RyanFYF

Tunnel is still down till I guess the 24th but I couldn't wait any longer and went and jumped today. Aff3..done! Exit was smooth and perfect, got thumbs up from both instructors. Practice pull easy, quick leg check and then just relaxed. Instructors let go and I was on my own. Started to wobble abit and when the main instructor redocked, we turned to the right and I was unable to control it. They kinda touched and let go here and there until I waved off and pulled. Wind was high but I landed fine and in my area so no problems there. Debriefing proved I was much more relaxed and aware and calm but my stability is still a little iffy. They said I had no need for two instructors any more but strongly recommend the tunnel before 4 if I don't want to do aff3 again. All in all I'm super happy with how the jump went and have a renewed excitement to continue forward!

Jumped today. Aff3 ...check! Still recommended tunnel time but was cleared to move on to one instructor from here on out. My stability is the only issue at this point so once that tunnel opens, I'm there!

Tunnel is still down! Oils be jumping tomorrow if the weather holds out.

Im working on my AFF at deland. Once I finish and am cleared, I'd love to jump with you! If you want haha, I'm a little ways away from that though, still on AFF3. I hope to get my A license before next summer. I'm constantly trying to meet new people at deland. But as a new student, don't really get much of a chance yet and with my red jumpsuit and helmet radio, most look at me like a tourist anyways and don't get much more then a hello wave. I'll get there though. hopefully lol

well I have to work tomorrow and the tunnel informed me they are still going to be down till around the 20th. Havent heard anything from the dz but I will probably go Monday and see if I am ready to do the jump or not. I'm sick of being grounded lol. Hope the weather holds so I can get back up in the sky

thanks, that helps alot!

thanks, this little down time has given me a second to relax and come down from my first jumps. Now I am re-excited to get back in the air and I am looking very forward to the tunnel. I gotta get back in the air! I miss it already lol

because they want me to take tunnel training with a specific instructor from the dz so he can sign off my aff3.

couldn't jump this weekend due to poor weather. Still waiting to hear from anyone at DeLand to let me know when my tunnel time is. I'll call them by the 15th (when the tunnel is supposed to be open) and see whats up. It's funny how quick they all forget who you are if you miss one weekend hahaha. As for the hearing, I have found some earplugs that are only noise reducers not full plugs. They were made to hear voices and noises below 25db and block sounds above 85db. I'll see what they say. I have a feeling they won't let me lol. But at least I will have them for my solo jumps after aff. Once I get some tunnel time in, then I am jumping the rest of my affs as fast as possible and then they can forget all about me. I'll just be another guy that jumps on Mondays.

that's what I am thinking too. I already know I won't be able to relax when I am worried about failling it again with out any training. Plus Im not rich lol

That's kinda what I'm feeling. Trevor told me that I shouldn't wait that long (9 days) before jumping again but I think if I do wait while nothing seemed right, after the tunnel I will hopefully be ready to jam out the rest of my Aff course. Also, unrelated question, but why don't they give students ear plugs or the choice to use them? I've had a headache all week long!

Never even heard about one. Ill definitely ask though, they are very easy to talk to at Deland. Just don't always know what questions to ask. Thanks!

That's what I am getting at. Ok listen, The problem is NOT the instructors or their instruction. Not blaming anyone or anything so let's be clear, this isn't that kind of thread. What this IS, is me just simply asking for experienced input on if tunnel would be more effective then a rejump. My instructors ate amazing and are very VERY patient with me. However it is my own self over thinking everything that seemed to make the jump unsatisfactory. Sorry for the confusion.

I have a log book?

no. He just said my arch wasnt good and that I was too stiff and tense. He said I can eigther take tunnel time and move on or I have to retake level 3. He said I didn't look comfortable enough for level 4. Mind you, I was SO focused on relaxing that I sped through my exit sequence, and when checkin HALR, I didn't even pay attention to if the instructors had an instruction, just looked straight ahead and tried to arch arch arch even though the main side instructor was still slamming the arch signal over and over in my face and shaking his head no. It was super discouraging jump, and under canopy all I wanted to do was land, debrief and go home. LOL it was a rough day for me for sure, definately didn;'t feel anywhere near prepared like i did in jump 1.

This past Monday I jumped twice and passed level 2, but with level 3 the instructors told me I eigther needed to do tunnel time first or retake level 3. I only can move on to level 4 immediately if I have tunnel time. Here's the dilema. The tunnel is broke until the 15th. I can't decide if I should wait until then, do my tunnel time, then go jump level 4 or if I should just go this weekend, redo level 3 blindly and hope it goes well and just move on from there? The problem was my stability. I potato chip like crazy, and kinda locked up because of it and over analyzed EVERTHING till pull time. Relax is just not seeming to come to me when the instructors are pounding the ARCH signal in my face over and over lol. I felt like I was having sex with the ground but apparently I was stiff as a board. What do you guys suggest? wait and tunnel, or just go redo the jump again and hope for the best?

Ok tunnel is down until the 15th so now I have to decide if I should wait till then or retake aff3 this weekend? I'm not sure what to do.

I am EXACTLY here. I did my aff 1 and 2 then when I got to 3, I got super tense and over thought everything. I passed but he said ONLY if I go to the tunnel before aff4. otherwise I'd have to redo 3 and prove I can think clearly. DO the tunnel. I am going hopefully tonight and I have been told by everyone that there is never a reason NOT to go to a tunnel if you need help. That's what they are there for!

Did she have colorful hair? It was probably Amanda. She's good people.

Ok so today......well today was interesting lol. Aff 2 was with Carl and Nikki. Exit was great and very smooth into free fall. Three practice pulls, no problem. Told to arch more. Got wobbly and listed everyone to the right. Left turn good. Alt check. Right turn good. Alt check. Forward good. Alt check. Locked on at 6k. 5.5 I for some in known reason took a moment to admire the scenery and then waved off. By the time I reached for the pilot, Nikki had already pulled. Embarrassed but hey shit happens. Pass Aff 3 about 40 minutes later. Nikki and I forgot the other guys name. First time meeting him and he was very nice, just was still amped up and didn't pay attention to learning names I guess lol. Plane ride up "easy jump. Just relax and arch". Exit: total failure. I said "Ready!" and jumped out of the plane! Lol I ripped Nikki outta the PAC and all three of us went into a good stable position. "oh well, shake it off" altitude check. Left instructor right instructor practice pull. It was all one motion. Didn't even wait to see the instructors responceses! "arch arch arch arch arch arch arch" that's all that was in my head! Oh yeah alt check. 7k. Ok. 6k locked on and didn't want Nikki to beat me to the punch so 5.8 half ass wave and pull! "shit shit shit" was what I thought all the way down. Landings are good and I feel very comfortable under canopy, but debriefing proved I'm not stable in air yet. Nikki advised I eigther retake aff3 or if I choose tunnel time tonight and it goes well, he'll pass me onto aff4. Going to the tunnel tonight with Trevor and chromy. 10 minutes. I hope it clicks for me cause it is frustrating for sure. No worries though I still jumped twice and safely landed twice so it's all good right?!

And I heard he gives all you guys alot of sausage too lol! He was great and between him and Trevor I felt like I was in a European dz as a foreigner! Haha going back tomorrow for aff2 and possibly aff3. I'm hoping to get video so I can see what it's like when I get home lol. I'll keep you all updated on my progress!

I jumped with Trevor and i think his name was Chromy. Super cool guys ofcoarse. Yes. It was intense lol. But I'm ready for more! Loved watching people doing flips outta the back of the van. Can't wait to be able to do that! I wish I would have gotten some sort of video today though. So hard to explain to friends what has happened to my life today lol.

It was great fun today. Beautiful skies, awesome instructors, perfect landing. AFF 1.......check!!!! Going back for my next fix Monday. I loved jumping out of the skyvan too, what a great surprise! It was great to meet you too, Andrea. It was too funny that I didnt even realize I forgot to say hi until I was under canopy. It was relaxing to watch you jump rigt in front of me. Put my mind at ease stepping backwards to the edge of the van. Jump went great. Legs were alittle too bent on exit but I fixed very quickly and they said I had a good arch. Pulled on time and all went well!!! I'm hooked for life!

I would save up and spend the money on english and typing classes

Awesome! Im pretty sure mike and I will be making our first jumps Saturday. Just waiting for this weeks storm to pass! See ya then!