BigMikeH77

Ahh I just spent the past 5 years in Littleton! I love that town - It's the kind of place that has everything you'd ever need (except a DZ) and there's no reason to leave. As far as ammo caches..lol... I'm not too concerned. But if push comes to shove, I think my military training will serve me well. I can probably live for quite a while up in the mountains. Just don't expect me to shout out "Wolverines!" or anything. :-D Hard to believe that the weather on Friday is still forecast to be 50. I think its 10 right now with wind chills well into the negatives. My name is Michael, so if you're there on Friday look around for me! I'll be the spooked-out student repeating his AFF-1. Hahaha!

Hi! I just started jumping last week and live in Lakewood. The weather Friday is supposed to be sunny and almost 50, so I'm most likely playing hooky and going to Mile-Hi in Longmont. So far I've come across one other person in denver, but like I said I've only been here for less than a week. What part of the metro area did you move to?

Hi there! I'm new too :-) Im excited to hear about your first jump. When are you going to do it? Tandem is great place to start, and the wind tunnel idea is spot on! You're already on your way, so let us know how it goes!

Yes... The big blue skies.. :-)

Hi Bruce, Yep, it was Mile-Hi! This past saturday was a bit overcast and there wasn't exactly a large plethera of jumpers that day. As far as my Aff-1 class, it was just me and one other aspiring jumper and he was there for ground school only. I agree with you about the King Air and beginner jumps, although I don't really have anything to compare it to. Not that I am in any sort of position to request a specific plane or anything :-) It's just what was flying that day. I will say that although I was considerably unnerved by the door (not just the King Air, but ANY open door of a plane at altitude), what really scared the bejesus out of me more than anything was the wind and the sound of the wind as I was at the exit. It distracted me perhaps. I wasn't ready for it maybe. I just wanted it to stop.. lol. Who knows. But for early AFF, from what I understand thus far, the exit from the Otter is different from the exit out of the King Air. From the Otter the student has their hands together and is pushed up against the reserve instructor on exit, while from the King Air the student has one hand on the outside of the pland and one inside, with their waist up against the door opening. When my instructors went through what had happened, I thought that perhaps I arched my body to the left in an attempt to make sure that my right side (shoulder, arms, rig) fully cleared the door. I think that had a lot to do with it, although my instructor said that at the door my body is already pretty much out of the plane so motioning to avoid the door isn't necessary. I'm not a little guy - 6' 1". But I think the remedy to this, regardless of the aircraft is just practice. The entryway to my kitched in practically identical to the width of the King Air door, so it's cool that I can practice right there at home. Practice COA, practice the exit, practice RELAXING. But this early on, relaxing is certainly easier said than done. I want to get back to the DZ soon, as it's less expensive for me to redo AFF1 with in 7 days. But I've been looking at the weather for Longmont and although yesterday it said sunny Friday with partly cloudy Saturday, It's now mostly cloudy all weekend. I'd hate to get there only to have the clouds prevent a student jump. Will wait until tomorrow or thursday and decide what's going to happen. I liked your level 5 video :-) The legwork on exit gave me a good chuckle, not because I'm better or anything (clearly!) but because it was just funny. If I get to Mile-Hi this weekend, I'll ask manifest if you're there! -Mike

Thanks, mama.. I certainly will! :-)

Hi Pops, Yes, I understand that the AFF-1 objectives weren't met - The dive flow was supposed to consist of an exit (with both instructors), Circle of awareness, practice touches, another COA, heading-altitude,heading, altitude.... lock on altimiter at 6,000, pull at 5,500, controlability, and so on. On my long canopy ride, I was a little freaked out because of the high altitude at which I pulled and the winds from 8,000 to 7,500 were pretty turbulent. I was making sure that I knew where the drop zone was, where I was heading under canopy, and checking my altitude. The flight down under canopy was much longer than anticipated, so I made a series of turns and did my best to keep in the holding area and away from the runway. I beat myself up a bit over the exit fiasco, but I just keep telling myself that I didn't fail for obvious reasons and just have to be more focused next time. FORTUNATELY the entry way to my kitchen is nearly the exact dimensions as that King Air door so I have been practicing my exits there.

Thanks :-) I don't call it a failure because I did everything right but the exit - here's what happened; Exiting from a King Air, I felt the main instructor give me a good shake - so I started.. Up, down arch! I was supposed to step/jump out sideways, but what I did was arch my body out to the left. My main instructor immediately lost grip and my reserve instructor (who was measurably smaller than I), went into a vertical tumble. He said that he couldnt control it, and so let go. So there I was, on my AFF-1, falling from 12,500' by myself. I didn't freak out or flail my arms/legs about. I realized I was alone and out of control then arched as best I could. I swear there was a second or two where I was stable, belly down - with the instructors nowhere in sight, I pulled at 9,000'. Apparently I had a bit of spin or tumble, because my main canopy opened with three line twists. Again, I didnt freak out but spread the risers and kicked... They worked themselves out and I got an extended, but turbulent, ride down to the ground. Like I mentioned, aside from the exit I did everything right so I'm trying to not beat myself up over it. The instructor couldnt pass me for AFF-1 because clearly, neither were around. I got the strange feeling that they were upset. Maybe they had some paperwork to do or something.

I did my AFF-1 jump on Saturday, and did indeed lose both instructors. Got as stable as possible before pulling - and when my main canopy inflated, I had about three line twists. So it DOES happen. BUT - My training kicked in. Other than botching the exit (which is why my instructors said they couldnt keep hold of me), I did everything else RIGHT. Since I pulled so high up, I got an extended ride back down to the ground. It was scary, and yes I was tumbling, but I DIDN'T freak out and flail my arms and legs about. I focused, did what I was supposed to, and everything turned out well :-)

Hi all, I'm Michael from Denver. Did my AFF-1 course on Saturday and unfortunately botched the exit. Will have to retake level 1. It's a bit disheartening but the way I look at it, 1) It was a successful jump - Other than the exit, I did everything I was supposed to, 2) A lot of things went wrong with the jump and I handled it all well. Big experience points, and I should be more relaxed and ready for the repeat.