I'm thinking about taking up skydiving. Any members here sport skydivers?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - I'm thinking about taking up skydiving. Any members here sport skydivers?

Posted: 2/13/2017 3:50:38 PM EDT

In the past I've jumped on military equipment but I would like to learn to jump with a modern, flyable rig.

Anyone here that has experience and can offer tips and advice?

Posted: 2/13/2017 3:51:46 PM EDT

[#1]

Posted: 2/13/2017 3:53:02 PM EDT

[#2]

I don't like hobbies that I have to get perfectly right the first time or die.

Posted: 2/13/2017 3:53:31 PM EDT

[#3]

Paging captainpooby to the white courtesy phone, captainpooby to the white courtesy phone please.

Posted: 2/13/2017 3:56:06 PM EDT

[#4]

Its initially expensive but fun. I think its a time commitment too in that you usually spend the full day there to get a few jumps in and you gotta go regularly to keep your skills up to date and keep currency.

Posted: 2/13/2017 3:57:22 PM EDT

[#5]

Quote History

Quoted:
I don't like hobbies that I have to get perfectly right the first time or die.

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"Something, something. Something grey twilight something something."
-T. Roosevelt

Posted: 2/13/2017 4:05:46 PM EDT

[#6]

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Quoted:
I don't like hobbies that I have to get perfectly right the first time or die.

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Eh, modern equipment is pretty idiot proof. I've seen and done some pretty dumb shit skydiving and it usually turned out okay.

Id say go for it. Commercial gear is a lot more fun.

Posted: 2/13/2017 4:09:01 PM EDT

[#7]

I've got 60 jumps.

There's really not much to tell. Just call up your local dropzone and talk with them.

Only piece of advice I can offer is; don't buy gear until you've got some jumps under your belt and know you're going to keep at it. I've got several thousand dollars in parachutes in my closet and haven't jumped in five years. It's cheaper to rent.

Posted: 2/13/2017 4:44:08 PM EDT

[#8]

IM Captpoopy He might have a hook up in your area.

Skip the tandem, some places push it.
Go straight to the static line or accelerated free fall depending on your background and or funds.
I second renting for awhile if the DZ has decent gear.

Do you know anybody else who wants to jump. I used to organize a yearly jumps from people I knew ( work,family,friends) . My Dz would comp me jumps depending on the size of the group. Makes it more enjoyable to have some buddies there too.

Sport chutes are like nimble corvettes compared to DOD rounds.
Good luck.
http://www.uspa.org/facts-faqs/faqs

Posted: 2/13/2017 4:58:50 PM EDT

[#9]

Just remember to pull the cord before you can count the blades of grass.

Posted: 2/13/2017 5:10:12 PM EDT

[#10]

I have about 1800 sport jumps.

Get wind tunnel training first. I wished they had the advanced tunnels 20 years ago when I started jumping. These kids with 1 years tunnel flight time can fly circles around me when I was at my best, that was after jumping every weekend religiously for 7 years straight.

Posted: 2/13/2017 6:36:56 PM EDT

[#11]

Quote History

Quoted:
I have about 1800 sport jumps.

Get wind tunnel training first. I wished they had the advanced tunnels 20 years ago when I started jumping. These kids with 1 years tunnel flight time can fly circles around me when I was at my best, that was after jumping every weekend religiously for 7 years straight.

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I did some wind tunnel training this past weekend. Interesting to say the least, I still had only some rudimentary skills, but the skinny young punks working there could literally fly circles around anybody at will.
The thing that struck me about the wind tunnel was that there was no sense of falling at all. More like swimming than free falling in that regard.

Posted: 2/13/2017 6:45:28 PM EDT

[#12]

Tim McGraw - Live Like You Were Dying (Official Music Video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9TShlMkQnc

Posted: 2/13/2017 7:39:35 PM EDT

[#13]

Quote History

Quoted:

Only piece of advice I can offer is; don't buy gear until you've got some jumps under your belt and know you're going to keep at it. I've got several thousand dollars in parachutes in my closet and haven't jumped in five years. It's cheaper to rent.

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I was going to try and sell him my gear

Seriously though, I'd make any arf guy a hell of a good deal on some gear

Posted: 2/13/2017 7:49:28 PM EDT

[#14]

I'm still new. I did AFF early this year, and have 38 jumps. It's amazing. I can answer some general questions.

Posted: 2/13/2017 7:59:08 PM EDT

[#15]

I taught it back in the 70's at the old Austin Parachute Center in Manor, TX.

It's fun, exciting, and expensive.

Posted: 2/13/2017 8:05:09 PM EDT

[#16]

I made a few jumps back in the early 70's. Broke my leg on the last jump (kinda why it was the last one). Great fun but everything I know is way out of date.

Posted: 2/13/2017 8:09:02 PM EDT

[#17]

I'll scuba dive, but there is no fucking way I will sky dive. Ever.

Posted: 2/13/2017 8:09:37 PM EDT

[#18]

Quote History

Quoted:

I was going to try and sell him my gear

Seriously though, I'd make any arf guy a hell of a good deal on some gear

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:

Only piece of advice I can offer is; don't buy gear until you've got some jumps under your belt and know you're going to keep at it. I've got several thousand dollars in parachutes in my closet and haven't jumped in five years. It's cheaper to rent.

I was going to try and sell him my gear

Seriously though, I'd make any arf guy a hell of a good deal on some gear

Let me ask you this: Would you buy a used parachute from an ARFCOM member?

Posted: 2/13/2017 8:12:07 PM EDT

[#19]

Take the AAF course are you near Quincy ILL?

Posted: 2/13/2017 8:13:01 PM EDT

[#20]

The ultimate "E" ticket ride.

( now you got an idea on how old I am)

do it, did plenty of jumps in my early 20's...

great , fun, wonderful memories....

Posted: 2/13/2017 8:24:03 PM EDT

[#21]

Quote History

Quoted:
Take the AAF course are you near Quincy ILL?

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Skydive Chicago is in Ottawa. Go there.

I don't think there is a DZ in Quincy. The WFFC used to be there before it briefly moved to Rantoul, then it got shut down.

Posted: 2/13/2017 10:31:50 PM EDT

[#22]

Not sure where you are but check out Skydive Chicago if it's close. USPA.org can give you a list of DZs in your AO. Look for a place with good lift capacity, read: TwinOtter.

My iPad is giving me grief, I'll try to post some tomorrow.

Posted: 2/14/2017 12:17:04 AM EDT

[#23]

It's a commitment in both time & money (you'll need to jump at least once a month to keep current) and you'll find yourself wanting to jump multiple times just about every weekend. If your ok with that look into advanced free fall coupled with wind tunnel training. The quicker you learn to control your body the quicker you get off student status & the more you'll enjoy relative work.
Other than that my best advice is listen to the instructors, don't flair too high, don't open too low, and remember you're there to have fun.

Posted: 2/14/2017 10:19:33 AM EDT

[#24]

OK, on my work computer. Here's my advice:

Pick a DZ and check out their website then give them a call, AFF (accelerated freefall is the name of the instructional method) is what you seek. Book a day to make your jump. When the time comes, show up well rested (not hung over) and on time wearing clothes that you'd play touch football in, not boots or cleats, comfortable sneakers.

Forget everything you know from the military except how to follow instructions. Have an open mind, pay attention in class and listen to your instructor, your life may depend on what he says. You don't need to read up on anything before you go, in fact I recommend you go as an empty vessel.

Have fun.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - I'm thinking about taking up skydiving. Any members here sport skydivers?

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