jim_32766

I did my AFF recently and must agree with others that you don't want to have long delays between the jumps. During the course you are constantly reinforcing what you have already learned, while also adding new items. If you take long breaks you will lose the momentum, forget what you've learned, and end up needing to repeat jumps to relearn what you've forgotten. It's really in your best interest to work through AFF relatively quickly. One thing that helped me with AFF was spending some time in a wind tunnel first. I was pretty good at flying my body before starting AFF, and that let me concentrate better on the other tasks. Good luck, stay stafe, and have fun! The meaning of life . . . is to make life have meaning.

Keep asking questions and absorb everything you can from all good sources. I too am just a beginner and am continuously amazed at the knowledge the more experienced folks freely share. Once you get your first AFF jumps done come back and read some of the answers again. I guarantee your learning filters will have changed. Good luck and keep chasing your dreams. The meaning of life . . . is to make life have meaning.

Thanks for the link, Brian. I didn't know this existed. After listening to just one episode (so far) I can tell this is very educational and well worth my time. The meaning of life . . . is to make life have meaning.

You didn't include enough choices in your list. Thanks to some time in a wind tunnel prior to AFF, and thanks to some very good instructors, I actually did AFF in 6 jumps.

I noticed there have been no posts from the OP recently. Did he make the jump and did someone win BB? The meaning of life . . . is to make life have meaning.

50Proof, I just started skydiving in the last couple of months, with a tandem in March being my first jump. I was definitely apprehensive about doing that jump. I knew logically that the risks were not really that great, but logic doesn't override the drive for self-preservation. I think most people share your feelings and questions, especially on that first jump. Fortunately the odds are pretty favorable for you to have a very fun and safe skydive. I just passed the AFF course last weekend and have done one solo jump in addition. I can tell you that the apprehension drops quite a bit after the first AFF jump. Even with only 7 jumps to date I feel much more comfortable with jumping out of the plane. Now, instead of someone helping me out of the plane, I purposely do a front loop out the side door. Just follow the instructions, try to relax, smile, and breath - and you will have fun! Jim The meaning of life . . . is to make life have meaning.

Granny, I spread the AFF out over several weeks, maybe 8 or 9 - I don't have my new logbook with me to check. While I had a couple of 3-week hiatuses due to travel, I did get 2 levels done one Saturday, and 3 levels on a different Saturday.

With all my work-related travel and some uncooperative weather, it took several weeks to get through all the levels, but I finally did that last Saturday. Whoohoo!! Now it's time to move on to the next phase of learning. I've made one solo jump so far. The winds increased and stopped me from making any more that day. YES - i did buy a case of beer for the instructors, packers, etc - even though I couldn't stick around and share it with them. Question for the more experienced (which is nearly everyone) - what mix of solo jumps vs jumps with coaches do you think is best from here? Thanks, Jim The meaning of life . . . is to make life have meaning.

Mandy, congrats on the jump. It really is amazing isn't it? I hope you find a DZ you like within comfortable driving distance for the AFF. I am waiting for a free day with good weather to do my AFF 7 jump. Only suggestion a newbie like me could give is plan to do a couple of jumps each time you are at the DZ working on the AFF. It makes the learning more fun and quicker. Blue Skies! The meaning of life . . . is to make life have meaning.

Hello Newbie - from another newbie. Welcome to the forums. Please keep us up to speed on your progress. It's fun to share stories and experiences. We all learn much from each other. Blue Skies! The meaning of life . . . is to make life have meaning.

I agree with you on the tandem. It was OK but not my cup of tea. The first AFF jump was much better, and each subsequent jump kept getting even better - and I've only done a few so far. I hope that you are able to get into the sky soon. What a great way to end the winter and the cabin fever! Blue Skies! The meaning of life . . . is to make life have meaning.

Congrats on getting the "A". I like your "might as well have fun while your here" approach. I hope to follow in your foot steps, or should I say leaps, shortly! Blue Skies! The meaning of life . . . is to make life have meaning.

Thank you very much, from all of us, for the work you've done on your "all expenses paid" break. The sky will be waiting for you when you return. Give us an update on what its like to re-engage the sport after your break. The meaning of life . . . is to make life have meaning.

Kermie - I think the time I spent in the wind tunnel made a huge difference for me when it came to doing the AFF levels so far. I was confident and comfortable with control in the air and could better concentrate on the assigned actions. If you can get some tunnel time I suggest taking it. Yes, it will cost a couple of bucks, but overall it's cheaper than repeating AFF levels, especially 1-3. I hope your next jumps are perfect. Best of luck! The meaning of life . . . is to make life have meaning.

It's time for an update. Due to lots of personal travel and too much wind at the few times I was free, it took a while to get the level 3 jump done. I finally was able to do that last Monday. The jump was great fun. Yesterday I made it back to the DZ in the early afternoon to to level 4. I got lucky on the loads and ended up leaving about 3 hours later with levels 4, 5, and 6 completed. Whoohoo!! The tracking in level 6 was probably my favorite part of the jump. I was surprised to feel the forward push and see the ground moving below. Now, I've just got the level 7 to go before I am jumping solo. I can't wait to start the next phase of learning. See you in the sky! The meaning of life . . . is to make life have meaning.

Matt, that was my thinking too. Then a friend of mine, with a goodly amount of skydiving experience, talked me into some tunnel time, and then a tandem. I can tell you that each of those experiences made my first AFF jump much more enjoyable. I knew I could be stable and fly my body, and I knew what it was like to exit the plane at 13,500 feet, actually free fall, fly under canopy, and land. I was really ready and just had fun with the tasks in the AFF jump. I am sure you will like it no matter which path you take. Blue skies! The meaning of life . . . is to make life have meaning.

Welcome Sarolta! Sorry to hear that you had a landing mishap. Hopefully it wasn't too bad. As a newbie I sure would like to hear the lessons learned on that landing. I've only done AFF 1 and 2 so far and would like to minimize my potential for mishaps. So . . . if you don't mind, please share the experience - and what you would do differently. Get well fast and back into the sky! Jim The meaning of life . . . is to make life have meaning.

With brand new gear like that the gang will be expecting some mighty fine beer! Have a great jump(s)! Make sure to update this thread with a report on the jump(s). I hope to get AFF 3 and 4 knocked out this weekend, and follow in your footsteps down the road with gear. Wait a minute - isn't there a wait time for new gear like that? Did you order it before you started AFF?! Jim The meaning of life . . . is to make life have meaning.

Robby - you can't make a statement like that and then not tell us what you got. I am a new student and interested in such info. Fess up! Jim The meaning of life . . . is to make life have meaning.

An experienced skydiver friend of mine convinced me to try some tunnel time first, then a tandem, then start AFF. After watching the progress through these steps he's convinced it's the optimal way to work one's way into skydiving. Looking back I can see where doing AFF-1 as the first step would have been be much more challenging. I feel I gained skills and confidence along each step. With stability gained in the tunnel, and the first exit - free fall - landing experience from the tandem, I was more relaxed and able to focus on the tasks in my first AFF jump. It was really an enjoyable experience. Of course, your mileage may vary. Best wishes to you on whatever path you choose! The meaning of life . . . is to make life have meaning.

Ya know, pops . . . I don't think I am even going to ask how you would know that. I do hope to bump into skymamma around the Deland DZ, just to meet someone from the forum. As we are both married I'll skip the hitting on her part. At my nubile skydiving stage I am probably too focused on the skydive jumping to focus too much on the other kind of jumping anyway. I'll let you know how the next skydives go. I hope to get #3 and #4 done on Saturday. I just ordered a Alti-2 Galaxy. If it arrives in time I'll even have a shiney new toy for the next jumps. Jim The meaning of life . . . is to make life have meaning.

skyjumper - I don't know if if varies from one DZ to another, but I did have a written exam at the end of the AFF-1 course, prior to going for a jump. I don't remember the exact number of questions but it must have been something like 20-30. All the information needed to answer the questions is given during the class. The SIM would be good to read prior to the class, that's what I did. I am quite the beginner myself. I just did a tandem 7 days ago, and then AFF 1&2 4 days ago. Good luck, have fun, and be safe. The meaning of life . . . is to make life have meaning.

. . . I'll send you an email about the conversation I had with an older lady who just couldn't grasp the concept of a tandem skydive. Amma - if I used the DropZone email system correctly you should have a new email in your DropZone Inbox. I am interested in the elderly lady and tandem discussion. Taken in the right light, that might be quite funny. Jim The meaning of life . . . is to make life have meaning.

Anne-Marie - welcome from another newbie! I just did at tandem last Sunday, March 8th, and did level-1 and level-2 of AFF yesterday, March 12th. From your description you were calmer than I was in the tandem. That's really great. I had a little anxiety when we loaded up and climbed out. I found the AFF course to be much more to my liking, and I was quite relaxed for the jumps so far. It might be something about having your own gear and a plan of action to execute, and being in control of your own destiny that makes it better. I'll bet you will like it even more that the tandem too. I think your idea of going and hanging out at various DZs is a good. I found most people to be very friendly and quite willing to spend a few minutes answering questions about skydiving. They can tell if you are serious about the sport and will be very helpful if you are. As Skymamma said, you can get a feel for the "vibe" pretty quickly. Let us know how it goes and, as a fellow student, let me know what you think of AFF. I could send you a long email I wrote for a skydiving friend if you want more of a play by play of my first two jumps. Have fun! Jim The meaning of life . . . is to make life have meaning.

Skymama - thanks for the welcome, and I hope to bump into you at the DZ. I imagine I'll be visiting the Deland DZ for several weeks yet just to get through level-7. I have some travel to do and so won't likely be back out there until at least a week from now. Maybe I can knock out another couple levels on that weekend. Everyone keeps telling me that once level-7 is over and I get to jump on my own, it just gets better and better. I can't wait. For now though, I'm just focusing on the next AFF level, then the next, then the next . . . Jim The meaning of life . . . is to make life have meaning.