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From: brent@poseidon.UUCP (Brent P. Callaghan)
Newsgroups: net.rec.skydive,net.aviation,net.tv
Subject: Re: Skydive into the Rain Forest
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Date: Tue, 18-Mar-86 23:22:20 EST
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Posted: Tue Mar 18 23:22:20 1986
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>My thoughts exactly...additionally, they seemed pre-occupied with convincing
>the viewer that "there once was a river here, 3000' above the jungle floor",
>the only message they could provide...personally, I get the impression that
>a bunch of skydivers wanted to make a jump onto the mountain, decided that
>they could get PBS to fund it if they made it into something "scientifical",
>and once there they all chickened out of the jump to the forest below, so they
>called the cavalry (i.e. pistoleros in a helicopter) to come and rescue them.

An article written by Bill Booth (one of the participants) in the
March edition of Parachutist attributes the conception and
organization of the project to the British Broadcasting Corp.
It would be incorrect to surmise that the expedition was the whim
of a bunch of skydivers.  I think they did a pretty good job
getting 5 tons of equipment and 12 people onto the plateau.
The unexpected turbulence encountered by the last two to land
and the landing injuries were just bad luck.  Up to that point
I can't fault the preparations nor the qualifications of those
involved.

Whether or not they BASE jumped off the plateau, they had enough
climbing equipment and supplies to climb down and make their
way out to a river rendezvous.  They didn't request the
helicopter which finally evacuated them. I certainly wouldn't
refuse a helicopter when it arrived.

The expedition was no more scientific than a climb in
the Himalayas.  I'm sure the intention was to film an
exciting adventure and capture people's imagination.
Adventure isn't always without risk - and persuading
a foreign government that such expeditions aren't
irresponsible is a task on it's own.

Would we be better off without an occasional
"Skydive into the Rainforest" ?
-- 
				
Made in New Zealand -->		Brent Callaghan
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