GREENVILLE

You, too, can take a flying leap

While asking for participants in the Banic parachute festival, state Sen. Robert D. Robbins had two questions for James L. Hayhurst.

Hayhurst, a veteran of the U.S. Parachute Team with 6,600 jumps, advocates a return to sport parachute contests, in which skydivers aim for accuracy and not free fall formations.

The Salem Township lawmaker asked Hayhurst if sport parachute competitions ever had a state championship and one in Pennsylvania. Hayhurst responded "no" to both questions, Robbins said.

"Then come to Greenville and we’ll have one for you," the 50th District Republican told Hayhurst.

The Stefan Banic Memorial Parachute Boogie also will include the Banic Pennsylvania Sports Accuracy State Championships on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Greenville Municipal Airport.

The dual parachute events honor Stefan Banic, a Slovak immigrant who was living in Greenville in 1914 when he patented an umbrella parachute for military use.

During the sports parachute competition, which begins at 9 a.m. Saturday and has finals at 5 p.m. the same day, skydivers will hit a quarter-size target on the ground. They will be judged on the form with which they land as well as how close they hit the target, Robbins said.

Competitions will be for individuals as well as for teams of four, he said.

"Any qualified parachutist will be able to jump throughout the weekend by parachuting in either group formations or solo jumping and may choose to jump from either 13,500 feet or 23,000 feet," said Greenville Mayor Clifford H. Harriger.

"In addition, individuals interested in making their first jumps may sign up for tandem jump classes and perform their first jumps approximately one hour later any day through the weekend," the mayor said. The first tandem jump class will begin at 11 a.m. Friday. Banic Memorial Parachute Boogie jumps also will be held throughout the day Saturday and Sunday.

Robbins said he will be among the first-time jumpers, making his falling debut Saturday evening.

The parachute festival will formally begin at 6 p.m. Friday at Greenville Railroad Museum with a private reception for honored Slovak guests at 8 p.m. at Greenville Country Club.

Expected to attend the festival will be Dr. John J. Karch, a consultant with 40 years of experience in intergovernmental relations and negotiations, retired Rear Admiral George Rhodes Worthington, who commanded a Navy Seals Team, and Slovak Maj. Gen. Emil Vestenicky, an adviser to the Slovak Minister of Defense.

The festival also will include samples of Slovak culture from Slovak Honor Girls Gymnastics Group from Farrell.

A reception and awards ceremony is scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday at Hempfield Station One Banquet Center.

Sponsors of the event include the Stefan Banic Parachute Foundation, Coppell, Texas, Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce, Greenville Council, Greenville Area Economic Development Corp., and Skydiving Pennsylvania. A state grant is funding the festival.