Nathan “Nate” Pond’s—Andover, VT D-69 family farm is the place real sport parachuting started. Nate started freefalling in 1952 in Goodhill, CT. He was a member of the 1958 U.S. Parachute Team for the Bratislava, Czechoslovakia World Champions; a member of the 1961 World Record Team setting the first established world records in the U.S.; and chief pilot and U.S. Team Pilot for the 1962 World Championships. He was the first test jumper for the Pioneer Parachute Company. Nate is an airline transport pilot, FAA licensed in multi-engine ratings and a parachute rigger. He, along with Jacque Istel, invented the concept of the remote controlled opener for the reserve parachute.
