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Skydiving!!
- Thread starter fc2spyguy
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TargetInSight
New Member
Hell yeah! Saw the subject and clicked instantly. Skydiving is the s-h-i-t!
I started with a tandem, then did the AFF program (back in the day when it was the number system, now its Alphabet levels). They changed it around on me after I completed 10 AFF jumps (11 total) anyhow still working on finding the $$ and time to turn hippie for a weekend and jump by balls off.
Should I get selected for something I'm thinking of going ahead and getting certified- A license, before I have to ask permission to endanger my life recklessly. Wouldn't that suck if i sprained something 2 weeks before OCC 187!
I wonder how much ass I have to kiss to get some Airborne or HALO training... hahah.
Who else is out there?
I started with a tandem, then did the AFF program (back in the day when it was the number system, now its Alphabet levels). They changed it around on me after I completed 10 AFF jumps (11 total) anyhow still working on finding the $$ and time to turn hippie for a weekend and jump by balls off.
Should I get selected for something I'm thinking of going ahead and getting certified- A license, before I have to ask permission to endanger my life recklessly. Wouldn't that suck if i sprained something 2 weeks before OCC 187!
I wonder how much ass I have to kiss to get some Airborne or HALO training... hahah.
What are you doing? Low level hop and pops? I've typically jumped from 13,500- and usually have about 55 seconds of free fall. Did a hop and pop my last jump- fun stuff either way. Good post man!
Who else is out there?
I'm going up the static line progression. Last jump was from 7500 next one is from 10k which should give me 35 sec freefall. After that I start with turns and flips and all that fun stuff. We don't go above 10k here because we're already at ~3000 msl and from what they're saying you should really have oxygen above 10k here. Cool thing about static jumps is it's only $35 a jump and it'll take me roughly 25-30 jumps to get my a-license
TargetInSight
New Member
Yeah static lines... <<<clears throat>>>p...u......s..s.y.. hahah
(I can imagine all the replies about how hundreds of Airborne are gonna come knocking on my door to kick my ass!)
I hear you on the $35 thing though, thats a good deal! :icon_smil
Man wait until they let you do a Superman dive out of the airplane, and then want you to do front and backflips.. those jumps are UNREAL!
Get the whole thing videotaped- and everytime you show it to the ladies you're guaranteed some play!
(I can imagine all the replies about how hundreds of Airborne are gonna come knocking on my door to kick my ass!)
I hear you on the $35 thing though, thats a good deal! :icon_smil
Man wait until they let you do a Superman dive out of the airplane, and then want you to do front and backflips.. those jumps are UNREAL!
Get the whole thing videotaped- and everytime you show it to the ladies you're guaranteed some play!
Slammer2 said:
I went skydiving 6 years ago in California, tandem, but only because my 2 friends didn't want to attend the 8 hour class one day prior to our jump, which would have enabled us to jump solo. So you don't have to jump tandem first, there are schools that let you jump solo first time, you just might have to go to school for a few hours beforehand.
TargetInSight
New Member
AFF and Tandem
I just happened to try a tandem jump first- seemed like the most logical thing to me at the time, not having to control anything- pretty much just along for the ride. It definitely rocked and is a great 'gateway drug' for the whole experience...
...I then went back and paid the $300 (varies) for the AFF class with first AFF jump (2 jumpmasters jump on each side of you gripping yoru arm and leg). The class was aprox 10 hours for us and included class/practice time.. And by the time its done your mind is so full of information- you don't really have time to ponder any 'fears' unlike the tandem, where you don't know ANYTHING and you don't know what its going to be like.
It was a good progression for me personally- and of course now that i've jumped with my OWN rig (parachute, etc) it seems silly to go attached to someone else. Give me my own chute!!
I had some friends take AFF (where you jump with your own chute, and with instructors HOLDING you not WEARING you) first and not try tandem, and they had mixed results. One paniced/freaked out- forgot what she was suppose to be doing (you have to accomplish things in your AFF jump, unlike Tandem).
All you really have to do is pull your own ripcord and safely land. That's the only requirement for the first AFF jump (usually.) So she didn't, and the instructors were all too happy to pull it for her when the time came... she FAILED the jump and would have to retake, and retake=repay for AFF Jump 1 again. Another friend popped his arm out of his shoulder on the AFF 1 Jump, think he freaked out too- but yeah he's a gimp.
Couple other friends did great on their level 1's, so really its all about what you're looking to do. A tandem at $180 and a quick video, is far less an investment into skydiving than $300 and a 10 hour class as you have in AFF.
Yeah FlashyPants is correct. There are many ways to get into the sport and get licensed.Slammer2 said:
I just happened to try a tandem jump first- seemed like the most logical thing to me at the time, not having to control anything- pretty much just along for the ride. It definitely rocked and is a great 'gateway drug' for the whole experience...
...I then went back and paid the $300 (varies) for the AFF class with first AFF jump (2 jumpmasters jump on each side of you gripping yoru arm and leg). The class was aprox 10 hours for us and included class/practice time.. And by the time its done your mind is so full of information- you don't really have time to ponder any 'fears' unlike the tandem, where you don't know ANYTHING and you don't know what its going to be like.
It was a good progression for me personally- and of course now that i've jumped with my OWN rig (parachute, etc) it seems silly to go attached to someone else. Give me my own chute!!
I had some friends take AFF (where you jump with your own chute, and with instructors HOLDING you not WEARING you) first and not try tandem, and they had mixed results. One paniced/freaked out- forgot what she was suppose to be doing (you have to accomplish things in your AFF jump, unlike Tandem).
All you really have to do is pull your own ripcord and safely land. That's the only requirement for the first AFF jump (usually.) So she didn't, and the instructors were all too happy to pull it for her when the time came... she FAILED the jump and would have to retake, and retake=repay for AFF Jump 1 again. Another friend popped his arm out of his shoulder on the AFF 1 Jump, think he freaked out too- but yeah he's a gimp.
Couple other friends did great on their level 1's, so really its all about what you're looking to do. A tandem at $180 and a quick video, is far less an investment into skydiving than $300 and a 10 hour class as you have in AFF.
Wow guys... this thread is great! I love skydiving. I am the President of UM's Skydiving Club. I did the 7 level AFF program, it is now 9 jumps I believe. Right now I have 126 jumps... it is great.
A few of the great moments in skydiving:
Jumping out of the bomb bay of a B-17
Jumping from an S-58 Helicopter at 7,000ft
Jumping from a hot air balloon and landing 43miles out
2,000ft hop and pops
Pulling off a 3way and turning 2 points from 3500
HALO jump from 33000
So many others... I have pretty much jumped every type of aircraft used in skydiving.
Question for the skydivers out here.... where are your home DZs? I'm lucky enough to have 4 DZs within driving distance, all have turbine aircraft. I'll have videos of World Free Fall Convention coming soon....
A few of the great moments in skydiving:
Jumping out of the bomb bay of a B-17
Jumping from an S-58 Helicopter at 7,000ft
Jumping from a hot air balloon and landing 43miles out
2,000ft hop and pops
Pulling off a 3way and turning 2 points from 3500
HALO jump from 33000
So many others... I have pretty much jumped every type of aircraft used in skydiving.
Question for the skydivers out here.... where are your home DZs? I'm lucky enough to have 4 DZs within driving distance, all have turbine aircraft. I'll have videos of World Free Fall Convention coming soon....
Great Thread.
Skydiving was/is my biggest hobby. I try to jump almost every weekend. I am up to about 155 jumps and have a C license. I jump out at skydive San Marcos in San Marcos, TX.
For those looking at getting into the sport check out Dropzone.com the primere website for skydiving (i think) also USPA.org is the US Parachutist Assoc.'s website. They have all the documents/requirements for jumping and licenses.
I strongly recommend getting life insurance first and do not jump for at least two years after your get the insurance, that way when you start jumping you have it. I tried to increase my life insurance from 150K to 500K and USAA wanted to raise my monthly pymt from less than $20 to over $150 A MONTH. Needless to say I am waiting for OCS so I will have SGLI to help cover my insurance.
As for HALO jumps check out the pictures of a person jumping from 33,000 feet with their dog! This was from this years World Free Fall Covention.
http://www.freefall.com/images/rantoul/2004/13aug/index.htm
Skydiving was/is my biggest hobby. I try to jump almost every weekend. I am up to about 155 jumps and have a C license. I jump out at skydive San Marcos in San Marcos, TX.
For those looking at getting into the sport check out Dropzone.com the primere website for skydiving (i think) also USPA.org is the US Parachutist Assoc.'s website. They have all the documents/requirements for jumping and licenses.
I strongly recommend getting life insurance first and do not jump for at least two years after your get the insurance, that way when you start jumping you have it. I tried to increase my life insurance from 150K to 500K and USAA wanted to raise my monthly pymt from less than $20 to over $150 A MONTH. Needless to say I am waiting for OCS so I will have SGLI to help cover my insurance.
As for HALO jumps check out the pictures of a person jumping from 33,000 feet with their dog! This was from this years World Free Fall Covention.
http://www.freefall.com/images/rantoul/2004/13aug/index.htm
Sabre170 said:
I saw that.... it was great. The dog loved it too! There was a German news crew that was at WFFC and they took the film from it to put into a documentary of the US.
EngineGirl
Sleepy Head
Sabre170 said:
I was waiting for you to get involved in this thread...you seem to be an expert on skydiving!!!
-Erin Leigh
Vette,
How much did the HALO cost? Did Perris bring there new plane? And would you think the Helo was as much fun as the hot air balloon?
I jumped out of a helo at 5500'. that to me was my most memorable jump. The first few seconds of weightlessness and quite was awesome. You can fly yet (until) you build up speed, but just watching the helo while falling was the best. SSM (skydive San Marcos) used to have an otter, but now we have a grand caravan, and as much fun as those planes are there was something about the helo.
How much did the HALO cost? Did Perris bring there new plane? And would you think the Helo was as much fun as the hot air balloon?
I jumped out of a helo at 5500'. that to me was my most memorable jump. The first few seconds of weightlessness and quite was awesome. You can fly yet (until) you build up speed, but just watching the helo while falling was the best. SSM (skydive San Marcos) used to have an otter, but now we have a grand caravan, and as much fun as those planes are there was something about the helo.
Sabre;
23,000 was only 60 bucks, but the 33,000 was like 350. Perris didn't bring the Jet, and there was no C-130 this year. Mullin's King Air isn't as great as everyone makes it out to be; the new Pac-750XL is GREAT.
The Helo was sooo awesome... We got out at just over 7,000. I love the feeling of uncontroled flight... even the hot air balloon has some forward speed so you had control. I landed in some farmers front yard when I jumped the balloon.... his dog chased me... talk about an exciting moment...
The good dropzone near me is CrossKeys NJ, home of Square 3. They have a Super Otter, Super Skyvan, Turbine Porter, Stearman Bi-Plane and an Alouette Helo <the one at WFFC>. The other mainly have Twin Otters and King Airs.
23,000 was only 60 bucks, but the 33,000 was like 350. Perris didn't bring the Jet, and there was no C-130 this year. Mullin's King Air isn't as great as everyone makes it out to be; the new Pac-750XL is GREAT.
The Helo was sooo awesome... We got out at just over 7,000. I love the feeling of uncontroled flight... even the hot air balloon has some forward speed so you had control. I landed in some farmers front yard when I jumped the balloon.... his dog chased me... talk about an exciting moment...
The good dropzone near me is CrossKeys NJ, home of Square 3. They have a Super Otter, Super Skyvan, Turbine Porter, Stearman Bi-Plane and an Alouette Helo <the one at WFFC>. The other mainly have Twin Otters and King Airs.
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