dthames

Be careful not to demand ideal performance from yourself. I have done that as well and it creates issues of it's own. Pick one thing you want to improve on and work to improve that on the next jump. Congratulations on your first jump. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

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The DZ where I have been jumping will be closed Saturday. Pegasus in Chickasha OK is a possible option but they are closed until Saturday. I need to talk to them before Saturday to see if as a student I can just show up and jump. I am 4 hours away, so waiting until they open Saturday would blow Saturday for me. If someone involved with the Pegasus operation happened to be on DZ.com and could respond, that would be helpful. PM me if you like. I did just find an email contact in the DZ database. I will try that route as well. Thanks in advance. Dan Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

In a book that I read an experienced skydiver was in the cargo compartment of a C-130 in Vietnam. The plane was hit and was in trouble. The subject of the story grabbed a bailout rig but before he could fully don it, he was thrown or blown out into the night sky. He managed to deploy and land the parachute, as I recall. I don’t remember if it stated if he had ever managed to fully don the rig or not. I think he was the only survivor of the crew. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

I started last year not long after I turned 54. I have done 7 AFF and 7 static line jumps to date. I can't hold a deep arch but I am working on that. So, I am not easily stable. I have really enjoyed the static line jumps. One reason is I tend to put less performance pressure on myself with those type jumps. Stretch that back for the arch. Start now. Dan Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

JW, Yes (looking at the attached image) that is what I was thinking might be done. I will confer with my instructors about the specifics. I have been doing static line so they can put me out on the way up (C-182) and allow me to have the entire field to do training drills on. It is sort of nice to be able to do that without altering the load(s). Thanks, again. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

Thanks gentlemen. I don't see the graphic and Yes my instructors are those who's advice I act on first. I know good approach planning should remove the need but the specific question was about how move downwind of the target when you didn’t have the altitude to turn and fly downwind. I need to see JW's graphic to see if we are on the same page. I think maybe we are. Yes, landing into the wind is not on the landing requirement list. Nice, but not required. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

Saturday I was doing some training on braked turns and a braked approach. In debrief I was encouraged not to turn my back to the wind if I was low, as turning back into the wind might cease to be an option. Understood. The exercise was simulate landing off in a restricted clear space. The conversation continued. S-turns or Holding Crab was suggest as the best way to bleed off altitude if it was needed. Understood, as well. I plan to repeat the exercise as soon as it can be arranged. But looking at the other possible situations, I came up with one I want to explore. Suppose there is only a mild breeze. You are slightly downwind of the target (small landing area) and too high. Not only do you need to bleed off altitude you need to get downwind a bit more. Here is my question, by always turning back toward the wind when you reverse from left to right, would turning enough to do a running crab be a valid option? The goal would be to get downwind enough to hit the spot. It would seem better than fully turning your back to the wind, I would think. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

Without any research, I am wondering if maybe cellular 3G service might be a solution with a webcam sort of arrangement. Push the data into the Internet via cell network service. Can the camera on some of these smart phones do real time streaming? If not maybe a smallish notepad type PC with a web cam? Not HD but what is the quality requirement? Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

The skydive is over after they land. The instruction is over after the debrief. Come to think of it, the instruction is never over. As a student I agree and like that it never ends. Our DZ instructors remind and remind and remind you (in passing) of specific things that they have pointed out to you. "Remember, .............., alwasy..............." Great to hear that. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

Now if it was your wife and you wanted to get rid of her the idea might have some merit. But there must be an easier way that wouldn't involve others. Actually, my wife said she "might" do a tandem someday. I wondered the same thing, for a very short period of time. Offer to pay for the video and you might get a chance the watch it together with her later. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

The DZ where I started my AFF offered a discount on the next AFF jump if you booked and paid for it the day of the jump you just made. This was very attractive to me and I took full advantage of it. If you want to turn a tandem ride into a student, maybe after the tandem ride, offer a discount on the FJC. If the person was in love with the canopy flight, a static line or IAD jump after a tandem ride and a FJC could put a person back in the air for a cost that might tip the scales to bring that person back. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

Well, for starters they took me as a student after another DZ told me to hit the road after they had passed me on AFF A and B jumps, because I got motion sick. The owner, staff, and all involved function more like a bunch of friends than a business and customers. Going for the 5 items...... Yes someone showed me about packing without me asking. Those that know I have a problem with motion sickness often ask me how I am doing. Maybe it is concern for their car or hair but they seem to care. It don't matter if you are jumping or not, everyone is right in the middle of everything. Great concern about safety and following the FAA rules to the letter. Just Saturday all students were pulled from a load (after we were on the plane) because the winds were 7 gusting to 14 and the DZO thought "better not". People drive pass one DZ and three hours down the road to get there. If I said more you would, 1. think I was lying 2. think I owned a share of the business 3. flock to the place and fill up the loads Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

My response might not apply exactly to the original question, but it might be noteworthy. I am a student with some difficulties. Several times I have struggled with the decision to continue or not. My last ditch plan was to start over and do static line training. Still I continue to consider if I really want to continue training or not. I did two jumps last Saturday and the instructor was kind enough to give me raw video footage of my exits. Those have been very helpful to study. By reviewing them over and over, I keep thinking about what I did and what I can do better. I am spending more time considering what I will do in my next jump. It is fresh on my mind (refreshed and relived by the video) and I am eager for my next chance to jump. Would I continue even without the video……most likely. But the video does have some value, at least with me, that will help bring me back. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

[reply Just out of curiosity, what exactly does "relax" mean to you? Instructors often say it and they often give the hand signal but what are you, the student, supposed to do? Pops, I'll bite. Tell us how to relax (better). My first jump the diveflow went wonderful. Practice pulls all without any help. 8000 feet and nothing else to do but what the clock.....and what else did they say...thinking to myself.....RELAX. I was cool, no problems....looking at my hands, I looked like I could claw the slate off a caulkboard. I relaxed my arms, shoulders, and hands. I noticed my hands lifted up an inch or two, which I would think is good. I can't say I have that been that relaxed in the jumps since then. So, any tips? Dan Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

Brian, I had practiced my toggle turns with harness inputs when I jumped last, about 11 weeks ago. I was in a turn last Saturday (and I turn easy) and it just didn't feel right. I remembered LEAN, and it was better, just like you said. Dan Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

Thanks guys. That is what I wanted to confirm. Yes, in the student rig i got very little out of my input, but after being shifted as much as I could for about 5 seconds it turned just a bit. That was all I was after. I was curious if my instructor was wondering what I was up to, being cocked in the harness like that. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

I am a noob so excuse me if this is a “duh” question. I try to study up on canopy fright so I will better know what am doing. In the safety section there is an article about “Cleaning up your turns” with harness inputs. I am flying a student canopy loaded about 0.7 pounds/sq foot, and I know I will not be able to do much with harness inputs with my current configuration. But….. Saturday I was landing. We had a nice steady breeze. I was on my final leg, coming in short of my target, and also wanted to tweak my direction into the wind just a bit. I could have made adjustments with the toggles but I though any toggle inputs would just shorten my glide (further short). So, I shifted my weight and tried to do the correction with the harness. It was sluggish, as I expected but it did make the adjustment that I was after. My question is, since my desire was to keep it flying full speed and cover as much ground as I could, did I do myself any good by staying off the toggles or is it 6 of one and half dozen of another? Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

Saturday, our local DZ opened for the first time in several weeks for a wonderful day of jumping. Of 10 pre-solo students that I counted, 8 of the students were father and son pairs. I was one of the students that was by himself. My boys are grown and out of state. So, doing this together is not really an option right now. I think most of them managed to be on the same load as their family member. LOTS of smiles. Wonderful weather. It was great to see. Dan Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

Pops shared the link to Windy's log book some time back, with me. I have struggled with stability in AFF release jumps and I know I put too much pressure on myself. I am sure the 15 minutes in the wind tunnel helped me but it was not a sudden cure. In an effort to slow the pace, reduce preformance pressure, and make it more fun, I have been doing static line jumps. I might be better suited for static line because I passed the other Windy's "Are you an old fart" test last week. Or maybe IAD if static line is not offered. Dan Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

My first car was in 1974 when I was given the 1964 Chrysler Newport that my grandfather had purchased new. It had a 361 big block V-8 two barrel, with the push button automatic. It was largely indestructible. One of my favorite stunts was to lock it in 1st gear and hit 60 MPH before I pushed the button for second gear. Dan Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

I started doing a two stage at about jump 5. I don’t recall exactly what got me started doing it. Maybe I was a bit early and just held it. But after the first time, I continued using that method. I have done it with a Manta and a Navigator. The first stage seems to slow me enough that it is easier to get my final flare timing right. I am still just a beginner. All I know is that is seems to be good for me. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

I have seen one of those lizards do it. With perfect imagination, visualization, an 88 pound girlfriend with large fast feet could do it……I think. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

Yes, it just a matter of copy and paste and some help with word lists. I spend just a few minutes with a copy of the previous work. It is FAR from done. I would enjoy if others would help add to the structure. No profanity, please. Very rough, but you can get the idea. I have to get up and work tomorrow. I will find time to work though it and see if we can build it up as we go. http://pyrodan.privatedata.com/skydive/parachute-story.htm Maybe I can work more tomorrow evening on it. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

That is where the terms, "Ring me up" and "Cha-ching" (spelling) came from, i think. The old registers had a bell that rang when you opened the cash drawer. There better not be a "cha-ching" if no customer was being rang up. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”