Training sequence

[SkyPainter 0]

Hello! Just joined, and have a newbie question .....

I will be making my first jump (tandem) shortly. My question is this;

Should I do a couple more tandems before the AFF jumps? I am considering doing a tandem, and them a fist AFF the same day.

Waddya all think? Need more tandems first, or one, then the AFF start-up? My gol is the "A" license, then on to board surfing, ultimately.

Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently
SkyPainter
SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

[skybytch 273]

If you know you're going to do AFF, don't bother with the tandem. You likely wouldn't be able to do both the same day anyway due to timing issues.

[Chubba 0]

Just do your AFF straight up if possible, no need to mess around with the tandem if you want to become a skydiver.

Skysurfing hey you got a long road ahead, all the more reason to start your training asap.

[diablopilot 2]

Do your FJC and during the lunch break make the tandem. They can help take some of the fear off the top of the AFF L1, which will allow better performance.

----------------------------------------------
You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[aresye 0]

I say go for the AFF. Even one tandem can encourage bad habits. As part of my IAF program, I had to do a total of 3 tandems. Well...most of the stability is from the TI, so I had some bad habits going into the AFF portion.

Skydiving: You either learn from other's mistakes, or they'll learn from yours.

[LongWayToFall 0]

Do a tandem first, it will help you get rid of the OH CRAP feeling of your first dive. Then do your aff, if you are certain you want to go with training, then camp out until the next day, because during that time you are bound to learn a few things from the old locals.

[AggieDave 6]

Quote

Do your FJC and during the lunch break make the tandem. They can help take some of the fear off the top of the AFF L1, which will allow better performance.

Solid advice.

Even check with the DZ if you could complete your Cat A and/or Cat B via the tandem after your FJC. Then you get hands on instruction for canopy flight, landing and you get some experience in terms of a neutral body position and the exit.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[SkyPainter 0]

Thanks for all the good advice, folks! I will be heading to a wind tunnel this weekend just to try-out getting into a good neutral position, and seeing what minor hand/leg position changes do in flight. I think it might help with expectations when I do the first student jumps in the next coupla weeks.

Live deliberately; Dare greatly; Land gently
SkyPainter
SOS 1304, POPS 10695, DS 118

[Stuntbabex 0]

Very good idea. I did tunnel time before doing AFF and I know it helped me a lot. I never had any problems with stability or maintaining heading. Good luck!

[ImGunnaJump 0]

Quote

Do your FJC and during the lunch break make the tandem. They can help take some of the fear off the top of the AFF L1, which will allow better performance.

Solid advice.

Even check with the DZ if you could complete your Cat A and/or Cat B via the tandem after your FJC. Then you get hands on instruction for canopy flight, landing and you get some experience in terms of a neutral body position and the exit.

...this sounds like a good plan to me.

Skybitch, Aggiedave, and Diablo have more experience than me so I won't try to add to their advice...but I do want to say congratulations!

You're going to rock right through your AFF. You're already so mentally prepaired with what you want to do.

I had not one thought of how to approach this sport except to consider wearing a Depends my first jump, and give my TM earplugs because I knew I'd scream all the way down!.

All I knew was that I wanted to jump out of a plane for some damn reason...and it was one of the best decisions I've ever made for my life.. It will be the same for you...you'll love it.

So you are waaaay ahead of the curve. Good luck and welcome
P.S. Keep us posted on our progress!

"...I've learned that while the "needs" in life are important (food, water, shelter), it's the "wants" in life (ice cream, chocolate, sex) that make it worth the effort." Kbordson

[womball 0]

Hey,

I just started my AFF, did stages 1-7 over three days and I'd certainly recommend at least one tandem just to get a feel for skydiving first. I completed one tandem sometime before I started the AFF and it helped me, I had total sensory overload on that jump, but because i'd expericanced this with my tandem, I knew what to expect when starting the AFF.

Once you experiance free fall you'll love it!

Good Luck and keep us posted.

[Stuntbabex 0]

Quote

I had not one thought of how to approach this sport except to consider wearing a Depends my first jump,

I almost shat my pants on my first couple of AFF jumps. But I think it had more to do with the buffalo wings I ate the night before.

[Jazzthieve 0]

I wouldn't bother with a tandem, if you gonna do AFF just do it. I don't think a tandem will help ya other then to make you more nervous on your first aff cause you'll know what to sorta expect.

[Chubba 0]

Quote

I wouldn't bother with a tandem, if you gonna do AFF just do it. I don't think a tandem will help ya other then to make you more nervous on your first aff cause you'll know what to sorta expect.

+1

AFF2 was worse then AFF1 for me because I knew what to expect.

It's a blessing going into AFF1 with no idea what freefall is going to be like.