An Inspirational First BASE Jump
Answer for $200: What is the date and time of the leap into BASE jumping history?
Answer for $400: What object did the 1966 jump take place from?
Answer for $600: Which founding father of modern BASE was inspired to follow up with a first BASE jump of his own from the same object?
Answer for $800: What is a skydiving rig with round parachute?
Answer for $1000: What are the names of the two men that made the historic 1966 jump?
(Insert annoying clock ticking game show tune)
Time is up…
The answer is: Brian Schubert and Michael Pelkey.
Michael Pelkey
Age: 69 Marital Status: Married Children: Two per marriage, two marriages Current Location: Simi Valley, California Hometown: Benton Harbor, Michigan Education: Some college, no formal degree Number of Base jumps: 2 Year of first Jump: 1964 (skydiving) 1966 (1st BASE jump) Container: Military backpack and harness Canopy: 28′ TU modified military + 24′ reserve Profession: Electronics /Electromechanical Design Engineer Number of Skydives: 207 Base Number: Not Applicable
In researching B.A.S.E. history, youâ??ll come across the story of an El Capitan jump circa 1966 and the events that transpired 40 years later with the passing of Brian Schubert at Bridge Day. If you are a regular on the forum you might run across a post by Mike, usually he comments in reply to a friendâ??s post here and there. Or in reading through the articles section youâ??ll come across his telling of â??the jumpâ?.
If Carl and Jean Boenish, Phil Smith, Phil Mayfield, Harrison Brothers, and their European counterparts are considered â??Old Schoolâ?, Mike and Brian are classified in an era of their own. They didn’t pioneer B.A.S.E., or lay claim to founding the sport, but what they did was set off a spark with their fortitude.






