Baksteen

Recycling in 3..2..1.. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Over here, tip whatever you want and they'll like it. With the Dutch prices, 10-20% would be ridiculous. Personally, I only tip if I get served at the table if the food's good and the staff isn't too crabby. Tip at the local McDonalds? Please. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Visit as many of us as you can, why don't you?

I knew it - and we never even met. That's quite an awesome reputation you got there, young lady.

Foreigners.... "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

hair color? what if all your (my) hair is falling out? Take a leaf out of his book. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Guess no jumps for me Substantial winds predicted I am too chicken "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

..even while on a SA website I'm 9 july, BTW "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

A challenge, eh? I feel a visit to the DZ should be mandatory. It'd be easy to win if she locked herself in the closet, closed her eyes, put her fingers in her ears and went LALALALALA at the to of her voice.. No, I say expose her to 'impurities' and let's see how determined she really is.. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

The OP is (IMO) clearly implying to abandon PLF's, if only for argument's sake in the last sentence: "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Jumping at Perris "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

[that 70's show] OOOooooooOOh.... BURN!! [/that 70's show] "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Excellent post. I'd like to add that standing up a landing is overrated - too often is a 'good' landing judged by whether or not the (student) skydiver stood it up, rather than whether they made the right decision. I PLF'd several landings where in hindsight could have stood them up. Poor landing? Or an excellent one given the circumstances ("when in doubt"...)? Only once did I stand up a landing where I should have PLF'd... limped for a week. Stood it up though - good landing, right? I much prefer some grass/dirt stains on my container - way easier to brush off than an ankle injury.. Perhaps when I'm ready to buy a brand new container, I'll order it and the mandatory new jumpsuit pre-stained.

The day is still very long - with temptations galore... You won't last five minutes "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Excellent article - couldn't agree with Jarno more.

Hello Jonay, Most of your questions are hard to answer, it all depends. How long a jump takes depends on the exit altitude, body position in freefall, opening altitude, parachute size / how you steer your canopy (fast turns cost more altitude) etc. Generally speaking, a skydiver who jumps from 12.000 feet and stays on his belly will fall for up to 60 seconds, open their parachute at 3000 feet and fly for up to three minutes. On the other hand, on a so called 'hop and pop' skydivers will exit the plane and immediately open their parachutes. Think of an average descent rate of ~1000 feet per minute (unless you turn a lot and very fast) As to the weather, the winds shouldn't be too high (too high depending on experience and/or personal preference) or gusty and in some countries jumping through clouds is illegal, which could limit exit altitudes to the cloud base. Of course, precipitation is a no go. First of all, rain stings (and hail really hurts) and second, you wouldn't go for a nice picknick when it was raining, would you? By the way, precipitation hurts because a skydiver falls a lot faster than the precipitation does; it's the difference in relative speed that makes it hurt. The best time for a jump - there is none, though flying your parachute when it's around sunset is very nice, IMO. Then the view is simply awesome. In freefall and especially when jumping with others, you usually are too focused on the jump to focus on the view (at least, I am). Breathing in freefall is no different from breathing with a very strong headwind. Just relax and you'll have no difficulties. As to cold, well, again it depends. The higher you are, the colder it gets obviously, but the temperature you experience could vary from a nice refreshing cool 'experience' in summer to effing freezing in winter, which is why many DZs shutdown for the winter and why many skydivers 'hibernate', if you wish. Many special terms are listed here. However, most of the questions have a subjective answer to them. I recommend that you do a tandem to experience it first hand - trust me, you'll have a unique experience that will be invaluable for your research. Hope this helps

He just published the overfly report for weeks 3-12. I don't know, but the number of planes we could interfere with when exiting from 12k doesn't seem to be very spectacular... (Note that 'above 10k' is not the same as 'up to 13k') "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Yes, you seem to suffer from terminal CMS: Clicky Making Syndrome

And please stop thinking of your gear as "a bus". This leads to the misconception that large canopies are "not cool" and to downsizing too fast. You're a skydiver - what could possibly be cooler than that?

That video just begs for a lound "oink" sound every time the offender is in view.. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

You've been Clicky'd "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

Probably Definitely off-topic, but you got me started: [can of worns] Something that really annoys the hell out of me personally is when a student buys gear and chooses to jump without AAD only because they 'haven't got the funds'. [/can of worms] [barrel of worms] This is especially true if they buy brand new custom equipment and proceed to make 500 jumps that season. think people! [/barrel of worms] Rant over. Cue defensive argueing...

Absolutely.. I guess the (perceived) difference lies in the fact that the AFF-er has just had that overwhelming freefall 'happen to them', if you'll excuse the phrasing, while the SL-er only has the canopy ride to focus on. Mind you, I am not saying that either method is superior to the other, just that both place the accent on different stuff.

Exactly. I have found several times that this is the best way to get the bureaucratic mill churning out actual solutions. Nothing is urgent untill it's bothering them. They can't even take offence as you are merely returning their property. "That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom

With SL the first few jumps are all without freefall. Progress towards A-licence is more gradual, with only one task per jump thus exposing the student to more canopy experience. (Interesting) side note: SL students once starting to freefall typically gradually increase their exit altitudes, which is completely the opposite of an AFF solo