UliToo 0 #1 October 22, 2008 Although I've only done one tandem jump so far, I am certain I want to continue with the sport. It's something I've always dreamed about (since I was a kid, and I'm now 45), and finally made it happen. Doing another tandem next week before the DZ closes for the season. I have planned on doing AFF next spring. I've read a couple of posts in which tandems were part of the AFF training. Can that be right? 'nother question: How do you train on landing the canopy yourself? Seems like a lot of responsibility right in the beginning. I understand you're safe during freefall with 2 instructors guiding you, but then you're left on your own to coast yourself down and miss landing areas and hit flagpoles and such. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GLIDEANGLE 1 #2 October 22, 2008 If your tandem instructor is worth a damn, you can get a bit of canopy landing training on your second tandem. Yes, some programs combine tendem and AFF into a single flow. Students who complete specific objecitves on the tandem jumps then transfer into the appropriate place in the AFF curriculum. Your concerns about being "alone" for landing are certianly valid. The one factor that you may not have considered is that most (all?) AFF students have a radio reciever thru which their instructor can give landing guidance. Of course, the radio may not work, or the student may not be able to attend to the guidance being given. Beware, if you do your second tandem now and then wait all winter before doing AFF, you are likely to have to start AFF at the begining due to the long break (regardless of any objectives you may have met on the second tandem.)The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NotBond 0 #3 October 22, 2008 QuoteBeware, if you do your second tandem now and then wait all winter before doing AFF, you are likely to have to start AFF at the begining due to the long break (regardless of any objectives you may have met on the second tandem.) Unfortunately, that's pretty much what I'm looking at, too. But, yes, I'll be going into AFF after two tandems.Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyways... - John Wayne Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
heavydude 0 #4 October 22, 2008 The canopy stuff during AFF jump is not that bad, you pull on toggles to go R&L and then listen to instructor over radio for a good flair. The landing was easiest part of AFF jump 1. Now for the first 4 exits..shit that was tough, all that stuff about arching is real important... I never did any tadems at all, did my first jump w/o ever being in a jump plane before....did watch all the skydiving movies like Drop Zone, Terminal Velocity, etc...in the end Skydiving was harder to learn that it seemed in the movies. 70 jumps later...Im watching the cooler movies like Parabatix ..... Also what really helps I beleive besides being tossed out of planes is spending allot of time watching good skydivers land...not swoop because you dont want to try that shit for awhile..Windtunnel stuff is cool also if you have one close..they are killer for gettin the moves down without stressin the big drop. I was about the same age when I started, could have kicked myself in the butt for not doing this 10 yrs ago ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
popsjumper 2 #5 October 22, 2008 Quote Although I've only done one tandem jump so far, I am certain I want to continue with the sport. It's something I've always dreamed about (since I was a kid, and I'm now 45), and finally made it happen. Congrats and welcome to the big blue skies! Quote Doing another tandem next week before the DZ closes for the season. I have planned on doing AFF next spring. Why wait? You didn't list a home DZ but I'll cordially invite you down to Skydive The Farm where we jump all year and you could do your AFF or Tandem Progression training now to be ready for spring at home. Quote I've read a couple of posts in which tandems were part of the AFF training. Can that be right? Yes. Ask your instructor to make your tandem jump a learning jump that applies to your cross-over (tandem to AFF) training. Quote How do you train on landing the canopy yourself? Seems like a lot of responsibility right in the beginning. I understand you're safe during freefall with 2 instructors guiding you, but then you're left on your own to coast yourself down and miss landing areas and hit flagpoles and such. Flying a canopy is really, in the big scheme of things, very easy. I like to think that it's 90% mental and 10% technical. Technical: Pull right-turn right, pull left-turn left, pull both-put on the brakes. Mental: I like to relate it to driving a car. You simply steer it to where you want to go. The more input, the more response. You put on the brakes when you want to slow down and stop. Your training will drill you on this. You will have all the necessary knowledge and skill to land it safely before you jump. The only skills you won't have is: - the ability to judge how far the canopy will fly forward per the altitude lost. Your training will give you some helpful hints on learning how to judge that such as the "half-way there, half-way back" technique and how to use ground reference points on your landing pattern approach amongst others. - judging when to to put on the brakes for landing. You'll learn how to use your eyes for helping with that. Very important will be your training for the parachute landing fall (PLF)...a bone-saving technique for landing. Again, welcome to skydiving...old dogs CAN learn new tricks, eh? My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UliToo 0 #6 October 22, 2008 Hey, who ya calling old?? Thank you all for the responses! I will try to incorporate the next tandem into my training. Thanks for inviting me south, but I'm kinda stuck here in the northeast due to my job. So I guess the winter will be a long break between jumps and not sure if they will let that count. Some great and useful information posted.....thanks, especially to Popsjumper. You guys are great. Awesome forum! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NotBond 0 #7 October 22, 2008 See if in addition to canopy work, your TI will let you practice freefall maneuvers. I had some tasks to do on my second one, spin and return to bearing (3x), alti checks, and deploy at altitude. Kept me real busy and focused, so I didn't have time to think about anything else.Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyways... - John Wayne Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UliToo 0 #8 October 22, 2008 Gonna try that as well, thanks. I remember you posting about your first tandem and about your brain freeze a few days ago. I didn't know you jumped again. How was your second one? Were you more aware? That's what I'm hoping for with mine. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr_music11 0 #9 October 23, 2008 Ehhh.. dont worry about it! I too had the same thoughts as I was entering AFF.( I was enrolled in my AFF 2 wks after my 1st jump/tandem) You get lots of ground instruction from your instructors. I didnt have a radio for my AFF jumps, but was just fine. By the time that you are reaching the ground on your 1st AFF/steering the chute yourself, there is a great relief that you "made it" ! and are returning to earth safely. So, remember your PLF... relax! breathe! You'll be great! Blue skies!If flying is piloting a plane.. then swimming is driving a boat. I know why birds sing.. I skydive. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NotBond 0 #10 October 23, 2008 QuoteGonna try that as well, thanks. I remember you posting about your first tandem and about your brain freeze a few days ago. I didn't know you jumped again. How was your second one? Were you more aware? That's what I'm hoping for with mine. My second one was great. Knew what was going to happen, so very little nervousness. Sun was shining, wind was rushing, I was spinning, it was very cool. I avoided looking straight down, and that helped a lot, also.Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyways... - John Wayne Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfriverjoe 1,523 #11 October 23, 2008 #1 Talk to the instructors at YOUR dz. They will have much better and more specific info for your situation. #2 Get a SIM (skydiver info manual)available online at uspa.org. You can view it or buy a copy. Some DZs require AFF students to have a copy for training. Its a good thing to have anyway. It includes the integrated student progerssion (ISP) that describes how tandems can be used toward AFF. I have heard that some DZs require AFF students to do a tandem as their first jump - you get the experience of the first jump out of the way under a much more controlled situation - Keeps the debrief of "oh my god, I just jumped out of an airplane, that was awsome" (repeated 50 times) from wasting an AFF jump. #3 Read "advice" sticky in S&T forum. Welcome to our world. The people you will meet are the best in the world (IMHO). Plan on spending ALL your money and most of your time on this for quite a while. At least that's what I do. "There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
