grue 1 #1 July 3, 2002 ...take static class, get in 5 static jumps, and 2 freefall jumps in the course of a weekend?cavete terrae. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #2 July 3, 2002 Yeah, if the weather helps you out and you don't spend your entire Saturday in class. See if you can't take the class on Friday. Tell the instructors that you want to do that and I'm sure they'll work with ya. Good Luck!--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #3 July 3, 2002 Not at all. Everyone will tell you that the more jumps you do in a day, the higher the learning curve. What will be factors are: - The weather - The ability of the dz to put you up that often - Your ability to advance through the goals for each jump - Your cash flow But over all, if circumstances are right it's probably much better to do it in a compressed time period rather than spread it out. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grue 1 #4 July 3, 2002 QuoteYeah, if the weather helps you out and you don't spend your entire Saturday in class. See if you can't take the class on Friday. Tell the instructors that you want to do that and I'm sure they'll work with ya. Good Luck! Hm, an interesting idea. I'll have to wait until I get my schedule for fall semester first, and I'm not sure how likely it'll be that I can ditch a friday 3 weeks into the schoolyear, hehe. Worst case, I'll just get as many jumps in as I can, and go back the next weekend :D What's the average time for a determined person between first class and receiving his/her A Licence?cavete terrae. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wlie 0 #5 July 3, 2002 Absolutely. Rare, but possible. And expensive too. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dumpster 0 #6 July 3, 2002 Hell yeah, man! I really wish I had the cash and the time to jam like that when I was on student status! I probably wouldn't have flailed as much as I have! I was told to jump as often as possible, to learn as fast as possible- And it works! Easy Does It Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grue 1 #7 July 3, 2002 QuoteAbsolutely. Rare, but possible. And expensive too. Hm. I'm not terribly worried about the cost, I totalled it up, and the class/first jump, 4 additional static jumps, and 2 freefalls are under $400, and it -just so happens- to be 9 days before my 21st birthday, heheh. In any case, I've started saving, just means I'll have to put off a few upgrades for the car. Since I'm sure as hell not jumping out of an airplane in a South Dakota winter unless I have to do keep current or something, I can spend the snow time on the car, and the sun time in the sky :Dcavete terrae. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #8 July 3, 2002 Average? Probably a month to a month and a half or so...that depends on a lot of factors, though, like $$ and time, etc. As for school? It can be done, there's quite a few college students on the forums here, myself included. I'm a 5th year Senior at Texas A&M University. If I was able to jump with the schedule that I've had in school with the Corps of Cadets and all, you can do it, trust me, it just takes a little work and some sacrifice. Like doing homework during the week and living off of Ramen Top Shelf...--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #9 July 3, 2002 Quotejust means I'll have to put off a few upgrades for the car. Don't worry, you'll have plenty of cash to spend on the car after you pay for your student jumps, buy your gear, buy your jumpsuit(s), buy your helmet(s), buy your altimiter, your protrack, your dytter in case you don't hear the protrack, get some coaching, buy all the requisite beer, and lets not forget fun jumps. Quick poll...how many people have sold their car to pay for jump tickets? I'm thinking of putting mine up for sale... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grue 1 #10 July 3, 2002 QuoteQuotejust means I'll have to put off a few upgrades for the car. Don't worry, you'll have plenty of cash to spend on the car after you pay for your student jumps, buy your gear, buy your jumpsuit(s), buy your helmet(s), buy your altimiter, your protrack, your dytter in case you don't hear the protrack, get some coaching, buy all the requisite beer, and lets not forget fun jumps. Quick poll...how many people have sold their car to pay for jump tickets? I'm thinking of putting mine up for sale... Heheh...gosh, that's a lot of gear, heh. Must total up to what, $1200-1500 for the initial setup? There's no way I could sell the car, tho, man. Just love it too much, not to mention the DZ is 90 miles from school, and abotu 120 miles from home :Dcavete terrae. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomAiello 26 #11 July 3, 2002 My personal training progression went something like this: April 25: Tandem May 1 (Sat): S/L class, 1st S/L jump May 2 (Sun): More Class, 2nd S/L May 3 (Mon): 8 FF jumps, progressing to full height May 14: A License exam June 10: B License exam July 15: C License exam August 23: D License exam I made just over 250 skydives between May 1 and Sep 1 that year. If you really want to do it, and have the cash flow to support it (and a busy enough DZ), it's pretty easy, actually. The major issues are cash and time, and I had the lucky coincidence to have both at the same time. But, I was pretty much at the DZ 5 days each week (and long days on weekends). As an interesting postscript, I made my first BASE jump (which had been my real goal in all that) on September 1st that year, and in the subsequent two and a half years, I've only made around 100 skydives (550 BASE jumps, though). My advice (which you can promptly ignore) is not to set those kind of numerical goals for yourself until you've made the first few jumps. It just might not feel right to you, or you might be too exhausted or stressed to continue. If that happens, take a break. The DZ will still be there next weekend. Have fun starting your adventure!-- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #12 July 3, 2002 $1500? Fly it like you stole it comes to mind there... With all that stuff listed, you're looking at closer to $4000-$5000, used for a lot of it. I'm slowly piecing the gear together, some people can just pull it out and purchase it all at once or get a great deal buying used...--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grue 1 #13 July 3, 2002 Quote$1500? Fly it like you stole it comes to mind there... With all that stuff listed, you're looking at closer to $4000-$5000, used for a lot of it. I'm slowly piecing the gear together, some people can just pull it out and purchase it all at once or get a great deal buying used... er, that was meant to be 4500. I'm working retail part time for the summer, and trying to get used to using the keypad, heh. Seems I'm not too good at is.cavete terrae. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #14 July 3, 2002 QuoteHeheh...gosh, that's a lot of gear, heh. Must total up to what, $1200-1500 for the initial setup? There's no way I could sell the car, tho, man. Just love it too much, not to mention the DZ is 90 miles from school, and abotu 120 miles from home :D You can go with used stuff to save some cash, but here's an example based on personal experience (prices approximate): Main Canopy $1500 Reserve Canopy $900 Container: $1100 Protec Helmet: $45 AAD: $900 Altimiter: $150 Goggles: $10 Protrack: $300 Jumpsuit: $220 Love my car too, before I started this I raced autocross. No more. Now I'm thinking I just need something to get me back and forth to the dz, and any P.O.S. will do. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #15 July 3, 2002 QuoteProtec Helmet: $45 I got my half-shell at a skateboard shop for $25...save where you can --"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grue 1 #16 July 3, 2002 Hm. Is it common to basically buy everything but the container/canopies/aad and rent that stuff while saving up to buy 'em?cavete terrae. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #17 July 3, 2002 Fairly common, there are a few things you can get away with not buying at first, like a dytter. I bought my FF suit and altimeter first, then a helmet and now I'm getting a rig together. See if the school you're going to has a skydiving club, if they do, then they might have cheap rentals for members. That's how I'm jumping right now... --"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grue 1 #18 July 3, 2002 oh, and what's a protrack?cavete terrae. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #19 July 3, 2002 You pretty much have to buy your own altimeter, goggles, and helmet right off of student status. You can get away without a jumpsuit, but you'll want one ASAP, they really do make a difference, especially when you start jumping with others. You definitely want to rent for a while, or get on a demo program if available. That way you can try out different equipment to see what fits your style and also slowly work your way down from a student size/style canopy to a good beginner one. Lots of people also recommend buying used for your first equipment, which is probably a good idea if you don't have access to a well stocked gear store where you can try out a wide variety before plunking down a big wad of cash. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomAiello 26 #20 July 3, 2002 Freefall computer and audible altimeter. It records your freefall speed and time, and also beeps in your ear when the earth is getting too close. They're great.-- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grue 1 #21 July 3, 2002 Ahh, the thing that reminds you that the 29000 mile wide thing is gonna hurtcha? :Dcavete terrae. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,120 #22 July 4, 2002 QuoteAhh, the thing that reminds you that the 29000 mile wide thing is gonna hurtcha? :D 29,000 miles wide? You jumping on Neptune? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grue 1 #23 July 4, 2002 ack, in circumference, heh. I should sleep more often.cavete terrae. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarkM 0 #24 July 4, 2002 Quote...take static class, get in 5 static jumps, and 2 freefall jumps in the course of a weekend? Heh, no. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
