist in free fall with his pet falcon chasing him. When he opened, his falcon flew formation with him.

For you guys that think you are making a real sacrifice for your profession…

Prolly 30 lbs or so on Tom’s head and you can see the lever arm. Calculate what a 7 G parachute opening would feel like on your neck.

I remember 200 mph as being the number quoted in the article Dan is referring to so yes, a Falcon in a dive can haul a$$. But so can a skydiver. It’s all about the amount of surface area (drag) you present to the relative wind. A skydiver head down so only his head and shoulders were presented to the relative wind would be going roughly 200 mph. I suspect the skydiver in that photo is doing roughly 140mph and it looks like the falcon isn’t completely tucked in. Or, maybe just “passing thru” .

Yes, it is all very cool.