AFF-3 Today

[skylord 1]

I jumped in my car today, with a list of to-dos and some gifts to be returned/exchanged. I had hoped to get out to Elsinore, but alas, it appeared that would not happen. Look at all the work I could get done. I jump on the 78 freeway, going east.

(I used jump twice in the same paragraph, that should clue you in on what happened next)

The 78 intersects the 15 Freeway. South takes me to work. North takes me to Elsinore. Decision time. Work, or jump......hmmmm. Screw it! It's supposed to rain tomorrow, can't jump then but I can work! I'm going skydiving!

I sign up for AFF-3, and Lob takes me over to the manifest area. I meet one of my instructors, Marie, a mere wisp of a woman. The only way she and I will fall at the same rate is in a vacuum. She starts me through the briefing for our jump. She takes me out to the Creepers of Torture (that isn't a negative outlook, that's exactly what they are.) In this country you can't have the rack, or stockades anymore, but every dropzone has these instruments of pain by the dozens.

I digress. We go through the dive flow, she compliments me on my ground arch. We go through unusual circumstances, including losing my JMs and if I end up on my back. I learned how to do a half barrel roll if the hard arch doesn't work, and the five second rule. I then learned, too, that IF I am comfortable, stable, and altitude aware to continue the skydive. Wh-wh-wh-what?

She asked me about my landings, and I tell her I've landed all three stand up. She asked me if I'd like to downsize to a smaller chute. She suggests a Stiletto 120.

Just kidding. She asked if I'd want to move to a 260, from the 280. I said, sure but what is the difference? She thoroughly briefed me on what to expect with the change, which was not much, but the ground may come up a little faster. I'm ok with that.....

We hook up with Jake, go through the dirt dive, and its time to suit up. Jake told me I had to smile during this jump, at both he and Marie. I did most of the gear check and Marie helped out. I think she is from England because she has such strange names for things, like "nobbin". That's the little ball at the end of the reserve cable. I called it exactly that, and she called it a "nobbin". See why we split off from them over 227 years ago?

I digress. We run through the dive one more time, and into the plane we go. We had two tandems going behind us. The ride up was GREAT. I relaxed, talked to people, and Marie interrupted just once to ask me our altitude. Awareness of altitude is important on the way up, too. Some of you wrote me about my negative outlook, and so I took the advice. I watched the hop 'n pop go. Excellent!

Up some more, and now it's jump time. The door opens, and I feel good about it! Out goes the first groups, and we step to the door, I'm anxious, on edge, but I don't feel dread. I am really, truly, ready to skydive!!! Out goes Marie, the reserve side, as I step toward the door. I had both hands on the bar to get into position when the Otter makes a left bank. We broke off the jump run. I'm looking straight down at the ground through the door. It is a solid, coordinated 1G turn, but I push up on the bar to keep my feet even more solidly on the floor of the airplane as Marie climbs back in. But even then, I knew if somehow I fell out I'd be OK. Just arch. Marie closes the door, and I sit down next to Jake. Breathe, relax, envision the dive.........

I see me in freefall in my mind, relaxed, arched. This will be the best dive ever for me. The door opens, Jake asks me if I'm ready to skydive, and I reply YES!!!.

Into the door, relax, breathe, I've been here before and there is a kind of draw, a beckoning, now, to the jump. I love it. Ready, set, arch!

The first thing I register is one foot left the door late and we rolled a bit to the left. Contrast this with the fact I basically didn't regain conciousness on my tandem until near pull time.

I relaxed immediately. We stabilize, and the first COA is two thumbs up. Wow! We're only just under 12,000 ft! PRCT is nailed the first time. I smiled at both Jake and Marie. Second COA gets a thumbs down from Marie, great call by the way, and a thumbs up. Time to pick out a heading and fly. Ooops, just a bit of a turn right. I correct. Looks good, and a bit of a left turn starts, fixed. Check altitude. 7,000. I relaxed even more, and just enjoyed the view, the fall, and my company. Yes, I smiled at them the whole way down, too!

6,000 lock on! 5,500 wave off, and pulled right at 5,000! Wow, this kicked ass!!!!!

Canopy is good, control checks good. Although this is a very slightly smaller chute, I can tell it responds faster. Left tight 360, right tight 360, full stall, I love this!!!!

Jake comes on, and tells me what a great skydive we had. My confidence shoots way up.

Time to head toward the DZ, not just the DZ but my landing point. I misread the winds at altitude a bit, and if I was going to use a standard landing pattern, I'd be off by a few hundred feet. And I missed by 200 meters. I noticed it took a bit more physical effort to land this smaller chute. I took a knee on this one, but was pretty happy since this landing was all mine.

Marie was scheduled to teach a class, but she came up to me and told me I had a great skydive. Jake handled the debrief and asked me how it went. I told him I hung one foot on the exit, we rolled, we recovered, I smiled, did the COA, PRCT, and COA. I felt the turns we had to make, and assumed they never released me.

Jake dropped me in my tracks and told me I flew the entire jump on my own. I had to ask him again, did you let go of me? Yes. From the beginning. That was shocking. He told me he didn't have to do anything. Wow!

I just hung around at the DZ after that. One of the tandems that went out after me had my exit on her DVD. I had to watch. There I am, with Marie and Jake. Look in, look out, and arch!! Their whole family screamed when I exited. I told them, "That's me!" They IMMEDIATELY started asking questions,

"Wowhowdidyoudoitthat'sscary,whydoyoudoithow come?areyouanexpert" Right? I did my best, but what I am is:

I'm a student.

I'm a student skydiver.

I'm a learner.

And if anyone gives this sport the same chance I give, you will be hooked.

That is it on to AFF-4 for me.

Bob

Bob Marks

"-when you leave the airplane its all wrong til it goes right, its a whole different mindset, this is why you have system redundancy." Mattaman

[skyyhi 0]

That is a great telling of a 3rd AFF. . .I LOVED that dive. . .it was awesome. . .

Wish I could have been there to see you come down. . .glad you had a good jump. . .It's almost New Year's and there will be quite a lot of firsts to celebrate this New Year. . .looking forward to celebrating a few times this next year with you and the gang there in Elsinore. . .

________________________________________
Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ
FGF #6
Darcy

[Shark 0]

Bob,

I must've just missed you. I got there after 2 and spoke with Marie. She mentioned she had a good AFF jump earlier, but I didn't know it was you she jumped with. Sounds like a great jump!

[Scrumpot 1]

Great job, and great story! ...Keep 'em coming!! It's refreshing to read recountings so well written from that point of view. And just remember.... keep on

Blue Skies,
-Grant
(Still a "learner" ...always a learner as well )

coitus non circum - Moab Stone

[skylord 1]

Darcy,

It was a hoot! I loved it. Looking forward to seeing you up at Elsinore as well. I have to travel the weekend you'll be wrapping up AFF, so save me a beer and be sure to let us all know how it went!

Bob

Bob Marks

"-when you leave the airplane its all wrong til it goes right, its a whole different mindset, this is why you have system redundancy." Mattaman

[smellysue 0]

nice one congrats

[cindee 0]

It is so entertaining and informative reading your AFF accounts. Your enthusiasm comes through! It must be thrilling to know that you did this skydive on your own. Congratulations.

__________________________________________________
"If happy little bluebirds fly above the rainbow, why oh why can't I?"

[newsstand 0]

Man I just lived that story with you. Great telling of it and glad to hear things went so well.

"Truth is tough. It will not break, like a bubble, at a touch; nay, you may kick it about all day like a football, and it will be round and full at evening."
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes

[skylord 1]

Mark,

I left right around noon. I guess the storm missed us, if the weather looks good I may head up for AFF-4, maybe 5 tomorrow. Thanks, it was a fun jump for me!

Bob

Bob Marks

"-when you leave the airplane its all wrong til it goes right, its a whole different mindset, this is why you have system redundancy." Mattaman

[Shark 0]

I'll be there sometime, but I have to help Rich and his wife pack up the UHaul. Tonight we're getting some more tunnel time! (That's if Erin ever picks us up.)

[bodypilot1 0]

I wish my students remembered 1/2 of that shit!
Wait! I think Mark (aka Shark) may have when he was one of my students?
Congrats on the jump.

www.WestCoastWingsuits.com
www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

[skylord 1]

Quote

I wish my students remembered 1/2 of that shit!
Wait! I think Mark (aka Shark) may have when he was one of my students?
Congrats on the jump.

NO! NOOOO! Compared to Shark??? AHHHHHH!, I'm done!!!!

Thanks for the congrats. Mark is a GREAT AFF-I. He just makes you feel comfortable. I was very relaxed in the door with he and Tom on my AFF-1 jump. I have jumped with different instructors every single flight so far. I think that is good. He and Tom and me are why I'm doing well now, although I've got to keep earning it at every level. I realize that. Mark and Tom taught the base level survival stuff (relax, arch, pull the ripcord not your main JM's altimeter you dumb ass), and even when I thought the dive didn't go so well, Mark pointed out to me what I did right, and the fact I only had 50 seconds of free fall.

I LOVE this sport, and thanks again, Ed, for the support!!

Bob, future AFF-I, I can feel it!

Bob Marks

"-when you leave the airplane its all wrong til it goes right, its a whole different mindset, this is why you have system redundancy." Mattaman

[benny 0]

hey, great post man... seems that you and I are at about the same spot exactly.

After going out for level two on Saturday (passed), I was quite bummed Sunday and Monday, as it appeared that I wouldn't have the cash available to make another jump before at least a week and a half went by. I'd have a plane ride in between but I woulnd't be able to jump out of this one. I remember before all this started I'd get very excited to be on a plane at all. Now, all I'm thinking is, "what good is this damn plane anyway if I have to land with it??"

Anyway, after coming home from work Monday I discover that I have received payment for one of my ebay sales. Cha-ching!! I've got enough to make a jump! And, I have Tuesday off.... go to weather.com and what do I find? Upper 50s, winds from the northwest at 9mph, and not a cloud in sight! I'm there.

I get there Tuesday around 1:30, the parking lot is crowded so I'm hoping there not to busy to fit little old me in. I walk in the door and talk with one of the video guys who tells me there just about to put the first load up. "Wow, running late huh?" On to manifest. "No problem, we'll get your AFF jump in, you may have to jump from the cessna though." Having one King Air ride and 2 on the Otter, I'm kinda apprehensive about the whole cessna thing. But I figure, a plane like that, I'll want to jump.

So, Otter load 1 is preparing and I'm waiting, I watch them descend, checking the winds and practicing my exit at the mock-up while I wait. Everybody's down safely and manifest announces a 20 minute call for Otter load 2. Sweet, no 182 for me, riding in style!

Stewart, who taught my ground class and jumped with me on level one, and Mike (my reserve side instructor from level II) will be my JMs today. Stewart and I go over the dive flow, dirt dive, etc... Get my equipment, downsizing this time too! Stewart's like, who the hell put you on a 209?? 190 this time. He tells me I'll be on a 170 soon, probably not before I'm off student status though.

Before I know it we're headed to the plane, one practice exit before getting seated, taxiing, and we're off. I'm the only student on this load, there's a two-way plus vid and a couple of freefliers. The apprehension about jumping out was significantly less in level II (although I felt like blowing chunks right before exit) but this time I think apprehension was non-existent. Even was able to joke around with Mike and Stewart about how one of my level II JMs couldn't have been with me on a release dive because there would be no way Fast Eddie could have fallen as slowly as I do. Butterflies starting at around 12000 but nothing I couldn't handle.

14000 feet, throttle back, door opens, rush of wind. The exits start. There are a couple of hotties on this load so I'm thinking, "just follow that fine ass!" Scoot forward, Stewart's got a grip on me, Mike climbs out and I'm getting in the door. Checks all around. prop-up-down-arch, the first few seconds always sends my heart into my throat. But unlike the tandem and AFF-I I'm aware the entire time. My presentation was a little flat and we were sliding sideways. Punch the arch out and gain stability. Thumbs up on both sides at 14K... hmm, what am I forgetting here...... I start to notice the bumping around Stewart warned me of, not them holding me, but simply bumping into me. I'm doing it by myself... Oh shit, I never did a PT, I hope they don't fail me, might as well do it now! Goes well, oops 45 degree right, stop... 7K... 6K, wave off pull!
Whump! Look up, oh shit, my first mal! Line twist, kickout, spin around. Whew, good canopy! Man my hands are cold. Try to grab toggles, owww! Shoulda worn gloves. Struggle to get my hands through the toggles (I thought they were stuck together in the loop for a second but it turns out my hands were so damn could I just could use them). Sweet canopy ride, definitely quicker response on the 190, felt like it was turning on a dime. Veered a little out of my playground early but easily corrected. Approach, final, woohoo, third landing in a row only about 5 feet off target, third stand-up as well. This time I didn't even have to run it out. Just "hi, i'm here, both feet on the ground!" ARGGH, does it get worse every time, I mean how it feels during the time you're not jumping?

Never go to a DZ strip show.