I Went Wingsuit Flying

Story by Shyann Jackson. Picture of me Wingsuit Diving

Today my friend convinced me to come to Dolomites Mountains to go skydiving, and for some reason I went. I had two choices, jump off a mountain cliff, or jump out of a helicopter. And I didn’t want to kill myself from a head concussion, so I took the helicopter choice.

Both options were technically scary. Anyway,  as you can imagine my face was doing that thing when there’s a lot of air rushing in at one time! It's all blowing right in my face and my cheeks just wiggle and jiggle around! I liked it but it felt very weird. To actually fly I had to spread out my arms and legs and just keep my balance, with the most important part of flying being in the design of the suit.

I technically look like a flying squirrel! Flying squirrels have skin connected from their leg to their arm on both sides, and leg to leg. Those pieces of skin allow them to glide. And they use that to jump from tree to tree in a way that looks like they're flying.  It was all scary but also fun to learn about in connection to my wingsuit dive!

Shyann Jackson is a 5th grade scholar at Friendship Chamberlain Elementary.