Author Topic: Finaly done it... jumped out of a perfectly fit airplane (Read 644 times)

Saintaw · « **on:** June 11, 2006, 10:41:20 AM »

Left the house this morning and met with my 3 buddies, we booked our seat for a freefall jump, this time the weather was with us. We jumped one after another, I took the 1st plunge, not knowing what to expect. 12000 ft, door opens "one two three" we rock back & forth... on 3, I stop thinking and flip out of the airplane. The sun and the ground passes in flashes in front of me, it took a good 5 seconds to stabilise... the the RUSH came, followed too shortly after by the chute opening. Balls squished, I yelled... we did a few flip flops, and landed on me arse.

The 1st 5 seconds were frightening, but after that... it was probably the best rush I experienced in my life. I will post screenies when I recover.... now I need a beer and a nap!

GRUNHERZ · « **Reply #1 on:** June 11, 2006, 10:45:18 AM »

I'm jumping for the first time in a few hours today.

Chairboy · « **Reply #2 on:** June 11, 2006, 10:46:31 AM »

Neat!

AWMac · « **Reply #3 on:** June 11, 2006, 10:54:58 AM »

Wussies,

I jumped for 8 1/2 years. Outta about the worst Military planes and choppers...into ruff terrain, mountains, swamps and towns... at day and night.

Congrats on busting yer Cherry!

Mac

Hangtime · « **Reply #4 on:** June 11, 2006, 11:16:45 AM »

I ****in HATED it.

Absolutely.

Totally.

Completely.

Hated It.

RTR · « **Reply #5 on:** June 11, 2006, 11:20:22 AM »

Jumping out of a perfectly serviceable airplane....

Quote

I stop thinking and flip out of the airplane.

Yep, I think that about sums it up right there.

RTR

Jackal1 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 11, 2006, 03:34:19 PM »

I made a jump from a plane once. There was a wasp in the cockpit.
I had no chute.

Luckily we hadn`t left the hangar yet.

Grats Saw.

deSelys · « **Reply #7 on:** June 11, 2006, 04:02:28 PM »

W0000000000000000000000000T!!!!

WTG Saw! This is teh C9 H13 NO3 rush, uh?

Anyway, beer tastes so much better at the end of the day.

At which DZ have you done it?

If you want to sign up for a full AFF course, the Spa DZ has competitive prices if you do it during weekdays.

I've done my first helicopter jump (from an Ecureuil) and my first sunset jump this saturday ('longest day of the year' mini-boogie in Spa)... I've chickened out for the night jump...maybe next year.

Oh, btw there is no such thing as a perfectly fit plane...especially if it's a jumpship

EDIT: Grun, you still alive?? Or still making out with a cute female skydiver?

StSanta · « **Reply #8 on:** June 11, 2006, 04:48:57 PM »

Welcome Saintaw. This stuff is very addictive

.

You've taken the first step - and trust me, it only gets better.

At first, you have virtually no control and it's all adrenaline.

Gradually, you learn to truly fly Every part of your body will function as input and as you learn to caress the air, you'll get to know the absolutely awesome feeling of smooth air. You will be able to maneuver your body like no aircraft can. On tracking jumps over highways, your horizontal speed will be higher than that of the cars below you. Going from head down into a track, you'll accelerate like shot out of a cannon.

You'll see thunderstorms from the inside. You'll get hit by the same raindrop twice - once when you pass it in freefall, once you're landed.

You'll see sunsets from 13 300 feet, total serenity. Small dots of people going around their daily lives far below you - and you are all abstracted away from it. It just doesn't matter at all, all the stuff down there, the every day grind.

You'll see people smiling at and with you, at their absolute best. You'll share a sense of accomplishment that you can't and probably won't bother with explaining to others who aren't really interested in what you're doing.

You'll move on to small highly loaded elliptical canopies. Swoop the ground at 60mph. You will gain a whole load of new friend with whom you'll spend a crapload of time with and have something great in common with.

Chances are you will lose some of those friends as well. Ya gotta be aware of that getting started in the sport because otherwise you'll likely get a very brutal awakening later on. For all the beauty in the sport, there still are shadow sides.

But, once one has seen the beauty it can bring, it is very hard to let go.

[Edit]

Here's a pic taken at my home DZ. We got a swoop pond, beach volleyball thingy, sleeping quarters, kitchen yadda yadda yadda. If you're ever in Denmark, let me know. Oh, we also have just about the cheapest AFF jumps in the world. Ya don't pay for instructors or anything - just normal jump price + instructors slots

TThat goes for you too DeSelys. How's the jumping going - how many jumps now? What kinda gear are ya flying?

Saintaw · « **Reply #9 on:** June 12, 2006, 01:20:20 AM »

Good morning fellow meatbombs

It's still in my brain, I can't get those images out. We stayed all day at the aerodrome (everytime one of us jumped, there were two other guys(non-noobs) that would jump too. ie: the club owner jumped out right before me... giving me a 'thumbs up' right before dissapearing). I found the freefall part way too short (The open chute part after that was a little boring... exept when we made turns & accelerated). I asked the guy if we could open the cute lower next time... he gave me a big grin... I think it's settled for the next jump

We jumped out of Wiltz, on the German border, Spa's a bit far for me Des. They are giving lessons there too, albeit, it's not a short paced courses like in Spa, this one goes on for 3 months (week ends). Started a new business here in March, so cash's a bit tight atm. (I have been told to expect around 4K€ investment in the 1st year... is that correct?).

In any case, I loved it and I will do it again. If you ever thought about doing it, but had your doubts... forget those and go jump, it's the bestestestiest!

Today's another day... I have a dentist appointment in a few hours.... my d**** is shrinking already.

Nilsen · « **Reply #10 on:** June 12, 2006, 01:32:50 AM »

congrats saw..

id like to do a tandem someday but im not sure i have the balls for it

Saintaw · « **Reply #11 on:** June 12, 2006, 01:57:38 AM »

I wasn't sure either... right up to the point I was actualy falling. Just do it, I recommend it greatly!

GRUNHERZ · « **Reply #12 on:** June 12, 2006, 03:12:05 AM »

My first tandem jump today was fun, very relaxing and very calm. I definiely wish there was more acceleration on the jump though. The Kingair we jumped from was allready going 100+ mph and so there was no feeling of falling at all as we reached drag limited freefall speed almost as soon as we left the plane. Flight under canopy is fun too, just floating or doing turns.

I'm looking forward to trying it from a hot air ballon or a helo, or just a damn slow plane sometime so I can feel the falling.

Anybody thinking about it should just go for it!

For san francisco bay area folks this is where I went: http://www.bayareaskydiving.com/

I'll be going again soon with some friends if anybody wants to meet up and do it.

deSelys · « **Reply #13 on:** June 12, 2006, 03:30:15 AM »

Hello Saintaw, dentists can give you a rush too (and sometimes cost a lot more than a jump ticket) but the fun isn't the same

.

Santa, I only have 108 jumps so far. I had to find an equilibrium between skydiving and family activities and it seems to work now.

I've bought a new gear last year: Aerodyne Icon I6+ Pilot 188 + Smart 190 + Cypres 2. I'm very happy with it. Some people make fun of my 'tandem' (most jump 120-150ish canopies) but they're just morons... nice guys with a lot more jumps than I, but not showing enough respect to the sport IMO.
I listen to every safety advice, and I ask a lot of questions, but I automatically dismiss every comment like "you should downsize", "you broke off too high, we had time to turn one more point" and "baaah, no need to spend so much time to check the lines when you're packing, it will open..."...even if it comes from guy with 2000 jumps.
We've been blessed not to have a single fatality in the previous years but I've seen a couple of seriously busted up skydivers and some broken ankles. My first-aid training has already been put to good use.

I've done ~40 RW dives but I prefer FF. I'm not comfortable enough with my sit to go in a 2 way unless the other jumper is very experienced. Actually, I suck at pretty much every discipline except tracking (where I literally smoke all my friends

). I'd like to try an atmonauti jump someday, but I've never been able to do a small way yet.

Wingsuit is what appeals me the most, but wingsuit jumpers are very rarely seen in Spa

.

I hope to see you someday in Denmark, and the offer is reciprocal in Spa.

Blue Skies Santa, stay safe.

(my dropzone.com id is Malta_Dog)

EDIT: congrats Grun! The impression of falling from an helicopter is indeed more intense, but the free fall time is a lot shorter (5000 ft instead of 13,500 ft) so it's a trade off (and it's more expensive). I'm looking forward to jumping from a hot air balloon next year (the Spa DZ is surrounded by trees and you need at least 200 jumps). In the meantime, I'm thinking about a bandit jump from an ultralight but ssshhhhh...

deSelys · « **Reply #14 on:** June 12, 2006, 03:40:00 AM »

OOOps I missed your post Mac!

for what you did!

I'd like to try to jump a round someday, and I'm sure that i'll be scared crapless by my first night jump...