SkyPainter 0 #1 June 1, 2009 Hi all! Well, after a Looooong winter lay-off, I finally got to the DZ this Saturday - YAY! Did my recurrency training, sat around for a long wind hold for a few hours, then got to jump my D-1 AFF. Did my first Front Floater exit (fun!) tumbled a bit (Instructor had the leg strap), but stabilized, separated, and did 4 good, on-heading 90's, and a coupla good on-heading 180s. THEN - with about 9000 left, I started a 360, lost it, and wound-up tumbling ass over teakettle. AFFI flew over to try and turn me over, but wind knocked him away. I barrel-rolled over, recovered, and felt good! SO - another 360 - and now an increasing flat spin, which for some reason (I think legs) I could not stop with just my upper body. I am thinking that I was fighting myself with my knees/legs ....I did slow it down to almost a stop, saw 5300 on the alti, and pulled before anything else went haywire. NO line twists, so I was fairly stable at pull time. Flew a picture-perfect pattern, and almost stood-up the landing - staged a bit high and bled-off a little airspeed, so the flare was a little weak. Just gently toppled forward to knees and stood up. I will be hitting the wind tunnel a couple of times before D-2 to work on turns and knee positions. I think toe-taps are back on the table. Anyway, I felt sorry I gave the AFFI agita in freefall (left a good tip), but I self-corrected well, never lost A/A, and actually had a ball and felt comfortable in the air - even when head-down for a while while tumbling! But it felt GREAT to be back in the sky!Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pwlk 0 #2 June 1, 2009 Quote (left a good tip) is this customary?blog: http://www.pwlk.net/blog Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkyPainter 0 #3 June 1, 2009 Customary? Well, it certainly is for me! I tip waiters, bartenders and others, why not generously tip someone who is training you to save your own life, and who is willing to jump with you and possibly have to try to help you in the air?? This AFFI has been awesome to me, and I have learned a ton from him, including ways to relax during the jump. He inspires confidence every time I go up with him. He is highly trained, and tolerant of my rookie mistakes. Instructors don't get paid a whole lot, generally, for what they do, and I believe that a tip after a successful jump is appropriate. Is it customary? Dunno. I will continue it, tho! I even tip the video guys/gals when I use them. People are, amazingly enough, willing to jump out of an airplane from 13,500 to train me! Yep, I'll tip 'em!Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brettski74 0 #4 June 1, 2009 You can do a search on tipping. It's been discussed before. Generally, the official line in most places in North America at least is that tips are never expected but always appreciated. I can't speak for everyone, and I'm only a coach not an instructor, so I have a lower level of responsibility, but I would not accept a tip. I would far rather you spend your money on developing your skills, buying beer for all your firsts and coming to play with me when you get to an appropriate skill level. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grannyinthesky 0 #5 June 2, 2009 "safety first... and What the hell..... safety second, Too!!! " ~~jmy POPS #10490 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkyPainter 0 #6 June 3, 2009 Thanks! Great to be back in the sky!! Now, to try and find TIME to get back up there more often! Someday, we might jump together! Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently SkyPainter SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
