90-year-old Maine man skydives for first time
Posted: 07/19/2012
PITTSFIELD, Maine (AP) — A Maine man who learned how to use a parachute as a Navy pilot during World War II has finally made his first jump — at age 90.
Lester Slate of Exeter jumped out of a plane for the first time on Sunday at Pittsfield Airport. He was guided to the ground by a tandem jumper and accompanied by another skydiver trailing a U.S. flag.
The jump was a 90th birthday present to himself. More than 50 family and friends watched.
Slate tells the Bangor Daily News (http://bit.ly/Myr0gb ) he was inspired by former president George H.W. Bush, who jumped from an airplane on his 85th birthday in 2009.
Slate says he had such a good time he wants to do it again — on his 95th or 100th birthday.
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Information from: Bangor Daily News, http://www.bangordailynews.com
Copyright Associated Press
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