jigneshsoni

I know, I know, there are tons of thread on this. I have read a lot of them, but still a bit confused on what exactly are the physcis of Canopy. I am looking for explanation on how does canopy react depending how you apply stuff to it? I am looking for answers on how each of the below actions change the movement of the canopy with respect to forward movement and descent. I am looking for a basic chart on which how does a canopy fly on different scenerios: 1) When you do quarter flare 2) When you apply half flare 3) When you complee flare 4) when you pull both front risers 5) When you pull left frong riser 6) when you pull right front riser 7) when you pull both back riser 8) when you pull left back riser 9) when you pull right back riser. I am looking for the above answers assuming the following pre-conditions: a) You are moving upwind b) You are moving downwind. Can we make some kind of a chart. I am sure this will be very helpful to me and for future sky divers who might be looking for this. Thanks in advance Jignesh

I am planning some Tunnel time in NH. I am for suggestions on the right way to do this. What does Tunnel time Sharing actually mean? Is that something I should be looking at to get the best value for the buck? I am doing this so that I do not have worry about my flying skills while in freefall, how much time should I book for? How much time do people usually do? When you do tunnel time, are there coach available at site to guid you on your skills? or do you have to let them know? I would also need video of my tunnel time so that I can show that to my free fall instructor when I return back. Is this extra?

I am looking for all the differences between all the learning programs. How does each of them work better for different kind of people depending their learning skills, priorities and $$?

Where can I find out different levels for SL Progression. I am looking for something that gives details on each level as you progress. What a student is expected to achieve on each level? Something with video would be even better.

I am sure many of you know how I sucked at getting my training done. I finally gave up :-( My major reasons for giving up on sky diving was that I was not progressing after spending so much money and not see progress was very frustrating. I believe my last sky dive was level 3 in Sep 2005. I want your suggestions on how should I start again?

I have finally come to a point where it does not scare me anymore to jump with different instructors. I would feel totally comfortable with jumping with any of the instructors at my DZ now. My last 2 jumps were Level 3 jumps. All I had to do was maintain my heading and I could not do that for some or the other reason. First jump, I did not even arch well. So as soon as my instrcutor would attempt to leave me, I would spin, So he grabbed me again and kep showing Arch sign, which I did not get. Second attempt. I did a wonderful arch. As soon as my instructor would leave me, I world start turning and when I attempted to stop the turn, I would still not stop. My instructor grabbed me again and made me stable and let me go again and I turn again. Tried to stop, but it felt very stiff. I felt lot of air pressure on my arms. So much pressure, that I could not move it enough to turn. Once again my instrucotr grabbed me and I had almost approaced my Pull altitude so did not leave me again. I pulled normal and landed find. Have anybody had a similar experience? I mean feeling so much pressure on your arms that its hard to move to turn/stop the turn? Was it a real pressure or was it just my mind giving me silly messages? LOL. I have done 15 jumps now and I am still on my AFF level 3. I love this sport and want to pursue this until I get it right. But the fact is I SUCK AT IT. Are there other people who are as bad as me? Am I the only one? I know all you guys have repeated levels, but here I am talking about 15jumps and still on Level3? Did any of you guys did so bad? Thanks Jignesh

Since I started jumping I have not missed a single weekend when I did not jump. I was very excited about sharing my whole experience about sky diving with my parents when they visit me. They visited me since 10th August. Ever since they have visited me this was the 3rd weekend and ever since they are here, for some or the other reaons I have not jumped a single time. THAT SUCKS!!!!! 1st week. Decided to take both my parents to the drop zone. My mom already knew about my sky diving, but my father came to know only after he visited me. So has a long long discusstion with him about sky diving before going to the DZ for the first time. He was very understanding but still he had lots of concerns about my sky diving and he was very scared about the fact of me hurting or something going wrong with me. But he was still proud that I am doing this. But while we were driving to the DZ, his fear started coming. I could see on his face how scared he was about me jumping. I am myself kinda bit nervous while I am driving to the DZ and over that the sad face of my father was too much for me to handle, It just made it more difficult and scary to me. I could read on his face as if I am going to die or something. I really didn't like the look on his face, but I still understand him. He was just worried. Finally we rached the drop zone only to find rains and clouds. So finally decided to not jump becuase of that. Just after it was decided I am not jumping, I was so relaxed that I don't have to jump. My father had a smile on his face again. I was vert relaxed that I don't have to jump, but deep down I was very frustrated that the only reason I didn't jump is becuase I was scared. I could have waited, and I am sure I could have jumped. But I chose not to wait becuase I was scared. I was just fooling myself that it was the rains. 2nd Week: Dad decided to stay home. I was fine with that too. As a student, I am really not sure I could deal with my sky diving learning curve and my fathers worries. So I and my father were on the same page about that and he decided to stay home. He was happy that I am not asking him to come with us. I, my mom and my little nephew went to the DZ only to find bad weather again for some time, but decided to wait and finally found that my instructor with whom I have been jumping all the time is not available. I was no way going to jump with any other instructor. Not that I think that other instructors are not equally good or competent, but just the comfort I had developed with my instructor since all these jumps would be different with the other instrcutor. I am not sure if this is just my feeling or everbody feels like that. But finally decided not to jump just becuase my instructor was not available. While I was drivig home again, I was really angry on myself once again becuase I knew deep down these are only fears. The instructor thing was just a reason not to jump again. The feelings how bad I have missed jumping for 2 weeks and I still did not jump due to the stupid fear and making an excuse to myself about the instructor for not jumping. I really could not forgive myself for being scared about this. Waited for 1 whole week again to jump. All week I was upset about not jumping. 3rd week (today) Today, I had decided that no mater what I am jumping. Went with my mom to the DZ. The fear was there. When we reached we found that there were clouds all around. So waited and the clouds cleared. Found out that my instructore was not available again today to jump with me becuase he was flying the plane. But this time, I am not going to let this reason matter. So told the manifest that I will jump with other instructor. Talked with other instructor and was very comfortable with him too. But later found out that the winds are funky, So I had to wiat till they get normal. waited and waited, but winds were still crazy. Was already in my suit but still had to wait. It was almost 2:30pm by this time and I and my mom were starving so decided to get some food. Went and ate lunch and came back within 30 min only to find that the winds were still bad so could not jump. Later there were clouds. After some time there were rains. Was around 5:30pm. Finally left :-( This was the 3rd week in a row, I went to the DZ and could not jump. OH I miss jumping soooo much right now. I just hope I get to jump soon. Anybody with similar experiences? Any comments?

Was not sure about that. So I guess you still need a parachute :-) Does wingsuits slow your speed a lot?

I was wondering why sky diving is not done over an ocean. Would appreciate what all you people think about it? 1) Was wondering if you would jump from 13500 feet without a parachute at all into water, Would that cuase injuries? 2) Jump with a parachute. I am sure this will avoid most of the injuries that a caused while landing. You would surey not break your legs or butt or back. 3) As a student you have to worry only about overcoming fears of "jumping out of the plane" You don't have to worry about injuries that may cuase due to bad landing. Any comments???

I understood that very hard way. When I started this all I wanted to do is to pass the levels ASAP. I never had fun, only frustrations of failing and repeating. But after lot of fighting with myself in the mind and after a lot of stuggle, I have learnt it the hard way. Finally I have learnt to deal with repeating levels and having fun no matter weather I have passed the level or not.

Today I went to my DZ to attempt my 2nd AFF level for the 4th time. I was pretty confident that I will make it this time. I wanted to make sure that nothing can stop me from clearing this level this time. Have been preparing for this to make sure about it all week. Last time the only mistake I had was not being able to find the pilot chute handle while practice pull and not finding the same while pull, so instrcutor had to pull for me. So this time I was not much nervous since I was sure I will not mess up in that area this time. Reached the DZ at around 12:30pm. Watched a few loads landing. Watching them really builds my confidence. So I have made it a routine to watch atleast 4-5 laods before I jump. Finally went for the jump. Jumped out, I felt that I was unstable. But was fine after 2-3 sec. Did my COA. Did practice pulls. But something was not feeling right. Don't know what was going on. But continued to do my turns. But was still not feeling stable, didn't know what was happening. But something did not feel right. All of sudden I see my instructors fingers signally me to "legs in" I did legs in and it felt better. I started my right turn. It didn't seem to be allright. I did left turn. I didn't seem perfect, but still it was OK. Was totally altitude aware while the turns. Checked my altitude and I was very close to 6000. So did not have time to do a forward movement. So moved my head to siganl "no more manuaers". Waved at around 5500. And "PULLED" HAHAHA, I found the pilot chute handle myself this time. Canopy control was awesome. Did everything perfect. But still my instructor helped me after the 1000 feet. Landed a little harder. Tried my bext to do a stand up landing. But somehow at the end i lifted my legs and landed kind of on my butt. thank god it was soft. My butt cannot take any injuries right now. My tail bone is still hurting every time I sit down. Went in the room for debrief with my instructor. Found out that he let me clear this level. OH MY GOD, I am so happy. I finally made it. Some things in life are just not easy. I have not achieved anything easily in my life. I guess this is another one. But I am glad I am making progress. I am so happy right now. Just after I finished my jump and found out that I have cleared the level, I immediately called my Mom in Belgium. She is the one really supporting me right now in this sport. I would have never made this without her support. She was very happy to know I finally cleared the level. Can't wait to do level 3 soon. I was so tempted to do my level 3 today itself. But just didn't do it becuase I do not want to put myself in a situatiion which I am really not good at handing. I suck at that. When I jump and if I fail, it really frustrates me very much due to the money factor involved. I was very happy about my jump today and didn't wanted to ruin the happiness incase if I would fail. Will not be able to handle the sitation of spending for 2 jumps on the same day and failing. But now I am home and I am happy. OH so much happy. Thanks you very much Damian(my wonderful instructor). Thank you very much everybody. You have really been a great support. There was a phase infact so many times, I almost gave this up. But just becuase of all your support, I am still here and I have started feeling, I CAN DO THIS. I WILL DO THIS. Love you all. Jigs

I am not saying that. I am just relating what I feel and I am sure all of you fell and trying to understand how it works?

I does make sense a little bit. But here is an example, Please comment. When you look straight down while freefall from 10,000 feet, you see an area of around 10,000 sq feet as small as a 1 sq feet. Lets say you see that 1 Sq feet area at the center when you look down. Now when you move forward, you moved like say 10 feet. So now you see at the center another area which is 1 sq feet, but ofcouse it is 10 feet away. If we keep falling, will we not fall at the new point?? Won't the new point be actually some point in the new area which is actually 100,000 feet away from the original area? I hope what I am saying makes sense, Please comment. Thanks Jigs

I have been thinking about this since a few days. I would like to know what is the relation between the distance covered in the air at a certain height AND distance covered on ground. Eg: I would like to know if I am at point A in the air which is 5000 feet altitude. If I move towards point B in the air which is 100 feet North from Point A. What I am actually doing with respect to a viewer on the ground? I have a feeling that when you move just a small distance in the air, you are actually moving quite a big distance with respect to ground. Is it true or is it just how it feels OR is it just how I think which is totally wrong from reality? If anybody could send me a link which would explain me this theory in more details, that would be great. Thanks Jigs

Gear: no gear is bullet proof. Dive Flow: IMO, solo's are less risky then group freefall. I'm kinda concerned with your questions. It almost seems like you are trying to get someone to say if you jump XXX brand of gear you will never get hurt or die. That is not the case in this sport. Like I said before you can do everything right and still die. Judy I totally understand that you can do everything right and still die. What I am trying to find out here is the chances that rises on doing certain things as compared to not doing certain things. Besides when people die, there are always reasons. Trying to find out how one could try the best to not do certain things which could possibly reasons to incidents.

Don't be nervous. I am not sure what I am about to say will make any difference. I was told what I am going to tell you now. When people told me here really didn't make sense to me then. I kept thinking they don't know me. They don't understand what I am going through. Most of it, Its my my money that I am loosing repeating levels, not theirs, so how can they understand me. Any this is what I was told by many many people here which really did not make any sense to me then. But it makes a lot of sense now. They were all so right. You don't FAIL Levels. There is something to learn in every jump. If you have the repeat level, that does not mean you failed as long as you walked out of it after the jump. The only thing that should bother you is the money part which is really understandable. I am going through the same thing and repeating so many levels. Read all my posts if you get a chance. As long as the frustrations that may come up due to the expenses involved in repeating levels, this is my suggestion. Set up a budget on how much you want to spend per month for the sport that you love. Only do that many jumps and let it take as long as it has to take to finish your AFF. Don't be in a rush to complete AFF. Thats the biggest mistake I made. Now finally taking it slow. I hope any of this helps you. Jigs

Can you elobarate on contorlling the level of risk one wants to take by gear selection and dive flow?

I have been hearing a lot about people getting severely injured or even heard a lot about so many people die. Most of the incidents I read about are with people who are experienced. I would like to know what you guys think? Is it just a co-incidence that I have read more about experienced sky divers incidents and fatality as compared to no experience or not much experienced sky divers? I have started to think that once you get more experience of the sport you attempt to try more stuff about sky diving which requires lot more skills and experience. What I mean by "more stuff" is anything and everything which includes more then just a "regular simple jump" What I mean by regular simple jump, is somebody exitting the plane, doing a rgular arch, opening at regular altitude and landing normal (no swooping, no special turns) What I am trying to understand here is if the possibility of incidents increases to a very big factor when you do more stuff then the regular jump? Thanks Jigs

I remember my last jump when I was just about to land and my instructor saying "flare, flare, flare" I did flare, and then I heard his saying "DON'T LIFE YOUR LEG, DON'T LIFT YOUR LEG" I later found out that he didn't wanted me to lift my leg becuase it would make my flare uncomplete. I have been thiking about this since last few days. Can't wait to ask my insturctor about this. But would surely like to know what you guys think? I am only 5'5 tall. I guess so as per my height, the length of my hangs would be accordingly. I belived the length of my arms would be definitely shorter then the length of somebody who is 6 feet tall by maybe atleast 6-7 inches. (not sure, just guessing) Question: Does the length of your arms make you do a better/complete flare? Since the length of my arms is quite short, do you guys think that could be the reason of I not doing flare enough and making me land harder? So basically, does length of hand, a person's height have anything to do with complete/enough flare? Thanks Jigs

Moderator and all other Students, I would like to recommend to add some kind of memo section in the user profiles details. I would like this memo section to be used by all members especially new students to enter details about thier each AFF jump. They accomplishments and their mistakes. This section for each user will help other users in future very much to learn from their mistakes and experiences. For example: I have been talking to so many people on this forum. I really would like to get details about how they did during their AFF. How they stuggled throught it, how they managed things, how they made mistakes and how they worked out on those mistakes. All these details could have really helped me out right now. I am just suggesting to plant a tree right now which will give shade to lots of people in future. I would apprecaite comments from other members about this suggestion. Thanks Jigs

I went yesterday to jump my AFF2 again. I hung out there all day just to watch other people landing. Just wanted to have a feel on what is that they are doing which is so right which maks them land so soft as compared to my hard landings. I still had pains in my butt, so wanted to make sure that I do not land on it this time and make it worse. Looking at like 50 landings before my actual jump made me feel a lot more confortable about my jump. Talked a lot with my instructor about what I have been doing wrong and discussed it and all way possible to do it right. Finally decided to jump. This was my first flight when I was not nervous or scared at all. All the time when the flight was getting its altitude, I was totally relaxed. The only time when I felt a little bit fear was when I was just about to jump. Finally jumped. YOOOOOOHOOOOOO Did COA, Attempted to do practice pull, but will not get my pilot chute handle inspite of trying it so many times on the ground. Stuggled to get the handle but will still not get a hold of it. Finally my instructor helped me get it. I was also moving my hands so fast to search the handle that it was also getting difficult for the instructor to get hold of my hand to help me reach the handle. But finally he helped me reach the handle. OHHHH Finally!!!! The second practice pull was fine. Did my 90 degree right turn, which was good. Did my 90 degree left turn which had a little problem but it was good. Checked altitude between those turns. Did forward movement for 4 sec which was good according to my instructor, but I didn't feel any forward movement. My instructor told me that I will feel it when he is infront of it in the future levels. Checked altitude and I was like 6000. Signalled my head for no more manuevers. Waved for pull around 5500. Attemped to reach my pilot chute handle and my GOD, I don't find it again. Once again I was stuggling to find it but i just could not find it. Those 2-3 seconds were BAD. Finally my instructor pulled it for me. OH it felt soooo good to know that I am going to be alive. LOL LOL. The canopy controlled was GREAT. I think this was my first jump when I finally understood what actualy means by "holding area" I always understood the concept of it on the ground theorically, but when I would be in the air, it would just make NO SENSE at all to me. I would just be confused and would not know what to do. But since I had discussed a lot of things with my instructor on the ground, I think it helped me finally. Normally as soon as I would open , I would hear my instructor talking on the radio givig me instructions to turn right,left and all that stuff to be in the holding area, But in this jump, I just didn't hear him. That really scared me. I thought I will have to manage it myself this time. But I can say I was ready. I know what i was doing this time. I knew what I had to do this time, THE FIRST TIME. But still I was scared not to hear him on the radio. I even kinda tried to adjust the volume on the riado, just in case. But found that it was already on full. So I just assumed that the radio must have gone dead for some reason and was 1 million times more cautious becuase I was on myself now. When I checked my altitude after open I think I was around 4000 feet. So I holded in my holding area until 100 feet as I was told. I was satisfied and sure about what I was doing and I knew it somewhere in my mind that I was doing it right this time. Finally at around 1100 feet, I hear my instructors voice on the radio. "OH THE SWEETEST VOICE I HAVE EVER HEARD" I was not even expecting him, but when I heard him, it felp SOOOOOO good. He gave me instructions to land finally. The landing was as usual no as soft as many people I see. But still this was my first landing I kinda landed on my legs as oppsed to my butt. But I was extremely caution not to hit my butt. It would hurt very bad since its still injured. But no problem with the landing. Though it was hard, I walked out HAHA. In the debrief part, I found out that I have to repeat the level. I kinda knew that already but some part of my mind said that I cleared it, I don't know why. Didn't have any reasoning. But I just want this so bad. This was my first jump in ever when I can honestly say I had fun. I REALLY HAD FUN. FUN FUN FUN FUN.

Thank you very much everybody for your valuable advice and support. I have no words to express how much it means to me what all of you have said here. I have been reading each of yours messages in details and thinking and re-thinking about it. I am feeling better now. I was having some fever due to pain OR maybe just due to tensions/concerns. It happens to me some times. I have not been to the dcotor, I guess I don't need to. I am getting better. About why I do sky diving and I should do it for myself rather then to make somebody proud. I think you guys really have a point in that. I see it. I think I started doing it for the only reason to be something different, brave, Just to make my parents feel proud. I do that all the time. But after doing it and seeing that I was not good at it, challenged me. I love challenges. Not that I still liked the feeling about sky diving, but the challenge thing got me. I could not accept the fact that I was fearing something so much. But that was overcomed with all the valuable advice I got from you guys that it was normal to fear. But was still not happy about it. The fact that I was not clearing the levels are first attempt was extremely frustrating. I totally understand that its a part of the sport. But there is money invovled. I do not know about all you guys and I do not have details about how all of you performed during AFF training and if you repeated levels. But to me right now, I really get frustrated repeating levels just becuase I have to spend again to clear that level. The day when I can do jumps for 18$ keeps going away and away so much unlike the plan. I guess I just have to get used to all this. But I can say that I already miss it. I will be jumping as soon as I feel better. I think I should be fine by next to next weekend. Thanks a lot for all your comments. Jigs

I have not been into any extreme sports. I have not been into any kind of sports infact. Just played a little bit of Tennis many years back. Also was into running some time back. I keep getting people asking me and telling me you can answer it ytourself why you are doing it and if you want it enough, you will get it. I have been really asking the question to myself many times and really know why I am doing this and finally decided to share this here. But I really need this bad, I am still not sure. OK, I am doing this to make my dad proud. I have grown up listening and seeing how weak is my dad in many ways. I love both my parents more then anything I have ever loved or can imagine to love in my life. I have seen how many limitations he has in life just becuase of his own personal mental weaknesses. His fears about many things. He is absolutely normal person from outside. Very successful career wise but inside we all know how weak and scared he is. I can get into details, but I am sure nobody will have interest in reading it also don't wannt redicule my own father more then certain degree in public. OK, so I am doing this just becuase I so much don't want to be like my father. If he would know I was doing sky diving, he would take the next flight and come to USA and make sure I never do this again. But I am sure if I tell him that I have already donre 11 jumps and will not ever do it again, he will be extremely proud of me. My parents are visiting me on Aug 10. All I wanted was to finish with my AFF training before that so that I would have a level and comfort enough to tell my father that I am doing this and I am very safe and share my achievement that I graduated with him. He would be shocked to know all this at first but later he would just be proud. Thats what I wanted. At this point when they come to visit me, I will not be able to share any of my sky diving experiences becuase I have been a failure. Maybe not really, but I am just telling you my perspective here considering the time value and stuff. I cannot share with my father that I have been failing levels and I broke my butt and I will still continue doing it. I do not have very good writing skills or expressing skills in english language but I tried my best to express it here. Please feel free to comment with your valuable opinions. Thanks all Jigs

Since I went for AFP program. I did 4 levels of tandems before started doing AFF. I also repeated levels while doing tandems. So basically I did totally 7 tandems. I developed this bad habit of landing on my back/butt as oppsed to on my legs. My instructor has been warning me all the time not to do this and I guess I just don't get it. I keep repeating it in all 4 solo jumps. But my last jump was BAD. I fell on my butt. It was very hard. I may have a hair line tail bone fracture. But I am not sure. I am just waiting for the pain to subside. When I came back home on Friday after 2 failures and broken butt and sprained right foot, I was extremely depressed. Thats the reason I didn't post all this then. I had all the negative thoughts running my mind mind. "Why I am doing all this to me" "I don't want to die" "I don't want to be disabled" "I love life" "Life is beautiful" "This is not for me" "Those people who do it are different kind of people, I am not like them, I can't do this, It's not for me" With all the pain and all this negative thinking I just went to sleep. Last 2 days, I have been feeling much better mentally. I have started thinking positive again and I think I still want to do it. But I will atleast take a break for now, till all this heals and I am really mentally prepared. I am really not sure how long though. I also think that the last 2 jumps were the best out of all. They were just amazing.

This time I went through the whole sky dive like million times in my mind to make sure that I do not repeat it. I have been extremely frustrated with the fact that I am repeating levels. So was extra extra cautious and made sure about all things in all areas. When I and my instructor jumped, I think I was stable immediately. Did my COA. This time didn't forget to do practice pulls BUT..... I couldn't find the pilot chute. I was sturggling to find it, but for some reason i just could not get it. I would keep focussing on the loosing altitude while trying to find it. At some point i grabbed my instructors watch/altimeter. I think finally I managed to find it OR I think my instrcutor helped me to find it. I don't remember it properly. Still had altitude so went ahead doing my turns. Right turn went perfect. Left time same thing. I would just not turn. Later realised it I was just not doing it right while debriefing with my instrcutor. I think I wasted too much time attempting to do my left turn properrly. When I checked altitude, I was like 5000 so immediately pulled. Ofcouse I failed again due to several reasons as you can see it.