First Jump

[Phobos 0]

Hello all, I am planning on doing my first jump (tandem) on July 1...it is my 21st B-Day and I figured I'd do something out of the norm, I'm still gonna get wasted after I jump ...but my question is: Has anyone ever jumped with the Chambersburg Skydiving Center in Pennsylvania and if you have do you recommend them? Being my first jump I'm a little paranoid, but I am really looking forward to it as I have been wanting to do it for a long time...any advice would be great thanks

[Brian425 0]

I have never jumped at Chambersburg; but, I have heard nice things about it from people who visited there. They also have good reviews here. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/dropzone/review.cgi?ID=345

Good luck and enjoy your jump!!

The only time you should look down on someone is when you are offering them your hand.

[tombuch 0]

I have no direct experience with Chambersberg to share, but suggest that you take a few moments and compare several schools. Pick three or four in your general area and check their web sites. Then call each and chat with them about their programs. You should be able to get a good feel for the general character of the schools and will be better prepared to select a place for your training, or at least more comfortable with Chambersberg.

I wrote a book called JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy a while back that offers a great overview of skydiving for folks like you who have never made a jump. It is designed to give you a solid background to assist in comparing different schools, and a package of questions you can ask when talking to them on the phone. It sounds like JUMP! might be what you are looking for. It was published by McGraw-Hill and is available at many local booksellers, and at a discount from Amazon.com.

Have fun on your first skydive!
.

Tom Buchanan
Instructor Emeritus
Comm Pilot MSEL,G
Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy

[shropshire 0]

If that DZ is near you ... why not just go and visit and chat with the folks there..... you'll get a good idea from the general atmosphere.... there's nothing more that jumpers like to do past jumping than talk about jumping.

.

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[EDYDO 0]

When you meet J.R., you will be totally comfortable with your decision to jump at Chambersburg. J.R., his wife and son all jump together at their DZ !!!

Ed

[Speed2000 0]

Phobos,
I would have to check my logbook for an exact count, but I have done about sixty jumps at Chambersburg over the last couple years.

Overall, the DZ is big enough to support a turbine, small enough to have a `club' feel. The owners, JR and Kathy Sides, are top notch. To a person, the staff are professional and good people. Greg, the master rigger and packing supervisor has packed well over 10,000 canopies and most of the other packers have their riggers tickets. The tandem gear is well maintained. I am not an A&P, but the planes (King Air and a pair of C-182s) seem to be in good shape. Matt, the primary pilot, is very skilled. The landing area is large, flat, and grassy.

There are a LOT of good DZs in the middle eastern seaboard area, C-burg is one of them.

Blue Skies,
Johnny

[niolosoiale 0]

I did my first jump last weekend and all I can say is enjoy the crap out of it!

Oh, try not to drive your friends/family/coworkers nuts with the whole thing

EDIT: BTW I'm about to turn 21 myself, I was planning on jumping around my birthday, but I had the money ready and honestly didn't think too many people would be stoked about jumping on 06/06/06 So don't worry if you want to do it sooner!

[Phobos 0]

chambersburg sounds good then, i am stoked i can't wait...thanks for the replies