marcum@rhino.UUCP (Alan M. Marcum) (10/18/84)
I'm looking at doing a little jumping, having never done so
before. For what it's worth, I have my pilot's license, so am
familiar with at least that aspect of the air.
From what I've heard, one's first few jumps are usually static-
line. For some wierd reason (ego, thrills, who-knows), I'd like
to make my first jump a free jump. I've heard of "accelerated"
courses, costing more, that teach this.
Any advice from experienced jumpers? How might I know, besides a
general feel and examining the planes, when I've found a jump
school with which I can trust my life? Any pros or cons about
the first jump being free-fall? How much time might I expect to
commit to that first set of instructions and jump?
Mail to me, if you like; I'll summarize to the net.
--
Alan M. Marcum Fortune Systems, Redwood City, California
...!{ihnp4, ucbvax!amd, hpda, sri-unix, harpo}!fortune!rhino!marcumalcmist@ssc-vax.UUCP (Frederick Wamsley) (10/21/84)
> From what I've heard, one's first few jumps are usually static- > line. For some wierd reason (ego, thrills, who-knows), I'd like > to make my first jump a free jump. I've heard of "accelerated" > courses, costing more, that teach this. Yes. What you're looking for is called Accelerated Freefall training. It costs more *per jump* than traditional methods, but gives you more air time and more instructor attention. You will develop skills faster and make fewer training jumps, so the total cost (if you decide to make jumping a hobby) will not be much higher. I'm a graduate of an AFF program. I though it was the best thing since parachutes. > Any advice from experienced jumpers? How might I know, besides a > general feel and examining the planes, when I've found a jump > school with which I can trust my life? Any pros or cons about > the first jump being free-fall? How much time might I expect to > commit to that first set of instructions and jump? Good questions, Alan, and they are all related. First, make sure the drop zone you go to is affiliated with the US Parachute Association, and make sure that the people who will be teaching you have ratings from the USPA to teach Accelerated Freefall students. Ask about the student equipment. It really should be custom-built for student use if you make an AFF jump. It absolutely must be equipped with an AAD (automatic activating device), a safety gadget which is designed to open a reserve parachute if you reach a dangerously low altitude at dangerously high speed. NEVER EVER TRUST ONE, never depend on one (they're called "idiot detectors" in the trade), but you should have one for your student jumps. It may keep a silly mistake from becoming a fatal one. All the above are minimum requirements, but you can probably trust any place that meets all of them. Very few student accidents are the fault of the drop zone where they happen anyway. Commit at least a full day for your first jump. Anyone who offers to train you in less than half a day is leaving out something important. One final tip -- save up enough money ahead of time to pay for a bunch of jumps. You'll probably be addicted once you start. Have fun! Fred Wamsley D8844 *** REPLACE THIS LINE, FOR PETE'S SAKE *** -- UUCP:{ihnp4,tektronix}!uw-beaver!ssc-vax!alcmist ARPA:ssc-vax!alcmist@uw-beaver I am not speaking as a representative of the Boeing Company or any of its divisions. Opinions expressed are solely my own (if that) and have nothing to do with company policy or with the opinions of my coworkers, or those of the staff of the Software Support Center VAX.