What is the record for the longest jump at Friar Field?

[al_2ndWolfhounds]

During the mid-summer of 1968 I was a training officer for a NCOC company at Benning. During an afternoon river crossing class (that faced towards Friar Field) we could observe the afternoons jump. That afternoon we were treated to a very unusual sight. Amongst all of the descending chutes there was one that after a few seconds started rising and drifting in a southerly direction periodically falling only to rise again and continuing its journey to southern Georgia. After watching this hapless jumper for over half an hour we were then able to also watch the helicopter that followed him. I never did find out how long he stayed up or how far he drifted but the popular story was that was his first and last jump.

Does anyone know what the longest jump is?

[centermass]

As a Jumpmaster, had one guy I put out over the DZ. He hit a thermal and was still in the air, just drifting around long after I hit the ground. Eventually, he wound up in a Food Lion parking lot. He called the SDNCO letting him know his location so he could get a ride back.

I'm thinking all tolled, he was airborne for at least 20 minutes or more.

[hobbit]

As a Jumpmaster, had one guy I put out over the DZ. He hit a thermal and was still in the air, just drifting around long after I hit the ground. Eventually, he wound up in a Food Lion parking lot. He called the SDNCO letting him know his location so he could get a ride back.

I'm thinking all tolled, he was airborne for at least 20 minutes or more.

Wow. That's a lot of hangtime considering you're starting out at 1000'...or sometimes even lower. I went through jump school in the summer of '68. Never heard about the specific jump referenced above, but we heard stories about similar jumps-gone-bad. Anyone here jumped one of those "flying squirrel" suits yet? Vertical descent rate of only 30mph, but a ground speed of 100mph, so fear not, you can still kill yourself real easy.

[RangerX]

I was (am) too big a chunk for the sky to hold me up that long. Most airflow related experiences I had involved falling faster than I'd have liked.

[IEDmagnet]

I am a small guy, but I got stuck with the SAW....and a radio later.... to counter my lack of tail.