Bloomington assistant principal skydives with Golden Knights

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) - What did you do over your summer break?

Batchelor Middle School assistant principal Maureen Davidoff jumped out of an airplane with the famed Golden Knights, the United States Army Parachute Team.

The July 8 tandem skydive was part of an educators' tour of Fort Knox, on the base in Kentucky, and Davidoff was one of 12 educators to show up.

The Golden Knights were expecting 15, but dropouts aren't unusual.

Davidoff, an Army veteran who served three years at a base in Panama as a parachute rigger, is no stranger to jumping out of airplanes. When she left the Army in 1987, she'd made 41 jumps. Three decades later, she jumped at the chance to make jump 42.

"I just really wanted to do it," she said last week. "The Golden Knights are the best in the world, so I knew I'd be in good hands."

Davidoff applied for the program after hearing that Rob Moore, director of adult education with Monroe County Community School Corp., jumped with the team in 2014.

Moore said he was impressed with Davidoff's enthusiasm for the program.

"I'm extremely proud of Maureen for embracing the challenge of jumping with the Golden Knights. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that only a select few are fortunate to experience," Moore said.

On the morning of the jump, Davidoff said the group watched a couple of quick instructional videos and signed a bunch of waivers, but that was about it as far as training went. With a tandem jump, you are strapped to another diver, who handles all the important things, such as opening the parachute.

On the ride up to 14,000 feet, members of the Golden Knights joked with Davidoff and the others in the plane, keeping everyone as loose and calm as possible.

"These guys are the nicest guys I've ever met. They kept saying they have the best job ever, going up in the air and helping people skydive. They were so upbeat the whole time," she said.

After all, what's not fun about falling out of a plane?

She was the third and final educator to be ushered out of her aircraft, followed by a videographer who captured the whole skydive. Even after all her previous dives, she says the nerves still kicked in while in the air.

"It was about 30 percent nervous, 70 percent excited," she said. "I think you're crazy if you're not nervous.

"But it was outstanding. Just incredible."

During the 30-40 second free-fall at 120 mph, the wind rushing up made it hard to breathe, so Davidoff took big gulps of air when she could. After the jerk of the parachute opening, Davidoff settled in for the long fall to Earth.

Her instructor pointed out sights on the base, like the gold depository, that people generally don't get to see from the air.

"He even let me drive the chute for a bit, turning into a few spins," she said. "And the landing was just like sitting down. It was so soft."

Back on the ground, Davidoff's peers say she will be able to carry this experience into the school year.

"Mrs. Davidoff bleeds black and gold, and she is always looking at different ways to improve her practice as an educator but also ways to get students excited about coming to school. This was it!" Batchelor principal Greg Bodie said.

Moore agreed wholeheartedly.

"Her students undoubtedly will see why education, training, following instructions and safety are important," Moore said. "l can't wait to see Maureen again when we return to school this August. I look forward to hearing how she experienced the tandem jump and 'comparing notes.'"

Davidoff said she does plan on using this experience with her students, although she doesn't know how just yet.

"I just love that school. I will absolutely show the video to the kids. A lot of them know I was in the military, and this will give me another way to talk to them about it," Davidoff said.

As for jump 42, she says it might have been her last, although she's not hanging up the chute for good just yet.

"I've had a lot of different experiences jumping out of planes. This was the ultimate experience."

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Source: The (Bloomington) Herald-Times, http://bit.ly/2a0e1ax

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Information from: The Herald Times, http://www.heraldtimesonline.com