Woman Skydives for her Friend

July 24, 2007Article by Kaesha Forand, Welland Staff

 Photo by Brad Vale

"It was just wonderful, I was almost up there with her," said Dorothy Rungeling, after watching Jacki Kish land safely on the ground.

Kish took a 10,500-foot plunge yesterday at Skydive Burnaby for Rungeling, an Order of Canada recipient for her significant achievements in aviation.  Rungeling was the first Canadian female pilot to earn her airline transport license and the first woman to conduct a solo helicopter flight.

"We had a pact when we met", said Kish, who recalled when she met Rungeling six years ago and told her about her first skydiving experience.

Kish has had her private pilot license for 30 years and is part of the Ninety-Nines Inc., International Organization of Women Pilots, which Rungeling, an aviation pioneer was known as Canada's flying housewife, is also a member.

"Dorothy said she wished she was there to have seen it.  Then I said when she turns 95 I would do a jump for her."

Circumstances prevented Kish from making the jump last year and although Rungeling is now 96, the jump took place yesterday after being rescheduled twice due to weather conditions.

"Jacki is so enthusiastic about this.  She should do a jump every year," Rungeling said.

"We're on Dorothy. It was wonderful and now she's making me do it again next year," the 55-year-old said laughing to family and friends who watched her jump.

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