posted Jul 27th, 2007 - The NSL News headquarters for this weekend is set at the Raeford Parachute Center, host of the Paraclete XP Money Meet 2007.

The Golden Knights Black team had just completed their warm-up training with two jumps on Friday when the NSL News arrived. They were putting the team equipment away and got ready to visit the new windtunnel in Raeford.

Paraclete XP owner Tim D'Annunzio, sponsor of this weekend's competition and owner of the tunnel, had invited the Army team to a tour at the construction site.

The Golden Knights line-up on site in Raeford includes the new Center Inside, John Hoover, as the NSL News has already mentioned a few times in previous stories.

"Hoovman" looks again as he did before he left for his Army service in Afghanistan.

He mentioned that he likes his new slot, and Tail Matt Davidson jokingly asked back his former position.

Former Tail Eric Heinsheimer is also in Raeford.

He was coaching the female line-up of the Army's competition team when the NSL News arrived at the dropzone. Sean Sweeney, alternate for the Black team, is filling a slot for the female line-up at this meet and was dirtdiving with his team under Eric Heinsheimer's supervision.

His recovery after the neck injury is going well, and he keeps very close with the Black team, while he is coaching the other Army line-ups.

The NSL News joined the Golden Knights tour at the construction site of the windtunnel, which is located a few miles away from the skydiving center.

Tim D'Annunzio expects the tunnel to open for the public in October. Golden Knight John Hoover mentioned that the special service units of the US Army and other military groups are lined up to keep the Raeford tunnel very busy.

The structure of the 16-footer is huge and will accommodate several different facilites for the tunnel operation.

The Golden Knights had to climb up to the level of the flying chamber since the future elevator has not been built yet.

Former Airspeed world champion in 4-way and 8-way, Kirk Verner, oversees the whole Paraclete XP operation and spends a lot of time in the office these days. He will still compete with his Paraclete line-up, which includes himself, Tim and John D'Annunzio and Andy Honigbaum.

His former Airspeed teammate Craig Girard returns to the place where he spent a lot of time before he was hired by Larry Hill to build the Airspeed 8-way team at Skydive Arizona in Eloy. Craig Girard was a member of the Golden Knights 8-way team that won several sets of international gold medals in the 80's and 90's.

Airspeed Odyssey has already been in Raeford for a few days to get familiar with the facilities and the meet environment. The team did not train on Friday and spent the day at the Carolina beaches of the Atlantic Ocean. All teams will be back at the dropzone for the competition draw later today.