DHolland 0 #1 April 16, 2007 I figure its time to start spending my hard earned money on whats really important. Being a poor student im struggling on which method of training to use. I have two tandems out of Lodi and figure it would be the best place to get the ball rolling. They offer a traditional training program which is 500$ and does static line eventually progressing to a 13,000ft 60 sec freefall, Or, they have the 1000$ AFF program which looks sweet and seems pretty damn cheap compared to other DZ's. For all of you who have been through this a few words of wisdom would be appreciated. -Thanks, Dennis Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NewGuy2005 53 #2 April 16, 2007 AFF, if you can swing it. It's worth it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DeNReN 0 #3 April 16, 2007 Hey...your question is loaded one that has been asked many many times before... Using the search function will bring up hours and hours of reading on s/l(iad) vs aff threads/debates/all out brawls read up and then come ask any questions that were not answered in the previous threads...bet ya they are all answered.... IMHO newb opinion....do some static line ...then rethink what you want to do... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Orange1 0 #4 April 16, 2007 Quote Hey...your question is loaded one that has been asked many many times before... Using the search function will bring up hours and hours of reading on s/l(iad) vs aff threads/debates/all out brawls read up and then come ask any questions that were not answered in the previous threads...bet ya they are all answered.... what he said. i think you'll find people who did AFF will tell you to do AFF and ditto for SL. I did both so I'm unbiased but have posted enough in the other threads already!Skydiving: wasting fossil fuels just for fun. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Digitalmafia 0 #5 April 16, 2007 "I have two tandems out of Lodi " I would suggest AFF - you have already been up and out of a plane (if you can afford it). Personally, I wanted to be a skydiver and AFF got me right into it immediately. I didnt even do a tandem first- it was challenging, intense and kept me working hard and moving forward. I never had any issues with landing so im not sure, personally(!), what I would have gained by static jumps - AFF I got a skydive and a canopy ride and a lot of training. Now I am working on my A (20 jumps after the 3 I did Saturday)-so i vote for AFF :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DHolland 0 #6 April 16, 2007 Ya after i posted this realized there was a thread about this like 5 threads down. I check it out. Thanks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RandomLemming 0 #7 April 17, 2007 I'm not sure about the Lodi programme, but Ed (bodypilot1) operates out of Lodi. His AFF is around 1k as well if I remember right, and I really got a lot out of it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chuckbrown 0 #8 April 17, 2007 SL/IAD ends up being cheaper than AFF, especially if you fail a level. They're both good training programs and you have to demonstrate the same skill set to get a USPA license no matter what program you take. If you have money do AFF, if not do SL/IAD. I did AFF is 7 jumps & it was pretty intense. I was lucky not to have failed a level; I was having so much fun I almost forgot to perform my assignments. I would have been really, really pissed to have had to repeat a level. $1,000 for AFF is a very good price, though. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnskydiver688 0 #9 April 17, 2007 Static Line! I learned by this old method. It is most times cheaper and you can spread the cost out a bit. Also you won't be quite has uncomfortable getting out at low altitudes to do hop and pops. I am bias so I guess do whatever everybody else is doing around there. Above all have fun! Sky Canyon Wingsuiters Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr2mk1g 10 #10 April 17, 2007 Just keep in mind during your agonising that in the long run it really doesn't make one jot of difference. By 100 jumps you should be exactly the same skydiver you would have been had you taken the other route. Kinda puts this 'momentous' decision in context. Personally, if I had the money I'd go AFF - you'll likely get qualified quicker and be on your way to your 100th sooner. On the other hand if you'd prefer to spread out the cost over the next few months then S/L could offer benefits to you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #11 April 17, 2007 I have said this several times before. No single training method is "best." Rather they are "better" at teaching different skills at difference stages in the learning curve. The "best" syllabus includes: tandem ground launch static-line or IAD wind tunnel AFF coach dives. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BIGUN 1,317 #12 April 17, 2007 AFF/SL/AFP have pros and cons. The primary similarity is that any of the instructional methodologies will get you to the A License in roughly the same time/JumpsNobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildfan75 1 #13 April 18, 2007 Quote Personally, if I had the money I'd go AFF-you'll likely get qualified quicker and be on your way to your 100th sooner. False. 25 jumps is 25 jumps no matter what method you start at and 100 jumps is 100 jumps, neither method is quicker if you funds aren't an issue. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peckerhead 0 #14 April 18, 2007 I am just glad to see that Lodi still offers static line. How many large turbine DZs do that? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr2mk1g 10 #15 April 18, 2007 QuoteFalse. 25 jumps is 25 jumps no matter what method you start... neither method is quicker 7 jumps with instructors followed by a H&P and 17 solo's under your own supervision do not take nearly the same amount of time in the real world as 18 jumps, each preceded by finding an instructor who has the time to do a re-train, sometimes a substantial one, on what you are going to do on the next jump distinct from the last, then find a load where the DZ will put the plane up to the right altitude, get bumped, then an instructor to come up and dispatch you and then de-brief you following every jump, then 7 more under your own supervision. If AFF and S/L instructors wanted to compete for who could get students qualified quicker you could probably cut the gap right down if everyone pulled out stops. You'll have one hell of a job achieving that in the real world though if the AFFI's are pushing just as hard as the S/L instructors. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
faulknerwn 38 #16 April 18, 2007 What you're forgetting though is that 1 SL instructor can easily put out 3-4 students on a Cessna load, while for the first few AFF jumps it takes 2 instructors for one student.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr2mk1g 10 #17 April 18, 2007 True, the one instance I can see where an S/L student would be better placed, (in terms of speed of qualification only), is where training is limited by an unavailablilty of AFF instructors which can happen more easily compaired to S/L instructors (usually). (oh yeah - and weather where there's a low cloud base - the first few S/L jumps could go ahead but AFFers would be stuck on the ground). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
noname 0 #18 April 19, 2007 Go static line and save the $500 you didn't spend on AFF. You will need it for jump tickets and gear. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
