How are your landings?

[TheSecret 0]

When were you confident about your landings? Just curious at what jump number you feel you had your landings dialed in. At what point were you reasonably sure you would be able to land on your feet and where you intended, no matter the conditions. And when where you sure you could go to any DZ and feel comfortable about how you would land?

For myself I will have a good handful in a row then a real stinker of a landing, and feel like I’m back to square one.

Life is good

[monkycndo 0]

If you are confident with your landings, you can get cocky and become complacent.

Until you are in the packing area telling lies, stay vigilant.

I got lazy and broke myself. Now I focus on every landing. I'm having fun from exit till pack job. Don't be ashamed to PLF. A good PLF will save your ass. A jumpsuit wash/repair is so much cheaper than a visit to an ortho/physio. Trust me, I speak from experience.

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You know you want to spank it
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[jakee 1,596]

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If you are confident with your landings, you can get cocky and become complacent.

On the flip side if you're not confident you may be tense, on the edge and not in the right frame of mind to react well to unexpected circumstances. Confidence is not a dirty word (crevice is a dirty word).

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[packerboy 3]

@ 151 jumps

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In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. ~ Thomas Jefferson

[monkycndo 0]

Ask any pilot, any landing that you can walk away from without assistance is an "acceptable" landing. But don't ever stop trying to improve.

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[UDSkyJunkie 0]

Land on my feet? Actually, I had that dialed in by jump 7... Standing up came naturally to me, but it helps to be a light guy (125ish at the time).

Where I wanted? Different story... I'd say somewhere around 300 before I was really confident I could put my canopy into a tight spot. Then when I switched canopies, it took several dozen before I really got the new one dialed in again.

All that said, there is truth in the complacency comment... around jump 600ish I have a pretty good story about getting a bit foolish and arrogant and pulling a last-minute toggle whip in severe winds to avoid some hangers, a couple fences, a party tent, a van, and a parking lot so i could hit the only open 100x100' grass spot in the middle of Rantoul.

"Some people follow their dreams, others hunt them down and beat them mercilessly into submission."

[monkycndo 0]

Consider every landing an accuracy landing. That way, when you have to put it down in a tiny area, cross wind, it won't be as scary. Ever since I biffed in, my landings have improved. But they can only get better.

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[in2jumping 0]

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When were you confident about your landings?

Not today, I am icing a snore knee right now after flaring 5 feet too high in 0 winds today and eating dirt. This was my 6th jump after 8 year layoff and 4th on my new canopy. I forgot what it is like to land in 0 winds and how hot you come in and was not focus a 100%.

[TheSecret 0]

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@ 151 jumps

Niiiice!

Life is good

[TheSecret 0]

I don’t think I get complacent each part of the skydive has my complete and full attention. I was just wondering was there a time when you could say to yourself, “ok if I biff it in now, I really have my head up my ass.”

Everyone progresses differently of course, so I was curious in general when you felt most comfortable with your landings. Jump 7, jump 150, jump 450?

I laugh at myself because I think I can land in no wind, some wind, lots a wind, hot day cold day whatever…IF (and that’s a big if) the conditions stay the same all day. I’m like, “come one Earth pick a weather condition and stick with it buddy!”

Life is good

[jakee 1,596]

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I laugh at myself because I think I can land in no wind, some wind, lots a wind, hot day cold day whatever…IF (and that’s a big if) the conditions stay the same all day. I’m like, “come one Earth pick a weather condition and stick with it buddy!”

Wierd. Can you land the first jump of the day OK?

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[UDSkyJunkie 0]

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I laugh at myself because I think I can land in no wind, some wind, lots a wind, hot day cold day whatever…IF (and that’s a big if) the conditions stay the same all day. I’m like, “come one Earth pick a weather condition and stick with it buddy!”

That's pretty common actually, and around your jump numbers I felt similarly... the first jump of the day was a bit of a craps shoot if I would hit my target, and then I'd get more consistant. Of course, if the weather changed significantly, the consistancy would suffer.

Not to worry, where you're at is all part of the learning process and it will improve. It's a bit like learning to catch a frisbee... they fake a lot of people out at first, especially in weird/strong wind conditions, but eventually it's very natural and you'll go to the right spot without having to think quite so much.

"Some people follow their dreams, others hunt them down and beat them mercilessly into submission."

[SuperGirl 0]

I can sympathize.
I've got almost 200 jumps and there is still that jump every now and then when I feel like a complete fuckup. You know, a few good jumps building up my confidence, and then... BAM! here we go again. Just in time to keep my self confidence low.
I need to get myself one of those canopy courses...

However, I have found that every single time I have to land in a more problematic spot (like landing off on weird terrain on a bad spot) I pull off some of my best landings ever. Weird.

[JohnDeere 0]

I felt confident with my landing around jump # 80 due to taking canopy course by Scott Miller. One of the best things i have done in skydiving. After the course i felt 500% better under canopy. I would recomend to all. There is no way would have progressed the way i have without that course.

Nothing opens like a Deere!

You ignorant fool! Checks are for workers!

[virgin-burner 1]

i hate landing.. but working on it.. havent had a stand-up in the last 20 landings or so i believe..

“Some may never live, but the crazy never die.”
-Hunter S. Thompson
"No. Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try."
-Yoda

[TheSecret 0]

LOL!!!

Love the sig!!

Life is good

[grannyinthesky 0]

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i hate landing.. but working on it.. havent had a stand-up in the last 20 landings or so i believe..

I wouldn't say I hate landings, but 6 jumps and I have yet to stand one up. My instructor told me I could easily have stood the last one, I just didn't put my feet down. Maybe next time........of course, it's got to stop snowing here first.

"safety first... and What the hell.....
safety second, Too!!! " ~~jmy

POPS #10490

[dannydan 5]

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so i could hit the only open 100x100' grass spot in the middle of Rantoul.

100+ acres and you squeezed it into a 1000sq ft area!!! Yr new name shall be 'MAVERICK"

I stood uP my first 5 jumps in SL, ass on 6th and 99% of the rest have been standing until i jumped a bunch last year with a F111 after my ZP chop!

I will say that my stand uPs look like something that even the Cirque de Sole crew wouldnt attempt..

[JohnDeere 0]

Canopy course is the answer man.

Nothing opens like a Deere!

You ignorant fool! Checks are for workers!

[Reginald 0]

So what's your canopy and wing loading, etc?

"We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things." CP

[blackout 0]

on a NAV 200 weighing it at 125 I could do standup landings from the start with only 2 PLFs out of 11 successful landings, my accuracy has also become descent but not great, which i think has most to do with carrying the parachute a couple hundred yards a few times. I tend to land short of my target now.

[DSE 5]

At 13 jumps, you'll find your landings rapidly improving, particularly if you focus on figuring out your exact landing point before getting on the aircraft. Try to pick a spot in the landing area and work on hitting that spot each time. Not only will it give you a place to focus on, but it'll also give you a benchmark from which to measure your improvement.
My logbook has lots of notes about what I was doing wrong, and much of it breaks down to how I was perceiving my landings before I ever got on the plane.
Also, pay heed to what Monkeycndo mentions...be ever vigilant right until you're inside the packing area/away from the landing area.
Visualize your spot, visualize the quality of your landing before going up, and it'll likely help. One of my AFFI's really helped me figure out my landings, and he filmed a couple of them for me. It helped immensely. I still try to get video of my landings occasionally, because it helps show bad habits and/or helps me improve.
congrats on 9 great landings!

[crashtested 0]

jump 2
I am into kite surfing and have been for years b4 parachuting, i think that may have helped.

Personaly I don't think being light or heavy has much to do with anything asI have not had a problem with landings as all YET....

My only slide has been when i downsized onto a 190 in nil winds, i came in faster than expected, and skided 40 ft or so on my arse before hoping up back onto my feet in the last 3m..

I'm starting to really belive it has to do with the indervidual rather than wing loading or anything, (within reason). every time i use a new rig i do a load of hop and pops, and focus purley on canopy control, aided with a digital alti, I found it really showed me the canopy performes in different wind conditions and there stall points, converting over to a fluid slower 2 stage flare may also help.

But theres no hurry, maybe go on a canopy course, it may help.
My 1p

[wmw999 2,589]

My landings are just fine. I PLF more than almost anyone, particularly on no-wind days. But, ya know, I get up smiling from all those landings. Yes, I stand up most landings, but my average is still lower than most people's.

I only stand up if it looks easy. I basically never "pull out a standup." Just not worth it; I'd rather fall down and get back up.

I remember watching a guy with a congenital leg deformity PLF as he landed his square (back when most people landed rounds). I asked him why he PLF'd when he could have stood up easily. He said that this way he wouldn't be trying a standup, and he got to walk away from all of his landings. That's my goal, to walk away smiling.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[ROK 0]

I'm not really sure what jump number I became confident. I'd be foolish to forecast my next 100 landings as being perfect. There are just too many factors involved.

I do know that I have become a better canopy pilot by following a ritual (and by taking a canopy course with video).

When I get to the DZ in the morning, I walk out in to the LZ and let myself feel the wind and the air. I look at the sock/ flag and just soak it in a bit. I check the uppers and pick out my perfect (opening) spot and allow myself a wide range of sky that should still be ok without jeopardizing my ability to make it back. I'm usually on load one so I don't have the luxury of watching everyone else. If it's windy I'll pick an area of the LZ that keeps me away from the worse turbulence (depending on the wind direction).

After I open, I do a control check, which includes a flare. I may flare a few times just to let my body/mind/canopy sync. with each other.

While under canopy I know where I want to be at a 1000'. I look around and check out all of the other canopies I can locate, get a feeling of their trajectory and altitude, and look around (a lot). I may ride my rears if I see someone I know will come into the pattern about the same time as me, or drop some altitude if they're flying something big and floaty (while looking around...a lot).

I always pick a target. The peas are nice, but canopy traffic and ground traffic can cause a lot of changes in the couple of minutes before I land. If my first choice is too "hot", I pick another target, usually an opening next to one of my friends that has landed. If I f'up on my set up, I land where it looks safest and forget about being Mr. Accurate "locked into an exact piece of real estate". It's also a good idea to keep yourself out of "traps". Don't put yourself in a situation that will drop you in the swoop pond, or the side of the hanger if you over/under shoot your target. Accuracy is an awesome survival tool that may kill you if you're not comfortable with a last minute plan "B". Learn how to read the playing field, and know your canopy, and as you go you'll know other's canopies too.

First thing in the morning there's usually no wind so I know that'll I'll be hauling ass. I like to haul ass. My canopy responds better to toggle input when it's moving at a good clip. I don't think about landing on my feet, ass, head, I think about squeezing every last drop of energy/speed out of my canopy before I touch the Earth. Where do I flare? I start my flare high enough above the ground to flatten my glide angle, but not so high that I'll fall out of the sky when the energy is gone, or so low that I become a human lawn dart. My toggles are going farther down as my speed decreases in an attempt to keep flying farther. When the speed is almost zero, my landing gear is down. If I misjudge, I PLF my ass off.

IMO knowing my canopy has probably been the largest factor in improved landings. If I fly a different canopy, I'll open at altitude, flare it, stall it, spin it, dive it, flat turn it, riser turn it, and make friends with it. Learn how it feels before I ever get within a mile of the ground. Take a deep breath at the start on final and let it all come together. Never stop flying my canopy until it's deflated on the ground. With my current canopy my hands and toggles are below my ass when I finally stop.

My hat is off to all instructors. Teaching someone where to flare, when to flare, how hard to flare, not to hit a building or other canopy, and how to know when to PLF has got to be a staggering task, about like teaching someone to drive and brake properly without ever getting in the car with them.

The only thing that I’m 100% confident of when I exit the plane is that I will, without a doubt…LAND.