Graham will be dropping back in (From Barry And District News)

Graham will be dropping back in

A FORMER VALE man is set to return to the Vale of Glamorgan when he commands the RAF Falcons over Barry.

Flight Lieutenant Graham Hughes, formerly of Greenhaven Rise, will be Officer Commanding the Falcons when they take part in Barry's Festival of Transport at the Waterfront this weekend.

The 52-year-old joined the RAF in 1970 and made his first jump that year. His career began down the road in St Athan.

He said: "It is exhilarating to jump out of a plane and that's why I chose to do this for a job. I am a physical trainer by trade, but decided to specialise in parachute training.

"The target we have to jump at the Barry show is the smallest possible. It is 50 yards by 50 yards, which is difficult. As a team, we jump between May and September, when the weather is clearer."

A jump is governed by the weather and will only take place if the wind and other factors are good.

Graham has skydived in some of the most beautiful places, where conditions are perfect for jumping. He has jumped out of planes in Oudtshoorn, South Africa and Sandiago in the USA. Each jump has to be calculated in minute detail. This is Graham's job - as the drop zone safety officer, he will be co-ordinating the jumpers over Barry.

There are several heights at which the jumps take place under cloud cover, depending on the weather that day. There is 12,000 feet, 8,000 to 5,000 feet and the lowest, 5,000 to 2,200 feet. Ten parachutists will be taking part in the event. Once they leave the aircraft they freefall at 120 mph. The parachutes are opened and the skydivers will have a forward speed of 25 mph.

When they reach the ground the usual aircraft, a Hercules, will fly over at 280 mph, at a height of 250 feet.

The Saturday and Sunday event is one of the biggest in the town's calendar and is seen as a forerunner for an even larger celebration planned for September.