Radzi's Free Fall! Blue Peter

-OK, are you ready to skydive?

-Yes.

-Check in.

-OK.

-Check out. Wingtip.

Of all the incredible challenges Blue Peter has ever taken on,

there's one I've always dreamt of...

Wow!

..a challenge that was first attempted more than 50 years ago.

This is John Noakes, the first Blue Peter presenter to ever do it.

Green for go.

Suddenly all my training makes sense.

I found I was enjoying flashing through the air

at 120 miles an hour.

I'm sure Janet broke her pelvis when she was training.

I'd become the first woman in Britain

to free fall over 16,000 feet.

Simon is one of the reasons I wanted to become a Blue Peter presenter.

-I don't want to do this.

-I remember exactly how I felt watching this.

I'm taking on skydiving

and I'm doing it with a group who are quite simply legendary.

The RAF Falcons are one of the most iconic parachute display teams

in the entire world.

For years, they've wowed crowds with their skill and bravery

and, in that time, they've taught generations

of Blue Peter presenters, creating a unique history.

Now I'm attempting to write the next chapter in that story

and perform a skydive routine with the Falcons.

I'm actually going to do that. It's really brought it home.

Join me as I free fall.

My training begins at their base,

RAF Brize Norton.

To train to become a Falcon takes years.

Together, they've performed thousands of jumps.

I've got just weeks.

Under the guidance of Corporal Alex Williams and Sergeant Mark O'Brien,

I need to complete two days of intensive ground training.

OK then, Radzi. Obviously, first element of your ground training,

we're actually going to introduce you to the parachute

-you're going to be jumping.

-Amazing.

-All right.

First, I need to understand how my parachute works.

-That is going to save your life.

-That is a good thing.

VOICEOVER: Next, I learn how to jump from a plane...

-Check in.

-OK.

-Check out.

..and what to do if something goes wrong.

Cut away, pull reserve.

There's so much to take in.

My brain is currently somewhere between fried and scrambled.

But it doesn't stop.

I'm taught how to control my body

when I'm free falling before I pull my parachute...

Get your chin up for me, so you're looking onto the horizon.

..then practise just that in a wind tunnel.

I'm trying to make everything sink in and I think, I hope it all is.

I've concentrated so hard and I think I'm making progress

but I have no actual idea of what it's going to be like to skydive.

And, if I'm honest, I don't actually know if I've got what it takes.

To find out,

I'm travelling to the Falcons' winter base in California, USA,

to complete an intensive skydive training course.

The weather normally makes this the perfect place

for the Falcons to put in thousands of practice jumps,

so I can't wait to get up there and join them. But then...

-This is a powerful storm.

-Hundreds of homes have been evacuated.

-This is crazy.

-This storm is massive.

I've never seen anything like it.

California is hit by freak storms,

leaving behind a thick layer of cloud, which could stop me jumping.

The Falcons are busy in preseason training,

so I'll be taught by an ex-Falcon,

Sergeant Tony Brookes.

I'm hoping you're going to have good news for me today.

The news doesn't look so good today.

The cloud's low, there's a little bit of rain in the air.

It's probably quite dangerous for you to jump today,

-so we're not going to be jumping.

-Definitely no?

-Definitely no.

-So, for today, what's the plan?

-Do your ground training.

You've already done some of that in the UK. We'll refresh that,

go through everything to make sure you're happy

with what you're going to do, so you're ready for jumping.

-Shall we crack on?

-Let's go.

VOICEOVER: I've been imagining myself jumping out of a plane

every day for three weeks

and, as I watch the Falcons do just that,

the wait is agonising.

Because of their qualifications,

the fact that they are the RAF Falcons,

they can jump in these conditions.

But I can't, so I just have to watch.

But I want to be out there, I want to be jumping. It's so frustrating!

All I can do is focus on my ground training,

but this could become a serious problem.

Before I can skydive with the Falcons,

I need to pass a military training course of ten successful jumps.

However, I can only do four a day and, in less than a week,

the Falcons leave California.

I need to get up in that plane.

Unfortunately, things aren't much better on day two.

We wait...but it's not good,

and I start to seriously worry about running out of time.

From the moment I found out about this challenge,

I've been so worried that I wouldn't be able to do it,

that fear would overcome me and I wouldn't have what it takes.

And yet, I'm sat in this plane, the very thing I want to be sat in,

jumping out of it, and instead, I'm sat here telling you

that I don't even know if the challenge is on.

The idea that we're not going to have enough time

for me to get the jumps in

to be able to actually perform with the RAF Falcons...

I can't even talk about it.

Good morning!

And it's a good one for a very good reason

and that is because the weather is improving.

We still don't know if it's going to happen today,

so I'm going to see my coach, Tony,

and, hopefully, he's got good news for me.

Fingers crossed.

VOICEOVER: The news is even better than I hoped.

Straight away, Tony gets me into my parachute. We are go.

I'm trying so hard to pretend I'm not scared. I am...

Yeah, my heart is pounding.

After two long days of waiting, this is about to happen.

I'm jumping out of a plane today.

But then, as the plane's climbing,

there's a last-minute call from the ground.

Tony, DZ.

No jump?

-We're not jumping?

-It's too cloudy.

We're not jumping.

At the last moment, the clouds become too thick

and we have to return to the ground.

To say I'm devastated doesn't cover it.

I just don't know if this challenge is ever going to happen.

That's the problem. Gutted.

My dream of skydiving with the Falcons has never felt further away.

Then something changes.

Unbelievably, we've been given the call that it's a go.

There's been a break in the clouds, so we're now just going.

Now it's time to do this thing that means the world to me.

Let's jump out of a plane.

I've never had the shakes before.

Look at that. Look at that!

Look at that!

We've just had confirmation it's a go. Get in!

It's got very serious all of a sudden. This is the real deal.

-OK, are you ready to skydive?

-Yes.

-OK, in the door.

-Check in.

-OK.

-Check out.

-OK.

Wingtip. Out.

Wow!

Wow, wow, wow!

VOICEOVER: Of all the unbelievable things I've done with Blue Peter,

nothing has beaten this.

That's very good, Radzi, well done.

Wow! Wow!

That was the single

most overwhelming experience

of my life!

This has been a day I will never forget

and my challenge is finally underway.

Now the jumps have to come thick and fast.

The weather has messed up our schedule,

meaning I've only got three days to complete my training.

I can't afford any more setbacks.

In my last jump, Tony held on to me until I pulled my parachute.

-Are you happy, Radz?

-Absolutely.

Now, if I can perform the correct drills in time,

he'll let go and let me free fall on my own.

The thought of me being on my own is overwhelming.

I'm not doing the drills I've practised quickly enough.

There just doesn't seem to be enough time.

Tony doesn't let go of me.

So, that should be done by about 10,500 feet.

-Oh, wow, OK.

-Not 8,000.

-Right, fine.

-So we'll have to repeat that one again.

-OK. Right, first one failed.

I've got to get back up soon.

Anything I don't get right I need to repeat until I do.

The next jump has to be right or this challenge could be over.

Check out. Wingtip.

This time I move through the drills when I should

and when Tony's happy, he lets go.

For the first time,

I'm falling completely on my own at around 120 miles an hour.

-How did you feel on your own?

-Good, I felt good.

I didn't feel out of control. I was trying to control it.

I think my feet went back when you let go of me.

-You have passed that with flying colours.

-Yes! Oh, get in!

-Good man, well done.

-Yes!

That feeling of going through the air is just incredible.

I am pumped!

Get in, skydiving! This challenge is on.

Level passed. Now I've got some catching up to do.

-# All the leaves are brown

-All the leaves are brown

# And the sky is grey

# And the sky is grey

-# I've been for a walk

-I've been for a walk

# On a winter's day

# On a winter's day

-# California dreaming

-California dreaming

# On such a winter's day... #

I complete more jumps and manage to pass more levels of my course.

If I want to jump with the Falcons, I need to pass them all.

But every time I jump, I have to learn something new

and I'm getting tired.

Up until now, when I've left the plane, Tony has been with me.

This time I need to prove to him I can do it alone

and then perform a 360-degree turn.

-# On such a winter's day

-California dreaming

# On such a winter's day. #

I'm not going to lie to you. I'm actually really scared about this

cos this is the first time I'm jumping out of the plane on my own.

-Check in.

-OK.

-Wingtip.

VOICEOVER: Straightaway, something feels wrong.

I'm falling far too quickly and trying so hard not to panic.

Tony uses all of his experience to catch up with me

and, when he does, I complete my 360 turns.

Then, I make another mistake.

My legs get trapped beneath him, which sends us out of control.

I'm running out of time. I need to pull my parachute fast.

No!

That was terrifying.

To make matters worse, if Tony feels I didn't complete everything,

he could fail it

and my dream will be over.

I know I did something wrong.

He takes me to a special analysis room to go through what I did.

As I left the plane, my body position was all wrong,

causing me to fall too quickly.

Your body needs to be turned that way,

so we should see the back of you and the parachute.

Remember the air is coming this way, so that's what takes you

and then turns you 180.

So, you've come out a little bit flat.

You're going straight down, you'll go fast.

Tony explains how the spin happened.

OK, at this point now, that position's good.

You just turned underneath me. That's what you've done there.

That's caused me to spin.

I could have thrown away all my hard work with two simple errors.

It's your first one.

Not many people can go out and hit their first exit

and stay stable and come straight down, but all achieved.

Tick, well done.

Amazingly, I pass. Despite the mistakes,

I actually completed the moves I needed to.

Good, that's perfect. That's really, really good.

It's really knocked me for six just how mentally exhausting it is

but, yeah, it's rest time now.

We're just heading back to the airfield and, by the end of today,

I'm going to find out if I've passed or failed my course.

Now I need to demonstrate all the skills I've learnt.

If I don't have total control over myself,

I could risk mine and the Falcons' safety.

Tony needs to know that's not going to happen.

I can't say how important this next jump is.

It's my final training jump and if I fail, my challenge is over.

My most complex jump starts with a backflip.

Then I need to do two 360-degree turns,

finally moving forwards and backwards through the air.

To do all this before pulling my parachute,

I don't have time to make any more mistakes.

Everything rests on the next few moments.

Check in. Check out. Wingtip. Out, in.

Straightaway, I lose control. I have to stay calm.

Gradually I manage to steady myself.

I start with a backflip.

One 360 turn followed by another.

I show that I can drift through the air backwards and forwards...

..and finally release my parachute.

I am so happy with that.

Yeah!

We landed it on our feet!

Do you know what, I don't know if I've passed or failed,

but it doesn't get much better than that. It doesn't.

From the very first moment,

I've given my training everything.

I've learned so much. I just don't want it to end here.

-Hey, Radzi.

-Hey.

-How did it go?

-I thought it went well. I made some mistakes.

-OK.

Um, but your voice doesn't suggest good news.

You've had a tough few days.

Weather's not been the greatest - you've had cloud,

a bit of rain, had to hold,

and you've landed back with the aircraft cos of the cloud.

It's been tough.

But I'm very pleased to say you have passed.

-Well done.

-Have I really?

Really good. Yeah, really, really good. It's time to join the Falcons.

-I'm actually going to be jumping with the Falcons?

-Yes.

-Oh, man!

-Well done.

Getting to jump with the RAF Falcons is a dream come true

and that's because it's the stuff of legends.

Blue Peter presenters have been jumping with them

for more than 50 years,

creating some incredible moments.

And we're out in space! It's unbelievable!

25,000 feet.

All that work was worth it

for a minute and a half of unforgettable free fall.

If I want to do the same,

I need to perform two of their most iconic routines over two jumps.

The first is a free fall formation

creating a pattern in the air before opening our parachutes.

I'll be in the middle and will have to maintain total control

so the Falcons can form around me in just 40 seconds.

Jump two is something no Blue Peter presenter has ever done before,

the iconic Falcons stack.

I'll be at the bottom,

as each member of the team forms a giant column under parachute.

I'll have to turn at the right time so the team can stay in sync.

One wrong move and you can risk tangling parachutes

and that can lead to serious problems.

So we practise again and again.

Ready, set, go.

Turning right, 180. Turning right now.

Smoke on, smoke on now. Alternate split stack now.

After all this, I'll be trying to touch down

on a Blue Peter target on the ground.

This is the most complex challenge

the Falcons have ever attempted with Blue Peter.

We are trying to make history.

Just one mistake from me ruins this entire challenge.

There's a lot of responsibility on my shoulders

and I just want to do it well.

When I saw Simon Thomas take on this challenge,

it inspired me to become a Blue Peter presenter.

-Are you ready to skydive, Simon?

-Ready to skydive.

In the door after me.

Fast forward a lot of years, I'm now sat here as one,

doing the very challenge that inspired me

so, hopefully, this might inspire one of you to do exactly the same.

First up, the free fall formation.

-OK, mate.

-Check in.

-OK.

-Check out.

-Let's go.

-Wingtip. Out, in.

I leave the plane with two other Falcons.

This time I just can't afford to move side to side

because we make the line that the rest of the team can form around.

We get into position then the other Falcons start to arrive.

It's so hard to maintain control.

One slip from me and the whole thing could fall apart.

Time is running out before we have to pull our parachutes.

I just don't want to let the rest of the team down.

And then...

..at exactly the same time, they're gone.

They make that look so easy.

That was one of the most incredible things I've ever done.

The Falcons were on there in seconds.

They were quick, weren't they?

I just tried to remember what you've taught me.

-Stay relaxed, keep symmetrical.

-It did look good.

You were enjoying it cos you were smiling,

tongue was sticking out. That was good. Well done.

-Now time for part two.

-You achieved it. Well done.

-Yes!

VOICEOVER: As I get ready for the second jump,

it dawns on me this could be the last time

I ever jump out of a plane.

So, here we go. My last ever jump

and it's with the Falcons.

Come on!

Is there a better way to finish?

I'm going to be a part of the Falcons stack

and try to land on the Blue Peter target.

The skill here is controlling my flight under the parachute.

First, I need to move smoothly and slowly, so they can stack above me.

If I can do it, I write Blue Peter history.

That's all copy. The drop zone is clear.

Start the challenge when you're ready.

Wingtip. Out, in.

VOICEOVER: No, Radzi! I've lost control again.

I need to steady myself.

The Falcons can't jump until I level out.

The team now have to catch me and get into formation.

Whoa!

We are open.

VOICEOVER: I need to get into a turning pattern,

so the rest of the stack can follow.

Above me, they start to form.

Whoa!

The combination of concentration and adrenaline

is absolutely unbelievable.

As I check my canopy, I see them.

Oh, my goodness, they're directly above me!

I'm the first civilian to ever join an RAF Falcons stack.

To be gliding through the air as a team

is a once in a lifetime experience.

Now to hit that target.

I want to get this right so badly.

This is almost the toughest part of my challenge.

If I'm going to be anywhere near, I need to be so precise.

This is going to be close.

So close!

Yeah!

To get to do what I've just done

with the absolute best in the world...

What can beat that?

This is the best day ever, the best day of my life.

These have been the moments I've dreamt of since I was young.

At times, I never thought it would happen, but I kept that dream alive.

Now, with hard work and some inspirational training,

it's come true.

It was Blue Peter that inspired my dream.

Challenge done.

I just hope this inspires you.

Radzi, congratulations on passing the challenges.

It's an absolute pleasure to welcome you

-as an honorary member of the RAF Falcons...

-Wow!

..and present you with your very own RAF Falcons T-shirt...

-No way!

-..and RAF Falcons pin badge as well.

-Oh, wow!

-Well done and congratulations.

-Thank you so, so much.

If I can fly with the Falcons, just think what you could do.