Rob McNeill was lucky enough to try out his latest creation on his birthday.
The co-owner of Flying High Manufacturing was giving its new parachute container a test run by diving out of a plane over Campbell River.
The jump took place Saturday, May 21, and the long weekend fates provided clear conditions.
B次元官网网址淚t was amazing,B次元官网网址� MacNeill said. B次元官网网址淭he jump was from 12,500 feet, and we flew over the mountains, which was pretty cool as well.
B次元官网网址淭he other guys in the plane were all veterans, so that was kind of cool being a veteran myself.B次元官网网址�
Three jumpers with cameras captured MacNeillB次元官网网址檚 descent from all different angles, so the productB次元官网网址檚 performance can be analyzed properly.
MacNeill said the business is the only one of its kind in Canada, and noted it competes in the world market. The company was purchased from AlbertaB次元官网网址檚 Al MacDonald in October, 2021.
B次元官网网址淲e moved it here to Campbell River and since then my team and I worked hard to modernize it and make it more marketable,B次元官网网址� said MacNeill.
The new container - which is the backpack and harness a skydiver would wear B次元官网网址� is called the Sidewinder, and is the first product created since MacNeill and his partner, Bob Verret, bought the business. They had been designing the product since October.
B次元官网网址淚 canB次元官网网址檛 tell you how many changes we did,B次元官网网址� MacNeill joked, B次元官网网址淎nd there are still a few more changes that weB次元官网网址檒l have to do before the next one.B次元官网网址�
The long-range goal for the firm is to cater to both the civilian and military markets. Currently itB次元官网网址檚 only making the container, but it would like to start manufacturing parachutes, so Flying High is a full system manufacturer.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e going to hire more people and have a nice high tech business here in Campbell River,B次元官网网址� he said.
Right now there are four certified riggers, including Corina Jones, 19, one of the youngest parachute riggers in Canada.
B次元官网网址淭he futureB次元官网网址檚 looking bright,B次元官网网址� MacNeill said.
ronan.odoherty@campbellrivermirror.com
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