dthames

I might have a chance to jump from a Beech 18. Would sitting on the floor and rolling out be the best exit option? Any experience out there? I am flying an R-bird. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

I purchased a used rig with a Pilot (loaded at 0.93) when I had about 20 jumps. I knew I would not be downsizing. 250+ jump later the decision(s) are maybe two of the best ones that I have made in skydiving. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

AFF gets a lot of attention and it is popular. I was on a jump this past weekend where a post AFF student was doing a solo jump from 13,500. The student was pulling at 5,000 and was one of the last out. After a couple of balking attempts to exit, the student signaled for a go around. The pilot did the "go round". Then the student started balking again. Those of us waiting to get out encouraged with GO, GO...and the student did exit. Later in the day I was talking to someone that had decided they wanted to do AFF but had to save up money to do it. I mentioned SL and there was a "No, don't think so reaction". I thought about what I had seen on the previous flight and made the comment, "SL builds a sort of character. I don't recall seeing a solo post SL student balk at exiting the aircraft". I am sure there are some. I did some AFF and some SL jumps and both have specific good qualities. Some think SL or IAD is not attractive. But it is still often used at smaller DZs. Many have learned that way. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

Clouds: You need to be able to see what is coming at you, what you are headed for, and for others (including aircraft) to see you. Cloud cause a problem with visibility and there are FAA rules about them for the benefit of everyone that is in the sky. Hard opening: Most often caused by some packing mistakes, incorrect deployment posture or speed, or equipment problems. Opening head down at 160 MPH might cause a hard opening. Packing and leaving the slider down will cause a hard opening. I am sure there are many more examples. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

It is hard to argue with a path that got you to the ground safely when you had equipment fail. For me, unless I had specifically prepared to land on rears, I would not do so in a similar situation. I think I could, but I would want to practice a few flares before committing. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

I pursue things that I am interested in and interested in learning. I don't get thrilled by jumping. I have had a handful of jumps that I really truly had fun and enjoyed. But I do it because I want to. Early, as I struggled with several things, some told me maybe skydiving was not for me. Some told me for sure skydiving was not for me. Does anyone know better than yourself what you want? (clearly not) So if you want to skydive, then skydive. It is really about that simple. Skydiving is not that simple, but the decision can be. If you decide to do it, then take the bull by the horns and start wearing him down. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

Just curious, how high above the ground is the normal exit? Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

The TV hosts have to make it sound bigger than life.....daredevil, stunt, thrill seeker, 60 MPH (after falling 15-20 feet), don't know if he is alive.....flying isn't he! Remind me to stay away from vertical flocks like that. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

I was going to mention SL as well but if a DZ says the don't do them, ask about IAD (instructor activated deployment). It should be simlar to SL in cost and is nearly the same but the instructor holds your pilot chute when you exit. This removes the need for a different rig setup. For the DZs that normally only fly larger planes, I don't know if you will find anything other than AFF. As some mentioned, go talk face to face. If you can explain your goal and the limits you are working with, someone might find a way to help you outside of that the person on the phone knows. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

In general, yes, much less likely as the design is more stable on the canopy types most often used for students. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

I might pitch in for more comedy. I loved what Jonathan did with this, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a645Wx_ymsA Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

Watch the ground and your altimeter. Not much time to really learn how the ground looks on most AFF jumps. Learn what 8,000, 6,000, 4,000 look like. Maybe perfect some of your exits. Solo tracking, also lets you watch the ground a lot. Plan a flight course away from others and fly it. Learn to quickly know what direction you are headin, where you have been, and where the jump run where the other jumpers are. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

Thanks. Just a bit of s surprise. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

Hmm....gone now. I had restarted my browser and it was still there, now suddenly gone. Someone must be playing with the page coding. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

See attached. This thing is right in the middle of the message screen when I read or write a message. It just showed up this morning. Any ideas how to kill it? Thanks, Dan Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

I see some old 5 cells. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

I don't really recall any anxiety at all on my first jump. But what I do recall is the instructor saying, "Get on your knees and start backing up toward your position at the door (Caravan). My heart started pounding for about 4 or 5 seconds and by the time I was on my knees, it settled down and I thought, "THAT WAS IT?". That was the "excitment" of my first skydive? Yes, that was it. When she said, "Take your position in the door", I announced each step as I had practiced many times. The setup, exit, and dive went just like we had practiced. On some later dives the waiting for plane and the ride up were often uncomfortable. If I could manage to nod off for 2 minutes it was like someone hit Reset and all the stuff thrashing around in my head would go away. As Chemist said, when the door opens it seems to go away. Many times I wished I could get out low (HnP) just so the waiting would be over. If we made a low pass, I really wanted to go. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

I have two adult sons. By the time the second one was 17 I had determined the best single thing that I could teach him (before he left the nest) was to learn how to "stop doing what I want to do and do what I need to do". It sounds so simple and not all that important until you lay it over different aspects of your life, like how you act on the job, how you focus on your driving, when you jump (wind) or when you do your EPs. I had to cut away from line twists under a stable flying canopy back in June. It was hard to do, as it seemed so silly.....line twists! But at 2000 I stopped working with it and pulled the trigger. It specifically came down to rejecting my desire to fix it, pushing my pride away, and following what I knew was overall the best thing to do. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

I don't mind being an old conservative guy but I am still pretty new to all of this an really want to be more informed to I can make the best choices. DSE, how are larger suits killing people. control issues and collisions, spinning fliers to their deaths, or what? Not to argue but to know. I have struggled with about everything in skydiving, so I am no hot shot. I doubt I will every flock with anything larger that my R-bird. But for the C-182 DZ (9,500 AGL) and the option to jump often limited to an open slot on a tandem load, a larger suit might be something I would like to have someday. Brian, sorry to highjack the tread, but I would like to hear what DSE is thinking. Thanks, Dan Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

I was 54 when I started and not in great shape. Fair/good shape, not great shape. I was told, “Your arch is good for 10 or 15 seconds, then you get lazy, flatten out, and start wobbling”. I tried again that same day. The results were the same. I thought to myself, “I could do that 4 more times with the same results”. The next day my lower back and my butt were sore. I was trying and I could not get a good arch and hold it. I did exercises to stretch so I could arch better, twice a day, everyday. I worked on the tone of my lower back and butt muscles. As winter was over some 11 weeks after my “lazy arch” experience, I started over on static line. I don’t know how much better I could arch, but it had to be some. My “problem” never came back. A good arch makes learning to be stable easier. A poor arch makes it harder. But you can still learn. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

Could be that the Jedi is better with The Force risers. Who knows. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

A friend of mine was refused her A license until she could exit, quickly become stable, and deploy while stable. I would agree that these skills should be developed at a safe (higher) altitude. Once developed, tested or demonstrated at a lower altitude,.....why shouldn't that be a requirement to get off of student status. If you can't exit and get stable, you are still not "there" it would seem. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

"nothing" is, easy to find easy to clean quick to dry does not get in the way never wears out can't catch fire Don't knock it Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

I had trouble and did quit AFF. I went to SL where I could struggle without putting such performance pressure on myself. Not pregressing in 2, $75 SL jumps per weekend, I could tolerate that for a long time. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

Chuck Norris has been doing such things since I was a kid. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”