Army Parachutist - Return to Flight
My name is Cory Gober, and I am a former Staff Sergeant in the United States Army. [MOS-12B3P5W8] I spent almost a decade of my life in active duty service to this nation and through all the good and bad times, I wouldn't change a thing. This is a picture of me just before a jump at Fort Bragg, NC doing what I loved to do best... JUMPING out of a perfectly good airplane!
[Photo from a Chilean Foreign Jump at Sicily Drop Zone, FT Bragg, NC]
This is what I loved to do the most, being suspended below a fully inflated, steerable canopy [MC1-1D] and looking below at the beauty of the Earth below me. While I was focused on getting to the ground safely and carrying out our mission, I always reflect back to the time I spent "flying".
[Photo from a proficiency jump suspended by a MC1-1D parachute near FT Bragg, NC]
I was a proud paratrooper and a member of a highly specialized parachute company that performed rough terrain jumps into austere terrain. In April of 2005 I managed to turn my left leg around backwards after a rough landing in high winds. I didn't understand it at that time, but this was the beginning of the end for my career. It would take a few years but being so hard headed, it's really difficult to let go of you dream so I kept pushing to recover at any cost.
[Left leg X-Ray after the parachute accident taken at WOMACK, FT BRAGG, NC in 2005.]
While the medical professionals insisted this would be a career ending injury, I wouldn't hear of it. So after several surgeries, months of healing and intense physical therapy I did return to parachuting and I was deployed overseas to Afghanistan again. During that deployment I was also wounded in an IED blast which caused a TBI, occipital neuralgia, chronic headaches and sleep disorders. While I did my best to keep pushing and leading troops my body was slowly and painfully reaching a point where I could no longer be effective as a leader and do the same things I was asking my troops to do. Over the course of several years, the arch in my left foot began to collapse and subsequently the rest of my lower body began to fall out of alignment and wear down the remainder of my cartilage rapidly. By the end of my career, I could no longer run and I spent two years going through multiple surgeries to repair the damage to my knees and ankles just so I could walk without so much pain.
*** I had a post surgery picture of my left leg from 2011 that was removed to due it's graphic nature. ***
While I am fortunate to be alive and I am blessed with a beautiful family, I desire more than anything to be able to put my worn out knees in the breeze again. (That's Paratrooper lingo for being suspended under a fully inflated canopy... Flight!) I can't run, I haven't been able to do much in the way of physically challenging activities without tremendous complications and the enjoyment of life has all but been sucked dry and replaced with a memory of my former self. I am 30 years old, waiting on knee replacements or cadaver transplants from the VA and I can barely play with my kids let alone go run, hike, or frolic in the back yard with a 2 and 4 year old. One afternoon, I was looking at alternative activities to do outdoors and I stumbled upon something amazing. I was looking at aerial sporting activities that would be safe enough for me to enjoy fully without risking further damage to my lower body and I stumbled upon powered paragliding.
[Image Credit - Pete Sachs - Powered Paragliding Photo]
This sport isn't new, but in recent years it has become more popular. It's an adaptation of paragliding but instead of launching from a high point and riding thermals, you launch with a small prop motor on your back from ANYWHERE and enjoy your neighborhood, the beach, the mountains or you can even travel about and explore areas that I currently cannot get to due to physical limitations. This category of flight falls under "ultralight aviation" [Federal Aviation Regulation 103] and as such I would not be required to have a pilot's license. I would be required to obey the guidelines under the FAR 103 and I will be seeking training on the operation of this aircraft before I attempt any solo flights.
[Image Credit - BlackHawk Paratoys - Rhino Cage]
I desire, simply to break free of my physical limitations and explore, enjoy life and not be hampered by the fact that I nearly collapse in pain if I walk too far each day. I have the youth, drive, motivation and determination but I haven't the means at the moment to secure this vision. Powered paragliding would be a way for me to overcome that limitation and enjoy life again by exploring and returning to flight!
TIMELINE: Campaign Duration 90 Days [Start to Finish]
1. Identify an instructor and purchase a harness and wing for "Kiting Practice".
2. Over the course of several weekends, work with the local Powered Paraglider Group (Texas Wing Nuts) and kite the wing until I am proficient and ready for formal flight training, thus reducing the cost of flight training.
3. Fly to BlackHawk Ranch (Blackhawk Paratoys in Valley Springs, CA) for a 3 day course on flight theory, techniques and practical exercises. Build up to a solo flight and log hours.
4. Purchase a cage, motor and all safety equipment needed to RETURN TO FLIGHT!
5. Fly over the Texas Gulf Coast with the "Texas Wing Nuts" and explore.
6. Show other disabled veterans the enjoyment and excitement of this sport and enable other wounded warriors and paratroopers to return to flight!
7. Work with the Wounded Warrior Project and local veteran groups to raise awareness in this sport and solicit Paragliding Vendors to put together "tandem flights" or demonstrations for those who would be interested.
1. Wing ($3000-$4000)
2. Harness (<$1000)
3. Cage ($2000)
4. Motor ($3000-$4000)
5. Safety Equipment [Helmet, Reserve, Flotation] ($2000-$3000)
***I will post updates to pricing after I can identify the exact equipment I will need based on weight, operating altitudes and wing capabilities.
The prices above are based on my current research. It is HIGHLY discouraged in the paragliding community to buy used equipment unless you know the person selling the equipment VERY well or can vouch for their equipment personally. Given that I don't know anyone in this sport, I am going to have to buy new equipment that is sized appropriately for my weight and build. I have also started saving my own money each paycheck to work towards this goal, but it will take several years to reach this goal without help as our family is barely inching by while we pay down debts and work towards financial freedom whilst raising two young kiddos who are both in daycare each day while my wife and I work. I have never started a campaign for something such as this before but I was encouraged to give it a shot and so, here it is!
[Photo of a terribly handsome young man with a ridiculously chesey grin.]
In closing, if you would like to support my campaign, I would be eternally grateful for any help to reach my dream of returning to flight. If you cannot support my campaign, please consider browsing through this website and donating towards others. There are thousands of worthy causes here, mine is but a drop in the bucket and is merely a personal dream. Alone, it will take me several years to reach this goal and I'm ok with that. My family comes first but I will eventually return to flight. Thank you for taking the time to read this, God bless and have a wonderful year!