radical_flyer
-
Content
112 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Feedback
0%
Everything posted by radical_flyer
-
Should I travel abroad for a world class AFF experience?
radical_flyer replied to dive42's topic in Safety and Training
Anyone know which EU drop zones operate beechcraft king air or 99 full time? For some reason I think they're the best/fastest jump planes. I seem to have made a habit of developing personal preferences for things having little to no experience. I would say I consider exit altitude more important than jump planes and when getting onto sports jumps I don't think I'd mind a longer climb, although some other aircraft don't seem to be that much slower. -
What is level 7? I've not had a lot of experience or any tunnel time worth speaking of, I don't know how I'll do beyond level 3. My level 1 was a pass but did a few things wrong/not very well. I know there are some things like tracking that you can't do in a tunnel but I don't want to do any rejumps/repeat levels because of the cost.
-
Well now I've seen some good arguments on the merits of other methods and I understand/agree with most of them, like this one: Cool thanks man.
-
Ok, you're right, it's just I don't see that it is being used for instructional reasons and agree about people with no intention of learning, just taking a ride. Especially at the DZ I mentioned that only does tandems and seems to have no interest in teaching. I get that you could learn about canopy control but not about being stable in freefall or other skills. I don't see your point about s/l canopy control though given that opening altitude for AFF is 5-6k, and s/l starts at 3.5k then goes to 5k (not really sure how it actually works), and I think ground instruction under canopy on the radio is the same. Although I agree about the exit position, I didn't have a great exit. Also what's SC?
-
Looks like I'm fighting a losing battle. I concede, but my opinion has not changed. Not sure if you're being specific or general saying "your tandem", I haven't done one. How did your wife start then? I also think static line is inferior, but an understandable choice since it's a lot cheaper. I would also point out that it's an arm grip, not "holding your hand" and that AFF starts out as free arm flying (they let go of your arms) from level 1. It was not my intention to be inflammatory or make people on the forum hate me, although I did realise before posting that it was possible that my post(s) may have had the effect.
-
Nothing against TIs or instructors in general regardless of age, only "students" or customers doing tandems. The only reason they're run is for drop zones to make money, which is fine by me, but there's this DZ in south west England that only does tandems as far as I can tell, they don't seem to offer any student programs or anything about learning to skydive. With my 1 jump, I actually don't think I'm badass at all, just not my idea of fun. I'll admit I was more than a little scared in the door of the beech, and on the hill, I don't think I hesitated too much though. Not when talking about myself. I have like next to zero tunnel time and jump numbers, I flared too high and landed on my ass. From what I've read in articles on here about freefall disciplines and canopy skills it sounds really hard.
-
Fair enough. When I did my level 1 I went to half flare too high then landed on my ass in the mud. It's really annoying, I can only go at the weekends but the weather's often really bad (UK) meaning no student jumping or a full DZ closure (except for ground schools I would guess). Maybe it's just my DZ, a few of the instructors look quite old, especially DZO, although I don't know which of them have TI ratings. Glad you weren't offended, I thought I may have been a little harsh.
-
Tandems are gay, why would you want to be strapped to an old man? I don't see the point or how you can learn anything that way, you definitely don't need to do it to be ready. As for tunnel time, I think that's a good idea, although not necessary. It would probably be valuable to practice stable belly flying and AFF skills. I'd say just go straight to AFF. Also that guy sounds like an annoying bitch. EDIT: Oh I see you've already done one...why would you want to do another, especially when people have said to skip the second one?