Fifty teenagers will jump out of a Hercules aircraft on Saturday, an experience the Air Force says will live with them for the rest of their lives.
Members from youth charity groups CanTeen and Project K will take off in five flights over the air force base at Whenuapai on Saturday, reaching about 3000m before they are attached to a tandem jump master and leap.
CanTeen is a society for young people with cancer, while Project K is a youth development programme which helps young teenagers make the most of their potential.
Squadron Leader Simon Rijs, from the air force's parachute training and support unit, said they would freefall for up to 45 seconds before the jump master pulled the rip cord.
"It is definitely an adventure they will remember," he said.
"It is a very in-your-face experience of life and it is hard to go past a tandem parachute for that.
"A bungy gives it to you for a little but it is a very intense feeling of being alive while you are falling through the air."
The event was run by the charity group Jump Start and allowed teenagers to face fear and discover their inner strengths, said Jump Start secretary Lisa Mills.
Jumpers sought sponsors and surplus funds were given to CanTeen and Project K.
