Accelerated Free Fall
Discussion
Got back at it today. Failed my first attempt at level 5, lost altitude awareness and pulled late which elicited some rather colorful language from my instructor. Missed the dropzone and landed in a corn field - got the piss taken quite royally for that one 
If you don't jump for a while its incredible how quickly you get rusty!
Passed on my second go
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQ_bZaHORMA
How's the ankle coming on mousey?
Had one bloke break his leg today, looked pretty nasty. Came in to land with partial breaks and then didn't flare all the way and PLF was non existent.
If you don't jump for a while its incredible how quickly you get rusty!
Passed on my second go
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQ_bZaHORMA
How's the ankle coming on mousey?
Had one bloke break his leg today, looked pretty nasty. Came in to land with partial breaks and then didn't flare all the way and PLF was non existent.
CountZero23 said:
Got back at it today. Failed my first attempt at level 5, lost altitude awareness and pulled late which elicited some rather colorful language from my instructor. Missed the dropzone and landed in a corn field - got the piss taken quite royally for that one
If you don't jump for a while its incredible how quickly you get rusty!
Passed on my second go
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQ_bZaHORMA
How's the ankle coming on mousey?
Had one bloke break his leg today, looked pretty nasty. Came in to land with partial breaks and then didn't flare all the way and PLF was non existent.
Nice one for getting back into so quickly! It gives me hope that you've been through that and got in the air again relatively quickly. Your video looked good - you're much more stable than I am and you looked really relaxed. Here's my video of level 3 where I forgot my practice pull and needed a stern reminder. If you don't jump for a while its incredible how quickly you get rusty!
Passed on my second go
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQ_bZaHORMA
How's the ankle coming on mousey?
Had one bloke break his leg today, looked pretty nasty. Came in to land with partial breaks and then didn't flare all the way and PLF was non existent.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kckhJXmrq7A
It was my best jump of the 3 though, right up until the point I broke my ankle! Talking of which, it's fine when I'm not moving but sleeping, or waking up more like, is pretty painful. Just got to get through it I suppose!
I'm pretty sure I will go for some tunnel time before I jump again to improve my stability and to try and train myself to keep my arms level! Were you back for Level 6 today?
Took me 3 attempts to get my level 3 as kept leaving big gaps in between jumps, keeping current and doing more jumps sorts stability out though I'm still far from perfect.
We both lucked out compared to the bloke who 'broke his leg' on Friday, turned out it was his femur...
Landings are still a bit nervous after the accident, I'm now flaring too early. Not the end of the world as the student canopies shouldn't stall but need to build up a bit more confidence. Last one today was pretty spot on though. Best advice I can give is get good at your PLFs. Came down hard on Saturday, harder than when I broke my foot but was in the right position and did a good PLF and was absolutely fine.
Jumped twice on Friday, three times Saturday and twice today. Now done level 5,6,7 and 3 console jumps.
Here's my level 6 where things start to get fun!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0v8dePQxDBc
We both lucked out compared to the bloke who 'broke his leg' on Friday, turned out it was his femur...
Landings are still a bit nervous after the accident, I'm now flaring too early. Not the end of the world as the student canopies shouldn't stall but need to build up a bit more confidence. Last one today was pretty spot on though. Best advice I can give is get good at your PLFs. Came down hard on Saturday, harder than when I broke my foot but was in the right position and did a good PLF and was absolutely fine.
Jumped twice on Friday, three times Saturday and twice today. Now done level 5,6,7 and 3 console jumps.
Here's my level 6 where things start to get fun!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0v8dePQxDBc
Nice one! Very impressed that you're up to 3 consoles now. Tracking and the somersault look like fun too.
I've been watching videos today of some landings and I had already come to the conclusion that I need to practice the PLF a bit more,
What was the first console jump like? I had thought it would be pretty nerve wracking but seeing as you're pretty much exiting the aircraft on your own at level 6 maybe it's not so bad after all? One student I spoke to told me that it was the most relaxing jump because he didn't have any instructors to worry about or anything exercises he had to perform, it was just a nice jump that he got to enjoy,
I've been watching videos today of some landings and I had already come to the conclusion that I need to practice the PLF a bit more,
What was the first console jump like? I had thought it would be pretty nerve wracking but seeing as you're pretty much exiting the aircraft on your own at level 6 maybe it's not so bad after all? One student I spoke to told me that it was the most relaxing jump because he didn't have any instructors to worry about or anything exercises he had to perform, it was just a nice jump that he got to enjoy,
mouseymousey said:
What was the first console jump like? enjoy
Certainly had some nerves before the jump, wondering if I was really ready to do it without anyone there to sort you out if you mess up. Once I was out of the plane it was a different story, didn't do any of the exercises and just had fun up there. All the pressure and stress of being marked on each move goes and you have the whole sky to yourself.
Condi said:
Seriously tempted to do my AFF. Is it a good idea to level 1 and then deicide if to carry on? Seems cheaper than paying for level 8 and not enjoying it.
If I was doing it again I'd pay for the whole course up front. Skydiving is allot like learning to drive, if you leave it too long between lessons you forgot what you've learned. I'm sure that many of my retakes were due to not staying current. My advice would be to book a full course over in Spain where the weather is better and the jumps are a fair bit cheaper. Take a week off work and smash through it!
You WILL enjoy it
Condi said:
Seriously tempted to do my AFF. Is it a good idea to level 1 and then deicide if to carry on? Seems cheaper than paying for level 8 and not enjoying it.
Hmm tricky, It'd let you see if you absolutely hated it. But then, although I enjoyed the levels I found the consol jumps far more fun because I wasn't doing a test and could chill out.If you were thinking of going to Spain and smashing it out in a week, I'd say just book the whole thing, you'll love it. If doing it at a UK dropzone it'd be easier to just do the ground training and level one to see if you like it, but I think most places give a discount for booking the whole of AFF at the start.
Sorry to hear your foot OP, it's great you're sticking with it
Condi said:
Seriously tempted to do my AFF. Is it a good idea to level 1 and then deicide if to carry on? Seems cheaper than paying for level 8 and not enjoying it.
If I had just booked level 1 then I would have probably left it at that, but seeing as I paid up front I had to stick it out. Glad I did as with every jump my awareness of what's going on around me increased along with the enjoyment. Each to there own, but I'd say get as far as the A licence before deciding if it's for you or not. croyde said:
All sounds rather exciting but I have a daft question.
Do you have to be an experienced static line parachutist completely happy with controlling the canopy and landing before doing your AAF?
As said above, no you don't need to have done any static line stuff and to be honest I don't really see the point in the static line stuff any more, except that maybe it's cheaper.Do you have to be an experienced static line parachutist completely happy with controlling the canopy and landing before doing your AAF?
You will have a radio to be talked down by an instructor once you're flying the canopy. That bit is actually quite good fun, probably because of the relief that the parachute opened!
One word of advice, listen to your instructors about how to land. I wish I had
Thanks.
I just presumed that you had to be an expert with controlling the canopy and landing first.
Years ago I did a cheap parascending in India on a beach. Dressed in only my swim trunks I was put into a harness and then ran along the beach into the water whilst a towing speedboat bounced me across the waves into the air.
Great view apart from the knot in the old rope a few yards away from me.
So we come to the landing area but no one had told me what the toggles were for and I didn't want to touch them lest something dramatic happened ie the canopy folding.
The hard wet sand was coming at me at a rate of knots and I could hear my girlfriend screaming.
I hit, bounced and came to a halt very winded. The Indians rushed over, undid the rope and ran off whilst the boat shot off.
Luckily I had just a badly sprained ankle and bits of skin missing. My girlfriend got me to a hospital to be patched up. Kind of ruined the rest of the hols.
Took my kids to the wind tunnel near Bedford last year. We loved it.
I just presumed that you had to be an expert with controlling the canopy and landing first.
Years ago I did a cheap parascending in India on a beach. Dressed in only my swim trunks I was put into a harness and then ran along the beach into the water whilst a towing speedboat bounced me across the waves into the air.
Great view apart from the knot in the old rope a few yards away from me.
So we come to the landing area but no one had told me what the toggles were for and I didn't want to touch them lest something dramatic happened ie the canopy folding.
The hard wet sand was coming at me at a rate of knots and I could hear my girlfriend screaming.
I hit, bounced and came to a halt very winded. The Indians rushed over, undid the rope and ran off whilst the boat shot off.
Luckily I had just a badly sprained ankle and bits of skin missing. My girlfriend got me to a hospital to be patched up. Kind of ruined the rest of the hols.
Took my kids to the wind tunnel near Bedford last year. We loved it.
croyde said:
Thanks.
I just presumed that you had to be an expert with controlling the canopy and landing first.
Years ago I did a cheap parascending in India on a beach. Dressed in only my swim trunks I was put into a harness and then ran along the beach into the water whilst a towing speedboat bounced me across the waves into the air.
Great view apart from the knot in the old rope a few yards away from me.
So we come to the landing area but no one had told me what the toggles were for and I didn't want to touch them lest something dramatic happened ie the canopy folding.
The hard wet sand was coming at me at a rate of knots and I could hear my girlfriend screaming.
I hit, bounced and came to a halt very winded. The Indians rushed over, undid the rope and ran off whilst the boat shot off.
Luckily I had just a badly sprained ankle and bits of skin missing. My girlfriend got me to a hospital to be patched up. Kind of ruined the rest of the hols.
Took my kids to the wind tunnel near Bedford last year. We loved it.
Completely different story with a modern parachute (it's square rather than the rounds that you had in india).I just presumed that you had to be an expert with controlling the canopy and landing first.
Years ago I did a cheap parascending in India on a beach. Dressed in only my swim trunks I was put into a harness and then ran along the beach into the water whilst a towing speedboat bounced me across the waves into the air.
Great view apart from the knot in the old rope a few yards away from me.
So we come to the landing area but no one had told me what the toggles were for and I didn't want to touch them lest something dramatic happened ie the canopy folding.
The hard wet sand was coming at me at a rate of knots and I could hear my girlfriend screaming.
I hit, bounced and came to a halt very winded. The Indians rushed over, undid the rope and ran off whilst the boat shot off.
Luckily I had just a badly sprained ankle and bits of skin missing. My girlfriend got me to a hospital to be patched up. Kind of ruined the rest of the hols.
Took my kids to the wind tunnel near Bedford last year. We loved it.
Landing is an odd one, as the method you learn as a student gets you by on the student canopies which in my view were forgiving but harder to get a good flare (using the forward speed to generate lift to slow descent) than a faster modern sports canopy.
Instructors will talk you through how to judge the flare, and everyone at the DZ bar will have their own advice. It's a case of working out which you can work with best at start then further training is available (everyone is a student!)
croyde said:
Do you have to be an experienced static line parachutist completely happy with controlling the canopy and landing before doing your AAF?
No a lot of static line jumps are under round 'chutes. There is no flare to land, but a controlled drop and roll to avoid leg damage i.e. as you see in the WWII images of the Paratroopers coming down at Arnhem.You can do square canopies under static however. BUT many people who undertake AFF do so straight out of the box with no experience of jumping at all. It is basically a rapid way to gain your CAT 8.
Hey Mousey, you got any more jumps in yet?
Got my A License on Friday and did a load more jumps over the weekend. Moved onto my FS1 (Formation Skydiving) so now chasing my instructors through the sky and working on fall rate and forward and backward movement.
Here's the vid of my qualifying jump
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w02aF7ZB8Lw
Got my A License on Friday and did a load more jumps over the weekend. Moved onto my FS1 (Formation Skydiving) so now chasing my instructors through the sky and working on fall rate and forward and backward movement.
Here's the vid of my qualifying jump
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w02aF7ZB8Lw
CountZero23 said:
Hey Mousey, you got any more jumps in yet?
Got my A License on Friday and did a load more jumps over the weekend. Moved onto my FS1 (Formation Skydiving) so now chasing my instructors through the sky and working on fall rate and forward and backward movement.
Here's the vid of my qualifying jump
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w02aF7ZB8Lw
Whoops - only just seen this!Got my A License on Friday and did a load more jumps over the weekend. Moved onto my FS1 (Formation Skydiving) so now chasing my instructors through the sky and working on fall rate and forward and backward movement.
Here's the vid of my qualifying jump
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w02aF7ZB8Lw
My recovery is taking slightly longer than anticipated. I'm still not pain free and am walking with a limp. Things are progressing but I'm not even able to run yet so having chatted with my instructor it now looks like I'm not going to jump again until February\March once the weather gets a little more predictable. That's the theory anyway. I will have to repeat ground school and start back at level 1 but I'm not worried about that. Depending on my recovery I might try jumping sooner or at least messing about in the tunnel but I'll just have to wait and see.
Great news that you got your licence, well done! The video looks excellent and just makes me want to get back there all the more. You looked really stable so you must be pretty chuffed with that. I can't wait to get onto the FS stuff, that looks really great fun. Will you be jumping through the winter?
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