udder 0 #1 August 17, 2002 I didnt want ot post one of those bloody first jump posts again...but here I am... Well mom has finally decided i can do aff...cause the newspaper said it keeps your kids away from drugs... I have only one question...i What if I sh1t myself and fu(k up, like close my eyes or go apesh1it? And is there anything that the JM's would be able to do? Any JM's had this happen to them. Thought only came into my mind now, dont rekon I'd be that much of a weener. Cheers Some weirdo"In one way or the other, I'm a bad brother. Word to the motherf**ker." Eazy-E Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #2 August 17, 2002 First of all, visit the toilet just before you put on your jumpsuit. Secondly, AFF instructors get paid the big bucks (ha! ha!) to hold you stable for the first few seconds. Then they yell at you and shake you to wake you up and remind you to get on with the skydive. We expect freefall students to experience sensory overload during the first 4 or 5 seconds of freefall. Once their brain realizes that they are not dead, they open thier eyes, look around and get on with the skydive. I swear, my primary task when jumping with first-freefallers is preventing them from back-looping off the step. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndyMan 7 #3 August 17, 2002 If you jump out of an airplane and go completely apeshit, it's quite possible that you might end up impacting the earth at about 120 mph. I'm not trying to scare you, or frighten you from doing AFF. But clearly, there is inherient risk when you leave an airplane, and it's up to YOU to perform the tasks required to save your life. That said, there are some elements that reduce the danger. You'll have an Automatic Activation Device, that is very reliable at opening your parachute if you don't. These tend to be very reliable, and work properly most of the time - as long as you're not going apeshit. If you are going apeshit roughly 750 feet from impact, well - all bets are off. You need to be somewhat stable in freefall for the reserve to function properly. There'll be two instructors that will leave the plane with you. They'll take grips on you and hold you steady as you fall through the air. They'll be able to keep you level, keep you steady, and at the end of the skydive they'll open your parachute if you don't. UNLESS - you're going completely apeshit. If you're apeshit, you'll probably be unstable, and the instructors might have a hard time keeping you stable, or staying with you. If your parachute isn't open by 2000 feet, they're outta there, and you're on your own. Again, all bets are off. An instructor died just a few monthes ago trying to save a student that went apeshit. Since then most instructors have re-evaluated what they're wiling to do to save a student. Once you get under a parachute, you have to land it. You'll have a radio and will be able to listen to instructions for landing. Landing a parachute is a pretty simple thing to do, you'll just need to follow a few easy instructions. They tend to go well. Again, if you're unable to perform, all bets are off. Screwing up a student landing usually doesn't kill someone, but broken bones frequently happen to people that don't listen. I'm not trying to scare you. This is a sport with risk. That risk is a big part of the attraction for us. This sport has come a long way over the last 30 years. It's now the case that students going in is an extremely rare event. We're able to say that because of advancements in gear, technology and training. I'm not trying to scare you, thousands and thousands of people go through this exact same process as you and have the time of their lives. It's a mind-invigorating exercise unlike any other. If it's something that you want to do, I'd strongly encourage you to head out to your DZ and check it out, give it a try. But if you're really concerned about going apeshit? Well, maybe skydiving isn't for you. _Am__ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
clrarch 0 #4 August 27, 2002 I'm half-way through my AFF program (10 levels, have cleared 1-5). The training I had for my Level 1 AFF jump was amazing---I had the dive flow so embedded in my brain I was doing it in my sleep (our class was broken up over one night/one day). You'll understand the risks when you go through the training.....if you're really concerned about going apeshit in freefall you might wanmt to try a tandem your first time out so you know what to expect. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
clrarch 0 #5 August 27, 2002 Let me slightly amend the last sentence....you might want to try a tandem your first time out so you know how freefall feels----a tandem jump won't teach you the skills you'll need for an AFF Level 1. Once you experience freefall, you'll be hooked. I know I am.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
seedy 0 #6 August 27, 2002 I second the opinion to try a tandem. This gives you the experience of the ride to altitude, exiting (although not like you will in AFF), freefall, canopy ride, and a landing. Again, it will be different by yourself, but this gives you a good taste - and really sets the hook! I intend to live forever -- so far, so good. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kurt 0 #7 August 27, 2002 I jest wanne be no student of andy man. Go for it! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nws01 0 #8 August 27, 2002 Check out this thread in the incident forum. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=190156;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
