Guy Glinski celebrates nine decades on earth by skydiving to it from 13,000 feet up.
By Associated Press
Published September 8, 2003
CLEWISTON - Guy Glinski always wanted to try skydiving. He just wanted to turn 90 first.
Glinski gave himself a memorable birthday present Saturday when he got into a propeller plane and jumped out at 13,000 feet, tethered to an instructor.
"I've always wanted to do this. ... I'll be back next year," said Glinski, a retired carpenter and widower of three years.
Glinski's daughter, Elizabeth Biersdorfer, 61, hugged him and wished him luck moments before the jump. She didn't seem surprised - or bothered - by her father's decision to pick up a new hobby.
"He's pretty sound of mind and he's in good shape," she said.
A newspaper article about an 86-year-old woman who made a tandem skydive inspired Glinski to take the plunge, he said.
After a minute free falling and 6 minutes gliding under the open chute, Glinski could only muster a few words as he sat on the ground Saturday: "Pretty cool, pretty cool."
Glinski is the oldest to make a jump at the Clewiston airfield, said Air Adventures instructor Carl Smith, who accompanied Glinski on Saturday.
The Guinness Book of World Records lists the oldest solo skydiver at 91 years. It does not list a record holder for tandem jumps.
