:( This is such an awful, awful story. The ones that survived are forever marked by this carnival ride. Terrible.

ETA: Gads, the OP is...unsettling.

"Ensure his bodily fluids don't boil"? Hooey.

This sounds like a job for....NASA

And right now, the image of a very disgruntled Alex falling from an airplane with some dude strapped to his back is making my evening. :D

Why is he discruntled? Because Lani won't go? I'd go with you Alex, if it weren't for my operation, which may prevent me from even going on ToT for ever :( . I've always wanted to skydive. I may have to settle for the hot air ballon ride in Irvine.....

Because he doesn't want to have to do a tandem jump.

He doesn't HAVE to do a tandem jump, he could always go base jump...

Or take a skydiving lesson. That is what I did and never did a tandem. My first jump was on my first day.

Unless they have changed the rules, tandem is just for those who don't want to take the full lesson.

Hmm, perhaps I did misunderstand that. I thought you meant you were putting it off until you could do it without doing a tandem jump.

No, I meant I'd want someone to go with me. But even so, someday I'll do it.

I see no valid reason for leaving a perfectly good airplane in mid flight, tandem or otherwise.

hear, hear!