Dennis Downing

USPA License Number:
D2451

Number of Jumps:
3010

How many years in the sport?
53

When you were a kid, were there any early activities that might indicate you’d one day become a skydiver?
Always jumping off of stuff.

What was the circumstance that led you to the DZ for the first time to make your very first skydive?
As a poor college student I couldn’t afford to keep flying after I got my private, but I could afford to make a few jumps. Then they wanted me to fly the jump airplane, so I started trading flying the jump plane for free jumps. That was 53 years, 3000 jumps and 19000 hours ago.

What made you want to continue skydiving after your first jump?
I loved it and wanted to fly and skydive more than anything else.

What’s the best / most memorable skydive you’ve ever made?
Out of the bomb-bay of a Navy A-3 at 30000 ft at El Centro, CA in the 70’s.

If you could jump with anyone in the world, who would you like to jump with and why?
My old jump buddies in Xenia , Oh.

 What is one of the best customer experiences you’ve had?
Giving groups of 30-40 first jump students their ground training prior to their first static-line jump at Xenia, Oh in the 70’s. We sure put out a lot of static-line students at that place in the 70’s.

What about your daily work at Skydive City contributes to FUN at Skydive City?
Giving the jumpers a good safe flight with a good jump run and exit – one where they don’t have to think about the elevator ride but can concentrate on their jump.

What is most gratifying about your work at Skydive City?
Flying the airplane professionally, with good turn times while at the same time giving the jumpers a safe flight with a good jump run.