The Ten Thousandth Jump…

Szöveg: Vivien Takács | 2019. május 25. 7:25

Volunteer Operational Reservist István Asztalos, the member of the HDF Military Parachuting Championship Team made his ten thousandth parachuting jump on 23rd May in Szolnok-Szandaszőlős.

“I have jumped with the members of the parachuting team a free-falling formation skydive from 2.700 meters, which has also been my ten thousandth jump" – István Asztalos related, adding that he is the fourth in Hungary, who could achieve this record number of jumps.

He also told us that it was in 1980, that he jumped for the first time. “When I became addicted to skydiving as an adolescence, and later became the member of the military parachuting championship team, we used to make five hundred jumps a year. Then as a professional soldier I could perform three hundred jumps a year. Now, being retired, I am mainly competing, and this amount decreased to 150 per year" – Ensign Asztalos took us into his confidence on the details, who has been the member of the HDF Military Parachuting Championship Team since 1987. The team is only competing in the accuracy landing event.

The team has never been so successful as in the past three years. “From the recent three World Military Parachuting Championships, we have each time returned home with a medal around our necks. At the last year’s 42nd CISM World Military Parachuting Championship, in Szolnok, we jumped onto the third step of the podium" – the ensign told us with great pride, who is also a member of the Szolnok HDF Parachuting Sports Association.

We have also learned that this year he is preparing for thirteen competitions. The most important one will be in October, because the world military games will be organised then in China.

“In jumping, the greatest challenge is to assess properly the strength of the wind. Besides, it is vital for the jumper to be in excellent physical condition, to have stress tolerance and outstanding concentration skills" – we have learned the qualities of a good skydiver from the Ensign, who also told us that at taking-off they have a plus weight of fifteen kilograms on them.

“The nearly forty years since I have been pursuing this sport, had taken their toll on me. Unfortunately, I have some health problems, but I will just keep going until I can be among the front runners" – István Asztalos closed our discussion.