Nascar Driver Tony Stewart, Cincinnati Reds Owner and more from Cincinnati Tandem Camp

Another great day at Cincinnati Tandem camp that brought great weather for a short while. The day started off foggy in the morning but by the time tandem classes were finished it was jump time. SSG Zell opened the morning jumps brining in the American flag and the National Anthem while two tandems followed him. First among to land was first time jumper Cincinnati Reds owner Mrs. Susan Castellini. She was ecstatic and was overwhelmed with emotions after she landed. Tomorrow night the Team gets to perform for her at the Cincinatti Reds game.

 

A couple lifts into the day and everyone watched as a jet landed at the airport. That jet contained NASCAR Driver Tony Stewart. Tony flew in from Charlotte to make a tandem jump with the Team. Tony was quickley hurried into the classroom where he received his tandem training along with his father Nelson Stewart. After the class Tony took time to sign autographs and a few photos with some of the other passengers then got geared up. This was Tony’s first jump and he even said he was a bit nervous. Tandem instructor SSG Joe Jones, videographers SSG Joe Abeln and SFC Eric Heinsheimer, Tony and his father boarded the Twin Otter while the crowd grew on the ground. The surprise vist by Tony was spread all over Monroe, OH and quickly fans poured in. The jump went extremely well and once Tony got on the ground he answered a few questions from local media and then was quick to spend time with his fans. After watching his tandem jump with the other tandem passengers, Tony got back on his own plane and flew off to Dover, DE for this weekends race.   You can watch Tony’s jump on our YouTube channel.

It was then back to work. The remainder of the tandem passengers boarded the Twin Otter and took off for their own tandem experience. Unfortunately, the weather wouldn’t hold out. High winds forced the Team to land in our Twin Otter and definetely not our preferred method to get back to the ground. After a hour of high winds SFC Elliott had to call it a day.

 

Tomorrow the Team will try and get the remainder of the passengers their tandem jumps. Then later in the evening the Team is jumping into the home game of the Cincinatti Reds Baseball.

 

Photos:

 

All photos were taken by SSG Joe Abeln and SFC Eric Heinsheimer

 

SSG Jones and Tony Stewart head to the UV-18 Twin Otter

 

SSG Jones and Tony get close

 

Right before exit SSG Abeln hanging out the plane

 

SFC Heinsheimer hangs out the plane waiting for the exit

 

Airborne

 

In freefall racing to 120mph

 

Tony gets a view over Ohio

 

SFC Heinsheimer gets a handshake from Tony

 

A perfect pit stop, well landing.

 

Tony receives lithograph from instructor SSG Jones