Sky15

Landed a smaller HP canopy with broken steering line. Not much upper body strength and none left for riser flare on landing. Plus it started sorta buckling funny at about 1000 feet when I used the risers. Had no wind, hit hard enough (feet, lower back, bounced off so hard and filpped shocked I was not paralyzed or worse off than I was) I still have back pain 10 years later. Really wish I had chopped it, will be paying for it forever I guess. Although many are fine to land on risers only, obviously wasn't a good decision for me that day.

Started in Cessnas, and ended up at 40 jumps at another Cessna dz that had a lot of Cessnas and flew 5 and even 6 in formation regularly. It was great. Then we had a Queen Air, sometimes a C-47 (DC 3 with big cargo door, fun!) and eventually a King Air. We did 40 ways from the King Air and C-47, and also flew the Cessnas and Queen Air or King Air in formation, very interesting. Cessnas would start out lead and King Air would fly up the middle of them timing it so it ended up lead right at time to jump, it was really neat to watch. We had some great pilots. Jumped mostly Cessnas for years, love jumping an turbines now most of the time, but the good old fun days of Cessnas and the C-47 were still the best to me. I do laugh a little at turbine babies that never really got experience spotting, all the above mentioned planes we spotted the old fashioned way. I actually feel some pity for anyone that hasn't had the pleasure of jumping a Cessna and also enjoying a small dz atmosphere.

Got out at about 1900ish with an F111 chute many years back, and from 2K or so plenty of times back then as well. Trying to think since my ZP days I'm betting not lower than 2500 ft., and that hasn't been recently, the rare "hop and pop" isn't really exactly that since they pass at 4.5-5.5K, I have done several 2 ways from that altitude. I'd prefer at least 3K these days minimum for a hop and pop since I like to open 2.5 or so now, I like to make my Spectre open a little slow and comfy. Edited to add: The almost 1900ish exit was on a demo when we were next to a huge major airport and for some reason could not get clearance to go any higher.

I jumped my old Raven I reserve as a main for a few years, I weighed 130-135ish without gear. Worked fine..then the zp canopies came out and I made the switch. Nothing wrong IMO with jumping one but I do think they are best lightly loaded. I remember thinking I would not have wanted a smaller one back then for landings. It's been over 12 years so I really don't remember any other details, though.

If I jump and conditions get even fairly "bumpy" I end up sitting out some normally until it smooths out, as it takes out the fun and I dread the canopy ride. I would guess I would not jump if I saw a 13ish mph difference in winds/gusts for sure, possibly less than that, again watching other canopies for any bad gusts. If winds are just squirrely I might also sit out. I remember one day the tandems sat down all day and it was not even over their limit of 25/26, but it was just really squirrely winds. I personally felt that if they would not jump in that situation, why would I want to push it? I have ridden a plane down with only tandems riding down as well when it hit over my limit at the 2 min. call (hit 28). Than again, I'm a mom (makes me probably more conservative) and been in the sport a little while (16 years) so I'd like to think I learned something along the way about being safe. Plus the AFF I in me really hates to tell my students one thing and then blatantly ignore possibly unsafe conditions, I've always felt as an instructor I should set a good example, so that may also play a part. Good on you for having your limits and sticking to them, by the way.

Please take to heart the advice you have received about not downsizing too fast. I have 1600 jumps, I have jumped as small as a 116 Batwing years ago (had about 1000 jumps then), upsized when I had babies and gained a little weight. I weighed about 160 then like you when I jumped the Batwing again before I upsized (and with 1100-1200 jumps) that thing was scary on a no wind landing. Jumped a 150 Spectre just fine at a weight of 135ish without gear. And I only went down to a 135 when I started jumping at a dz that tends to have 20ish winds often. I still don't jump over 25 mph, but with the 135 I come straight down at that limit. The 135 is plenty fast on no wind days even at my weight! I will get a 120 eventually when I replace it since my 135 has a lot of jumps and a newer 120 will not be much difference and of course I have the experience to manage it fine. Seriously, I am almost shocked you are already on a 170 right now, and you should not even think about downsizing to a 150 for some time IMO, and not even be thinking of the possibilty of anything smaller. Since possibly you see others always downsizing or jumping small canopies, just thought you should know there are some of us out there that don't push that aspect, and still have plenty of fun and speed on landings. I hope your reserve is plenty big.

I was stationed in the Air Force in San Antonio and looked in the yellow pages and found the only dz in San Antonio and went there. As an added bonus, the did give military discounts. After my tandem (discounted to $80 from $100), my AFF program was only $600 (in 1991). But basically I went there b/c they were the only game in town, didn't even know about he discounts beforehand.

Not sure of exact date without going through old log books, but it was over 10 years ago, about 11 or 12 years ago I think. It was a demo jump in the Cayman islands, and I ended up taking a bit of a delay getting stable before pulling my reserve then had a hard pull on it and needed two hands. So I got open a bit low. That was ride #4 and all with no RSL, so now that I have an RSL, it would be interesting to see the difference in the next one someday.

Like you I absolutely would give it to cure my autistic daughter. And for either of my girls. I would not trade my life for anything else since I need to be here for them as long as they need me.

Good job! Oh, and I did land a Batwing years ago with a broken steering line. I'm a small female and just didn't have much strength to flare with risers, and with no wind, ended up with a seemingly permanent back injury that still hurts me 10+ years later. I sure wish I had decided to make that jump cutaway #5. For different people, flaring with risers might not be the best option, it wasn't for me with not having practiced that in the air enough with that canopy and didn't know it would be that difficult for me.

I lost the link and tried doing a search here for the old post with no luck. Anyone know the link to the website where you can see that 4 way where they did like 51 points?

My husband. Although he's also a jumper, it's extemely rare that we are at the dz together (it's sad, but that's life with small kids) and even more rare that we are on the same load/jump. They may have my mom's # as well, if it asked for someone not living with you like some forms do, I can't remember.

When did the pie at 100 jumps start? Guess I'm an old dog..but we also only did pie for 1,000 jumps (and I do remember us doing 6 pies for my husband's 6,000 jump).

I will share my personal experience: After battling infertility for over a year, found out I was pregnant and stopped jumping due to general paranoia likely brought on from the infertility. And basically if I did have a m/c I didn't want to even think of the possibility that jumping might have caused it. I had made a jump while only 3 days pregnant without knowing I was pregnant obviously. On my third pregnancy (second one was an early m/c just one month before and I hadn't jumped during that short pregnancy so it did not cause the m/c) I jumped the first three months and then stopped. I knew the long layoff I had ahead of me since I had just had it not long before, and was working on keeping my AFF rating current. I was selective about who I jumped with, didn't take any big students, and only jumped in perfect wind conditions. It's hard for me to imagine jumping much longer than 3 months pregnant since I got big pretty quickly.

Funny thing I just remembered when I had only 50ish jumps she surprised me and was standing by the peas when I landed, this was hours from where she lived. I remember her actually being excited about me jumping. But the only other time she has seen me jump in person was when I got married. She has watched some videos of big ways, students, etc. and at times seemed interested, asking questions and all, which is probably why I held out hope and continued to try to educate her about the sport. She must have been paying attention b/c years ago she saw a video of some very bottom end CRW I did (under 1000 foot dock and biplane) and said "isn't that a little low for doing that?" For a brief time she was even considering making a jump. So she hasn't consistently been negative to me about it, although she did always worry. I remember her calling the dz to check on me in the early days. We had a short discussion last night where I did explain her attitude of impending doom was annoying and confusing. Of course she just brought up the fact that I have kids now and also said "I love you both and just don't want something to happen to either of you..." Oh well, she's never going to change. Thanks again for all the replies. A few of you are very lucky to have such great support from your parents.

I'm an AFFI and will share my 2 cents, but your instructors are who you need to listen to right now. I have seen plenty of students be in a fairly good body position, but if they are tense, the rocking can still happen. RELAXING is SO important. Yes you have to arch, yes you need some positive leg pressure (point toes always, try to become aware of feeling some wind on your lower legs in freefall), but otherwise you do need to relax, it will do wonders for you. I agree video is wonderful for some people to see exactly what they are doing, but it isn't necessary and does cost money, so that is your call on if you can afford it. Also, realize going from Level 3 to 4 is probably one of the most common times for students to repeat a level. For safety reasons, going to only 1 JM and going into manuvers..we would often hold a marginal student on Level 3 if needed. You want to have some good solo freefall time in good control on that Level 3 before you move on to turns, etc. on Level 4. So don't be frustrated. Sounds like you are very close and did some good things on your jump. just need to relax, work on the legs a bit and you will be there! Good luck on the next one! ETA: On the next jump be sure you are being very verbal about EVERYTHING. In freefall if you get a signal you might say that command out loud. And always get the thumps up/ok so you know you did it right. Definitely say your altitiude out loud every time. Verbalization does wonders for awareness during the sensory overload in freefall and for remembering things after the jump.

Thanks for the replies and support. I knew I wasn't alone on this one. I guess if she hasn't come around in 15 years I need to accept that she never will and just ignore her comments and not discuss skydiving with her at all. We can't move away, and she's our only babysitter. That's why I've put up with it to some extent. Shouldn't suprise me being an only child, no dad around, no siblings, she's always been overprotective. ETA: Chanti, sorry to hear about your recent injury. Hope you heal fast and have good meds so the pain isn't too bad.

Do the TI's/instructors and video people there never fun jump? Have you asked them to do an early load before they get busy or at the end of the day when they are done? If you can afford it offer to buy the video person's slot to video you, you can fly relative to them without even docking, just doing some 360s and no contact fall rate changes and also see your body position on video, and your tracking. Well worth a slot and someone to smile at in the sky. Sorry there aren't more folks for you to jump with, that's gotta be frustrating. There are some things you can work on solo, I also do think at your stage you would do best to belly fly for now. You can work on tracking for an entire jump, but you must do it safely so as not to track into anyone...you learn to track in a box or back and forth across the windline. Talk to the instructors about it before doing it. Good luck and just keep having fun!

I absolutely agree, I have never had any of my previous AFF students on a canopy that small at 20+ jumps even at 140 exit weight. That is a very fast downsize, and so was the 150 in my opinion. And a few jumps on a canopy is only a few jumps, most likely you haven't jumped the other canopies in different winds. Please don't be in such a hurry, regardless of how great your canopy control has been. Not to burst your bubble I know it's very exiting to get your new gear...but I really felt the need to chime in on this one.

..."And you are just going to keep going until you get seriously injured or killed." That is what my mom said to me today. It's sad to me that after my 15 years of skydiving with only a bad back from one bad landing and a hairline ankle fracture from climbing over a fence after landing out (sort of skydiving related but didn't incur during a skydive)...that my mom is still as paranoid as ever. Add to her education I've given her over these years my husband has been jumping 38 years and is still alive. WHY is she still so horrible about it? I swear she is the worst whuffo I've ever encountered, and I guess maybe b/c she's my mom she feels it's her right to really push her opinions. She is always reminding me that I have two small kids, one has autism...as if I forgot..? Yes something could happen to me as far as serious injury or death, but I am very conservative in my jumping and that small risk is worth what I get from this sport I still love. I do not think I could manage to get effective stress relief from my daily life without jumping occasionally and having that to look forward to on the hard days. I have contemplated quitting a lot since having kids...but I think I am just stuck in this sport. Plus my husband is never going to give it up, and I have a fit on the days he jumps and I don't, not something to live with long term for sure. This came up today b/c she found out my husband had a bad opening, has either a bruised or cracked rib. Thanks for letting me vent. Figured only skydivers would understand my frustration. I just can't see how an EDUCATED whuffo after 15 years still sees each skydive as one step closer to impending and certain doom. Of course she'd think skiing or scuba was perfectly safe.

I'm feeling old at my ripe age of 35 reading this thread..I only paid $600 for my AFF jumps 15 years ago. I think I got a slight discount for being military, just a nice courtesy from the dz, this was right after Desert Storm. Seeing that only 5 years later many paid almost double that makes me grateful I started when I did. And heck back then that was expensive to me, I remember eating cheap and cleaning airplanes to help pay for some jumps. ETA: I agree that everyone that safely can do it should jump with low timers, maybe it's just the history of the cessna dzs I came from but that is just the way it always has been. While I think the coach stuff can be good, I do think it makes it so expensive for the student and it's a shame that it would be necessary at all. We used to always do 2,3, and 4 ways with our graduates and build the same skills, and they didn't even have to buy our slots, much less pay us.

With my little A-cups it never much mattered to me I guess, except for one naked jump many years back. I think on most of my rigs the strap has always gone right over them and I never considered asking for them higher or lower. Hope you can end up with a rig that works for you.

With all our bills and the kids there really isn't extra funds for playing...but we have always put anything we made working at the DZ (tandems, AFF) onto our fun accounts. So what we spend varies, if there's $$ on acct. we jump, if not, we don't. Hoping since I'm taking it easy not doing students these days my other half will get some more work soon or we'll be out of jumps soon, we are just overflow status mostly. This probably means not a lot of jumps for me through the off season. Unless he gets a bonus from his real job and there is something left after catching up on bills/debt. But I've been lucky, I started teaching AFF in my 3rd year of jumping and since that time 12 years ago, it was only rare times I had to pay after a weekend, it pretty much paid for itself most of the time.

Congratulations!!!!! How cool that it happened almost excactly 1 year later! It just gets better. But there's nothing like the early jumps and the firsts, you will remember this one fondly years from now, so glad you got video and pics!

Aside from looks, that was my other concern about the MB handle, that it could get snagged easier. I wish I had understood exactly what type of handle it was before he shipped me the rig, guess I'll probably be returning it for a refund and be out shipping funds. And I'm not an insecure person, but if NO one else is using something, I think there is a reason for it. Although I've been jumping a fairly long time and normally w/out the newest gear by any stretch...if I am going to buy something I want to happy with it, even the details.