Jumping for joy: Bush skydives on 85th birthday

Former President George H.W. Bush marked his 85th birthday on Friday the same way he did his 75th and 80th birthdays: He leaped from a plane and zoomed downward at more than 100 mph in freefall before parachuting safely to a spot near his oceanfront home in Kennebunkport, Maine.

Bush made the tandem jump from 10,500 feet with Sgt. 1st Class Mike Elliott of the Army's Golden Knights, who guided them to a gentle landing on the lawn of St. Ann's Church.


He said he enjoyed it so much that he planned to do it again when he turns 90.


George W. and Barbara Bush wave to him after the jump.


With Barbara Bush after the jump.

When he was president, Bush was an avid jogger, speed golfer, fisherman and tennis player.

He said he has slowed down since then, but he doesn't intend to stop moving.

And all that from a man who won’t eat his broccoli.

He told reporters that he jumped Friday for two reasons: to experience the exhilaration of free falling and to show that seniors can remain active and do fun things.

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