dtamos

The story is true. His name was Ivan McGuire, it was April 2, 1988, I was the student he was filming, and it was my first tandem free-fall. In the plane his back was against the bulkhead. His camera was a bulky VCR Camcorder, mounted on his chest with a shoulder harness, which may be why no one noticed he had no rig. We lost a good man that day.

Yes, I was the student being filmed by the videographer who went in in 1988, it was my first tandem jump. Local law enforcement got the tape and turned it over to the local TV station because they had the ability to piece it together for analysis. But without permission they showed it on the evening news every night for a week or so. Bloodthirsty B@st@rds that they were. I started jumping regularly and competing in the novice class, but at around 200 jumps I got married and pretty much quit jumping. I jump once in a great while when one of my neices or nephews turns 18 and makes a tandem jump. I just found this website last night, so here I am.

Ivan was filming a tandem student's first jump when tandem was in it's early day's. I am all too familiar with that day because I am the student he was filming on that jump. It is recorded in my log book as April 2, 1988 in Louisburg, NC. I have heard arguments for and against the suicide theory by people who knew him well, but I still haven't been able to come to a definite conclusion of my own. I can see either way is possible. Ivan was very intelligent and well liked by everyone, and we still miss him 20 years later. We remember him in our conversations sometimes, and he will always be in our hearts. Blue Heaven, Ivan.