sdgregory

N/A

What a great weekend I had. I got my next 9 jumps in and got to do my first solo! That was awesome, for the first 20 secs all I could do was look around. It was the first time I got to actually take a pause and just enjoy the view! Then I did the fastest 360's I have ever done. Cannot wait to get through center-point turns next weekend. Hop&pop was a little hairy . . . my pilot flew through my legs but I rolled it out real quick, thought I was gonna have to pull reserve though. Not really anxious to do that again yet, but maybe this weekend I will try again. Never know when you may need it. 9 more to go and I am licensed! Woohoo!!!!!!

Welcome to the addiction! I did not wait as long as you but I cannot believe I waited as long as I did. I recommend going right into AFF. I did my first solo this weekend and let me tell you what a ride! Enjoy the skies!!!

Welcome to the forums! As you will find everyone here is nice and welcoming just like your DZ. I just started this month and am already at 16 jumps so I know exactly what you mean about addicted! As for the late in life thing I got ya covered there too! I am 32. But hey, better late than never.

yeah what he said!

Hmmm, maybe that is where my liver went! I should probably cut my self off after 24 . . . cases

Sweet! I have a friend who's now a freshman at the Airfarce Academy*** AirFARCE Academy!?? That is an UNDERSTATEMENT! Is that on purpose or Freudian? (Jarheads rule!) Anyway, I am 32 going on 12 and, funny, my internal organs are old too. Must be something at 14000! Sean

Oh man! Pilot Wings rocked! I played that game for hours and hours! The Skydiver was the most fun, but it was all about canopy control if I remember currectly, not much skydiving.

I did levels 1 through 3 on the first day and came back the next weekend and did 4 through 7 on the same day. My level 4 did not go as well as my level 3 but my levels 5 and 6 went best. The wait makes you a little stiff for the first one. I say try to do at least levels 2 and 3 on the same day and definitely get back there each weekend, I am going for the third week in a row and knocking off 8-13 if at all possible, BLUE SKIES permitting! If you wait too long between jumps each level will feel more difficult than it really is. Sean

So far all of my openngs have been wicked. I have been jumping a manta 290 and they finally bumped me down to a 260. Even that was a bruiser. I am at level 8 now and did 1-3 in one day and 4-7 on another day, and let me tell you my thighs and biceps are bruised to hell and back. Definitely what skymama said about remembering to look out and not down, it did not take me long to figure that out. Down makes you think you are lower then you are and you flare way too early. Welcome to the forums, you'll like it here.

Cesslon, we have 25 levels. Actually it is 23 levels with level 24 being a graduation jump and level 25 being a free jump with some of the liscened guys. I think it is a great system, I am learning so much in a relatively small amount of jumps and love the way they do things here. Hey Kelly, thanks! I was having entirely too much fun. I hope to be there this Sunday if at all possible. Maybe do jumps 8 and 9. Otherwise I would have to wait two weeks and I do not think I can go that long without touching the sky! You going to be there? Sean

WOOHOO!!!!!!! Oh, man, I just did my levels 4,5,6 AND 7 yesterday! Talk about a busy day! Levels 6 & 7 were by far the most fun I have ever had. Back flips, front flips, barrel rolls, 360's, diving exits! I was freaking out by the time I hit the ground. I only wish there had been more time. I was on the first flight and the last flight of the day. Man what a hoot! Can't wait for levels 8, 9, 10 &11! Sean

Alana-b! I am from columbus too!!!!!!! As a matter of fact I did my first three jumps this weekend at Aerohio. Omnidust, listen to alanab she is right, the people at Aerohio are great. As a matter of fact my best friend is going with me tomorrow and he is going to do his first AFF while I do my level 4 and 5. Come join the fun! Sean

Well I do agree with Rainbo, but as I read some fo the arguments there are certain parts I also agree with. If the people giving the advice are looking out for your safety and they tell you that you shouldn't fly a certain agressive chute and you do, and die or get hurt, well, shame on you. Sometimes we can learn from more experienced people. That said, if you are an experienced person and you diliberately mislead us newbies and we get hurt, well we trusted you and you got us killed and shame on you. That said, commonsense tells you that this is a dangerous sport and well you should know that you do not have the skills to fly a "pocket rocket" and if you are that easily misled shame on you too. In that case both of you shoulder the blame, but if you go against sound judgement and common sense and sound experienced advice, well you're to blame. In either case the blame falls on the jumper. And ONLY in the case of deliberate or gross neglect is the seller responsible AS WELL (as in co-blame), but you better be able to prove there was gross neglect. However, as I do my next jumps this weekend I am going to use an aggressive chute and break my leg. Then I will sue the DZ, the manufacturer, the person whose chute I borrowed, the pilot for flying me up there, each of you for not stopping me, and MCDonald's for letting me burn my leg with their coffee bacuse we all know coffee should be served cold. And if it had not been hot and not spilled on my leg while I was riding my motorcycle to the DZ maybe I would not have hurt my leg skydiving. JUST KIDDING!!!! (for those who couldn't tell) ;) Sean

I am a newbie for sure. I just did my first 3 AFF's this past Sunday and will be doing 5,6&7 this Saturday, should the weather hold. Here is my take, in today's society nobody wants to take responsibility for themselves. Especially in the U.S. of A. Everyone wants to blame somebody for what goes wrong. I agree with Rainbo, we all have to answer for our own actions. Hey when it is all said and done we all know, "You do not have to Skydive. You do not have to sign the waiver. Skydiving is dangerous and Stupidity is deadly." It is truly up to the individual to take responsibility for their own actions. I know I am not jumping heavier than 1:1 for a very long time and I certainly watch you swoopers and am in AWE. I cannot wait till I can do that, but I will wait until those who know better tell me I am ready to try something new and even then it will be baby steps. If I buy a 1.7:1 canopy and then swoop in and land 6 feet below the earth's surface even after I was warned, well folks that is my fault. Not anyone elses and I will answer to God for my stupidity. Sean (taking it easy, enjoying the process, loving the ride)

Mike, Yeah that was funny, I ended up being the PLF guinea pig for the class but that was cool. What was even better was that my third jump was a stand up landing 15 meters from the Target Flag!!!!!!!!! Try doing that on a round military shute! I cannot wait to learn all the cool dive maneuvers and swoop stuff, of course one thing at a time. This weekend is gonna rock!!!!!!!! Sean

Semper Fi, Devil Dog! I am a former Marine who just began his skydiving this past weekend. I cannot answer your question but I wanted to say Hoorah and welcome!

ThankS! I plan on many many many safe jumps! Of course isn't skydiving by nature dangerous!

Well, as I have seen in this forum, I am yet another newbie! I was in the Marines over 13 years ago and received my jump wings while there but felt like I was missing out on something. Static line jumps were cool, but, I have been waiting for 13 years to go skydiving. I finally did it! My first jump was this Sunday. It was a level 1 AFF. My second jump was this Sunday, my level 2 AFF. My 3rd jump was, you guessed it, Sunday! And it was, yep right again, my Level 3 AFF! Holy Moly! Why did I wait so long?! I have seen some of what people have written and I must say like them I can't eat, sleep, think or talk about anything but this Saturday when I am going to do (can you guess?) Bingo! My 4th, 5th and 6th level AFFs! I am hooked, addicted and just about ruined for life. I have ridden motorcycles for years and wanted to buy a couple more but now I am not spending a dime on anything but Skydiving! I want to get my class A before winter comes! I have to I got I need to, I must oh my goodness I am freakin out. It was better than I could have ever imagined! Why would I want to spend my time on the road when I can spend my time 14000 feet above it?! The only riding I will be doing now is on my way to AerOhio! This weekend was the most fun I have ever had. My wife thinks I am nuts but my kids think it is cool. They are begging to go when they turn 18 now. I may have started a family tradition!!! Woohoo!! Sean

I just started skydiving and did my first three AFF levels in one day at AeroOhio. They are great. They love to take you to at least 13000 feet, and usually 14000 or better. They move fast, manifest gets the plane up as often as possible so you can get as many jumps as you want. They wanted to make sure I had the safest skydive while maximizing my fun. They do not treat you like a customeror a newbie but like you belong no matter how new you are. My wife and three kids spent the day with me there while I jumped and everyone made them feel like part of the family. They also give you free rental gear while you wait for your new gear to come in if you purchase through them. They are two hours away from me and worth every bit of the drive.