johnmatrix

Yes, I think the best way to go would be some sort of small microwave energy weapon. Something that would boil water from a distance, in a fraction of a second, and allow it to cool as much as possible whilst still having the bubbles within to cushion the impact. Like one of those bubble machines they have in the diving pools. But you wouldn't want to be falling into boiling water... I think I heard a story once of a construction worker who fell from a bridge and lived because a spanner falling below him broke the surface of the water. Probably bullshit though.

Hang in there man. Shit takes time and it fkn sucks!

Roald Dahl Jean Paul Sartre Albert Camus (French resistance)

Jane Fonda - NVA anti-aircraft crew, 1972.

Perry Saturn - Airborne Rangers from what I recall they used to announce his jump numbers during his intro too.

R. Lee Ermey - USMC

What about compulsory military service in other countries? Arnold Schwarzenegger did his in the Austrian army - tank corps I think.

Jimmy Stewart!!

Sorry, but wasn't the OP's question about tandem fatalities? The stats for tandem deaths are much lower than those for 'sport' jumpers aren't they? It seems that the vast majority of skydiving deaths occur in situations that would not be encountered during the typical tandem jump (i.e. swooping, etc) P.S. Does anyone know when the fatalities database gets updated? There's only 1 from 2009 listed. This one: http://www.skydivingfatalities.info/

Interesting... I'm not as experienced as you are and was starting to think I had the H+Ps nailed down... I guess you never really know until the shit hits the fan. Thanks for posting this stuff OP, its always good to have a reminder of what can go wrong.

I'm not experienced enough to give any advice but I was wondering - what aircraft were you exiting from and what sort of exit did you do?

Agreed 100%.

I did a similar thing on my first jump. I was concentrating so hard on getting my exit count right and not freaking out that I forgot to arch before the sensory overload hit. When I realised that all I could see was blue I snapped out of it, arched (JMs re-attached), completed the bits and pieces, got down safely and passed. Not finding the pilot chute I think is pretty normal for a first practise pull in the air, but you didn't get that far due to being owned - thus you not finding it at pull time. But hey - sounds like you had a stable freefall and altitude awareness at pull time, so it's not all bad. I agree with everyone above. Try again!