hardarch

Interesting read ... I'm in central Virginia...left DC in '97. Did my jumps while a student (VaTech) so was low on bucks but big in interest... The way it used to be.... Cessna 172, with four guys (inc. Jumpmastr/spotter) stuffed in (and a pilot usually helped). I had never been in an airplane before. So my first flight I was just getting used to the ride when the door opened and "in the door called out"... I jumped a little late..what a rush. Stayed with the sport and interestingly enough never landed in an airplane until I took a jet flight to Chicago several years later (LOL) Had the one day course, static lines, a few dummy RC pulls. Demo you had it together and then it was freefall time. I packed my own T28 for that first freefall...what an experience. Got maybe 30 jumps, freefalls to 10 sec, no RW, but had my jumpmaster chase me out the door once in a tight frog. I was open and unstowing the toggles watching him fall below and open a jetblack Paracommander. that was cool.

Did my first jump at New River Valley Airport VA back in October 1975. Did my last one at Hartwood, VA 1982, or there abouts. Sold my gear off at various points during the recession and oil embargo...rides to 7500 got expensive. And then there was careers girls marriage etc. (Got my girlfriend at the time to jump in '82). Well, looks like somethings have changed. Square reserves, tandem extended freefall and squares on first jump? The stuff I used to jump and/or own is vintage now. (Black North American rig w/ T-28' rounds, American Papillon w/POD bag and a Paraplane Cloud) Looking to talk to you that remember the "old days" and especially you current folks about how one would go about taking the plunge one more time.