Background
Born in Havre de Grace, Maryland, Miller was an avid outdoorsman, computer technician, small business owner, and extreme sports enthusiast who enjoyed power paragliding. Miller held an Associate's degree in computer programming from the University of Alaska at Juneau. He was introduced to paragliders while living in Las Vegas.
He started with a jetpack tied to his back, and moved up to two-cycle aircraft engines which powered him through the skies above the desert. He began setting power-gliding records for altitude and distance, with a reputation for reckless daring.
Miller relocated to Valdez, Alaska where he continued to fly ultralight aircraft and paragliders in the Alaskan wilderness until he developed heart problems. He was diagnosed with a serious coronary condition, had heart surgery twice, and was forced to close his small computer business in Valdez in order to move to Anchorage, where he was closer to medical care and friends and family.
Read more about this topic: James Miller (parachutist)
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