Skylord is Back!

[skylord 1]

All,

After a layoff of almost one year, I was able to get up to both Perris and Elsinore to continue my quest to become a licensed skydiver. Last March, I did my AFF-6 and 7 jumps and was on a real roll when the pain in my left shoulder went from nuisance to impossible. A visit to the doc showed a torn rotator cuff that had to be surgically repaired. There was a great deal of scar tissue that had built up in the socket, so after the surgery my arm was very "loose" and extremely sensitive to movement that put any torsion on the joint. I completed a rigorous rehab program, and I also did one for the shoulder.

Anyway this is Safety and Training, so let me get to the points. It was suggested by Marie and Shark that given the nature of my surgery, I test fly my shoulder in the wind tunnel. I thought that was a great idea, so I did it. Shark also mentioned we could do my ground re-train, tunnel, and recurrency jump the same day if everything went well.

Off to the Perris Tunnel of Humility and Ego Destruction after Shark did my re-train at Elsinore. We checked in, and went up the stairs to the Tunnel Ready Room for Crushed Expectations. I am kidding about all this, of course, but it was a humbling experience.

I heard the air start to roar through the tunnel, and that deep, visceral "thar be dragons" dread starts through me. This is wierd, I thought. It is the same door anxiety feeling. Hmmm. We get inside, I meet Keith who is going to be my tunnel master, and we coordinate when I'm supposed to watch him and when I watch Shark. The previous group composed of Tunnel Olympians finish, and now it is my turn along with a couple. I guess since I was the "experienced skydiver", I got to go first. The entry door closes, and the engine fires up. Oh, shit. The entry to the wind tunnel itself sounds like an open door, and I'm up. The Experienced Skydiver. Keith motions me to the door, gives me the thumbs up, and damn if I don't get close to locking up. In a wind tunnel of all things. I can feel and hear the wind. It reminds me of being spooked in the door of the Otter on my jumps the previous year. I fold my arms across my chest and force myself out into the slipstream. I arch as soon as I am all in, like Keith told me. While I didn't flip around or anything like that, I had a hard time holding my position. Sometimes I would fly up in the tunnel for no apparent reason (at least to me) or be stuck on the netting below. When I was flying, I thought about if I had music for the video that was recording me, it would have been "Pinball Wizard". Shark was right there, coaching me, and my first of 5 two minute sessions was done. I felt like I sucked. Shark, however, had a much different take, and hit the positive aspects of the first session, including the fact lost to me at the time that the tunnel is only about 12-14 feet wide. I did feel better about the rest of that first session, and I began to relax next time I was in. It showed.

I did 360s and even tried some of the up and down movements Shark taught me. On a few of the 360s, I actually stayed dead center in the tunnel. Wow! When you are a true tunnel master like myself this stuff happens easily.

Anyway, I got really tired by the end of the fifth session, and it was pretty sloppy. But it was a most excellent learning experience. Shark was great at spotting my chief problems (especially the chin up sign) and his coaching really helped me.

Now, I am just a brand new person in this sport, but I would like to make an observation. Flying the tunnel got me used to wind blast. Right square in the middle of my face. It got me used to wind. Keep that in mind for a second.

Shark and I headed back to my home DZ in his Dodge Viper, one of which the DZ gives to all their instructors at Elsinore. Actually it was my 1998 Saturn, but I digressify. I did well in the tunnel, now it is time to do my recurrency jump. A real one. AFF-6. Solo floater exit. My first since last March. Nail this one, and it is AFF-8 next.

I have to tell you, that I am one of those students who has never completely come to terms with that damned door opening. I mean, I got better with it last year when I was jumping, but now it has been almost a year since being out there alone. I PMd Shark and Skyyhi about it, because I had concerns about what my reaction may be. I did call the open door the "Maw of Hell" in my earlier posts.

Our Otter showed up, and on I went. Shark and I were to be the last out, and first on. What was new to me, was my complete lack of paralyzing fear. There was apprehension, no doubt, but when a hop 'n pop went out, I wanted to be in the door, if that makes sense. I wanted to jump. Up we go, and I noticed that my wrist altimeter tended to lag behind a bit, and was jumpy. I thought for a moment that all my door anxiety had been transferred to this mechanical device, but it was accurate when we reached our jump altitude. The green light is on and the door opens.

Out goes everyone else, and we slide, slide, slide toward the open door. The noise is like the wind tunnel, and I'm not bothered by it. Out goes the preceding AFF-4 student and JM. I'm up and Shark told me I would spot and ensure exit separation.

We are directly over the runways, about 200 yards from my landing area. I count, I point, get the thumbs up from Shark, and climb out for my solo floater exit. While I was aware of what I was doing, I felt completely comfortable because the jump felt just like going into the wind tunnel. But I still tumbled the exit. What was different was I knew I was on my back and how to fix it, calmly. It seemed almost a non-event since from the tunnel I knew that I knew how to get stable.

After two times on my back, and a great sign from Shark to just relax, I did the opposite direction 360s. While I was checking my altimeter, I was surprised to see it jump from 10,000+ to 8,000, suddenly. I kept watching it, and decided that since I was doing my right 360 when it hit 8,000, I would waveoff and pull when I got done. Shark was out there, obviously, when I rolled out, and I thought I saw him give the waveoff sign. I waved off too, and when I checked my altimeter, it still showed 8,000. I kind of panicked and rushed my pull. I dropped a leg and was in a left 270 when I threw the pilot chute. Shark knew something was a bit amiss and was tracking toward me when I pulled.

As the bag lifted off my back, I was already reaching for the risers to undo the inevitable line twists I knew would be there. My pull sucked, and it was all my fault. The risers knew that as well, and smacked the back and side of my head. I kicked out of the twists, released the brakes, and did my control checks. I was perfectly positioned directly over the DZ. Altitude check, 5,800. Shit, I pulled EARLY!! I must have mis read the altimeter!!

OK, left 360, right 360, flare and stall, do it again since I'm so high........after that, check altimeter, 5,800. I must be in an updraft. Let's do some deep toggle turns since the "X" is right underneath me. Left, right, left, right. Pop ears since I'm descending. Check altitude, 5,800.

Oh, you bitch. Don't quit on me. I let go of my right toggle and bang on my left hand mounted Alti-Shitmaster. No success. 5,800. OK, I'm on my own. Shark calls me on my student radio and asks me if I need help landing. Elsinore has earpieces now, which I think is great. I am supposed to kick my legs if I need him to help me, and I evaluate my situation. Shark is watching me to the ground, and we already worked out the kick legs help sign. I felt comfortable enough to fly the pattern on my own. I eyeballed the 1,000 ft, 600 ft., 300 ft. stuff.

I set up for a right hand traffic pattern, following the other students that went out before me. I make a 180, fly downwind, turn right for base, turn right to final, and the X is right there, I'm set up for my closest target landing ever! It looks good to me, let's check the altimeter. 5,800. OK, that means I'll be landing in New Hampshire. Anyway, I landed stand up completely on my own with a non-functioning altimeter.

Please understand I am just poking good-natured fun at my situation, these altimeters are very good and reliable. The lessons to be learned I believe are that our own training and skills are indispensable. The training I got at Elsinore helped me deal with this in a routine manner. They have an incredibly talented staff.

Tomorrow is AFF-8. I'll let you know how that goes!

Bob Marks

Bob Marks

"-when you leave the airplane its all wrong til it goes right, its a whole different mindset, this is why you have system redundancy." Mattaman

[nate_1979 9]

LOL.. Great story.. I had one "stick" during freefall once.. Thing started working again under canopy ? had a post somewhere about it.. Isnt that just a horrible feeling when your at the same altitude two checks in a row Anyway ... Now I jump neptune, so if it fails I'll most likely just have blank screen instead and not think I'm still at xxx feet (Yea yea, i know, it can fail and say the wrong thing too).... And people wonder why I also wear my Suunto altitude watch with my regular alti

FGF #???
I miss the sky...
There are 10 types of people in the world... those who understand binary and those who don't.

[skylord 1]

Nate,

I could not believe it when I saw the altimeter stick. This jump was not my best by any measure, although I knew I met the technical objectives. Just getting up in the air again was so sweet. I was taught not to rely on my mechanical altimeter from the beginning. If I felt something was wrong, pull and deal with it later.

I travel a lot, and if I happen to be seated close enough to the front of the airliner, I can hear the digitized voice of the radar altimeter calling out the altitudes, starting at 2,500. I look out the window and eyeball it. If I am there, this is what I'd do. I knew I was way above my hard deck. I also use the ride up to look out and re-acclimate myself with how things look. This was my closest to the target landing ever even with the malfunctioning altimeter. Skydive Elsinore had a burial for it this weekend.

Anyway, it was great to get air again, and while the winds kicked up, it was still a fun currency weekend for me. Thanks to all my skydive friends and trainers!! AFF-8 next!

Bob

Bob Marks

"-when you leave the airplane its all wrong til it goes right, its a whole different mindset, this is why you have system redundancy." Mattaman

[Shark 0]

Great story (or myth.)

Quote

Tomorrow is AFF-8.

Tomorrow blows.

We only had a few hours of decent wind before the 25mph gusts.

Anyway, your Level 6 was pretty good even though you tried to accomplish Level 8 objectives by tumbling. Next time Marie (dippymoo) wants a piece of you. Yep, without you completing your AFF today we were without beer.

[skylord 1]

Quote

Quote

Great story (or myth.)


Tomorrow blows.

We only had a few hours of decent wind before the 25mph gusts.

Anyway, your Level 6 was pretty good even though you tried to accomplish Level 8 objectives by tumbling. Next time Marie (dippymoo) wants a piece of you. Yep, without you completing your AFF today we were without beer.

Shark,

I figured that since you were driving that Viper I'd make you earn your money! For a sex symbol man hunk like myself, women wanting a piece of me is no big deal.

Sorry about the beer, but against my better judgment, I will admit to:

-first tunnel work
-first altimeter failure
-first no radio pattern and landing
-first time I had to kick out of that many line twists
-first time landing that close to my X
-second time I had proper field packing "explained" to me. (No beer owed, just apologies).
-first time I got grounded for wind

So it appears I owe beer for the next seven years.

I was very impressed with SD Elsinore shutting down the students. Even when the wind died down for about 15 minutes they stuck to the forecast. Winds kicked up again, badly, and I would not have wanted to fly and land in those conditions. That is a no shit safety-first class act on the part of your DZ.

I'm tied up this week, but I hope to get out there in about 10 days and owe more beer!! Later, my man!

Bob

[Randy_H 0]

Excellent! I'm glad to hear that your shoulder has healed up nicely! Your descriptive story reminds me of my experiences in AFF!

The dreaded "F" word... I like to refer to things as "pre-second"!

010010010110010101100001011101000111000001110101011100110111001101111001

[PsychoBob 0]

Hey Bob,

I love the story and especially the happy ending! Hope all is well and they are not working you too hard out there in the NWP. Take care of the shoulder and hopefully I will see you soon.

P.S. I'll buy the beer if you'll tell me the story again in person!
Fraternally,

"I'm not a gynecologist but I will take a look at it"
RB #1295, Smokey Sister #1, HellFish #658, Dirty Sanchez #194, Muff Brothers #3834, POPS #9614, Orfun Foster-Parent?"

[skylord 1]

Quote

Hey Bob,

I love the story and especially the happy ending! Hope all is well and they are not working you too hard out there in the NWP. Take care of the shoulder and hopefully I will see you soon.

P.S. I'll buy the beer if you'll tell me the story again in person!
Fraternally,

Bob,

No problem, I'll tell stories all day long, they get funnier and I get better looking the more beer is bought! This was a real transition jump for me, and I think we have enough of us air traffic controller types to do our own boogie. Let's call it "Traffic 12 o'clock and a block, opposite direction, at your altitude". Congrats on the A license, I'll be there soon!

Bob Marks

Bob Marks

"-when you leave the airplane its all wrong til it goes right, its a whole different mindset, this is why you have system redundancy." Mattaman

[skylord 1]

Quote

Excellent! I'm glad to hear that your shoulder has healed up nicely! Your descriptive story reminds me of my experiences in AFF!

The dreaded "F" word... I like to refer to things as "pre-second"!

Randy,

Thanks! With the tunnel time, I did the freefall equivalent of 11 jumps. I did feel the shoulder a couple times, but not like it was going to pop out. It felt like a really hard PT session. I am glad I took the extra time to make sure it was up to snuff.

I had a lot of pre-seconds that day, too bad I got this after I used the F word!! Good job on the jumps, talk to you later!

Bob

Bob Marks

"-when you leave the airplane its all wrong til it goes right, its a whole different mindset, this is why you have system redundancy." Mattaman