Babi

Thank you again, for taking the trouble to answer my questions. I just spoke to my instructor and I asked him about the "cut" and he told me, that in fact the pilot did the "cut" when I first attempted to jump was blown back into the plane. It took me such a long time (didn't seem so) to get myself together for the second attempt, when the pilot assumed I am long gone from the plane and he actually accelerated.This is all good news to me because it can be prevented next time. He also agrees with me that because of my height I don't have sufficient power to push myself with my right arm. I am glad I talked to him but I am also glad that I received your posts first. I was afraid you will tell me to go golfing. All my life I wanted to do this and I am afraid someone will tell me that it is not for me. In my heart I know I can do it and I'll keep on trying. To Bob: thank you for explaining the SOP to me. I didn't know. I am having difficulties understanding the terminology and it is so much easier when someone tells you. I am creating my own vocabulary of parachute terms and there are still a lot of blanks. Once again many thanks to all of you who have answered my post. You have been very helpful. Natasa

Thank you Billvon and thank you Orange For Billvon 1. The opening (no door) is just behind the wheel and one of my concerns was that I will hit it with my head (silly, I know, but on the ground things appear different). 2. Maybe, if I could hold my right arm a bit higher, shoulder height, this way I could have more spring in it. Will definitely try it on the ground. So some exercising in the gym will help. 3. "deeper cut" - I am not sure I understand this. It this when the engine goes quieter?? It always does on the smaller plane, but it did not at all on this one. I was thinking about it that this may help but I don't know if it is possible. On the other hand, the pilot knew he is carrying two SL jumpers, one of them was the first time jumper. So I assume this is not possible on this plane. I watched (from the ground) other jumpers and I didn't hear the engine go quiterer. for Orange Aggressive sounds good. Must keep that in mind the next time (if they let me back again). I was so scared that all my knowledge was forgotten. All I had in mind was to get out of that plane, one way or the other (pride). We have a mock-up and I practiced there, I also practiced jumping from the plane while if was still on the ground.The wind makes all the difference. Thank you guys for the advice. I will let you know how it goes the next time.

I am not blaming the plane at all and I KNOW it is me. I am asking for help. How does everybody else do it? The way I was told and I practiced (a lot) on the ground does not work. My instructor would not let me into the plane if he was not happy with my performance on the ground. The way GeorgeRussia describes is the way I was shown to do it on the 172 Cesna. I was scared to death but I did OK there. My instructor was right there with me and he saw me, he knows I am trying and that I want to do it. I cannot do what he is asking of me. I am sitting on the edge, facing direction of the flight, my left hand holding the edge of the opening, my right hand stretched behind me (I am only 1.6 m), holding on to the other side of the opening. My feet are on the ledge, I am almost crouching. No way can I push myself anywhere from this position, especially with a rig on my back.

I started SL last autumn and did 15 reasonably successful jumps before winter. My exits from Cessna 172 (with a ledge over the wheel) were O.K. I always landed softly on my but and I thought this was my biggest problem. After 4 months of not jumping, I did 4 more jumps and each one was worse than the previous one. Yesterday, the last jump, I jumped from a different plane, a slightly bigger Cessna, C-206 (a ledge along the exit opening, doorway) and it was a disaster. I had lines around my head. It seems I am not strong enough to throw (push myself or whatever needs to be done) against the force of the air outside the plane. At my first attempt I was pushed back into the plane. Got scared, got mad, tried again and was blown away like a leaf. Any hints how I could conquer this one?? For some idiotic administrative reasons the first plane is grounded at the moment and there is no way of knowing when it will fly again, so my only choice is this other, bigger Cessna. This is already at a different DZ. I don't have many options as far as the planes go, and, after all, if other jumpers can do it, why can't I?? AFF not an option as it is not allowed in my country. Does anybody have any hints of how to overcome this??

Hi I'll be there March 19 for the first time. I've had no clue as to where to sleep there so I searched the internet. I found that there are a lot of B&B and hotels for every pocket in Bedford and around it. If you want I can send you some internet addresses to save you time. As we are traveling from Stansted airport we chose to sleep in a B&B just outside Cambridge. It is half way back to the airport.

Hi Josh I am pretty new in this sport as well. I only have 15 static line jumps and I've had those exact thoughts between jumps. So I said O.K. I won't do it any more. I got so depressed that I changed my mind right back again. I experienced lack of sleep, but only after the jumps and only after the first few times. Good luck on your AFF. Natasa

Hi I did my first ever jump, a static line, this fall at the age of 58. Some countries have an age limitation, not mine. I think they are wrong in doing this. After all, how old is a spirit?

Definitely interested. What is your offer? Natasa

Congratulation on your decision. It will be a lot of fun doing it together with your friends. I am a static line student. As for the cold, I was to busy being scared to feel any cold. I feel less scared if I am worm. I jump from a tiny Cessna and if you are the first jumper, there is really no way that you could change your mind. But I hear that people have done it in bigger planes and there is no shame in it. In any event, the experience is tremendous. You are scared to death and you do it just the same and when you get to the ground you are so proud of yourself that you want to do it again straight away. I was so scared for the first 10 jumps that I almost gave it up. Watching the videos of me jumping really helped me. As I saw and heard all the noises, the experience was almost as if I was actually up there and by watching it over and over I slowly got used to it and my next jump was almost scare-free. If you are very concerned abut your first jump maybe it would be a good idea to try a wind tunnel and get some idea of how it is. I wonder what the general thoughts are on wind tunnel? For a beginner. I plan to have some time there before I start jumping again in spring. Good luck on your first jump! Babi