Skydiving! Anyone Done it?

[AmericanDemon]

As the topic suggests...  I am looking to enroll in some classes to learn to skydive.  Its a bit expensive, but its something that I have always wanted to do.  Anyone on these boards who have done it?

[missioncontrol]

I prefer to stay inside a perfectly good airplane 

[Stingray]

I have a problem with getting in an airplane to start off with. Jumping out of one while the engine is still working is not something I'm keen to try.

You're not just going ga-ga because of the divorce are you?

Edit: LOL, MissionC & I seem to share that opinion!

-S

[AmericanDemon]

Nah not at all Stingray.  I've been wanting to do this for 10 years.  Had the chance twice but people always bailed before the jump.    Its something that I need to personally do in order to check it off of my list of things to do before I die. 

I've always enjoyed the thought of flight, but want to feel the wind and not just sit in the pilot seat. 

If I need to find something to do in order to keep my mind off of my current situation, it may as well be this.

More than anything else I was hoping someone had interest in it as well.

[Zakk]

I've been pretty keen on trying this.  I didn't know you had to go to classes though, I thought you kind of just went up and let gravity do the rest.  I think it would be a hell of a rush.  Well, if I lived through it.

[Stingray]

Its something that I need to personally do in order to check it off of my list of things to do before I die. 

As long as it isn't the last thing you do before you die.

-S

[missioncontrol]

with my luck I'd get the parachute the coyote packed while trying to outsmart the roadrunner

[Stingray]

Would that be the parachute full of dirty laundry or the one that had  an anvil packed inside? I only ask because I want to have the correct speed film in my camera.

-S

[missioncontrol]

well ACME does make the best anvils

[Nannuu]

I only skydived once (and bungied once).  It was REALLY fun.  But a bit too expensive to turn into a hobby.  There is a whole community (kind of like this I suppose) that are really into it.  I'd recommend it any day.  However, you do feel quite stupid just before you jump out of the plane.  I did anyway.

[AmericanDemon]

However, you do feel quite stupid just before you jump out of the plane.

I could see this happening.  Its really expensive to get into but once you've jumped so many times and you invest in your own gear, then its relatively cheap to jump.  The place I am going for training stated that after 10th jump its only 30 bucks to jump, but you have to rent gear.    So I am looking into decent second hand stuff.

[mrhowell]

Be sure and watch the movie Fandango with Kevin Costner first.

[AceTKK]

I've been 4 times and I would go every weekend if I could.

[Dartful Dodger]

Skydiving is several seconds of free falling and 30 minutes of drifting to the ground.

[crashwg]

I don't know how many times it takes, but you will need to jump with a guy attached to you the first few times.

Not necessarily...

http://www.1800skyride.com/Skydiving/NewHampshire/first.html

Scroll down to Accelerated Freefall!  BTW, I live in NH and hope to go skydiving with #1CHAD sometime in the future.

[Bones]

Yeah both myself and Mrs Bones have done it.

I jumped at 12,000ft which was about 45 seconds free fall. My jump was supervised which means I jumped with another two dudes who help controlled the free fall but as soon as I ripped the cord I was on my own. Mrs Bones did a tandem jump which means she was strapped to another dude and just there for the free ride. This is probably better as you can just enjoy the experience without having to go to skydiving school to learn the basics.

The experience is well

[AmericanDemon]

The experience is well

[crashwg]

Darn, I don't get paid 'till friday...  Sorry I can't help. 

[Tailgunner]

I prefer to stay inside a perfectly good airplane 

I figure it's better to learn how to properly exit a moving aircraft in one that's not in imminent danger of impacting the ground.

[DemonBrew]

I've gone once. The first time is a tandem dive - strapped to someone else. It was FANTASTIC. The instructor says "when we get to the edge of the door, we're going. No turning back". I say, sure thing. I was standing on the ground at the time, ready to board the plane.

When you're standing there on the edge, looking down, it's a whole other thing. WOW. Scary, exhilirating, a little confusing. Counted to three, jumped out. Flipped twice, then was in free fall for 20 seconds I think. My dad is an experienced diver - I forget the ratings, but he can do night dives. Anyway, he jumped with us. During the free fall, he was able to "fly" over to me, wave to me, grab my forearm, then he took off to pull his chute. I barely moved afraid I might goof something up. It seemed like a long time.

My instructor pulled the cord early - he wanted the floating part to last a while. I was able to make some turns myself. After a bit of that, we had a perfect stand-up landing.

I got video of the whole thing. I am so glad I did it. As others mentioned, too expensive (for me) to turn into a hobby, but it was a definate "must do" for me.

[missioncontrol]

I prefer to stay inside a perfectly good airplane

[Stingray]

I prefer to stay inside a perfectly good airplane 

I figure it's better to learn how to properly exit a moving aircraft in one that's not in imminent danger of impacting the ground.

I learn quickly under pressure 

Lets see...

1) Grab parachute (very important step)

2) Jump out of plane

3) Pull ripcord.  (also very important)

-S

[missioncontrol]

4) scream like a little girl................

[AmericanDemon]

I'll probably get my first jump on tape.  I am seriously thinking that this is gonna happen on Sunday. 

[missioncontrol]

also, don't forget a change of underwear............

[GadgetGeek]

Done this once as well.  Amazing time, but didn't have the fundage to continue.  Now I'm older with a family so it doesn't seem like a good hobby (for me) to pick back up.
Anyway, we had the option of a tandem from 10000 or static line from 3000 feet.  I opted for the static line (you chute is hooked up to a light cord that automatically opens it for you upon departure from the plan).  That meant virtually no free-fall (just a second or two until the canopy caught air) followed by several minutes under canopy waiting to land.  All morning was a training class watching videos and learning how to fall properly and how to open the reserve chute in case of problems.
GO FOR IT!

[Pixelhugger]

My sister did the tandem jump for the similar "always wanted to do something like that so why not" reason. She liked it.

[AmericanDemon]

Outstanding.    So PH if I make the drive to Cali, you wanna jump with me sometime?

[AmericanDemon]

Well I have reserved my position in the AFF class for Sunday.  Yay!  A diving I will go!

[Harry Potter]

I prefer this kind of dive myself

[JDSkydiver]

As you can guess from my screen name...

Yes, I have jumped.  I have 163 jumps under my belt.  Sounds like a lot if you've never done it, but to skydivers, it's really not that many.

No, you do not have to go tandem (attached to someone) for your fist jump.  In fact, I never have.  Your first jump should include around 3-6 hours of ground school/training and a jump.

Basically, you get the cab ride to the sky, you jump about 12,500 ft above the sweet earth, with one or two guys rith there holding on to you with bear hands.

You freefall for around a minute, untill about 4,500 - 5000 ft, then pull.  You are then on your own, under parichute, for around 4-5 minutes of gliding untill you land, which if you do it right, is a tippy-toe event.

I only intended to do it once, so I wanted to do it right without a tandem instructor.

I jumped.
I landed.
I did it again, and again... 162 more times.

You can be licenced in about 20 jumps, which is expensive untill then, but after you are licenced, and have your own rig, it's actually a cheap sport.

Its about $15-$25 bucks a ride (airplane cab fare).

I'd go every other saturday and do 4-6 jumps or so in a few hours.

I've done solo, freeflying 9on my head (etc.) , sky surfing, and RW (forming patterns in the sky with others while freefalling).

[JDSkydiver]

CONTINUED...

I STRONGLY SUGGEST ONLY JUMPING AT A USPA (Unites states Parachuting Association) CERTIFIED DROP ZONE.

Sorry for yelling but I can't stress this enough.  While other sites may be safe, many are NOT, and people have BOUNCED (skydiving temr for not so good of a dive, as the human bodyu will bounce if hitting the ground at 120 mph!)

[Bones]

untill you land, which if you do it right, is a tippy-toe event.

Hah! What a crock!

When I went to skydiving school they explained that you had to flare the chute at the right moment to touch-down nice and soft. To help the newbies control this there was a guy on the ground that held up a couple of paddles for when you had to flare.

We were warned to trust him. They explained that without experience people would flare at 50-100ft in the air and then come crashing down hard.

So I am floating down watching this guy. I am thinking c

[AmericanDemon]

I STRONGLY SUGGEST ONLY JUMPING AT A USPA (Unites states Parachuting Association) CERTIFIED DROP ZONE.

Well it appears as if the place I am going is in fact a USPA DZ.  http://www.skydivefirst.com/

Any tips for the first timer? 

[JDSkydiver]

First off, do everything they say.....
Contrary to belief, while skydivers seem like a bunch of flakes and Yahoo's, most are actually pretty anal and cautios people.  USPA instructors have much experience, and will help you have a great experience.

Second...
Speaking of experience... If this is a 1-time deal, i would definatly go for the AFF (non-Tanem) jump.  Nothing beats the feeling of accomplishemtn of being under your own canopy, by yourself, a mile up!  Yes they jump with you, but after you pull your chute, you stop falling, but they keep falling and open much later (newbies +/- 5000 ft, experienced +/- 2500 ft). 

Third...
If it warm, wear shorts.  The jump suits they make you wear can be hot inside.  The suits have hand grips on the legs and arms for the instructors to grab.

Fourth...
Wear good tennis shoes.  Something sturdy!

Fifth...
Buy the video/DVD! You'll need it for bragging rights!

Sixth...
Sounds like a nice place... spend eth whole day there watching others land, meet the skydivers, watch several do their RW (Relative Work) practice (formations skydiving) on fat skateboards.  It's really interesting!

Just enjoy it!

[thetered]

I started the accelarated freefall program, did 6 or 7 jumps then ran out of money and moved, but it was AWESOME, and as soon as I am financially able to again, I'm going back for more!

[AmericanDemon]

Wow!  I did it!  The guy at the Drop Zone didnt write down my reservation so they didnt have the AFF (Accelerated Free Fall) Class.  They instead offered me a tandem for half price plus they hooked me up with an Altimeter and had me practice checking it and practice chute pulls.  The instructor let me pull the rip cord and also fly the canopy.  They put me down as having my first dive towards my A License.  It was a lot of fun and the instructor strapped to me actually didnt have to do much work outside of the landing. 

It was so much fun that I am going back this week.  Saturday is when I take my first AFF class.

I had never been in a plane in my life and this was a first.  It wasnt scary at all to me.  It was tons of fun.  I tucked and flipped us out of the door and then arched and go us belly down.  The instructor started laughing.    Then we did some turns and such.  It was cool.  I had the time of my life and now I cannot wait for more.  We jumped from 13,500 feet and he had me pull at 5,500.  We had a 42 second free fall.  Next time I get to pull at 4,000.  Yay.

If you have never done it....I suggest trying it at least one time as a tandem.

[missioncontrol]

cool...............glad you enjoyed it...........

[JDSkydiver]

Congrats!
Glad you enjoyed it!

After a few jumps, you get to pull around 2500 ft AGL.  For me, I never saw the GROUND RUSH part of freefall untill I got down to 3000 or so before pulling.

Congrats again!

JDSkydiver
USPA Member