This was about 6:45 last night. My kids and I all saw it. We were about a half mile away driving through the Lancaster Place subdivision, and ahead towards West View Elementary we saw a red parachute descending. We continued to drive towards it wondering where it would land. Eventually the trees obstructed our view. We drove around for a bit, but never figured out where he/she landed. There were baseball and soccer games and practices going on at West View, but nothing especially unusual seemed to be going on. Did anyone else see or know anything about this?
I was at Food Lion on 210 last night and I saw what looked like a go cart with a parachute on top flying around that area. The wind was blowing it like crazy from side to side. The guy had more nerve than I've got.
Mike, I see that guy fairly often it seems, we were at McGee's Middle School last night and saw him. Usually he is closer to DR Wells.
If it looked like a parachute with a go-kart attached, it wasn't a skydiver, it was a paraplane: It's an aircraft, and so takes off and lands at an airport (or is legally supposed to).
We were never very close, so that's quite possible. I remember now years ago seeing likely that same guy flying it across I-40...brave! Thanks for the help!
Yeah, it was two people they took off from the feild across the street from my house in austin meadows subdivison..looked fun but scary.
I saw him last night in the Matthews Rd & Polenta Rd area. I was told last fall that he took off on the J&J Barbour Sod Farm - but I never saw that. Looks cool but sooooooo scary!
Yeah the boys from Marie's house both have paraplanes. I used to see them taking off from the fields across from where I used to live on Booker Court -Sonny Rd. They fly all around the area on nice days. My 11 yr old daughter saw them for the 1st time last year and said "why is that guy flying in a go cart taking pictures" (I guess she thought the blinking light was a camera flash) I explained to her what the guy was flying around in and now she is cool with it.
Who are they? Hey all, My name's Andy, I'm new to the forum. I'm interested in getting in touch with one of these paraplane pilots, I think it would be cool to write about and take pictures. Anyone have any contact information? thanks in advance! BTW, I'm asking because I am a reporter over at The Herald and Garner-Clayton Record- feel free to call me with ideas at 836 5758.
Reporter???? We be like cockroaches when the lights turned on,, scurrying for cover. :jester::jester: Welcome.
I'm not sure how to get a hold of these people directly, but the EAA chapter at Johnston County Airport should be able to point you in the right direction. But if the paraplanes and their pilots aren't available for a story, try the EAA itself. As an aside, did you ever end up writing that other article?
seabee: Thanks, hello! clif: Good call, I'll check them out. I never ended up doing the other story, but I've kind of got it on back burner anyway.
