Accelerated Free Fall

Accelerated Free Fall

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Discussion

mouseymousey

Original Poster:

2,641 posts

236 months

Sunday 26th July 2015
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Evening all

Has anyone on here done an AFF (accelerated free fall) course? I'm doing one at Black Knights parachute centre in a few weeks and wondered if anyone had any experience?

I've done a tandem jump in Cuba but from a much lower height and that was pretty intense so I'm looking forward to learning how to do it myself.


Einion Yrth

19,575 posts

243 months

Sunday 26th July 2015
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Doing it's easy; it's doing more than once that's the tricky part.

Buff Mchugelarge

3,316 posts

149 months

Sunday 26th July 2015
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I've always wanted to jump out of a plane. A tandem jump sounds ok, but realy I want to do it on my own.
I take it you have to tandem first?

I'm sure the fact I've not yet even been in a plane won't matter..

mouseymousey

Original Poster:

2,641 posts

236 months

Sunday 26th July 2015
quotequote all
Buff Mchugelarge said:
I've always wanted to jump out of a plane. A tandem jump sounds ok, but realy I want to do it on my own.
I take it you have to tandem first?

I'm sure the fact I've not yet even been in a plane won't matter..
No you don't have to tandem first. Tandem is where you are very tightly strapped to someone who does the actual jumping and flying of the canopy. The first jump you do with AFF you are accompanied by 2 instructors who hold on to you but they are are not attached to you.

Before your first jump there is a day of ground school to go through where you learn all the theory.

With tandem you are just a passenger, and when stood at the plane door you know you're going out because the guy you're strapped to is going to jump but the first jump on AFF will be a bot different, you actually have to throw yourself out which is the bit I'm most nervous of!

Loads of videos on YouTube which are pretty interesting if you've ever fancied doing it.

Zoobeef

6,004 posts

157 months

Sunday 26th July 2015
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I did it last year. 2.5 weeks in California and did the 18 jumps with a weekend in Vegas and a weekend in San Diego. All for £700 biggrin

It was great fun but made the mistake of not going again since getting back, expensive hobby to get into and I think my car hobbies would have taken a hit.

Jasandjules

69,825 posts

228 months

Sunday 26th July 2015
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I did my learning the slow way......

Would have loved to do the AFF. You will enjoy it.

Buff Mchugelarge

3,316 posts

149 months

Sunday 26th July 2015
quotequote all
mouseymousey said:
No you don't have to tandem first. Tandem is where you are very tightly strapped to someone who does the actual jumping and flying of the canopy. The first jump you do with AFF you are accompanied by 2 instructors who hold on to you but they are are not attached to you.

Before your first jump there is a day of ground school to go through where you learn all the theory.

With tandem you are just a passenger, and when stood at the plane door you know you're going out because the guy you're strapped to is going to jump but the first jump on AFF will be a bot different, you actually have to throw yourself out which is the bit I'm most nervous of!

Loads of videos on YouTube which are pretty interesting if you've ever fancied doing it.
Intesting, thankyou. thumbup

A hobby you only get wrong once I imagine. laugh

Jasandjules

69,825 posts

228 months

Sunday 26th July 2015
quotequote all
Buff Mchugelarge said:
A hobby you only get wrong once I imagine. laugh
As it says in the back of the plane we used - If at First you don't succeed, Skydiving is not for you....

King Herald

23,501 posts

215 months

Sunday 26th July 2015
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Jasandjules said:
I did my learning the slow way......

Would have loved to do the AFF. You will enjoy it.
Yes, I did mine the 'old fashioned way' back in the 80's. Managed to get Cat 8 in a bout 14 jumps I think. Only did 60 jumps all in all, broke my leg on a reserve ride after a deployment malfunction.

Kit has progressed so far and so fast since those days that I doubt you really need a reserve chute nowadays.

Vaud

50,289 posts

154 months

Sunday 26th July 2015
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It's terrifying and addictive in equal measure.

matt12023

485 posts

195 months

Sunday 26th July 2015
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King Herald said:
Kit has progressed so far and so fast since those days that I doubt you really need a reserve chute nowadays.
We need them more now, especially me, I had a malfunction on the fifth jump where I'd packed and had to use my reserve biggrin

I did my AFF in Spain, you'll love it OP, are you doing it over a week or are you splitting it over weekends ?

mouseymousey

Original Poster:

2,641 posts

236 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
matt12023 said:
We need them more now, especially me, I had a malfunction on the fifth jump where I'd packed and had to use my reserve biggrin

I did my AFF in Spain, you'll love it OP, are you doing it over a week or are you splitting it over weekends ?
I'm doing it over a week. Start on Friday 14th August and I have the following week booked off work. Rather hoping to get it done quicker than that but it's weather dependent.

Zoobeef said:
I did it last year. 2.5 weeks in California and did the 18 jumps with a weekend in Vegas and a weekend in San Diego. All for £700 biggrin
That is some deal! Just the 8 jump course is costing me £1500, then there's the 10 consolidation jumps after that to pay for.

Have either you got any tips or insights?


The Mad Monk

10,474 posts

116 months

Monday 27th July 2015
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What is it?

If you are in free fall, how do you accelerate?

BigJonMcQuimm

975 posts

211 months

Monday 27th July 2015
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I did my AFF in two days in Empuribrava, Spain.

I banged out a further 30 jumps over the next week, coming home with A license and large chunk of my FS1 done.

Four years on and I am approaching my 1000th jump and exclusively jump freefly or hop and pop for HP canopy.

Normally, you will do a tandem first. Personally I think this is a good appraoch - as it introduces you to the sport without too much stress.

If you have not, I would get 10-20 minutes wind tunnel time. (Advise them that you are doing your AFF and get the session tailored to these needs). The wind tunnel is one of the best training tools - and hugely addictive in its on right. (I have 70-80 hours clocked up in the windy machine).

Beyond that, relax and only listen to your instructors - too many skygods spouting sh!te!.





Edited by BigJonMcQuimm on Monday 27th July 09:00

Einion Yrth

19,575 posts

243 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
The Mad Monk said:
What is it?

If you are in free fall, how do you accelerate?
Pitch forward to reduce your presented area and thus increase your terminal velocity.

tongue out

The Mad Monk

10,474 posts

116 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
Einion Yrth said:
The Mad Monk said:
What is it?

If you are in free fall, how do you accelerate?
Pitch forward to reduce your presented area and thus increase your terminal velocity.

tongue out
But, you still won't accelerate faster than 1g, will you?

pherlopolus

2,087 posts

157 months

Monday 27th July 2015
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:bingbong: Parrot for lane 3 please

CountZero23

1,288 posts

177 months

Monday 27th July 2015
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mouseymousey said:
Evening all

Has anyone on here done an AFF (accelerated free fall) course? I'm doing one at Black Knights parachute centre in a few weeks and wondered if anyone had any experience?

I've done a tandem jump in Cuba but from a much lower height and that was pretty intense so I'm looking forward to learning how to do it myself.
Half way through mine, already totally hooked smile Having to take a few weeks off as broke a couple of my metatarsals on a landing (make sure you are at full flare when you hit the hard deck!).

You're doing it the right way by doing it as an intensive course, you should make progress much faster. It's MUCH cheaper to do in the states hence zoobeef's £700 deal. Weather is much more predictable over there too.

As BigJonMcQuimm said, wind tunnel will really help you nail body position, which can be tricky. Try to find a local wind tunnel Airkix have one in Milton Keynes and Basingstoke and there's another one in Bedford that I know of.

10 minutes of wind tunnel time works out around £100 for but its the time equivalent of 12 or more jumps so works out pretty cheap and allot cheaper than messing up a grading!

The Skydivers Handbook is the beginners bible and covers everything the course does and more. Buy a copy and get it read before you start if you can.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Parachuting-Skydivers-Hand...

Your profile says you're in Sutton so we share the same local dropzone (Headcorn, Kent). Drop me a PM if you want to meet up.

Awesome sport and a great bunch of nutters, beer is also a big part of the culture hehe

PS - Look into getting your FS1 as soon as possible, takes about 10 jumps then you are allowed to start jumping with other people.







PBDirector

1,049 posts

129 months

Monday 27th July 2015
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The Mad Monk said:
But, you still won't accelerate faster than 1g, will you?
Your acceleration will be considerably faster than 1G if you hit the ground.

Halmyre

11,148 posts

138 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
Buff Mchugelarge said:
I've always wanted to jump out of a plane. A tandem jump sounds ok, but realy I want to do it on my own.
I take it you have to tandem first?

I'm sure the fact I've not yet even been in a plane won't matter..
I jumped out of the first plane I ever flew in! After a morning's training I did two static-line jumps; the first was perfect, got praise from the instructor for a textbook jump; second time I nearly landed in a tree and decided there and then that my parachuting days were over...