THE AIRCRAFT door is flung open and a powerful blast of cold air rushes inside misting-up my plastic goggles. I start to shuffle across the floor towards the open exit until my feet are dangling 13,000ft above the ground.

A few minutes earlier I’d watched a fellow skydiver drop like a stone as he leapt out of the plane. Now it was my turn.

Fortunately I’m attached to an expert – ex-soldier Max Hurd and a 365 sq ft parachute - so I’m in good hands. We’d already practised the procedure several times before we were airborne so I know what to do. Cross my hands over my chest and forward roll out of the door on the count of three. Oh, and don’t forget to look left and smile for the camera!

One, two, three. Suddenly we are tumbling headfirst towards the earth and I don’t know whether to laugh or scream. The air is roaring in my ears and contorting my face until it resembles one of those Creature Comfort characters. Every facial feature is forced upwards. Who needs Botox when you can have G-force?

A quick tap on my shoulder a few seconds later is my cue to assume The Position – arms out, back arched, legs up – now we’re free falling at 120mph! But it doesn’t feel like I’m falling, it feels as though I’m flying and it’s fantastic. Max is able to manoeuvre us around with the slightest of movements.

It’s only when you fall through a cloud that you get an idea of the speed at which you are hurtling downwards. Then, after around 45 seconds, Max pulls the chord to release the parachute and it’s the equivalent of someone hitting the breaks.

Suddenly everything is in slow motion. I settle back in the harness to enjoy the panoramic view beneath me. Max points out some local landmarks and then invites me to try steering the canopy. I pull down hard as instructed on the left riser and we start spinning round to our left and then we try the other direction. I feel a mixture of exhilaration and relief that the chute works!

My husband had cracked all the usual jokes about packing my parachute and increasing insurance premiums etc but there is a reserve canopy and a mechanism that fires it automatically in an emergency.

Gradually we drift back down to the airfield, everything is peaceful and serene and I savour the last few moments. The only thing I have to remember is to lift my legs up when we land.

The ground is rushing towards us but just before we touch down Max controls our descent and we float gently onto our backsides in the grass.

It was one of the best things I’ve ever done in my life and I would have happily done it all again straight away.

Even Max who has notched up around 3,500 jumps and does base jumping in his spare time, says he still enjoys it.

“I’ve done around 1700 tandem jumps now and everyone is different. I love dragging people out of planes – some of them kicking and screaming because it’s always worth it to see the big smile on their face afterwards.”

He’s right. Even without G-force, I can’t stop grinning. I spend the rest of the day looking as though I’ve got a coat hanger in my mouth.

FACT PANEL

Julia’s House is organising a special Jump for Julia day for Daily Echo readers on Saturday, June 4, although other dates are also available.

The Dorset Children’s Hospice needs to raise £2.8 million this year, which is a tough challenge in the current economic climate.

Supporters are asked to raise as much money as possible for this important cause, but in order to make it worthwhile it needs to be a minimum £395, which includes the cost of the jump.

To find out more about this and other challenge events, visit the website juliashouse.org/events/challenge-events or phone Linda Schofield-Green on 01202 607400.

Nicky Findley’s skydive was organised by the Army Parachute Association on behalf of Julia’s House at Netheravon Airfield near Salisbury in Wiltshire.