90-year-old Maine man skydives for 1st time

[July 17, 2012]  PITTSFIELD, Maine (AP) -- A Maine man who learned how to use a parachute as a Navy pilot during World War II has finally made his first jump -- at age 90.

Lester Slate of Exeter jumped out of a plane for the first time on Sunday at Pittsfield Airport. He was guided to the ground by a tandem jumper and accompanied by another skydiver trailing a U.S. flag.

The jump was a 90th birthday present to himself. More than 50 family and friends watched.

Slate tells the Bangor Daily News (http://bit.ly/Myr0gb) he was inspired by former president George H.W. Bush, who jumped from an airplane on his 85th birthday in 2009.

Slate says he had such a good time he wants to do it again -- on his 95th or 100th birthday.

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Information from: Bangor Daily News, http://www.bangordailynews.com/

[Associated Press]

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