Array
Several groups of lawmakers will make the trip to France this week to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day. One small group of congressmen plan to skydive over Mont Saint-Michel on Friday.
More than a dozen senators will travel to France. Speaker Johnson canceled House votes on Thursday so that House members could make the trip.
One House Democrat and nine Republicans, all veterans, will jump out of a Douglas C-47 Skytrain, an 81-year-old vintage World War II plane. Rep. Michael Waltz is a retired Green Beret. He is taking the lead in this adventure. Besides Waltz, the others are Democratic Rep. Jason Crow, a retired Army Ranger, and Republican Reps. Mark Green, Dan Crenshaw, Rich McCormick, Derrick Van Orden, Keith Self, Darrell Issa, Ronny Jackson and Cory Mills.
This isn’t the type of skydive usually seen from commercial aircraft.
Unlike commercial skydiving, it’s not a leisurely jaunt with scenic views and a soft landing. Total time to the earth from the military transport planes, which were commonly used by Allied forces in World War II, is just over a minute. And the landing often comes with a jolt to the back and knees, according to Florida Republican Rep. Michael Waltz.
“From a military standpoint, the longer you’re sitting up there floating under a parachute, the more vulnerable you are to get shot.
