Third time's a charm...right? ;)

[npgraphicdesign 3]

Well i finally passed my B category jump...on my third try!!! I want to share a few aspects of my dive w/ the rest of you so that anyone going through same ordeals can benefit from the error of my ways..

Exited the plane, didn't freeze this time!!! maintained altitude awareness, COA, hand signals understood/processed, etc. Puiled on time, saw the airport / my JMs chutes & and started playing around. By about 4K, i haven't heard anything from the radio, and realized that it's probably not working. So I attempted to make it back to the airport. By 3k, I was still far enough away and realized I wasn't going to make it back, so I started searching for another spot. Transferred my landing pattern ok, came in and landed well.

1. Waited to long for the radio assistance and lost time & altitude, thus wasn't able to make it back on time. I attribute to not just the time delay, but also lack of experience in canopy piloting.
2. Didn't establish my orientation soon enough & lost time 'cause of that as well.
3. Lost my goggles while trying to find my way out of my landing area...(Jim, I owe the DZ a pair of goggles! )

What I learned:
- Don't rely on the radio. The batteries were dead, so screw you Energizer Bunny!
- I now know that I can transfer the to another area & land the chute on my own if I can't make it back to the drop zone (at least in normal conditions.)

I can't stop the feeling of adrenaline today! I know it's just my B jump but I'm psyched that I learned from my mistakes, and most importantly, was able to land on my own.
Oh and if anyone from Ellington reads this, I am looking to purchase a large scale map of the DZ so I don't land off-site again.

[pilotdave 0]

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Oh and if anyone from Ellington reads this, I am looking to purchase a large scale map of the DZ so I don't land off-site again.

Hang on... lemme raise my prices real quick! http://www.skydivingstills.com/keyword/cpi-aerial#331184114_xnF78

And congrats!

Dave

[npgraphicdesign 3]

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Oh and if anyone from Ellington reads this, I am looking to purchase a large scale map of the DZ so I don't land off-site again.

Hang on... lemme raise my prices real quick! http://www.skydivingstills.com/keyword/cpi-aerial#331184114_xnF78

And congrats!

Dave

Oh that's a NICE photos. I think that will suffice...

[MomDaBomb 0]

I have no sense of direction whatsoever. It's embarrassing. I used Google Earth to study the landmarks around the dz. I started at 5000 ft and just kept studying every 1000 ft or so until it finally sank in.

[popsjumper 2]

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...Puiled on time, saw the airport / my JMs chutes & and started playing around. By about 4K, i haven't heard anything from the radio, and realized that it's probably not working. So I attempted to make it back to the airport. By 3k, I was still far enough away and realized I wasn't going to make it back, so I started searching for another spot.

I would recommend learning something else, too.
4. Get back first and THEN play around.

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[npgraphicdesign 3]

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...Puiled on time, saw the airport / my JMs chutes & and started playing around. By about 4K, i haven't heard anything from the radio, and realized that it's probably not working. So I attempted to make it back to the airport. By 3k, I was still far enough away and realized I wasn't going to make it back, so I started searching for another spot.

I would recommend learning something else, too.
4. Get back first and THEN play around.

Good point. I am learning after all...that's why we don't get our license after only 1 jump, right?