Sky Diving

[avbug]

Rounds can be stood up. The PLF is more or less idiot proof, if it's done properly, but a common misconception among many skydivers who have no round experience is that one cannot, or should not be stood up. Wrongo.

My first reserve ride was a 28' lopo. Even then, many jumpers at the DZ had never seen a round. I was told afterward that everybody was pointing up at the sky, saying, "wazzat?"

I've stood up a T-10 canopy, and PC canopies. I never attempted to stand up a round reserve.

 

[FN FAL]

I've stood up a T-10 canopy, and PC canopies. I never attempted to stand up a round reserve.

Another good reason for wearing helmets while skydiving.

As far as sharks and swiming go, I was part of a rotating team of salvage personel sent to Enewetok atoll in the South Pacific for water/beach clean up duties. One assignment we had was to swim out to this object sticking out of the water on the ocean side of one of the islands, to investigate what it was and survey it.

After considerable effort at launching into the ocean surf off of the reef, we donned swim fins over our jungle boots and made for the object. Our gear consisted of jungle boots, mask and snorkel, a K-bar, a pair of khaki UDT's and a Mae West type life preserver, that was it. We get out to the object and find that it was part of the drive system for a WWII ship that had sunk there. It was kind of neat seeing these ship remains, as there was evidently a rupture of the vessel and we were looking down on deck section of this ship. It was as if someone had ripped the top off of it. You could see steel watertight doors in bulkheads and other machinery that would indicate that this was the engineering section of some ship. Pretty neat stuff.

Next thing you know, the guy I'm swiming with. pokes at me and points off to edge of our vision and there's some barracuda or sharks or something swiming with a big fish. The big fish was a tuna or something.

But anyway, the guy points towards the long end of the island we just launched off of and decides we should swim all the way around the island and come ashore on a beach lagoon side. What a freaking journey...and not to mention we probably swam past a ton of sharks, barracuda, eels and other assorted sea monsters along the way and never even noticed them.

What a bummer it would have been to have swam all that way to E-Lude some fish that didn't even care we were there, just to come ashore on a beach and step on some crusty old WWII ordinance that had been festering away for over fourty years.

But anywhoo...I'm just sitting here killing time till the old lady gets back from her coffee klatch and for the weather to break...got to go make the last jumps of the season and have a few beers with the guys. I need it, after yesterdays flying.

 

[rumpletumbler]

I've pretty much made up my mind to go in the spring. What is the concensus on tandemn VS accelerated freefall VS static for the first jump?

 

[avbug]

Hardly anybody does static for sport jumping, any more. There's no advantage in doing it, either.

If skydiving is something you want to pursue, don't bother doing tandem. It's a ride, rather than a training medium. You can get a little coaching on the way, but you're better off spending your money doing AFF.

AFF is the way to go.

 

[rumpletumbler]

AFF is the way to go.

I was kind of thinking the same thing, but I am concerned about the possibility of being overwhelmed. That could be dangerous. Is that just normal concern and something I shouldn't worry about or what?

 

[FN FAL]

I was kind of thinking the same thing, but I am concerned about the possibility of being overwhelmed. That could be dangerous. Is that just normal concern and something I shouldn't worry about or what?

No, because you are going to be exiting the aircraft with a full day of training under your belt, plus you are leaving the aircraft with two AFF instructors whose main job is to keep you under control and belly to earth. If you don't pull your rip cord or pilot chute, they will. If all else fails, you have an automatic deployment device on your reserve. Should you manage to break free from your AFF instructors, they will attempt to re-dock on you. Once again, in worst case scenario, you could pull your pilot chute or ripcord or the automatic opener will deploy your reserve.

I seriously doubt you will break free from your instructors. It would never happen at our dropzone. I never say never, but I know our staff...and on AFF jumps you never go without our DZ owner...he has 9,000 skydives. You'll never get away from him.

 

[avbug]

Sensory overload is common for a first jump; folks go out the door and sort of lock up. However, it's most common when you're going out solo. Later you remember the skydive, or in some cases you remember none of it...but at the time, it's all quite overwhelming.

With AFF, you're fully prepared, and you have the opportunity to do a staged exit with very qualified instructors. You'll be wearing a dual parachute harness; a main and a reserve. Both are very reliable and controllable parachutes. Both your jumpmasters will have the same. You'll be wearing an automatic activation device, usually a Cypress, that will open your reserve parachute for you in the event you have a problem or fail to open it on time.

You'll have received training hands-on with the parachute system you'll be jumping, usually with the jumpmasters who'll be jumping with you.

Going out static line, it's just you...and you're left to get a grip on it by yourself. Usually there's a radio receiver in your helmet so that folks on the ground can talk to you while you're doing your first landing...but that's about it. Most DZ's don't do any static line training, and there are some arguements against doing them, depending on the parachute type and the deployent system in use. Both "pilot-chute assist" and a freebag system have their merits for static line useage, and their drawbacks.

Look at what's available locally. Check to see if the DZ is a USPA member DZ. If it's not, consider going to one that is. Find out what kind of equipment they're jumping, and what kind of aircraft. Do what you're comfortable with, but if you're planning on starting skydiving, then AFF is certainly your best choice. You'll probably find it's a lot more fun too.

 

[FracCapt]

I've pretty much made up my mind to go in the spring. What is the concensus on tandemn VS accelerated freefall VS static for the first jump?

As Avbug stated, S/L is not really done anymore. As for the choice between AFF and Tandem....that depends...which sounds like more fun to you....wearing your own rig, flying your own canopy, and exiting with two JM's beside you.....or wearing a harness, attached to a rig worn by some big, sweaty guy that thrusts his pelvis forward when you exit?

As for being nervous/worried about AFF...don't worry, it's normal. Training will kick in, and the JM's are always there to help. You WILL NOT get away from both JM's even if you try. I've been on hundreds of AFF jumps of all levels...very few students lock up...but almost all do have a bit of a brain fart at some point. It's just sensory overload....that's what the JM's are for, though..