75th birthday at Skydive Moncton

Jacqueline Robichaud has parasailed over Cuba, floated over Ottawa in a hot air balloon and teetered on top of a camel in Africa.

Today, the wife of the former New Brunswick premier Louis J. Robichaud will add skydiving in Moncton to that list.

"The best part is going to be when they push me out," Robichaud said and laughed. "They're going to say 'Mrs. Robichaud, it's time to jump,' and I cannot say no. I cannot change my mind. It's going to be such a thrilling experience."

Robichaud is marking her 75th birthday by parachuting out of a plane at 10,000 feet above McEwan Air Field. Her son will be joining her on the landmark occasion.

"It's my son's idea. He said 'Mom, you're going to be 75 and I'm taking you parachuting,' " she said.

"I said 'Are you serious?' and he said 'Would you prefer bungee jumping?' I said 'No, I'll go for the parachuting.' "

Robichaud will be making the tandem jump with an instructor from Skydive Moncton at 4 p.m.

"We're very excited to have her with us," says Louise Richard, co-owner of Skydive Moncton.

"It's really interesting, we just had a 90 year-old come out with us. Seventy-five is a good age to go skydiving."

Richard said age doesn't play a factor in skydiving, it all depends on how physically fit the participant is.

Since Robichaud has never been skydiving before, she will be attached to an instructor at all times.