Man Tries to Set Skydiving Record in Indiana

News::Man Tries to Set Skydiving Record in Indiana:

"A former Army Green Beret is trying to break his own world record of 534 parachute jumps in a 24-hour period.

Jay Stokes is celebrating his 50th birthday in Greensburg, where he's trying to make 600 jumps by Saturday morning. He began his skydives at eight o'clock Friday morning, and dozens of volunteers are helping him by packing 23 parachutes and operating three planes for the stunt at Greensburg Municipal Airport.
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Read more about Jay Stokes.

Update: Jay Stokes surpasses his goal of 600 jumps. He completed 640 jumps within the 24 hour period needed.

Here's a recap from The Houston Chronicle about Jay Stokes -

Dozens of volunteers, including four pilots, helped by packing his 23 chutes and flying three planes at the airport midway between Indianapolis and Cincinnati. As soon as Stokes touched down after a jump from 2,100 feet, he undid the straps on one parachute and put another one on while running to the next waiting airplane.

Stokes, of Yuma, Ariz., retired in 1998 after 24 years in the Army, most of them as a member of the Green Berets. He now teaches skydiving instructors and performs in skydiving exhibitions around the world, many with Cincinnati-based Team Fastrax, said David Hart, a Fastrax skydiver who helped with the record attempt.

Stokes took pledges and contributions for his latest jumps, hoping to raise $60,000 for Special Olympics and the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, which provides college scholarships to the children of special operations soldiers killed in the line of duty.