mountainman 0 #1 July 2, 2001 AFF Level I, Saturday, 30 Jun 200107:30 - Laura and I start off on our one and a half hour drive down to the DZ. On the way down, there are some heavy cloud cover due west (direction of the DZ), and we are anticipating only making it through the ground school. All the way down, I was answering questions about AFF from her. I think that it took the actual trip down there to get her psyched about jumping, but I am happy she finally saw the light.09:00 - We arrive at the DZ. Laura and I both go up to the main desk and plop down $3600 for the full 20 jump AFF course for both of us. Nice. The hearts are racing and the blood is flowing since we now realize that there is no going back. We pace around the DZ awaiting the call for ground school to start. Also, there are some regulars pacing around the hanger wondering when the twin Otter will be in. Time for class!!09:30 - We start class with 3 other AFF students and about 6 S/L student. After all of the videos and all of the basic gear talk, the classes split up. The S/L students took to the ParaSIM and us AFF students went back to the videos. 15:00 - We finally start some hands on stuff. We practice the exits, the body positions, and then try and put it all together. Once we got done doing that, the JM got us all through the ParaSIM. My landings were about 200 ft and 32 ft from the target on my first and second attempt, respectively. (Side note: that ParaSIM is very different from the real thing. But that is another story.)17:00 - We all finish with the ParaSIM and the instructor gets us manifested. We are going to be on Load 14...the twin Otter. WooHoo!!!16:00 - Laura and I are gearing up. I am using a 288 and she has a 220 (which I thought I was getting. Yikes! Loading 1:1...thank God that didn't happen.). Anyway, we get geared up finally (after much complications about me not being able to get any gear for awhile) and head for the plane.17:00 - Laura and I head out to the Otter and get ready to go. We both get in the plane and she is sitting in the very front on the right side (door side) and I am sitting about 3 people in front of her on the left side. We get buckled in and the Otter is off in a hurry. As we climb to altitude, I went over the procedures for pull at the correct altitudes. Finally, I put on the helmet/goggles and got on my knees to head out the door.When it my turn, I planted my left and right foot on the door edge and grabbed the side. I checked the JMs and then yelled PROP, UP, DOWN, ARCH...and out I went!!! It was the greatest feeling in the world! Jumping from 13,500', I just saw the Earth fly around under me as I enjoyed the wind in my face. Then, I remembered my first COA. I yelled out the alti (12,300') to the JMs and then did 3 PRCPs. I then did my second COA (9,000's) and then enjoyed the view. I had Roy (cameramonkey to you all) flying in front of me with the camera. I geeked him a couple times until I felt my altimeter being slapped. I looked down and saw 6 grand coming and going. I locked onto my alti and waited until 5. At five grand, I waved off and pulled the cord. The PC got caught in the burble for a second and then caught the wind and jerked me up HARD. OUCH, MY CROTCH!! Anyway, I immediatly looked down and saw my two JMs falling away and then remembered to check the canopy. Whoops! After I had a good canopy, I put the ripcord in my mouth and then released the brakes. I found the target and started to do some hard turns to burn off some alti. After about 30 seconds in the air, I looked up and saw Laura about 200 ft away under canopy. She must've opened a bit lower than me! Anyway, the JM on the ground came on the radio and had my circling around to seperate us and I finally came down about 100 yds from the hanger in the grass. Didn't stand it up, but came darn close. I gathered my stuff up, watched Laura land it (nice and easy as well), and then we walked in together.21:00 - Time for the debriefing. We went over everything about the skydive. I didn't really do anything wrong or forget anything. (Unlike Laura who forgot to wave off and threw the ripcord.) I only needed to straighten legs out a bit and I "swam" for a second on exit. Other than that, I did good. The JM said that if every jump was like that, he would feel bad for being paid. That is the story!! We wanted to go today for a couple more, but weather did not allow. Hopefully in two weeks, we'll go and stay the night and jump a lot more. Let me know what you all think!!! Blue skyz!!!MORE SKYDIVING PHOTOS ADDED!!!http://home.woh.rr.com/brandonandlaura/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PalmettoTiger 1 #2 July 2, 2001 QuoteLet me know what you all think!!! Schweet.Blues, Squares,PTiger*insert sub-100 character sig here* Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mountainman 0 #3 July 2, 2001 thanks man...it was more than that though! That was what I said when I saw the rig. I hope that I wrote it with enough detail!bluzMORE SKYDIVING PHOTOS ADDED!!!http://home.woh.rr.com/brandonandlaura/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viking 0 #4 July 2, 2001 Hehe ya that opening hurts don't it!!! sounds like you done good man congrats and it looks like i will beet you to the lvl 2 Remember when Sex was safe and skydiving was Dangerous? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zennie 0 #5 July 2, 2001 QuoteSchweet.Super schweet! ------------Blue Skies!Zennie Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymedic 0 #6 July 2, 2001 Good on ya man!!!and your wife too!!!marc Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
des 2 #7 July 2, 2001 sounds just like my 1st,13 yrs ago.i can remember how you feel.there ain't nothing like it! it just keeps getting better!des Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #8 July 2, 2001 Congrats....welcome to the wonderful world of AFF (a/k/a wind holds) :-)cielos azules y cerveza fría-Kevin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mountainman 0 #9 July 2, 2001 man....I couldn't believe how much the wind carries you around up there. I was circling around (burning altitude) and finally started crabbing, but the wind just kept pushing me. Luckily I had Wes (the JM) talking me down and I landed great, but it is really weird on your first time to experience running, holding, and crabbing. IT WAS GREAT THOUGH!!!! WOOHOO!!!MORE SKYDIVING PHOTOS ADDED!!!http://home.woh.rr.com/brandonandlaura/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pyke 0 #10 July 2, 2001 QuoteLuckily I had Wes (the JM) talking me down and I landed greatUmmm...that is kinda his JOB!!!j/kOn ya dude...looks like we have another skydiving couple to look forward to buying us BEERSee you two in the air!Kahurangi e Mahearangi,PykeNZPF A - 2584 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grogs 0 #11 July 2, 2001 Congrats Brandon. I know you've been wanting to knock out that AFF for quite some while. I'm glad you finally got to do it. I hear you about the hard openings on those Mantas. I really think they're designed to do that on purpose. Don't worry though, once you go to a smaller chute you will rarely ever get bruised like that. I agree with you about the ParaSIM too. Definitely a lot different. They were demoing that thing at Louisburg during the Easter Boogie and some guys with over 1,000 jumps were running into trees and all sorts of other stupid things, mainly because there's really no depth perception with it.Anyway, congrats again! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Albatross 0 #12 July 3, 2001 Welcome to the skys. It seems like the best thing in the world getting out into the air that first time but you are just starting to enjoy the sky and just learning to fall, wait until you start to fly. I am glad that you finally got off the bench and are in the game.Ready, Set, GOOOOOOOAlbatross Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Billy 0 #13 July 3, 2001 Congrats to ya both!!Hook Line and Sinker!! Life will never be the same!! Have fun and good luck with L-2!!B Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
