live2dive 0 #1 October 4, 2006 Ever since my first jump I have been hooked on skydiving. My only problem is that I'm always coming up short on my D2 (Level 5 at most other DZ's) jump. I currently have made 9 AFF jumps. I had to repeat D1 once but I am going on my 5th attempt on trying to pass my D2. I was mainly having problems with my turns, so I flew down to Orlando for two 15 minute sessions with a coach. I feel much better about my turns but I still need to work on getting my legs out more and keeping them from moving around so much. How many jumps does it take the average person to completely pass the AFF course? I feel that if I don't complete my AFF course soon that I should just quit. I feel real passionate about the sport but I feel crappy about how many attempts this is taking me. I guess I'm just wondering how many others have been in the same boat or if I'm the only one. Thanks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
georgerussia 0 #2 October 4, 2006 Took me 8 jumps, had to repeat C2 (4th jump) once. Practice on the ground a lot - that's what helped me. There is only one more AFF level (E) after D2.* Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. * Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
packing_jarrett 0 #3 October 4, 2006 I'll vouch for someone at the dz who doesnt get on here. He has 50 or 60 aff jumps and still hasn't gotten on solo status. I think he's on level 4. on the other side of training... I got off student status in 20 static line jumpsNa' Cho' Cheese Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lespaul980 0 #5 October 4, 2006 i recently finished mine in 7 jumps, but from talking to other people at the dz it really does vary. so keep trying. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jasonRose 0 #6 October 4, 2006 Shit!!! You are doing great I am still stuck on AFF 6. It doesn't matter how many jumps it takes, just listen to your instructors they know whats best for you!! Or at least they should. Some day I will have the best staff in the world!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Butters 0 #7 October 4, 2006 I finished mine in 7 jumps. I have heard stories of people ranging from 7 to over 45. I have to say, if you like to skydive then don't give up because it doesn't matter how many it takes you but how many you are willing to take. Not to mention you always seem to be in a good mood and that is all that really counts."That looks dangerous." Leopold Stotch Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AFFI 0 #8 October 4, 2006 I know a pretty damn good instructor that took about 30 AFF jumps, an another one that took 12 tandems before the first solo! Hang in there, you are just getting started. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Reginald 0 #9 October 4, 2006 I was a particuarlly bad AFF student. i repeated level 4 four times and level 5 four times. I long ago posted my stores here http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=855344;search_string=reginald%20aff%20stories;#855344 And a few years later I'm a pretty decent 4 way guy and good AFFI, I've done 80 way skydives and had a great time all along. I think its the people that struggel a little in AFF that appreciate the sport more than those that breeze through it. My advice, if you want to skydive do it! Don't let a few little setbacks keep you down."We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things." CP Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #10 October 4, 2006 it takes how many it takes you. Going to the tunnel was a good strategy to help you along - I did the same to get stability practice at more than 40 seconds at a time. In virtually no other sport do you get 80 seconds of working practice in a day. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy_Copland 0 #11 October 4, 2006 I dont know how the USPA grade it but our AFF consists of 8 levels in the UK (level 8 being the hop n pop) then 10 consolidation jumps to get your A. I got my "A" in 18 jumps but right at that exact time i'd lost my job and couldnt even afford the 10 quid to send off for my license....so when i was working again and went to jump i had to do another level 7 which i actually really really enjoyed doing with an instructor, everything done nice and high and just dorked at the instructor with a few thumbs up and stupid grinning face.1338 People aint made of nothin' but water and shit. Until morale improves, the beatings will continue. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dorbie 0 #12 October 4, 2006 7 (no fails) but I also squeezed a tandem in between #1 and #2 because I couldn't solo due to student wind limits. The DZ where I learned Skydive Dallas put in a lot of effort on the ground to ensure you developed the right response in the air and passed the level, and this was in part due to their "Skydive University" based curriculum (Rob Laidlaw's teaching methods). I'm sure the ground based physical teaching methods they used helped me pass those levels where other approaches would have seen me fail. I have my suspicions that some DZs out there are less efficient than they could be in training & passing students through AFF levels. That time in the wind tunnel won't be wasted. Don't give up, some day you'll be enjoying $20 jumps and your AFF will be a fond memory. You should try to enjoy AFF it can be some of the most fun you'll ever have skydiving. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
live2dive 0 #13 October 4, 2006 Well it is nice to hear that other people have had similar problems, especially Reginalds post. As I read the post I couldn't help but laugh because I'm in the same boat. Now I know I won't give up. Thanks for the encouragement, I really needed it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LittleOne 0 #14 October 4, 2006 Many people take many more jumps than you have so far to get through AFF and acquire the first license. However, you do not have to contemplate quitting unless your instructor has suggested that you do so (aka the Take Up Bowling/Golf speech). The peer pressure and pride can become hard to handle (I know from personal experience) but just get through it. Student performance is not necessarily an indicator of your future performance once licensed. Who knows, you may be the next world champion formation skydiver/ freeflyer/ swooper, etc. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ron 10 #15 October 4, 2006 Don't worry about it. Know how many AFF jumps it took me to get off student status? Nope....Well I am not gonna tell ya either. It does not matter. Just focus on your mission and do not get concerned with the setbacks. It is for fun and once you get a few thousand jumps, no one cares how many AFF jumps it took."No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Reginald 0 #16 October 4, 2006 QuoteDon't worry about it. Know how many AFF jumps it took me to get off student status? Nope....Well I am not gonna tell ya either. It does not matter. Oh, now I gotta know! I'm betting 18! "We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things." CP Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
popsjumper 2 #17 October 4, 2006 Hey! On the positive side, all it means is that you get to do more jumps with and instructor! WooooHoooo! Keep at it as long as you enjoy it. Training is not a goal, it's a journey...a career-long journey.My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #18 October 4, 2006 Quote I have my suspicions that some DZs out there are less efficient than they could be in training & passing students through AFF levels. and on the other side, some are too efficient at passing students through AFF levels. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hongkongluna 0 #19 October 4, 2006 I did only 1 for each level. But, i had done 5-6 tandems since 94, with friends, just for fun and that made me real comfortable in the air once i started my training. Dont forget, jumps are like pizza & sex, even when theyre bad, theyre still pretty good At least youre skydiving !! Enjoy it. Who cares if you have to do things over...-Rainier Sparks Brother #1 // "I vaguely heard someone yell "wait!" but by that point i was out the door." Quote from dz.com somewhere Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomAiello 26 #20 October 4, 2006 Read this logbook, and take heart. Surf around the rest of the page and you'll see that taking a long time to finish your student progression isn't going to prevent you becoming a world class skydiver.-- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NewGuy2005 53 #21 October 5, 2006 You don't sound too bad to me. Keep going. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
live2dive 0 #22 October 5, 2006 YES!!! I finally passed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Rafaellimon 0 #23 October 5, 2006 Congratulations!! on your progress I'm going to perris on October 12 to try to finish AFF from level 4 now that I read all posts let me tell ya that I feel some pressure I want to pass every level hope I do all right I don't have that much money haha and still paying for my trip. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites tomvailco 0 #24 October 6, 2006 QuoteI'll vouch for someone at the dz who doesnt get on here. He has 50 or 60 aff jumps and still hasn't gotten on solo status. I think he's on level 4. on the other side of training... I got off student status in 20 static line jumps 60 AFF jumps???? That's nuts. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Ron 10 #25 October 7, 2006 Quote60 AFF jumps???? That's nuts. why is it nuts?"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Prev 1 2 3 Next Page 1 of 3 Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
Rafaellimon 0 #23 October 5, 2006 Congratulations!! on your progress I'm going to perris on October 12 to try to finish AFF from level 4 now that I read all posts let me tell ya that I feel some pressure I want to pass every level hope I do all right I don't have that much money haha and still paying for my trip. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tomvailco 0 #24 October 6, 2006 QuoteI'll vouch for someone at the dz who doesnt get on here. He has 50 or 60 aff jumps and still hasn't gotten on solo status. I think he's on level 4. on the other side of training... I got off student status in 20 static line jumps 60 AFF jumps???? That's nuts. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ron 10 #25 October 7, 2006 Quote60 AFF jumps???? That's nuts. why is it nuts?"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites