Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: senna on December 09, 2006, 01:44:29 AM
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How is it, fun?
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My chute didn't open, I used to be six feet tall, now my ankles protrude directly from my buttocks :(
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There are three (3) types of jumps. Static line, tandem, and free fall. Static line is just like the WW II movies. You hook up and when you jump, the chute is pulled out. Tantem is when you are hooked directly to an instructor or experienced jumper. Free fall is just like it sounds. You have complete control over the chute deployment.
I have two (2) static jumps under my belt that I did when I was 18. It was an easy course that took about 3 hours in the morning. Then we went up and did the jumps in the afternoon. It was very cold. Froze my nuts off.
From what I remember, you needed at least ten (10) jumps either static line or tandem before you could be cleared to free fall. This is going back almost 20 years though so that could have changed.
As far as it being fun. DEFINATELY! It's one of those crazy things you do and talk about it for years. The only drawback I saw was the cost. It can be an expensive hobbie. Buy you should try it at least once...dont forget to yell "GERONIMO"! :D
Obie :aok
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Just as a cool side note. I had 3 jumps from Moton field in near Tuskegee Alabama, where the Tuskegee airmen were trained and some still hang out at the field when they get a chance. Was a very cool setup for folks to jump at. Because I was in the Army at the time stationed at Ft. Benning Georgia it was a nice drive over to jump. One bad thing was parachute rental and packing fees add quite a bit to the price of a jump, but if you knew some of the Army riggers that would hang out there just about every weekend you could use one of their extra chutes and get them to pack it for you. On my first static line jump from about 4500ft I looked up after the intital jerk to make sure everything looked the way it should, and wouldn't you know the damn chute was black with "US Army" stenciled on it :) Jumping is really fun but you will pay for it. I suppose it's a little like flying a glider or something else unpowered. The silence other than the wind was amazing. Here is an old picture of the airfield, but it looks just about the same now.
http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/exhibits/Tuskegee/lgimage/air19.htm
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Originally posted by senna
How is it, fun?
Yes.
It's fun.
And addicting after that first step off the strut.
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I did it once. It was fun but expensive. Try it at least once.
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i belive Saintaw is an enthusiastic bailer.
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From another thread :)
(http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/71_1165600036_bail.jpg)
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lmao Ball :D
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LOL Ball, that should be in the HTC banner:
(http://hallbuzz.com/images/unlinked/bail_ball.jpg)
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Originally posted by eskimo2
LOL Ball, that should be in the HTC banner:
You should get that image on the link when you unsubscribe to Aces High :D
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expensive? let the army pay :)
got more nice pics if enyone interested
edit: resized the pic.
(http://[img]http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/690_1165679669_img_938989.jpg)[/IMG]
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ugh. ill resize this monster:o
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Jumping is the Ultimate High.
I jumped in the Army for 8 1/2 Years. Did Mass Tac jumps at night, water jumps into Lakes, Swamps and rough Terrain jumps into sides of Mountains.
Jumped from C-123 Caribou, C-130 Hercules, C-141's, C5A's, Hueys, Blackhawks and Chinooks.
Static Line and HALO. Lost track of the number of jumps so I just counted malfunctions. In 8 1/2 Years I only had 1 malfunction..even if you want to call it then.
I was the 12th man out of a 14 man stick and had a hole about the size of a volleyball...pffft was just gonna ride it in no prob....til the section blew out and rate of decent increased to a pucker factor of 4. From 1,250 feet to about 500 feet was a rush. Got the reserve deployed around 300 feet and went into some trees. The Great Saint of Squrriels saved my arse. Just a few cracked ribs, black and blue all over. What wasn't sprained was strained. Out of 14 men I was the 1st on the ground, including wet trousers.
Now that I'm older and retired from the Army, my knees, hips and back is all worn out. If I had a chance to do it all over again I'd say...
Ohhhh Hell YEAH!!!!
Drive On,
:aok
Mac
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Just in case you missed it:
(http://hallbuzz.com/good_old_days/old_alaska/paracat_7.jpg)
http://www.hitechcreations.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=194025
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<---- Six Tandem Jumps over two years. As soon as I landed from the first jump I spent another $180 and went up for another...Third that day was free! Worked too! They made a great costumer!!!!!
I highly recommend doing it, but make sure you go to a legitimate place. Safety is first. And Hell yes it is fun. Just goes by way to fast
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6 jumps (2 tandem, 4 AFF) and called it a career.
NO LOW HOOK TURNS!
That's my advice.
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The cat made 13 jumps; not that I had anything to do with it.
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Why????
Why, in all that you hold holy, would you jump out of a perfectly serviceable airplane??
:huh :huh :huh
RTR
and again: :huh
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He asked who has tried to parachute, not who has.
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Originally posted by RTR
Why????
Why, in all that you hold holy, would you jump out of a perfectly serviceable airplane??
:huh :huh :huh
RTR
and again: :huh
Man I really hate that emoticon. If IBS guy from "The Lady Killers" posted on this forum he would use it often.
Worst emoticon ever.
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Originally posted by RTR
Why????
Why, in all that you hold holy, would you jump out of a perfectly serviceable airplane??
:huh :huh :huh
RTR
and again: :huh
There is no "Perfectly" serviceable aircraft Fool.
My guess is you've never served in the Military or are to young to do so.
Mac
handsomehunk
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I made one jump, a static line effort. Did it as part of my reserve army unit. At the time you could earn your para wings in a civilian club. There was no official para training in the Irish army and certainly no paras. After five jumps you were granted para wings to wear on your uniform. As it happens our Company Sergeant was a jump pilot and he organised the whole thing. In the end though, headquarters took fright at thought of all us reservists lording it over the regulars with para wings on our chest and changed the rules. So I only did one jump.
What I will say is that it really is one of the most amazing moments of your life. Actually the most amazing moment is the moment you step out of the aircraft and into space. At that point, I realised I had just jumped out of an aeroplane at 2,500 feet and all you really want to do is scream..................... But the training came into play and it all went routinely in the end, apart from a nearly nasty incident with a river.
Actually I just recently found the contemporaneous account I made of the jump just after I landed. It brings the moment back vividly. Actually I would recommend writing down any exciting thing you have done as soon after the event as possible. It really brings back the feelings you had at the time.
I might post it at some stage in case anyone is interested.
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Originally posted by RTR
Why????
Why, in all that you hold holy, would you jump out of a perfectly serviceable airplane??
:huh :huh :huh
RTR
and again: :huh
I wouldn't have to jump out of the ones I never got in. There's something about strapping on a big beanie hat that has its primary source of lift moving faster than the fuselage.
Boy I tell ya rotorheads are a crazy bunch.
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Jumped one time in college way back when. Did it on a dare. Dumb reason to do anything :)
Glad I did it...and yes that first step off the strut is something you'll never forget. Mine was a static line jump.
I wanted to know what it felt like. Now I know. Didn't have any interest in doing it again. The buddy who jumped with me the same day loved it and kept at it.
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yep.
fun.
:aok
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It's fun and addictive and can easily turn into a lifestyle and sport rather than a hobby.
Many skydivers stop before really going anywhere. Cost combined with danger and perhaps watching friends get hurt or die turn people away from the sport.
At 1200 jumps I am really beginning to enjoy the sport. Am constantly improving my freefall skills but there's a long way yet to be where I want to be. Nailing a technique or move just gives ya a powerful owwww yeeeah feeling though.
It's not an instant gratification sport, skill wise. A lot of investment of time and money is needed before you get to do all the 'cool' stuff - small HP canopies, head down vertical formations and the like. A Manta 280sqft canopy is not exactly the same as a Velocity 83sqft. Falling on your belly alone is way different from a 4-way head down jump. But it's fun and challenging to get the skills, from the first jump onwards.
Small community too and if you do some DZ hopping you're likely to meet and jump with World Champions. Very relaxed atmosphere with very little of the social status material hunting you see in everyday life. Plenty of big ego's though, typical Alpha male/female environment.
I don't recommend it to anyone anymore, beyond tandems. People will have to get into it on their own and with their eyes open. If you stay in the sport the likelihood of seeing your friends hurt or killed is high. Might be yourself that's hurt or killed. The sport is not as dangerous as the general public makes it out to be and not as safe as many skydivers claim.
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I've ridden in over 100 perfectly good aircraft. Never had the urge to jump out of any of them in flight.
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Rappelling is cheaper.
Rappelling Aussie style is fun.
Rappelling Aussie style at Deep River Gorge when friend gets a lucky "lotto" ticket for a space along it for October is a wild rush.
Rappelling Aussie Style from a chopper on the Army's dime the very best.
Rappelling (normally...wasn't allowed to Aussie...) from an Army chopper over Baghdad .... not so much fun..... but "exciting". Definately a pucker-factor going on there.....
East coast Programmer I've known for years is big into skydiving. She wants to come out west to visit me and jump over the Rockies.... and drag me along as some sort of test dummy.....
Very hot she... so I'll probably do the stoopid thing and go.......
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Originally posted by Ripsnort
Yes.
It's fun.
And addicting after that first step off the strut.
That First step could be your Last
This Woman has a Guardian Angel (http://kutv.com/topstories/local_story_346193211.html)
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what's a aussie style reppelling?
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Originally posted by Flyboy
what's a aussie style reppelling?
imagine a belly flop sort of dive, then slowing at the last moment....fastest way down a rope other than just falling.
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Originally posted by Suave
Man I really hate that emoticon. If IBS guy from "The Lady Killers" posted on this forum he would use it often.
Worst emoticon ever.
worse than this one?
(http://users.telenet.be/honeybee1/karate3.gif)
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Originally posted by JB88
worse than this one?
(http://users.telenet.be/honeybee1/karate3.gif)
(http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g308/txflood77598/gr_barf.gif)
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What Santa said. I only have 150 jumps in a little more than 2 years and I'm blessed that none of my skydiver friends have died.
A tandem is a great tool to discover the sport in the safest possible way. If you want to go further, 2 routes are possible: static line (as explained above) and AFF (you jump with your own parachute from 13500ft while two instructors are keeping you stable - after the opening you're on your own, like static line). Experienced instructors who know both systems usually say that AFF makes good freefallers while static line makes good survivors*.
If you want to do it, try a tandem first, and make up your mind later. A good online source of infos is http://www.dropzone.com (free registration).
That being said, this sport is incredibly fun and rewarding IMO. For me, this outweighs the risks... and the costs...
* I followed the AFF path.