RIVERVIEW SKYDIVING
A Real Crowd Pleaser
Starting in the early 70's The park started featuring Skydiving exhibitions every Sunday. The Des Moines Skydiving Club would drop two or three skydivers into the park, landing either in the center grassy mall area or sometimes a planned water landing in the lagoon. Bob Putt or Roland ( ? last name), from the club, would usually announce the event over a loud speaker, describing to the crowd what was happening from the minute the drop plane would appear over the horizon
A nice shot of a skydiver landing in the center of the park on target.
Another one coming down. One time, a skydiver's main chute tangled and did not open and he released himself from it and opened his reserve backup chute. The crowd was in a panic.... then cheering when the reserve chute opened. The jumpers made the "scare" a part of the show after that at least 2 or 3 times a season (with the jumper sporting 3 parachutes to perform the stunt. One to fall out of, one to open as his "savior" and of course another reserve.) These guys were crazy but also very safety conscious.
A short clip of the action. It always gave us all a thrill.
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