baycat

Only reason I said that because the DZ had some plaques up of some people who jumped close to 30k. Seems insane or insanely fun! Would seem hard to try to steer to a dz at that level :) Funny how beer plays an integral part of this sport. Another sport that has great adrenaline rushes, downhill mountain biking has a barter beer system. You play mechanic for some buddies you get beer, but we also drink it a lot after rides to replenish our carbs

From wiki.. Capt. Joe W. Kittinger achieved the highest parachute jump in history on August 16, 1960 as part of a United States Air Force program testing high-altitude escape systems. Wearing a pressure suit, Capt. Kittinger ascended for an hour and a half in an open gondola attached to a balloon to an altitude of 102,800 feet, where he then jumped. The fall lasted more than 13 minutes, during which Capt. Kittinger reached speeds exceeding 600 miles per hour. I was amazed at this stat, has anyone in the 45+ years since even got close to half that elevation? Guessing jumping out of weather ballons is not done as much. And with the speeds he was going how do you slow down with out failure of equipment or your body

N/A

you are right, not really sucked out of the plane, But when people were sitting on the exit of the door it was like one minute they are there...next minute woosh!

Chris Thanks for the warning about money, something I am familiar with as another one of my passions is a money pit. So I figure why not find another! Do you have to do your whole student program/certification at one DZ?

In the plane ride up my buddy said, "What is that movie with Patrick Swayze skydiving?" I said, "Roadhouse" Got a good laugh

Are there any wind tunnels in the bay area? And when is a good time to start practicing in the wind tunnel after so many jumps?

I completed my first jump this weekend, and boy did it take some restrain not to run back to the plane and jump again. Think my checking account was the one holding me back! Wink Ended up doing a 30K static line jump. Or we can pretend I really did a 15K tandem, 70 sec free fall, nice 5 minute canopy ride to the DZ. Ended up succesfully pulling my parachute at around 5.5K and passed my first category of AAF training. So now probably going to go through all the other stages! It was incredible. I thought I would be scared and would try to close my eyes or not look out upon exiting the plane. But I was very anxious to jump and loved every minute of it. Think the tingling sensation and perma-grin lasted a good two hours, then I was very tired. The plane ride up was fun, watching your altimetere climb and make a pass around the 0 Shocked! And then it was not real until someone jumped out. Then it was a reality. What suprised me was that people were just sucked out of the plane and it was a complete floating sensation. So... IS the time commitment long and hard to get certifieid to solo skydive? How does one learn all the equipment techniques, like packing a chute? Thanks!

I completed my first jump this weekend, and boy did it take some restrain not to run back to the plane and jump again. Think my checking account was the one holding me back! Ended up doing a 30K static line jump. Or we can pretend I really did a 15K tandem, 70 sec free fall, nice 5 minute canopy ride to the DZ. Ended up succesfully pulling my parachute at around 5.5K and passed my first category of AAF training. So now probably going to go through all the other stages! It was incredible. I thought I would be scared and would try to close my eyes or not look out upon exiting the plane. But I was very anxious to jump and loved every minute of it. Think the tingling sensation and perma-grin lasted a good two hours, then I was very tired. The plane ride up was fun, watching your altimetere climb and make a pass around the 0 ! And then it was not real until someone jumped out. Then it was a reality. What suprised me was that people were just sucked out of the plane and it was a complete floating sensation. So... IS the time commitment long and hard to get certifieid to solo skydive? How does one learn all the equipment techniques, like packing a chute? Thanks!

I will duct tape it to my forehead. Thanks good to know, really wanted to get some shots of us in the plane before we do the deed.

might rescind my comment on the plane. Do not listen to the newbie. Anyways looking foward to the jump, even if it was not my first choice and some might not like the DZ . IS there rules on bringing a small disposable camera up to take pictures on the plane? Might frown on it because I could be infringing on their business of DVD sales...

We are going up to SkyDance in Davis, read some reviews on here and it seemed great. Plus they got a nice looking aircraft that is skydive specific! I was hoping to go down to Monterey to jump so I have a view of the water, but maybe for my next one. Living in SF there is nothing really close, but there is some great ones within an 1 hr + drive.

Always been fond of "risk taking" and doing activities that a normal fool...I mean person would not be attracted to. Doing my first jump, tandem of course this weekend up in Northern California. And I think I am a bit to excited! Wondering if the nervous butterflies will kick in on the runway or in the plane or once I land. I actually have a fear of heights but it seems to happen more when hanging off a rope overlooking a sheer cliff. Guessing the feeling of floating through air will not be so bad! Will so how this goes, and then possible pursue the AFF route so I can have another hobby that gets my heart pumping. I am doing a low-level jump, think around 12k, but really want to try the 18k jump and then AFF. Seem like a good path? baycat