Jumping From A Perfectly Good Airplane

[Quake120 0]

Hi all! Been reading the forums for a little while and decided that I'd join. Just a week or two ago, me, my brother, and some friends all decided we'd like to skydive. We're going in the early summer to Skydive Utah. I'm stoked, but slightly nervous (mostly about that door opening and staring at a desert floor 14,000 feet below, haha.).
Just have some questions for all of you experienced divers:(a lot of these assume I am going to love it and continue in the sport, which I'm sure I will)

What is the average temperature at jump altitude?
Did you ever feel like backing out and not jumping on your first time?
How much does a good rig cost? Is packing hard?
Do you really notice the acceleration immediately after jumping from the plane before you hit terminal velocity?
Anything you'd suggest? Maybe to quell any nervousness I'll have when flying to altitude or during jump etc? I've heard that you really aren't supposed to look down at the ground. Anybody know why that is?

I'm excited... I can't wait to join your ranks and experience this!

[NelKel 0]

What is the average temperature at jump altitude?
Did you ever feel like backing out and not jumping on your first time?
How much does a good rig cost? Is packing hard?
Do you really notice the acceleration immediately after jumping from the plane before you hit terminal velocity?
Anything you'd suggest? Maybe to quell any nervousness I'll have when flying to altitude or during jump etc? I've heard that you really aren't supposed to look down at the ground. Anybody know why that is?
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usually 3-4 degrees colder per thousand feet.

no

Prices vary, depends on what is good IYO. packing is not hard for me. Your milage may vary.

The acceleratoin depends on how fast or slow the plane is flying on jump run.

Try taking deep breaths it really helps to relax, focus on your training, and the reason you are do the jump.

You need to keep your chin up in freefall, the ground will be in your perifial(sp?) vision. Having your head down will give you an asymmetrical body position and may cause instability.

Good luck!
EDIT: to remove specific airplane models

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Someone dies, someone says how stupid, someone says it was avoidable, someone says how to avoid it, someone calls them an idiot, someone proposes rule chan

[skymama 37]

Welcome to the forums!
What is the average temperature at jump altitude?

I don't know, but I'm most comfortable jumping when it's in the 70's on the ground.

Did you ever feel like backing out and not jumping on your first time?

If I wasn't strapped to a tandem guy, I totally would have backed out on the first jump once we got to the door!

How much does a good rig cost? Is packing hard?

It's hard to say because "good" is relative. The bells and whistles can really add up! You might be able to get a good starter rig somewhere between $3000-$4000, depending on whether you get a Cypres (automatic opening devise for your reserve if you don't release your main).

I hate packing.

Do you really notice the acceleration immediately after jumping from the plane before you hit terminal velocity?

Nah, not really.

Anything you'd suggest? Maybe to quell any nervousness I'll have when flying to altitude or during jump etc? I've heard that you really aren't supposed to look down at the ground. Anybody know why that is?

Hmmm, I've never heard that. I look down to make sure I'm still near the dz. Just relax and get video of your first jump, you'll bore all of your friends with it because you'll want to show it to them over and over.

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[wightout 0]

The only thing I'd suggest is going to Skydive Ogden instead. It's my home DZ, I live in Orem. I started there...and really LOVE them! Brian was my Jump Master, and Suzanne is really a sweetie! PM me for more info!!

To borrow a line from Squeak...MY LIFE ROCKS!! HOW'S YOURS??!!!

[Babi 0]

Congratulation on your decision. It will be a lot of fun doing it together with your friends.

I am a static line student.
As for the cold, I was to busy being scared to feel any cold. I feel less scared if I am worm.
I jump from a tiny Cessna and if you are the first jumper, there is really no way that you could change your mind. But I hear that people have done it in bigger planes and there is no shame in it.

In any event, the experience is tremendous. You are scared to death and you do it just the same and when you get to the ground you are so proud of yourself that you want to do it again straight away.

I was so scared for the first 10 jumps that I almost gave it up. Watching the videos of me jumping really helped me. As I saw and heard all the noises, the experience was almost as if I was actually up there and by watching it over and over I slowly got used to it and my next jump was almost scare-free.

If you are very concerned abut your first jump maybe it would be a good idea to try a wind tunnel and get some idea of how it is.

I wonder what the general thoughts are on wind tunnel? For a beginner. I plan to have some time there before I start jumping again in spring.

Good luck on your first jump!

Babi

[RopeJunkie 0]

-- Did you ever feel like backing out and not jumping on your first time?

Not really as bad as you might think, but expect it to be scary all the same, but if you climbed onto the plane to start with then you're more than capable of doing the deed when you get to altitude! First jump is of course the scariest, and you have that pre-jump anxiety 'cos you don't really know what to expect. By your third time up, you'll be starting to get less scared and will have a smile on your face on the ride up, rather than that blank "not quite sure what expression to make" first jump face. :-) I have only done nine jumps on RAPS (just done first freefall), and already the fun far outweighs the scaryness, the ride up is pretty chilled out (even more so when you're sharing a lift with experienced jumpers), and just a slight twinge of managable fear when the engine cuts which is starting to get enjoyable in a strange kinda way. :-) You are too busy focusing on what you have to do, especially when you progress onto DPs, first freefall etc, that you are more anxious like how you felt waiting for your driving test than scared in a mortal kinda way. You'll love it. You sound well up for it.

-- How much does a good rig cost? Is packing hard?

Rigs are expensive, even second hand. Don't buy anything 'till you qualify certainly, as you'll expect to be downsizing canopy anyhoo. Packing is complicated, but most DZs will have packing services available and advanced packers who will probably do a much better job anyway (for a price). So, packing is not an essential skill to be able to participate in the sport. Obviously being able to pack your own rig brings costs down though, and it's interesting to learn how everything works in detail. Definately from a student perspective, watching someone else pack a rig is great for reducing fear as you gain trust in the simplicity and robustness of the design and get to understand how everything works. I would like to learn packing myself, but not until I have learned a bit more about jumping.

-- Do you really notice the acceleration immediately after jumping from the plane before you hit terminal velocity?

Only done two five second freefalls so far, so never reached terminal, but have to say I didn't really get a sensation of falling. In fact, I met a couple of people who're scared of going up a ladder but enjoy skydiving. Not really the sensation of falling off something like you'd expect. Alright, so you notice that the floor's dissapeared, but it's really not a bad feeling at all. :-)

-- Anything you'd suggest? Maybe to quell any nervousness I'll have when flying to altitude or during jump etc?

Big smile works, especially just before you exit, relieves all that tension. Watch videos of other students too. Don't switch off in the plane, keep talking to people if it's not too noisy, asking questions, pointing out landmarks and the view. Just take it all in, the sound, the smell (well, maybe not the smell), everything, don't switch off and you'll be cool. Keep a positive mental attitude. When it's time to get out, look purposeful and take confident steps, no shuffling. :-)
Your first couple of jumps will be very scary, but no problem for you. Look forward to the fear gradually being replaced with "thrill" as you progress. Make sure you're 100% happy with everything you've learned on the ground and ask any questions you need, no matter how silly you might think they are, good answers will put your mind at rest. You don't need to be worrying about anything on the plane. Make sure you're prepared and ready.

Have fun!
G. :-)

[workman306 0]

Whats new at Skydive Ogden these days?
I was an instructor there for 10 yrs. back in the 80's.

[Eule 0]

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Just a week or two ago, me, my brother, and some friends all decided we'd like to skydive.

Expect a smaller group of people when it's actually time to go to the airport. I've talked to more than
one person that was doing a tandem who said that when they first talked about it, several of their
friends said they wanted to go, but as the big day approached, everyone else had to work, couldn't go,
etc.

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We're going in the early summer to Skydive Utah.

Go now, it's a lot less crowded! :)

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Just have some questions for all of you experienced divers:

I am not experienced - I started in June 2005 - but maybe some of these answers will be helpful.

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What is the average temperature at jump altitude?

I've been told the same 4 F colder per 1000 feet as has been mentioned. Depending on what aircraft
the DZ has, you'll probably be anywhere from 10,000 to 13,500 feet above the ground, so something
like 40 F to 54 F colder in the air than it is on the ground. Don't let this number freak you out, though...
you fall at around 5 seconds per 1000 feet, so you don't spend a lot of time in the really cold air. I've
jumped when it was in the mid-50s on the ground. I really noticed it when the door first opened, but
after that, I didn't think about it until I was under canopy and my face felt really cold. When you see
the instructors and experienced jumpers bundling up, that is a clue.

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Did you ever feel like backing out and not jumping on your first time?

Once or twice. I'm glad I went through with it, though.

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How much does a good rig cost?

That's sort of like asking "what does a car cost". I don't have a rig yet, but just looking at catalogs,
it wouldn't be that hard to spend north of $5,000 on a brand-new rig with leather seats and CD
changer. Used rigs are cheaper but I'm not sure what an "average" price is.

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Is packing hard?

The first few times you do it, it's somewhat of a pain in the butt. There doesn't seem to be anything
for it but practice.

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Do you really notice the acceleration immediately after jumping from the plane before you hit
terminal velocity?

I don't notice the acceleration as much. What I do notice is that I'm seeing mostly sky for the first
few seconds, and then the ground "comes up" (really, I am leveling out) so I see about equal amounts
of ground and sky.

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Anything you'd suggest?

If you like to study up on things before you do them, there are some books you might find interesting.
Skydiver's Handbook by Poynter and Turoff, and/or Jump by Buchanan. There is some information on
these books and others here. You don't _have_ to read anything before you go - your instructors will
see that you know everything you need to know in your first jump class - but some people prefer to
have a little background. If you do read anything (including posts here), remember that what your
instructors say takes precedence over what you have read. If you are unclear on something, ask your
instructor about it.

I got right in with an AFF Level 1 jump, and since then I've told people that if I was starting from
scratch again, I'd do a tandem first. An AFF jump involves several tasks as soon as you're off the
plane, but for the first several seconds all I was thinking was "Shit, I let go of the plane, shit, I'm
falling, shit, I am nuts" and so on. I eventually started doing the things I needed to do, but I first
had to get over that initial shock. I think it would be better to have this initial shock when you're
on a tandem and you don't _have_ to do anything. I don't mean to imply that you're just "along
for the ride" on a tandem - many DZs have a student progression that starts with a couple of
tandem jumps, so you are learning things right from the first tandem jump. Even if your DZ doesn't
do this, if you let your tandem master know that you're intending to go on and get licensed, he or
she may be willing to let you try certain things, like flying the canopy some after the tandem master
has determined that it is working correctly.

VERY IMPORTANT! Find out what kind of beer they like at the DZ! Learn about the beer rules.
I'm sure that even in Utah, the jumpers drink beer. If they don't, there will be some equivalent food or
beverage, so find out what that is.

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I've heard that you really aren't supposed to look down at the ground.

I looked at the ground on the ride up in the plane and just for a bit when I first looked out of the
open door of the plane and it didn't seem to hurt. If I remember right, my instructors were asking
me to look down at certain things from the plane, like the layout of the landing area. Once you've
let go of the plane, moving your whole head down to look down at the ground can make you
unstable (ask me how I know this). Your instructors will tell you where you should be looking and
what you should be doing during each part of the jump.

Eule

PLF does not stand for Please Land on Face.

[kschilk 0]

You can expect a jump temp about 30-50 degrees lower than on the ground, depending on alt. & humidity. Get a good "warm-up suit"! I'm in PA and it's always freezing, at exit altitude. I wear one under my flight suit. It's not too warm, even in the summer and (combined with the flight suit) is almost totally windproof.
I still feel like backing out, sometimes....but it's because I have a fear of airplanes. Man, by 2000 ft. I'm clawin' at the door! I feel totally safe, in the air.
I got a pretty good deal, a slightly used rig w/cypres for $3000.
Packing isn't hard. It's a bit easier if the stabs are a different color....easier to identify, at a glance.
ANYBODY who isn't nervous (and I don't care how many jumps they have) before a jump, at least a little....I'd call dangerous. On my first jump, I figured it this way....The dz hadn't lost anyone yet....and I'd have to be damned arrogant to think that I'd get to be the first! It worked!
Looking down....don't worry about it. It's not like looking off a bridge or building, there's really no reference to gauge the height. Everything is so far away, it's more surreal than anything.
Welcome aboard!!

"T'was ever thus."

[Jumpah 0]

Welcome, I hope it goes great! Are you doing a tandem first?

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Did you ever feel like backing out and not jumping on your first time?

- No, but I was real nervous my second AFF jump. My first I was pretty numb and failed the jump through lack of alt awareness. My instructor pulled for me

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Do you really notice the acceleration immediately after jumping from the plane before you hit terminal velocity?

- You won't notice it like you would if you were in a car and accelerating. You'll feel the wind picking up though. Once you get up to terminal velocity you'll feel the air pushing on your body, like when you put your hand out the sunroof of a car.

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Anything you'd suggest? Maybe to quell any nervousness I'll have when flying to altitude or during jump etc? I've heard that you really aren't supposed to look down at the ground. Anybody know why that is?

- Well...skydiving is a pretty f'd up sport when you think about it, so if you are up there and look down, you start thinking about what you are about to do, you know? I don't have a problem with lookng at the ground, but I don't like standing when the plane is turning...makes my stomach drop when there is turbulance. On my 3,500 foot hop-and-pop (requirement for your "A" license) the instructor had me sitting alongside to the open otter door while the plane made a banking turn at 2,000 feet. I could look straight down at the ground. Didn't like that much because I could see details you can't see at 13,500...like a person walking their dog, and some people looking up at us in the plane!

If you are nervous tell your instructors. They expect it from us students and they won't think less of you, and they'll help you get at ease. Being relaxed is important.

Make sure you let us know how it goes!

(edited to correct spelling)

[thourb 0]

I have only done one tandem and a bit of tunnel time so far, but i'll chip in with what I can... Anyone who is more experienced than me, please correct anything wrong i say!

What is the average temperature at jump altitude?

Couldn't tell you an average temperature - but i did my tandem in the middle of British winter time. I can't begin to tell you how cold it was on the ground, let alone in the sky at 13,500 ft - however, the sheer fact that you are jumping out of an airplane will take your mind right off the temperature.

Did you ever feel like backing out and not jumping on your first time?

Nope. Not at all. I initially did the tandem for the experience. Didnt expect to get hooked as I have done. If you are doing a tandem first, you have the comfort provided by an experienced TI strapped to your back. If you're nervous about going straight for AFF or RAPS, this may be the best choice for you.

How much does a good rig cost? Is packing hard?

Couldn't tell you. Have seen the pro's pack and they make it seem easy. I guess its just practice, practice, practice. The thought of me eventually jumping for the first time using a main parachute that I packed makes me more nervous than i ever felt during my tandem.

Skydiving rigs vary a lot in price. I am not concerning myself with that for a while yet. Get licensed first, log a load of jumps, then get a rig. You will undoubtedly make friends and contacts during your training and early jumps - you may well find that you can pick up a bargain from somebody who is changing their rig. After reading the posts on here, the general feeling is that as a "newbie" it is probably best to go with a secondhand rig for starters.

Do you really notice the acceleration immediately after jumping from the plane before you hit terminal velocity?

Not really. Terminal velocity for a skydiver in a standard belly to earth position is around 115-120mph. It is likely that your aircraft will be travelling at a fair pace when you jump out anyway, so you only accellerate a little bit - its not like you're going from 0-120mph in 5 seconds!

Anything you'd suggest? Maybe to quell any nervousness I'll have when flying to altitude or during jump etc?

Read up on everything before you even leave for your jump! If you are going on a tandem first, you have your instructor to worry about any emergency procedures. I have found it useful to read the posts on DZ.com and read the Skydivers Handbook. Also, watching the videos on skydivingmovies.com can be useful too! Knowing exactly what you are getting into can only help calm your nerves when you get around to doing it! Don't worry about being nervous during the jump - it's not really the sort of environment where you have time to be nervous!

I've heard that you really aren't supposed to look down at the ground. Anybody know why that is?

During the actual ride up, there is no reason for not looking down. Go ahead! Enjoy the view! When you are in freefall, the best position to be is belly to earth with your back arched. This is much more easily achieved with your chin up and head facing forwards. As soon as you look down, you almost automatically lose your stable arched position and this can cause you to lose control. It is re-assuring however, that you can recover from most situations in which you are spinning/out of control by just re-arching your back correctly.

Hope that this has helped! If you're anything like me - prepare to become an addict!

[crotalus01 0]

expect an average temp of -45 degrees of whatever the current ground temp is at altitude (not always true, just generally), but you most likely won't notice it until much later in your progression (assuming you continue on to get your license).
never felt like backing out on my tandem. contrary to what most people think, in my experience (and many others i have talked to) the first jump is not the scariest - my scariest jump was around #20 or so.
i bought my rig with 2 years left on the Cypres for about $2,500.
yes and no. you notice it a lot more on your training jumps than you do on your first tandem, mostly due to sensory overload on that first jump.
ask your instructor. i chewed gum on the way up and in freefall, but some TIs may frown on that (mine didn't care).
have fun! it's a unique experience.

As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD...