Passed my checkDIVE!

Nice Job Dude!

You said you're buying a new rig? Don't do it! You'll get bored with it too quickly, and want to downsize canopies... buy a used rig until you get to your comfortable canopy size.

P.S. any free flying or just belly?
 
jrh said:
That's ok, I didn't have a clue about skydiving until I started doing it!

Think of it like a private pilot certificate for skydiving.

A student pilot must be under the supervision of a CFI in one form or another at all times. Then, when they become a private pilot, they're free to be completely unsupervised. They are the PIC. They make all the decisions.

Same thing here. When still under "student status" as a skydiver, I had to always be supervised by a licensed coach or skydiving instructor. Now I'm free to be as stupid as I want. I make the decisions about what I'll do during a jump, how much wind I'm willing to jump in, etc. Nobody watches out for me except me.

Also, just as how a student pilot can't take passengers up but private pilots can fly with whomever they please, it's similar with skydivers. As a student, I could only either jump with a coach or by myself. Now I can jump with other licensed skydivers. You've probably seen videos of three-ways, four-ways, and even bigger formations of skydivers falling together, or exiting a plane with their arms locked together, etc. I'm allowed to be a part of those group dives now. Jumping out of a plane is always pretty darn fun, but when you do it with friends it gets even better. It's a surprisingly social sport.

Ultimately, just like how a private pilot certificate is a "license to learn," the A License for skydiving is the same way. I understand I'm only scratching the surface of everything available in the skydiving world. Now it's up to me to improve my body flying skills to the level that I can jump in big formations, coach other novice jumpers, shoot videos of other skydivers, do demo jumps in to outdoor events, etc. Those are some of the more advanced skills a person can get in to.
Click to expand...

Very cool stuff, mang!

I'm jealous. Say- do they give any transfer credits for similar ratings? Like airplane to rotorcraft, etc?

I've been a veteran certified muff diver for years. That's got to count for something. ;)
 
joethepilot said:
Nice Job Dude!

You said you're buying a new rig? Don't do it! You'll get bored with it too quickly, and want to downsize canopies... buy a used rig until you get to your comfortable canopy size.

P.S. any free flying or just belly?
Click to expand...

Nah, I've already thought it through. I'm jumping a rental Sabre 170 right now. I'm a small guy, so that's almost exactly a 1 to 1 wing loading. I'm pretty comfortable with it. I feel like it gives me plenty of performance, too.

I figure by the time I buy gear, I'll maybe want to go to a 150 canopy. That puts me at a 1.1 wing loading. That's all the further I care to go. I fly enough high performance airplanes during my day job. I'm not interested in zipping around under some tiny little canopy for fun on the weekends. I live a really calm life...no motorcyles, no skateboards, no skis or snowboards, no rock climbing...skydiving is the most "extreme" thing I do, and I try to keep it as mundane as possible. I just want a canopy that will be easy to fly, glide fast enough to penetrate these crazy Nebraska winds, and get me on the ground in one piece. I leave the swooping and downwind landings to the guys who are younger and dumber ;)

As for free flying...I might try it a little, but belly flying is what I'm more interested in. I want to get good enough that I can fly along with the 8+ ways at boogies and such. It looks like a ton of fun, trying to turn points with that many jumpers. I think it's all a function of who I hang out with, too. Most of the regulars at my DZ are belly fliers and nobody really talks much about free flying.

But who knows...I have a lifetime full of jumping ahead of me!
 
jrh said:
Nah, I've already thought it through. I'm jumping a rental Sabre 170 right now. I'm a small guy, so that's almost exactly a 1 to 1 wing loading. I'm pretty comfortable with it. I feel like it gives me plenty of performance, too.

I figure by the time I buy gear, I'll maybe want to go to a 150 canopy. That puts me at a 1.1 wing loading. That's all the further I care to go. I fly enough high performance airplanes during my day job. I'm not interested in zipping around under some tiny little canopy for fun on the weekends. I live a really calm life...no motorcyles, no skateboards, no skis or snowboards, no rock climbing...skydiving is the most "extreme" thing I do, and I try to keep it as mundane as possible. I just want a canopy that will be easy to fly, glide fast enough to penetrate these crazy Nebraska winds, and get me on the ground in one piece. I leave the swooping and downwind landings to the guys who are younger and dumber ;)

As for free flying...I might try it a little, but belly flying is what I'm more interested in. I want to get good enough that I can fly along with the 8+ ways at boogies and such. It looks like a ton of fun, trying to turn points with that many jumpers. I think it's all a function of who I hang out with, too. Most of the regulars at my DZ are belly fliers and nobody really talks much about free flying.

But who knows...I have a lifetime full of jumping ahead of me!
Click to expand...

Congrats! I waited until about jump 45 or so before I bought my rig. I also got the Sabre II 170, about a 1.1 wing loading, its fun enough and a little forgiving. Considering how many accidents happen with low turns, I'm also not that interested in swooping, but freeflying is awesome! Now go buy that :beer:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top