On the outskirts of Somerville sits the drop zone. It is the end of the ride for those who cheat death and the beginning of a new outlook on life.
West Tennessee Skydiving has been helping make freefall dreams come true from this location for about 14 years.
U of M senior biology major Kevin Brasfield recently learned the true meaning of gravity.
Brasfield completed his first jump Feb. 5, freefalling 120 mph for 50 seconds at 14,000 feet.
"It's just something I've always wanted to do ... it was just an intensely free feeling," said Brasfield.
First time skydivers watch a 20-minute video and go through 15 to 20 minutes of hands on training before making the tandem jump.
"The more you learn the more you forget ... people are always scared they will forget something," said Andrea Mullins, owner of West Tennessee Skydiving.
The tandem jump is done with the jumper attached at four points to the instructor.
"They are basically just going along for the ride," said Bud Cole, a skydiving instructor for West Tennessee Skydiving.
After completing the tandem jump, beginning skydivers are eligible to enroll into the Accelerated Free Fall course. The AFF course is a seven-level program in which beginners train to start jumping on their own.
The AFF is a slow and safe progression. The student actually wears a parachute and is accompanied by two instructors on the way down, according to Cole. All instructors are United States Parachute Association certified.
In the 14 years West Tennessee Skydiving has been operating at this location, there have been only two deaths.
"Both were jumping alone and had their own gear ... you have to be an adult about the decisions you make," Mullins said.
The accidents could have been prevented if their gear had an Automatic Activation Device, according to Mullins. All West Tennessee Skydiving gear is equipped with an AAD.
"(Skydiving) is a lot safer than any school sport," Mullins said.Mullins has four children and each is an avid skydiver. The youngest, who is 6 years old, already has six jumps under his belt.
Brasfield plans to start the AFF course when he has the money.
"It's expensive but it is worth the money," Brasfield said.
The adrenaline pumping sport of skydiving appeals to many people, but its addictive nature can only be fully appreciated by those who live to fly.
"Skydiving really lets you know why the birds sing," Cole said.For further information go to theWeb site.
