AFF 3

[Nightingale 0]

well, I wasn't gonna post any more of my AFF adventures, but since a couple of folks asked, here's my weblog for today.

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Well, its Monday. And I did make it to the dropzone today. Got an email from John this morning saying it was his and Shelly's day off, so they wouldn't be there. Made me a little nervous, but when I got to the dropzone, I was able to request Raoul, so that was cool.

We take some time and go over the usual emergency procedures and harness room stuff, and he asks me if I've been reading any website stuff that I shouldn't be (like statistics!!!) I've been good. Been staying off those parts of the web. So, much less in the way of nerves today, since we solved most of the nerves issues last jump.

So, we go over the dive. Basically, you turn in freefall by banking your shoulders, just like a plane banks when it turns. Cool. Move shoulders only, no hips, no bending at waist. I can handle that.

So, I have a bit of lag time, during which I watch a recent grad of AFF work on his packing requirement for his A License. I learn a bit about how exactly that big old parachute fits into that itty bitty bag. Plus, its a distraction. And when you're about to throw yourself out of an airplane at a little over two miles off the ground, distractions are GOOD things.

So, its time to get into jumpsuits and gear. Hmm... this rig feels a little different... not bad different, just different. Legstraps feel odd. I fuss with them a bit, and they're a little better.

Then, we get on the plane. Twin Otter, same as last two AFF jumps. I like the Otter. I'm feeling a little jittery, but no major nerves like last time. Plane takes off. After a while, the fuel fumes get a little overwhelming. Raoul asks them to open the door. Guess they were bothering him too. Door open. Air. Air is good. I point out the three important altitudes on my altimeter as we reach them.

So, people start bailing out of the plane. And then its my turn. My head's still a little fuzzy from the fumes, plus, I'm now MORE than a little jittery. Raoul told me it was okay to take my time on exit, so I take that advice. I grab on to the bar and stay there for a few seconds, just breathing the fresh air. My head clears. Deep breath. Calm. I look at Raoul. "Am I ok?" Deep breath. Thumbs up. "OK!"

So, we lean out, in, and out, and ARCH.

One practice ripcord touch. I find it no problem. After assuring myself that my ripcord is still approximately where its supposed to be, I do my circle of awareness. Look at Raoul. Thumbs up. No corrections. Doing well. Vinnie, the second JM (Who's a dead ringer for Ned Flanders from the Simpsons) gives me a thumbs up as well. Altitude check. 11,000 feet. Ok. I guess I must be pretty stable, because Vinnie lets go and drifts off to my left somewhere. Now its time to turn left and go look at Vinnie. Bank... and turn. Wow! That was easier than I thought! Altitude check. 9,000 feet. Ok... turn back... Vinnie follows me, so I'm looking straight at him. Altitude check. Thumbs up from Raoul. Left turn signal from Vinnie. Ok... turning left again. 7,000 feet. Ok... done playing now. Just enjoying freefall. Oh my god... its 5,000 now... time to pull! Found the ripcord just fine this time, and 6,5,4,3,2,1, perfect canopy.

At this point I realize I forgot to wave off before I pulled. Note to self: fix that next time.

Ok, good, solid canopy, no twists, broken lines, or damage. Raoul wants me to do my control check with the risers first... ok. I grab the rear risers. Turn left... discover that risers are a heck of a lot harder to steer with than toggles. This is taking some muscle. But I turned left. Now I turn right with the risers... and flare. Control check is fine. I unstow the toggles. Now, control check with toggles. Checks out fine.

Hmm... I'm a little more west of the dropzone than I like to be... lets fly over there, shall we? Now, I'm hovering over the swoop pond.

I'm figuring out why those legstraps didn't feel right... now, they freakin HURT. I fidget a bit, not sure exactly how much I can play with the harness... decide to err on the side of caution and put up with it. Do some turns to burn some altitude. Wheeeee!

Ok... 1000 feet. time to start landing pattern. Radio gives me a few corrections... but they're not going to tell me when to flare. I'm supposed to flare at 8-10 feet off the ground. I can handle this...I think. That's the height of the top of the wind flags. Hmm...flared a bit too early...oopsie. I unflare and flare again, but I don't know if I flared completely. It was definitely NOT my best landing. Note to self: landing on face = bad. Landing on one's feet is a much better alternative in that situation. sigh. I really need to work on my landings. Ground hurts!

After I get back to the school, Raoul does a bit of a debriefing. He said it was a good, solid skydive, and I passed level 3!!!! YAY!!!!

He told me that when I took those extra moments in the door that he thought for a second I wasn't going to jump. I knew when I got on the plane that I was gonna go out the door. If I was gonna call it off, I'd have done it before standing IN the doorway ready to go. If I manage to get my butt off the seat and over to the door, my butt is going out the door, end of story. I just needed a few moments to breathe and center and find that little calm happy place, ya know? I think I'm more comfortable jumping last or almost last, so if I need another moment or two to collect my courage, I'm not delaying a whole planefull of people...

Raoul's comments in my logbook:
Very nice exit and circle of awareness
Very nice turns: 90 degrees x 3
Good altitude awareness
6000' lock on and pull at 5000
Signal next time
Good canopy control - GET WEIGHTS to help flare.

I will try to hit the gym this week. Gotta work on that upper body strength so I can get a more solid flare.

So, landing and icky legstraps aside, it was a great dive! Raoul suggested I do level four immediately, and I wish I could have, but I had school tonight, so I had to rush off. School went well, though, but we all know that my mind was way up at 13,000 feet instead of back in the classroom where it belonged.

Hopefully, AFF 4, and maybe 5 on Saturday or Sunday. I can't wait! Its weird... the longer I go between jumps, the more nervous I get. If I'd done level 4 today, I wouldn't have been nervous at all, but next weekend, I'll probably be a little scared again. The thing is, being scared is half the fun, ya know... If I wasn't at least a little afraid, at least at first, I don't think it would mean quite as much as it does now. I'm going to request Raoul and/or Shelly on my next jump... its nice to have instructors who already know that I have issues getting myself out the door, so I don't have to explain it all over again. The physical portions of the skydive seem to be going quite well for me at this point. Its the mental aspect I find challenging. Getting yourself into the right headspace to jump out of an airplane isn't always easy, but its getting easier, and, of course, as soon as I'm actually out of the plane, life is wonderful...

and life IS wonderful...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

-N-

[Casch 0]

Thank you for the read, I felt like I was right there with ya

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[Nightingale 0]

yes! relaxing definitely helps!

[Fast 0]

Great to hear that your doing well! Its nice to read the experiences of others as they progress just like the rest of us.

~D
Where troubles melt like lemon drops Away above the chimney tops That's where you'll find me.
Swooping is taking one last poke at the bear before escaping it's cave - davelepka

[Shivon 0]

Nice read. Thanks for sharing.

[shedao 0]

Thanks for sharing Nightingale, as an AFF student myself it's good to know that others get the same thoughts and feelings on the ride up and have the same type of challenges. The mental part of skydiving is the most challenging for me to overcome.

[skybytch 273]

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Its weird... the longer I go between jumps, the more nervous I get.

That's normal. If I go a month between jumps I still get butterflies in the plane.

Keep it up; you're doing GREAT! And please tell Shelly I said hi next time you see her.

[schattenjaeger 0]

Congratulations! I just passed my level 3 yesterday! Third time's the charm >_> <_< hehe, and where I go we don't even have 90 degree turns, they just let go and we need to maintain heading until pull time. Quick note, don't drop your hip when turning unless you enjoy looking at the sky

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[MNskyjumper 0]

I love reading about your jumps. It's like I'm right there with you. You probably already know that on Level 4 you only have one JM. From what I've read, that won't be a problem.

One way to relax is to smile. One AFF-I I know recommends that her students smiles. It really does help.

Good luck on Level 4, have fun, and keep on posting.

Kevin W.