brucet7

I was a crew member on an SP-2H in the Navy and it had a fiberglass noses. You could push the seat forward, and see the world. That may be where the idea of skydiving was first planted. Who knows? POPS #10623; SOS #1672

Congratulations. I am hoping to get all my work done by Saturday, weather permitting. POPS #10623; SOS #1672

I know this is an old thread, but I got to thinking about it and just how fortunate I am. I was exploring DZs near my kids so I can jump when I visit them [Missouri but moving to San Jose soon, New Mexico and Oregon]. It was in terms of an hour or more from a couple of their houses. For me, I can look out my front window and see the sky above my DZ, in Washington that is important. I can hear the Twin Otter from my front porch and watch parachutes from my office window. I get a slow minute and a couple of bucks, a clearing sky and I can be bothering the Farringtons in 10 minutes or less and includes a trip to my house to get my stuff. Life is good. POPS #10623; SOS #1672

As a student with twenty jumps, I cannot imagine trying anything like this. No windsock would be enough to deter me. I have missed too many targets along the way. May someday when I am near perfect. The other day I got in trouble with the wind at my DZ and ended up the the flower bed of the company two hangers down and across the tarmat from the landing zone. The biggest danger I see in the support is getting too confident in our abilities. POPS #10623; SOS #1672

I am 55 and not very flexible. The arch is still a challenge for me, especially on exit. I practice on my bed. I works a little better than the floor for me. POPS #10623; SOS #1672

I don't pretend to know anything about Ireland, cutaways, rude manifest girls, or being right or wrong. One thing I try to do is give everyone more than one chance. I know I have bad days, and I sure would love to have a second chance with a lot of people, and maybe a third. POPS #10623; SOS #1672

I don't really have an opinion, I am a newbie and have an analog altimeter. What I did learn from this discussion was how to read my altimeter more easily. I hadn't been thinking of it as a clock face, as I was reading it in freefall. Duh! POPS #10623; SOS #1672

I did mine at Kapowsin in Shelton, WA. I was 245 at the time, and 250 was the limit. POPS #10623; SOS #1672

My hang up seems to be the plane ride up. At about 7 or 8000 feet I starting wondering what I am doing! It continutes until the door opens and I stand in the door, then, no problem, out I go and the fun begins. POPS #10623; SOS #1672

I was/am 55. It was a reward to myself along the road to losing 90 lbs. POPS #10623; SOS #1672

Yes, after the 7 levels of AFF there is a time to practice what we have learned, and we also have some jumps that are coached for docking, and relative work. We still depend on instructors and coaches to help us know what we are doing, and to help us know what order to jump and distance between jumpers as well as developing a plan for each jump. But we may not have anyone along with us once we leave the door of the plane. POPS #10623; SOS #1672

For me, my first few freefalls didn't really feel like falling. My world was just beyond arm length. I focused on my instructor/s and the tasks at hand. I was aware of the world beyond, but didn't or couldn't focus on it. Once I got to self-supervised I took one jump to just look and experience freefall. POPS #10623; SOS #1672

This weekend was an example of this at the DZ I go to. The licensed jumpers and some tandems got out, but the two students on self-supervision could not see the landing area and opted to not go. They did not have to pay for the jump and were congratulated for using good judgment. As to the discussion about coaching and instructors, I too am rather shy and was not asking enough questions or seeking out enough help. Once I started asking I was suprised how willing people were to help me out. All I had to do was ask. POPS #10623; SOS #1672

I didn't find any phase particularly difficult. Some stages looked hard, like 7 when I was on 3, but as each approached I was prepared and built upon what I had learned. The more challenging part for me is the self-supervised, out there alone trying to figure out what I am doing. POPS #10623; SOS #1672

3 kids and 8 grandkids here. POPS #10623; SOS #1672

I really appreciate this thread. I have just started my self-supervised phase and my last jump was a bit confusing for a rookie. I was a lone solo going between a group of RWs and a group of tandums. One of the camera guys finally gave me a little direction. Having this information in my head helps me understand what I was being told. Thanks POPS #10623; SOS #1672

I am a new jumper and have followed this thread and thought of commenting several times. My only comment is there are ways of supporting your spouse in her pursuit of this sport, who seems more interested in this than you. My wife comes to the jump centers, visits with my new jump friends, listens to my stories, share in my passion, and never complains about the money I am spending. She has even expressed an interesting in gettin me a jump suit as a gift. If you are really not into jumping but have a loved one who is, my suggestion is do what you can to help her and stay on the ground. And as with many new things, I would try it more than once. That rule does not apply to brocolli however. POPS #10623; SOS #1672

I have seen some backpacks/equipment bags on Ebay people have made from old containers. A little sewing and duct tape and who knows. POPS #10623; SOS #1672

You are exactly where I am. My friend and co-learner made his first solo Saturday, as I was sick. I was in Haiti for three weeks right after passing my AFF. I cannot wait to make my first solo. Would have yesterday, but the weather did not cooperate. POPS #10623; SOS #1672