AviationTD

Sounds like a bad fuel pump. My car experienced that on the highway. Engine went dead on me while I was cruising on the highway! Had to roll over to the curb. Cranked but it wouldn't catch on. At times, the engine sputtered on for a second or two, but wouldn't catch on. So, my bet is on bad fuel pump. And you gonna need a new fuel pump to replace that. Did I win a price?

My SO loves to bribe me with jump tickets. Not gonna tell you what I had to do to get those jump tickets.

When it come down to skydiving, my wife said that I have a Peter Pan syndrome. Should I take that as a compliment or an insult?

I wanted to do something crazy beyond my imagination. It turned out that I was wrong. Earned my A license last month and looks forward to many years of skydiving.

Hello Everyone- I went to Tampa Bay last summer to hang out with my buddy. As for my early birthday gift, he took me to z-hills to make a tandem jump. Since then, I have been itching to jump again. Obviously, my budget will not allow me to pursuit this sport, but I am working on it. Just wanted to introduce myself and get the feel of this community. I already ordered a book or two about skydiving. Hopefully one day, I will be able to earn A licence because this sport is exactly what I need. It's funny to look at your very first post. I never thought I would come this far, but I did. I earned my "A" two weeks ago. This post showed that it took me nearly 4 years to achieve my dream! Hope that my post will encourage others who are money-strapped and think they could not come this far. If I did it, anyone can!

Yea go to both and sit back and keep your ears & eyes open and your mouth shut, make a number of trips to both, then make up your mind what one you like the best to call home, and keep the other one for a get away. *** Great advice! I will definitely take your advice. Skydive Temple peaked my interest a bit more than Skydive San Marcos because of the CReW activity.

The really good news for you is that Austin has a new wind tunnel opening in January!!!! *** Awesome! Now, I have the opportunity to become a tunnel rat!

The title pretty much says it all. This time, I am moving to an uncharted territory: Austin, TX. As a skydiving addict, I searched for a dropzone and I came across with two dropzones that is within the striking distance: Skydive Temple and Skydive San Marcos. Any suggestions or recommendations for newly-minted certified skydiver?

To be clear... It's not the anxiety that allows the awareness to expand, It is the reduction in anxiety that allows the awareness too expand. Repetition is a great way to reduce anxiety. The more you do it successfully, the more comfortable you become and hence, your sphere of awareness increases. *** I understand that repetition is a great way to reduce anxiety. In my case, it wasn't the repetition that got me out of the hump. It was the ability to think and react that lower my anxiety level.

What does "relax" actually mean? What am I supposed to do to be "relaxed"? *** I only can speak from my own experience. What I think may not work for others. We all came from different walk of life and getting to the result is often different from each of us. Bear with me since I am not very good at explanation: From my experiences, I need to relax mentally. I am (or was) known for tumbling at the exit. I already had been drilled on body positions, and the reasons behind it. My instructors told me countless times that I need to arch more, or get legs out. Even with all the drills that were instilled in me, I still had trouble with the exit. It wasn't until the hop and pops that I realize what my problem was. I tended to get nervous at the exit and was not aware of what I was doing. I simply exited and arched like I have been drilled to do. There was no thinking in this transition and that was the mistake. Clearly, this set up is wrong. So, I forced myself to relax mentally and try to understand why I had trouble with the exits. I started to think and pay more attention at the exit. I was able to recognize mistakes and/or potential mistakes at the exit and I allow my body to counteract to events as it unfold before my eyes. As the result, I saw a smoother transition with the “relative wind”. How does my experiences apply to others? I figured that whatever the mistakes they have, it is probably because they stopped thinking (or got nervous), even if it was only matter of a second or two. And they probably wasn't sure how to react to those events as it unfold before their eyes.

Did my hop n pops last week, both at 5500 and 3500. And I just became certified two days ago. My only advice to you is relax. Relax is the key. You will realize that you do have plenty of time. That is the concept that is quite hard for us, newbies, to comprehend. Do what you have been trained to do and you will be fine. Enjoy!

Voted from 4 different sources, including my smartphone! Just giving a hint .

In Reply To It appears that the pilot does not use the flap at all. The plane appears to drop at very last second. Poor planning with approach and airspeed? Quote Good eye on that. Flaps would have led to a steeper, higher approach angle. If he was intent on nailing the airspeed, lack of flaps might have made him drop even lower, right? Quote You got that right.

It appears that the pilot does not use the flap at all. The plane appears to drop at very last second. Poor planning with approach and airspeed? Maybe I am wrong, but the pilot should have seen that truck coming. If I know the airport well, I would check that road for traffic on short final before making decision to land. On the other hand, the airport/road layout is dangerous.

Let's see: I am a newbie with only few jumps away from earning "A" license. After the first AFF jump, words spread around that I was going to be a solid skydiver. AFF Program: Even though I passed all AFF levels on first try, I tumbled at exits. I still am, but I became an expert at recovery. For some reasons, I kept forgetting to arch at exits. Free Fall: I did not quite shine at freefall, but it is competent enough. I still make few “housekeeping” mistakes. Canopy Ride: Let’s say I made enough mistakes that could result in serious injuries. These mistakes include potential low turn, flying over building so close that I tasted the mechanical turbulences, and flaring so high that could guarantee broken bones. Since these dumb mistakes, I improved so drastically that I consistently landed within 20 feet from the target spots. My stand-up landing is becoming more consistently.

That is not true, but it can happen if you make a mistake. With the right training, you can land like a angel.

Congrats!

Use "Mid-Life Crisis" as excuse?

Look forward seeing your future cartoon strip about returning to the sky. Heal well!

Married to a Whuffo and I started skydiving afterward- Her thoughts: -She wouldn't do it herself because she thinks this sport is sucidal. -She admitted that she had a thought about tandem for long time but wouldn't do it for that reason listed above. -She understands why I love to skydive and respects my passion. Relationship-wise: -We are crazy in love, even with some disagreements. -Not affected by skydiving. (Well, not exactly. Look on the next item) -Being away for hours is her only complaint. Hope that will give you some insights about having a whuffo as your significant other.

Hey! Don't take it too hard. You did not fail at anything! Skydiving is a high-risk sport and I am sure that your instructors wanted to make sure that you understand the objectives before you move on to next level. Learn from your mistakes and focus on improvement you can do on next jump. Nobody is perfect but, we all can strive for greatness. Relax, learn, and have fun!

I am a "newly-minted" student jumper. I just completed CAT A jump few days ago. My approach is nearly in line with what John Mitchell said. Off-site, I reviewed everything I can get my hand on, including SIM. On trip to dropzone, I rehearsed the emergency procedures. On-site, I listened to the instructors. In addition, when they taught me everything I need to know, I recited everything they taught me until I am grey in the face. I did that again on the ride up. At halfway up, I stopped thinking about the jump and focused on breathing and clearing my mind up. I pretty much had one goal. I tried to sharpen my awareness. Alternatively, I accepted reality as it is and get with it. After the jump, I reviewed all the mistakes that I am aware of and compared to all the mistakes they told me. If the information is matched, then I am on the right track. When I leave the dropzone, I think about improvements that I would do on the next jump. Planning to do same cycle on each jump.

I took countless pictures, but I do not have time cutting down photos to 150kb as required by this forum. This is the best I could do out of cheap cell phone.

I don't have a specific location for work. I will go to various locations around the town for work. One of the company's requirements stated that I must live within 40 miles from the airport. Of course, the airport where Skydive Suffolk located at does not apply!

Originally, I was planning to move to Houston, but I received a job offer that I cannot refuse. Here, Norfolk, I come! One slightly problem: I do not know anything about this town. My online research suggests that most area in Norfolk and Virginia Beach is not safe. Since my new position start on the second week of August, I do not have much time to look for a descent apartment at affordable price. I should mention that I have two dogs. Anyone here from Suffolk/Norfolk/Virginia Beach? Please contact me ASAP. Off Topic: It looks like I will begin my training at Skydive Suffolk. Anyone want to say something here?