RustyOats

Looks like a fun way to break something. You need some of those rollerblades with the big wheels and a park with a good hill, and a good driver to take you to a hospital. Sign me up. How much does a whoopy cost?

"..... probably best to pull a reserve in a kneeling up posture, so that the p/c will eject horizontally off your back and into a clean windstream. That's what the Racer owner's manual recommends. Flat & stable can produce a hesitation. .... " ...................................................................... Agreed! Video footage of test jumps (eg. Para-Flite EOS) and intentional cutaways prove that the best position to launch a reserve pilot chute is head-high, a half second after cutting away. Wind up the spine clears the pilot chute - off your back - the quickest. ------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- Then why is the procedure to arch when you cut away? Arch with you knees up? Hasn't there been a few fatalities recently that involved pilot chute hesitation on a reserve? Thanks if anyone can answer

I think I may have made my question out to seem more serious than I meant. I just wanted to hear some debate about different DZ's and their training philosophies and maybe find an experienced and competent instructor that would be willing to train me. I came on here because I don't know one DZ or instructor from the next and had a shitty experience at the only DZ close to me so I did not want to go to the trouble of flying out of state for more of the same. That's why I asked. I might as well ask around if I'm going to go to the trouble, you know? I guess I was wondering if anywhere offered training more like GA flight schools do, having a little ground school before each jump and working with the same instructor through the entire course. Just makes a bit more sense to me. But, I'd be just fine to get in student rotation at a good school with competent instructors that like to teach and provide good gear so I can feel good about managing the risk as well as I can and feel good about spending my money with them, that's all I was asking. I know everyone has their favorite DZ and there isn't one that is "the best" Really I just wanted to hear some debate about their training programs so I could make up my mind. Nothing awful happened where I went. I just decided getting trained there wasn't worth what they charged and didn't feel good about it. The decision came after I showed up and asked to jump with the guy I did my first AFF jumps with. After 3 hours of sitting around I got assigned to someone else which wasn't a big deal. He gave me a 10 minute refresher which seemed a little brief for not having jumped in a full year during which I asked a few questions that were met with one word answers. Next he says we are on a 5 minute call and to put this on, holding up a rig. I ask about a gear check and he says he already did it and we didn't really have time to go over it. I tell him I'd like to at least check it with my own eyes, so he drops the rig, gives an exasperated sigh and stares at me to do a gear check that hasn't been explained to me in a year. At this point the whole load is staring at us waiting for the stupid noob to hurry up. At that point i would have felt pretty dumb jumping gear I didn't even know how to check and I hate making people wait on me so I said so, it was the last load (I showed up a like 1pm) so we shook hands, i said thanks but no thanks and then I drove home, defeated. The entire interaction was like 15 minutes so I don't think I was being high maintenance asking to go over a gear check, I was going to jump out of a fucking flying plane with it and I didn't even know this dudes name who checked it. I'll admit I knew basically how to do a gear check from reading about it on here but I wanted to at least be shown once by someone in real life with a real rating. The next day I spoke with JM #2 from my first 4 jumps who happens to be a loose acquaintance from high school and doesn't really teach there anymore because he says the DZO treats his employees like shit, the place sucks and a few other thing that made me think twice about spending my money and risking my life there. Would you go back after that? After that experience I figured it would be cool save up a little more money and make a trip out of state to finish up AFF and hopefully a little beyond. So I was asking for peoples opinions on where to go and why. I'm not concerned with getting a great deal. I just want a safe and friendly place to train, warm with a bar would be nice too. Thanks if anyone has any thoughts on that. Have a good day!

-------Your profile has no information. If you could at least tell us the region you're in----------- I would say where I am but I am going to fly to wherever I go anyway. I have already bagged on the DZ close to me and don't want to make it public which one it is. I fly for cheap so no biggie. I'll have to jump here after training elsewhere and don't want to be the guy that trashed their DZ online. PM me if you want to know where it is. I hope that makes sense. Thanks!

Here's the real story, I had a bad experience the last time I went out to my local DZ (with my assigned instructor, didn't jump because of it) and don't want to repeat that experience, especially after traveling for it. After last time I am not going to be very trusting of the random guy that calls my name when I get there, bad things happen at good DZ's. I would like recommendations for a bad assed instructor that would be willing to train me and isn't a dumbass. I don't know anyone I trust to recommend one to me in real life because I am basically a wuffo so this is the best I got. Figured I'd give it a shot before I just picked some place at random. I have read enough of your words to know a few instructors have been downright dangerous in the past and even half of you think the AFFI rating is too easy to get. I have to at least TRY to get at least the best training I can or at least avoid idiots. I have no way of knowing which I'll get if I just roll out to a DZ and jump with the first AFFI that talks to me. This is most likely the most dangerous thing I will ever do, so why skimp on the homework? I am putting way too much thought into this aren't I? Could anyone just tell me why a certain DZ kicks ass and I will be totally happy and as safe as possible? I'll go there and if I die due to poor instruction it's on you Thanks for replying to a kind of unanswerable question And I know this degree of caution is unusual, it is for me too. I want to jump but I want to feel good about it. If something happens after that then at least I know I did everything I could. I wish you could pick just instructors instead of schools. I guess you just have to show up, go with who they give you and hope for the best! Ya'll have a nice Sunday!!

If you didn't want to read the long story I understand. Basically asking where to go if the insturction close to you sucks and you are going to fly somewhere for trainning, where would it be and why?

I need a good AFF instructor. I have 4 successful AFF jumps(last summer), 200 hours in C172’s, 30 or so aerobatic flights and a tail wheel endorsement for a Catabria from a few years ago and 35 minutes of tunnel time recently and a little paraglider time. Skydiving is my absolute favorite and I am committed to getting at least an A license in the near future. After the first 4 AFF jumps I had to stop and save some money to continue and I read too much of this stupid website in the mean time and got freaked out enough to actually think about it and seek out top notch training. The DZ I was going to was really more about turning out numbers than remembering students names or actually training them outside of ‘put this on and jump out here, and arch.’ I know the risk. I know I could die with the best training and best gear available(just heading off a few posts I know would appear, see I do read this site too much ;). And I am OK with that. But it’s no reason to go half assed on training. I’ll admit I have developed a bit of a phobia and obsession at the same time. That seems to be quite normal, I just want to go about it all the right way. The obsession came from the first 4 jumps and the phobia came from knowing too much too soon after reading this damn website too much while saving up the money. I’ll admit I am a little gun shy now but more than capable of jumping again when I find the suitable circumstances which are not available in my state. I have a bit over a grand set aside for my first few jumps back in the air and need to know where to go. Anyone want to help out a new guy with a huge enthusiasm for the sport and a major willingness to learn safely? Where are the great AFF instructors? I’ll pay extra for a little peace of mind. I’ll travel to wherever there is an experienced, safety conscience instructor willing to take a few extra minutes for my nerves at a DZ with a good airplane and good gear. I just don’t want sub par instruction to learn something as dangerous as it seems and as dangerous as you all say it is or some asshat tying a fucking windsock to my rig for laughs. I started paragliding to get a fix and found out it’s a lame version of skydiving with more risk. It is just easier because I know less about it. OK yeah it’s easier because you jump off a hill instead of a plane hahaha but I have done both and would way rather spend my cash skydiving. So, you have enough money and want the best possible Skydiving training without putting money or idiocy in front of safety, who or where do you go to? PS, I’m sure reading all (well most) or your posts on this site will make me a much safer skydiver and I am very thankful for you time to write it all for me to read. BillVon, Davelepka, NickDG, Mojosparky, Brian Germain, Bodypilot, the SD Radio peeps are just a few that need thanking and many others have shaped the way I think about things already but I need an instructor in real life to show me how to not be a dumbass and learn the right way. Been there before? How did you resolve it and finally get in the air comfortably? WHERE SHOULD I GO?? Thank You All!!!