JT_76

I'm 31 and seriously considering a career change into aviation because I've always wanted to fly since I was a little kid. I've had glasses since I was 12 and couldn't fly in the military so I basically put it aside and went on to other things. I never really considered the civilian side of things until recently and I need some guidance. What's the best course of action? Go to college and get a degree in aviation? Private lessons? Other? I know you have to have shit loads of hours to fly commercial airliners or any other kind of bigger planes. What's the usual career track for someone and how much money can you plan on making? What about job satisfaction? Thanks for any info and any other suggestions you have.

It was a surreal thing to watch man, it really was. I came down to watch around the midway point (watched him get jump 300) and it was amazing. The plane climbed to altitude going balls out, he jumped and then the pilot put it in a dive and met him back at the pickup point. He was undoing what straps he could as he was landing and then the ground crew took over. He was usually out of the rig and running for the next one before the chute had even deflated He and the plane usually both arrived at about the same time and then right back up over and over and over. If you ever meet Jay you'll understand why it's possible. He has that aura of the consumate professional that has been there and done that and can do it again. He was a Green Beret on top of it so you know what he's been through. I got to do a couple tandems with him last summer and I'm going to do the AFF with him when he comes back to Greensburg in the spring.

Don't chase 'em, replace 'em. You probably don't want to even consider it because you're thinking of her but the best way to get over her is to get your head on straight and then find another girl. And no they don't all fuck you over man. She just wasn't who you thought she was, that's the bottom line.

I'm not down and out at all about it, I thank God it happened and woke me up. I started boxing (a little thai boxing in there also) and grappling, got rid of Karate, katas, and the tip tap bow to me I'll bow to you sparring, and have been functional ever since. I highly recommend to anyone that still practices traditional martial arts to glove up and get in the ring and go at it full contact with a resisting, non cooperating live opponent that knows boxing and or thai boxing and see if you still believe that katas and forms and all that b.s. are the way to go. After you do that get on that mat and grapple with a wrestler or bjj man. Or better yet put it all together and do some MMA. It will all suddenly be crystal clear.

There isn't going to be a direct carryover because of the rule of specificity. Basically if you want to be good at skydiving you have to skydive not surf. If you want to be good at basketball you play basketball not baseball. There are things you can do to supplement your skills and attributes but you're not going to continue to increase your skydiving skills without lots of skydiving. That being said, anytime you can increase your ability to control and manipulate your own bodyweight you're going to be better off. Gymnastic type skills will help you with most things. As far as martial arts, the grappling arts are my top vote. BJJ, wrestling, Greco, etc. They're alive arts which pit you against a resisting opponent. Not katas and punches in the air that are worthless. There were some votes for TKD and Karate, my advice is to stay clear. I wasted years studying traditional martial arts only to get my ass kicked by someone that knew basic boxing. Choose an art that pits you against a resisting opponent in full contact contests and your skills will increase dramatically.

I was watching a show on the military channel about the military's freefall school and for their final jumps they were jumping freefall with all their gear. They had their packs between their legs somehow when they went out and it got me wondering about the aerodynamics of falling with bulky gear on like that. Anyone ever do that or know anything about it? I was in the military so I know how heavy those packs can be, seems like keeping it between your legs would pull you into a feet down position during freefall. What about the landing also? I'm assuming they would let it hang off their body by a cord once the chute is open. Just curious how they do it, thanks for any info on this!

A run in with the earth at terminal speed and you won't feel a thing because you'll be mush in a millisecond. Impacting under a spiraling canopy is where the pain would be but then it again it will depend on how fast you're coming down. You're likely to get knocked out right away if it doesn't kill you instantly or you'll at least go into shock so the pain probably wouldn't hit it's worst until you're in the hospital. If you're still alive that is. But then again that brings up the age old question. If grasshoppers had machine guns would birds fuck with them? (It's a joke, chill) Some things are best not over analyzed. But there is a risk, accept it or not.

800-1000 feet? Man that sounds like a lot, do you need a bigger slider? I just watched Jay Stokes break his world record with 640 jumps in 24 hrs and he jumped Spectres the whole time. He jumped from 2100 feet and there is no way it was taking 1000 feet to be fully deployed. I'd say 500 at the most and he was on his way. I've heard they have a long snivel but that is really looonngg.

Semper Fi, where are you stationed? I was at Pendleton, 3/5 up at San Mateo. What mos are the officers in charge of you? Do they do much with the rigging process or just shuffle paper? Are you staying with the Marines as a 0 or changing branches? Thanks for the info

Just curious on how you like your m.o.s. and what all your duties entail. I spent 4 years as a Jarhead, got out went to college, and have considered going back in as an officer. I would love to work in this field since I like skydiving so much. I'm not branch specific right now, just looking for info about this field. One problem as an officer I may not get a choice of my mos. At least the Marines do it that way, you go where they need you. Ok, I guess you do get a wish list, but who would count on that? I believe the Air Force usually tries to put you in the field that your degree is in, but obviously there is no degree for skydiving or riggers... Thought I would check with the field before I see a recruiter, any info would be appreciated. Thanks a lot

It's probably not the smartest thing but I would risk it and finish the jumps required to get your license. You only need 25 total right? Looks like you're about there so I would go for it. As long as you don't come crashing in your knee should be fine. Tape the shit out of it and jump

Interesting discussion, thanks for the info. So it seems that if someone on radar is really looking they may be able to pick up a single skydiver if they're lucky. And this is usually ATC who knows that there is skydiving going on. How about in our hypothetical situation of a plane coming over the border? Who is watching that? The Border Patrol? It could fly over in a spot well out of concern of any airports and probably get away with it. Which means my buddy wins and I'm buying beer lol...

Me and some friends were having a crazy discussion about skydiving the other day and we're split on who's right and who's wrong. Somehow the topic of illegal ailens sneaking into the country came up and one guy says he could get them in easily by renting a plane in Mexico and doing a tandem skydive. He reasoned he could just have the pilot go over the border about 10-15 miles, drop him and his passenger off at 10-12,000ft and then turn around and fly back into Mexico. He claims that yes the authorities would know an aircraft just entered illegally but they wouldn't know someone jumped out of it and he would just have a vehicle waiting on the ground and take off. Me and another guy think that not only would they know a plane entered illegally, they would also be able to tell that someone or something jumped/fell out of it and track his progress to the ground. But then again the Special Forces use this type of method to get behind ememy lines without detection so maybe he could get away with it. Maybe he wouldn't show up until the chute opened and there was a bigger profile? Anyone know for sure? We have some beer riding on it so hopefully someone here knows something about radar!

Final count is 640. I live in Indianapolis and drove down to Greensburg to watch. They had it down to a science, 23 rigs, multiple planes, several packers, and a shitload of onlookers and well wishers. It was quite an event to say the least. It was also Jay's 50th birthday and at jump 300 we all started yelling encourgement and they had signs wishing him Happy Birthday. I got to do a couple of tandem jumps with Jay a few weeks ago. He's the real deal and a class act to say the least

I'm just getting started in the sport but I love it and think it would be great to someday be a jumpmaster. I know a lot of these guys do it for a living and I was just curious as to what kind of money one could expect to make in the field. Pilots also if anyone knows. Thanks a lot!