FIRST JUMP

[bertusgeert 1]

This poll HAS to have been done before, but I cannot find it, been searchin a while.

So lets all do it again

I curious as to how people decided to do their first jump.

And for the discussion, how do you explain you first jump to a whuffo when he asks? I go crazy and never stop talking!

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As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

[BethUK 0]

What the hell would 'other' be and someone SO cant select that and not give an explanation!!!?

Bx

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"This isn't flying...it's falling with style!" Buzz Lightyear - Toystory 1

[DeNReN 0]

Ummm you left IAD off the poll

[metalslug 36]

I reckon 'other' would be an unplanned jump, typicaly an emergency exit/ejection by a pilot or crew from an aircraft.

[Lee03 0]

My first jump was AFF. I figured that was the way to do it., to go in with both feet. As to what I tell whuffos.. I first tell then that I cannot describe it to them to where they would understand it, because there are no words that exist that can convey what it is like. Someone can only understand it if they do it. Then I tell the about what I did for AFF 1, the classes, how the jump went, etc. To date I've talked 6 whuffos into doing either AFF or tandems. So, I guess I;'ve been either successful, or lucky. I hadn't had one no show up on me if theyh said that they would be there.

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To put your life in danger from time to time ... breeds a saneness in dealing with day-to-day trivialities.

--Nevil Shute, Slide Rule

[bertusgeert 1]

As it was said, i just put other on there for any odd jumps made from odd places or something. sorry about forgetting IAD.

I skipped a tandem, didnt want to waste money, i knew i would love it!

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As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

[Unstable 9]

My first jump was on the Dope Rope from 3.5k

=========Shaun ==========

[pajarito 0]

First jump: Skipped a day of high school (I was 18)and went to my Uncle (Buddy Blue's) DZ (Opelika Skydiving Association) operating out of Tuskegee, AL (where the Tuskegee Airmen were trained). My Dad was also there. My AFF Instructor, who was killed in 1999 in a motorcycle accident, Warren "Toad" Bullen, took me on my first jump out of a CH-54 Skycrane helicopter from 15,000ft. I said that I wasn't scared but, looking back on it, I was. I did everything wrong, got unstable, wrapped him up, and we plummetted down in ball. He had to pull my ripcord. The rest of the jump went well. Two weeks later, I had graduated high school and was on my way to Army basic training. For those of you who happened to have known Toad, he was a great friend of the family and is missed.

[bertusgeert 1]

Thats awesome man. Howd you jump out of a skycrane? where did you exit from?

And is opelika near Auburn? Does it still exist? I have a friend that wants to go to a local DZ and check it out studying at Auburn.

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As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

[pajarito 0]

Well, I enlisted under a delayed entry program and signed up for Army SF. So, it was legal...barely. The group that I was jumping with, which I later became a part of, was the 20th Special Forces Group Parachute Exhibition Team. I got to jump a LOT for free out of helicopters early on. It was great. Those days are over and it will never be as good as we had it back then. I really miss it. The Skycrane doesn't fly anymore and was decommissioned back in 1992. I made the last jump out of the last one back then too. Bar none, the best jump aircraft on the planet. We nicknamed it "The Alabama Fun Machine." Opelika is right beside Auburn on the other side. Tusekegee is about 15-20min down the road on West side of Auburn heading towards Montgomery. The Opelika Skydiving Association, for me at least, started at a little place in Beauregard (right below Opelika) called Buddy's Grass Strip. It moved due to liability reasons from the owner of the land. It is still, and intentionally so, a small DZ. Retired CSM Buddy Blue (my uncle and SkymonkeyOne, Chuck Blue's Dad) owns and operates 2 C-182's. You can jump bigger airplanes elsewhere, but the hometown atmosphere is at Buddy's DZ. It's a fun place to visit and I would recommend it to anyone.

[pajarito 0]

By the way, www.skydiveopelika.net will get you exact directions and details. Later.

[champu 1]

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Ummm you left IAD off the poll

oh just pick static-line and stop getting so picky

[Fireflyer 0]

tandem then AFF

[JUDYJ 0]

I am like LEE03 in that I figure if I was going to do this thing of jumping then AFF was the only way to go.

Being that I am a redhead and a Scorpion, I explain it in terms that really matter. If you were a guy whuffo then I would tell you to remember that 'one' thing about every woman (or sheep for some) that was perfect for you for that moment. Jumping is like being with each one of those women BUT having them all at once with that one best thing from each of them happening in 50 seconds. The twinkle in their eye shines a bit brighter after that. Guy whuffos seem to understand faster than female whuffos do~~

IF you are going to be Stupid - you better be tough!

[ifics 0]

I went straight to AFF, glad I did now... I knew how bad I was addicted before i landed my 1st canopy

[bertusgeert 1]

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I went straight to AFF, glad I did now... I knew how bad I was addicted before i landed my 1st canopy

same here! I couldnt stop laughing when I got on the ground, my instructor walked over and started laughing as well, not sayin a word. He helped me gather my gear, and i couldnt get the smile off of my face for the rest of the day!

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As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

[JohnMitchell 16]

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What the hell would 'other' be and someone SO cant select that and not give an explanation!!!?

Bx

Air Force Academy use to train first jump was a 10 second freefall, without an instructor hanging on to you. This was before tandem or AFF. Don't know if they still do it that way.