Wind Tunnel Flight!

[SkyPainter 0]

Okay, so, the plan is in motion! Had 5 full minutes of indoor "freefall" last night with my daughter, at a vertical wind tunnel (SkyVenture) in NH, and it ROCKED!

1st Tunnel Dive! BEERS all around! (_)D (_)D (_)D (_)D (_)D (_)D (_)D and a coupla shots for the instructor, who probably thought I looked like Charles Barkley trying Ballet! \_/ \_/ \_/

Several things were immediately apparent;

1) This is FUN!!!

2) This is very technical - the lightest hand/leg position changes had me tracking all over the place - hard to stay in the center of the tunnel.

3) I will not be too bad at it! I did fairly well controlling my body in space. and it was FUN!

4) It's rather noisy - plugs helped

5) At one point, I stabilized real well, and for a second it felt like being held gently by the hand of God. I can see this will be a mystical experience for me over time.

6) It was FUN!

7) My kid (at 15) is better at it right now than I am (at 61)

8) I REALLY want to do this in the sky!!! (And get the canopy ride down to go along with the freefall!) Was like half a sandwich!

9) I will LISTEN to my instructors attentively at every turn in this process! Reading here, watching videos, talking to people - none of them prepare you for what it is really like. You need to do it to be able to understand. I will listen, and learn.

10) I am SO glad I did this in preparation for the Tandem this weekend! The sensory overload, the "what will this be like?", all of that is past. Having this Wind Tunnel here will be a great benefit as I go through AFF training .... I can see myself spending a lot of time on the tunnel as well!

THANK YOU to Shawn, my instructor! I hope we jump at Pepperell together, or I get you for the AFF training!

Baby steps ...baby steps .....

Blue Skys and Stand-up Landings -

SkyPainter

Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently
SkyPainter
SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

[grannyinthesky 0]

Way to go. The tunnel is a nice place to start. I didn't do tunnel time until about 8 jumps and it helped me a lot. I have yet to decide if freefall or canopy time is better since they are both so fantastic. By the way, I am 57 and I just started jumping in October and got my A license a couple of weeks ago. Have a great time learing. It is a wonderful adventure.

"safety first... and What the hell.....
safety second, Too!!! " ~~jmy

POPS #10490

[SkyPainter 0]

Thanks, Granny!!! Age is just a matter of relative experience, I think! Yep, the Tunnel is a big benefit for me here, being so close. It is only about 15 minutes away from the DZ I will jump from, too!

I may be sending my daughter to "Sky Diving Camp" this summer at the tunnel. She is too young to jump, but LOVED it last night! They even have little flying competitions with the kids there! I hope to be licensed, and when she turns 18, jump together with her!

This is gonna absofreakinlutely ROCK!!

"....and break the surly bonds of Earth ..."

Best -

Safe Landings

SkyPainter

Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently
SkyPainter
SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118