My first skydive
PhatPig
Posts: 69
We got into what looked like the most dodgy plane ever made with no seats - that was an experience in itself. It just seemed to be falling apart, all the signage was in russian & everything shook & rattled (they did have a rather good collection of porn onboard but that's another story).
From take-off it took us about 15-20 mins to get to the jump altitude of 13000 feet at which point one of the guys opened the plane door. Enter wind, more wind & some more wind still thrown in for good measure - so much so that it is impossible to be heard without screaming at the top of your lungs. This was kinda the point where everything hit home & the realisation that I'm about to be pushed out of a working aeroplane kicked in. Heart rate doubles instantly.
Skip a few mins whilst me & the instructor watch the guys in front of us jumping & then it's my turn. Combine the most extreme terror with the most extreme excitement & you'll be close to what I'm feeling at this point.
We jump
For the smallest fraction of a second I have a horrible plummetting sensation as the plane falls away upwards which turned into surreal floaty experience instantly - we are actually travelling in excess of 120mph straight down at this point but it just doesn't feel like it.
45 seconds later we're at the canopy altitude of 5000ft, just to reiterate we fell 8000 feet in 45 seconds!!
The instructor pulls the cord - whiplash alongside the one sound you just do not want to hear in this situation - RRRRIIIIPPP my heart leaves my chest via my mouth.
A hasty look upwards & all is good once more i.e the canopy still in one piece. The instructor assures me that this is a perfectly normal noise & there is really nothing at all to worry about.
We are surrounded by the silence of the dead. It is 2pm but there is not a sound to be heard apart from a slight flapping of the parachute & lines & the occasional word from Andy (the instructor). This continues for about 4-4.5 minutes & is accompanied by such an awesome feeling of tranquility while we are just slowly floating down to earth.
It's an extremely smooth landing on my butt.
I am un-clipped from Andy. We stand, shake hands, I thank him for saving my life & then go & collapse in one very happy lump back with the rest of our party.
What a day!!
From take-off it took us about 15-20 mins to get to the jump altitude of 13000 feet at which point one of the guys opened the plane door. Enter wind, more wind & some more wind still thrown in for good measure - so much so that it is impossible to be heard without screaming at the top of your lungs. This was kinda the point where everything hit home & the realisation that I'm about to be pushed out of a working aeroplane kicked in. Heart rate doubles instantly.
Skip a few mins whilst me & the instructor watch the guys in front of us jumping & then it's my turn. Combine the most extreme terror with the most extreme excitement & you'll be close to what I'm feeling at this point.
We jump
For the smallest fraction of a second I have a horrible plummetting sensation as the plane falls away upwards which turned into surreal floaty experience instantly - we are actually travelling in excess of 120mph straight down at this point but it just doesn't feel like it.
45 seconds later we're at the canopy altitude of 5000ft, just to reiterate we fell 8000 feet in 45 seconds!!
The instructor pulls the cord - whiplash alongside the one sound you just do not want to hear in this situation - RRRRIIIIPPP my heart leaves my chest via my mouth.
A hasty look upwards & all is good once more i.e the canopy still in one piece. The instructor assures me that this is a perfectly normal noise & there is really nothing at all to worry about.
We are surrounded by the silence of the dead. It is 2pm but there is not a sound to be heard apart from a slight flapping of the parachute & lines & the occasional word from Andy (the instructor). This continues for about 4-4.5 minutes & is accompanied by such an awesome feeling of tranquility while we are just slowly floating down to earth.
It's an extremely smooth landing on my butt.
I am un-clipped from Andy. We stand, shake hands, I thank him for saving my life & then go & collapse in one very happy lump back with the rest of our party.
What a day!!
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Comments
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It is just amazing after it all calms down from the 'chute been deployed.
The first solo one is the scariest though.
ForBloodAnd Empire
Nothing says "ouch" like a punctured gut
Co factory rider for DUST TILL DAWN
Myspace0 -
Id love to do one, not sure if id have the balls though.
<hr noshade size="1"><font color="purple"><center><i><b><font size="2"><font face="Times New Roman"> "Boggis and Bunce and Bean. One fat, one short, one lean. These horrible crooks. So different in looks. Were none the less equally mean."</font id="Times New Roman"></b></font id="size2"></i></center></font id="purple"><hr noshade size="1"><font color="purple"><center><i><b><font size="2"><font face="Times New Roman"> "Boggis and Bunce and Bean. One fat, one short, one lean. These horrible crooks. So different in looks. Were none the less equally mean."</font id="Times New Roman"></b></font id="size2"></i></center></font id="purple">0 -
I have got to book one of those.
Then I can progress to B.A.S.E
<b><font size="1"><center><font color="red">When God created mountains he meant them for climbing, not to be used as glorified toboggan runs.</font id="red"></center>
<center> <font color="blue">Riding for <i>Team Cake </i>in 2007</font id="blue"></center></font id="size1"></b>Advocate of disc brakes.0 -
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by homers double</i>
I have got to book one of those.
Then I can progress to B.A.S.E
edit:- damn, a quick google reveals a 15st weight limit for men.
<b><font size="1"><center><font color="red">When God created mountains he meant them for climbing, not to be used as glorified toboggan runs.</font id="red"></center>
<center> <font color="blue">Riding for <i>Team Cake </i>in 2007</font id="blue"></center></font id="size1"></b>
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
<b><font size="1"><center><font color="red">When God created mountains he meant them for climbing, not to be used as glorified toboggan runs.</font id="red"></center>
<center> <font color="blue">Riding for <i>Team Cake </i>in 2007</font id="blue"></center></font id="size1"></b>Advocate of disc brakes.0 -
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by homers double</i>
I have got to book one of those.
Then I can progress to S.P.L.A.T.S
<b><font size="1"><center><font color="red">When God created mountains he meant them for climbing, not to be used as glorified toboggan runs.</font id="red"></center>
<center> <font color="blue">Riding for <i>Team Cake </i>in 2007</font id="blue"></center></font id="size1"></b>
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
Sh*t parachute! Left it at train station! [:D]
<hr noshade size="1"><center><blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by EvilAlex</i>
Something round here tastes bad. Could be plain old bad taste.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote"></center>www.mtb-bitz.co.uk - Bitz for you & your mountain bike. pinkbike</center>www.mtb-bitz.co.uk - Bitz for you & your mountain bike. pinkbike0 -
skydiving is awesome, especially the ecenery below you is nice. id love to do it again0
