I have a follow up question on skydiving. Is the "thrill" more like a roller coaster? Is it more like negative G-forces (like when you push the yoke forward and do a steep dive), or is more positive G's (like when you pull back on the yoke?).
Neither. I guess if I had to call it one way or the other I'd call it a positive-G experience, but really it's just a feeling of complete freedom. It's like flying times ten.
You don't get a sensation of falling because there is always pressure on your body from the wind. When jumping out of a C-182, the plane is going about 80 mph as the jumpers climb out. That's a lot of wind. From the moment one climbs out, it feels as though the wind is supporting your body.
As you let go of the plane and begin falling away, your body gradually transitions from 80 mph in a horizontal direction to about 120 mph in a vertical direction. During this transition there is a slight feeling of falling, but it mainly feels like being suspended in the sky.
Once equilibrium is reached in freefall, it feels like lying on your belly, because the wind is supporting your body.
The reason there is such a "free" feeling associated with freefall is because one can twist, turn, tumble, and fly in any way they want after they learn how to control themselves. In that sense, it's like you're floating, while still under the positive pressure of the wind, if that makes any sense.
It's hard to describe. All I can say is that I'm terrified of roller coasters, I have a fear of heights, and I'm not much of an athlete, but I love skydiving. It blows my mind how amazing it is. I think I read a quote from somebody on this forum who said, "Telling somebody you went flying when you went for a plane ride is like telling them you went swimming after you went for a boat ride." I couldn't agree more. Skydiving is the purest form of "flying" I can imagine.
If I ever lose my medical, get laid off, or otherwise get tired of working in the aviation industry, I wouldn't mind kicking off a career as a skydiving coach/instructor/videographer. Seriously.