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That sounds pretty familiar, I did some backflying to watch the others exit te plane. But I went in a flatspin quite fast, never had it before, it was a scary situation and whatever I tried I couldn't get on my belly. The jumpmaster witnessed it all, and it gave her a scare too. Jump altitude was 12k, and I managed to get out of it around 6k, don't ask me how I did it. I only remember that I tried a barrelrol with the turn and that didn't work because of the centrifugal forces. I talked about it with an instructur, and he said that you have to do it against the turn, it's quite logical. Maybe I did that, I can't remember anymore. Never have backflied since, I am concentrating on my belly skills now, I have tried to induce a flatspin on my belly on purpose but to no avail yet.

Glad to hear that you learned a lesson without severe consequences. I did it once too, slept too little and still I jumped because a buddy from belgium came to the DZ here in the Netherlands. I got maybe 4 hours of sleep, I felt a bit nauseaous on the ride up. I exited the plane, fell a bit unstable nothing horribly but still, I was scared. Man, I was really glad when my feet were on the ground. Everything went ok under canopy, the landing was smooth as butter. But I won't jump again when I am really tired, and don't feel good about it. I can't imagine what would have happened when I've had a malfunction that day.

If there would be anything such as the idea of 'skygods', I rather see people that made the sky their area as 'skygods', there are too many 'landgods' anyway.

Great idea! Just the thing to make a statement like, my first love is skydiving and maybe you can be my second love.

Dunno if this has been posted before, but hey it made me laugh my ass off and I like to share, and pretty sweet after that Roman Valentine fest. http://skydive.home.lt/gallery/wallpapers/wallpaper_25

Maybe rapid downsizers should consider to rapid downsize they're ego's. Trying to be as cool as you can, increases the possibility to turn into a very cool corpse. And I sure hope that won't happen, it's not for nothing that so much experienced people are showing their concerns.

I am autistic too, but you already knew that. The anxiety is very difficult to deal with, mostly I just go to the DZ with lead in my shoes. I've found it to be more difficult and scarier to socially interact than jumping from airplanes, I am glad I've told it from the start about my autism, it was in a conversation over the telephone. The instructor even made me to go to a foreign 10 day boogie like event to get me started skydiving. I knew nobody, traveling with total strangers. Not something that I would normally do, and I am glad I did it and informed some people about my handicap, just to manage the risks somewhat. Luckily autism doesn't get in the way up in the air, but on the ground it's a whole different story. Still, I am doing better than I expected, not that it's easy. That being said, I think skydiving is a great tool to get out of a social isolation. And 'till now, people sounded very positive when I told them about my autism, still the fear remains. As if the fear up in the air wasn't enough. I am willing to go through a lot of anxiety, just to skydive. That must be one hell of a drive to jump. Blue skies, Mark

Really courageous that you started this topic about your problem, I am really glad about it, great going! :) I really got worried when you told me about the size of the reserve, maybe we didn't had such a great day if you jumped with your new rig. It's damn hard to be introverted and socially shy individual in this sport, I have to force myself to do things I normally wouldn't do. After all, it's al risk management, and it seems to be great training. I shudder when I think about hurting myself or somebody else, because I was socially shy. Blue skies Mark

Thanks for the reply, Baksteen.

I love this thread, learned a lot from it!

Not especially about skydiving, but it makes me think more about it, so that's a good sign. Bad Religion - The Fast Life http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56lco_ULons

About one month younger then I am now. I am at the age of 26, by the way.

Or warning them of the dangers, and then ignore them. It seems better that way. @kuai43 C is three steps away from the F

I can't really grasp the concept of downsizing to quickly, maybe only because it's 'cool', but then again it really sounds more like retarted. I'll be jumping a lower wing load for a long time to come, I especially like the longer time of flight. There is already haste enough in the world, I really don't like to put haste in the sports. I thought that skydiving was cool by itself, maybe they forgot that because they wanna be more cooler. People always want more, even if they get more than they bargaining for. Maybe people tend to forget that cool is only 3 letters away from fool.

In my opinion, it's just as Pope said, it's case by case. People tend to be unique, and if the disability doesn't get a lot in the way in skydiving. Than it shouldn't be a problem, but people really have to know their limitations. I think you have to give it time, there is a lot to focus on. I've lost altitude awareness one time too, during AFF. Luckily I was aware at the most crucial time, but then again, I felt foolish. Some things have to grow in time, there is so much happening, in such a short time span. Just practice a lot, mentally and practically. I look almost neurotically on my altimeter. By the way, I have ADD in combination with PDD-NOS (autism).