stringtheorygal 0 #1 September 24, 2012 Did my first jump yesterday (well, a tandem) and- as expected- I think I'm hooked. It was AMAZING! Probably the most *alive* I have ever felt. I think I'm ready to go on to AFF but have a fear of losing the instructors, going into some sort of spin/ending up on my back, freaking the hell out and...well you see where I'm going. I'm 5'5 and around 108 lbs and can just see myself flittering away like a balloon someone is letting the air out of! My question is...erm...how often does this happen? Is this a situation that I can be fairly assured won't occur? Am I letting my imagination get the best of me? I'm thinking of training at Homestead or Clewiston. I assume I'll be in good hands at either DZ but have this nagging little fear. It's strange. I have never been a risk-taker/extreme-sports enthusiast and wrestling with this incredible desire to get up there and learn how to *FALL* out of an airplane is a totally foreign feeling for me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #2 September 24, 2012 QuoteI think I'm ready to go on to AFF but have a fear of losing the instructors If you bring an ice cold case of good quality beer (like Shiner Bock or Left Hand) to the DZ with you, the instructors will always be near you after sunset. Before sunset they'll be with you on the skydive and you will be trained on how to conduct yourself if you some how lose both of the instructors during the jump. Deep breath, it's your skydive and you're in charge of you. They're just there to help you accomplish what you were taught on the ground.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 24 #3 September 24, 2012 You're jumping out of a perfectly good airplane. Anything can happen! This being said, it's not common at all. And if it were to happen, your pre-jump ground school will go through these types of situations and what do do. And, you're about my wife's height and weight, and we jump together all the time. Your instructors will take that into account. Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lazarus_762 0 #4 September 25, 2012 "going into some sort of spin/ending up on my back, freaking the hell out and..." been there, did exactly that, felt like a total jackass...rest assured, AFF instructors are trained for these sorts of things. They actually expect you to make every mistake in the book, and they know how to fix it when you do. As for letting you just drift away, I don't really see that happening - all 3 of you will be going in the same direction...down! Go for it, enjoy it, listen and learn, you'll do great! Airtwardo:"There is a bit of difference between a rigger with a nipper and a guy with 138 jumps and a swiss army knife...usually!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfriverjoe 1,340 #5 September 25, 2012 It's not that unusual of a fear, but it's really a very uncommon situation. The DZ should realize that you are going to fall pretty slowly and give you instructors who are appropriate for you. I highly doubt you would get one of the "Anvil Brothers" for your first jump. And there's lots of folks who aren't into extreme anything that fell in love with the sky. And who have a bit of confusion about that. The best description of the whole deal that I know of is in cartoon form. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=4200157;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread Namo takes you all the way from her tandem through her most recent adventure... At the hospital. But it's really a cool story."There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dthames 0 #6 September 25, 2012 With Instructor Assisted Deployment training or with Static Line training you have no instructor flying with you, on those early jumps. Got that route and you can’t lose what you don’t have. Now you have no reason at all not to go for it. Right? As stated already, work be a good student, learn your stuff, and enjoy the sport. Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!” Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BIGUN 1,050 #7 September 25, 2012 Based on your location and the caliber of Instrcutors in that area; losing them is going to be a pretty hard thing to do. Not saying it can't happen, but you'd have to get pretty damn creative to lose them. Not saying you can't get that creative, but as Aggie and a couple of others have pointed out, "There's an app for that." Don't over-think it.Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GLIDEANGLE 1 #8 September 25, 2012 Think of this in terms of LAYERS: -Your instructors will prepare you carefully to prevent this... Learn well how to "ARCH" -Your instructors will be VERY aware of your body size on the ground. (You may never hear it... but there will likely be a discussion about it.) They will assign instructors accordingly (slow fallers). -Your instructors will choose their jumpsuits to match your anticipated fall rate, known as "dress for success". -Your instructors will dress you in a jumpsuit which will help match your fall rate to theirs. -Your instructors will work to help keep you calm in the plane. -As you exit....ARCH! -Your instructors are good at flying YOU into position if your body position is a bit goofy. -ARCH! -If your instructors give you signals to fix your body position... Do what they tell you!!! -ARCH! -If your body position is really bad and you are very unstable, one instructor may release and stay nearby to assist. (It is often easier to fix tumbles with just one instructor docked on student). -ARCH! -Your instructors are skilled at stopping any spin you might have, and at rolling you over if necessary. -ARCH! -In the VERY uncommon situation where you lose both instructors..... PULL NOW!!!!!!!! -If you lose both... They will be flying VERY aggressively to capture you! -ARCH! -If you lose both instructors, and can't/don't pull...your AAD will attempt to activate your reserve. -ARCH! -If you, both your instructors, & your AAD are all unsuccessful ..... Don't worry, you signed the wavier!!! ;-) Losing both instructors is possible but very uncommon. I have almost 350 AFF-I jumps. I have NEVER seen a student toss off BOTH instructors. I have seen some students do their "best" to lose both, without success! To help you understand one of many reasons that it is hard to toss both off: We have a strong grip on your leg strap, with our hand entirely gripping it. I have had several times when I had a leg strap pull off my glove when the opening canopy pulled the student out of my hand ...and I was TRYING to let go! Our grip on the leg strap is so deep that the backs of our fingers are against your leg, as we grasp the leg strap with our whole hand. Hint #1: SMILE, BREATHE, RELAX! Hint #2: Trust hint #1! Go have fun!!!!!The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Karolis 0 #10 September 25, 2012 well in fact i loose both my instructors umm twice. i loose them, my AFF I catch me and then i loose him again, and he catch me again. they trained to do that. and yes they incoming to catch you hard. very hard. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theonlyski 3 #11 September 25, 2012 Quote they trained to do that. and yes they incoming to catch you hard. very hard. Think of it as a re-assurance that he's got ya, and not as a hard catch. "I may be a dirty pirate hooker...but I'm not about to go stand on the corner." iluvtofly DPH -7, TDS 578, Muff 5153, SCR 14890 I'm an asshole, and I approve this message Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Quagmirian 40 #12 September 25, 2012 QuoteI have NEVER seen a student toss off BOTH instructors.snigger Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 2,384 #13 September 25, 2012 >My question is...erm...how often does this happen? Rarely. I've only seen it happen twice out of maybe 1200 AFF jumps I've done. And even if it does happen the solution is very simple - pull. One of those was my student in the FJC although I didn't jump with him. He really fought on exit and the reserve side got off (per SOP at that DZ) then he started to spin; he managed to throw the main side instructor after about ten revolutions. He spun for five seconds, then a pilot chute appeared followed by a canopy. I was proud of that guy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stringtheorygal 0 #14 September 26, 2012 Thank you all so much-- my mind is more at ease. Still can't believe I'm doing this but how can I ignore something that is dominating my thoughts?! AggieDave- thank you for the reassurance (and the heads-up on the sunset hijinks...)Hell, if make it to the ground in one piece I'll a buy a keg of shiner Rem- how great you get to jump with your wife! Does she have to wear weights- or is it a matter of learning how to fly? Lazarus- Will be listening and learning intently! WRJ- Love Namo's blog. A kindred spirit for sure. Dthames- Please forgive my ignorance...but I once heard that static line carries more risk than AFF. Am I dreaming this up? I will definitely check into alternatives- so thanks for this info! Bigun- good to hear the vote of confidence for these dropzones. I'm very lucky to have so many choices. Will be checking both out before I commit. And thanks for reminding me not to overthink it...I tend to do that on occasion Glide- wow this is fantastic! Thanks so much! Should I do some tunnel time BEFORE I get started? Karolis- good to hear your're still with us ski- definitely feeling reassured Quag- love the double entendres Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stringtheorygal 0 #15 September 26, 2012 Bill- thank you for you perspective. Quite a story about your student- good to hear a positive ending! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
antibac 0 #16 September 26, 2012 A friend of mine jumped without an instructor on one of his AFF-jumps (the instructor forgot to unbuckle...), and he did fine! He did what he was taught, and the camera man filmed it, and he passed. It's very uncommon though, I wouldn't worry about it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikeJD 0 #17 October 5, 2012 Quote A friend of mine jumped without an instructor on one of his AFF-jumps (the instructor forgot to unbuckle...) I mean, that's a great example of training working in the event of losing an instructor. But... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 2,384 #18 October 5, 2012 >I mean, that's a great example of training working in the event of losing an instructor. But... I suspect there's a bit more to the story than that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
antibac 0 #19 December 13, 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ6IYnoAxBs This is the video. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theonlyski 3 #20 December 13, 2012 Quote http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ6IYnoAxBs This is the video. Makes me wonder what else the instructor forgot to do..."I may be a dirty pirate hooker...but I'm not about to go stand on the corner." iluvtofly DPH -7, TDS 578, Muff 5153, SCR 14890 I'm an asshole, and I approve this message Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jrouse 0 #21 December 14, 2012 Quote -If you, both your instructors, & your AAD are all unsuccessful ..... Don't worry, you signed the wavier!!! ;-) Lovin every second of it! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vanessalh 0 #22 December 15, 2012 Quote Quote http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ6IYnoAxBs This is the video. Makes me wonder what else the instructor forgot to do... Wow... Excellent job to the student and the camera flyer for standing in as instructor. I was a bit worried when he had to signal a few times to pull. But yikes, how does someone get all the way to the door with the safety belt still on? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Karen89 0 #23 December 16, 2012 Wow....I kind of giggled when the camera guy looked up at the sky like "I guess he isn't coming with us." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
popsjumper 2 #24 December 17, 2012 Quote Wow....I kind of giggled when the camera guy looked up at the sky like "I guess he isn't coming with us." I kinda giggled when I wondered what the AFFI was probably thinking at that point. My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
andym148 2 #25 December 17, 2012 I shouldn't laugh..... But the guy did really well! You can see the restraint still around his leg strap as the instructor climbs into the door. Good nice exit - Keep arched and relaxed. Nice heading control. And carried on as taught, on level 3 we teach students to continue down to pull height if stable. Awesome jump dude!!!At long last the light at the end of the tunell isnt an on coming train!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
