A more descriptive title for this blog might be "Jumping out of a perfectly good airplane for no real reason". My sister Noel and I have often discussed a desire to try skydiving. I believe this longing is fueled not only by wanting to experience something new and exciting but also by a desire to possibly get a little closer to our deceased father, who was a paratrooper in the Army's 82nd Airborne Division. Realizing the summer was coming to an abrupt end and my five day break nearing, I asked Noel if she was interested in jumping out of a perfectly good airplane for no good reason. Her reply was an immediate "yes".
A quick background, there are three routes you can follow for your first jump, Tandem (where you're tethered to a jumpmaster, free-fall, then the jumpmaster deploys the chute and pilots the chute, himself and harnessed passenger to a landing), Static-Line (where you jump at a lower altitude and your parachute is deployed automatically as you exit the plane, you then pilot your chute to a landing), the third is AFF or Accelerated Free-Fall (where you jump out of the plane accompanied by two jumpmasters, free-fall before deploying your chute, and pilot your chute to a landing assisted by an instructor on radio).
Personally, I see AFF as being the full experience, which is why I'm doing this in the first place. Not considering a Tandem or Static jump for myself but expecting Noel to prefer a Tandem Jump, I asked what jump should I schedule for her. She immediately asked "You're not going tandem are you?" to which I answered, "That doesn't matter, what do you want to do?" She answered she wanted to do an AFF jump. So I set about finding a facility near Asheville, North Carolina for us to experience our first jump. At the time I didn't think an AFF jump for a first skydive was that big a deal, at first anyway. After trying to schedule our jumps I found many skydive centers won't allow AFF for the first and sometimes even the second jump experience. So after some researching I found that Skydive East Tennessee near Knoxville would accommodate us and lined up our class and jumps. After the staff informed me that usually the class is conducted late afternoon with the jump the following day, I chose to be more difficult and asked to take the class Saturday morning with a jump following the class. Accommodating me, an instructor was found, a class scheduled, plastic money changed hands and my destiny was set.
The day of the class we drove to Tennessee with plenty of time to arrive early for our class but this was not to be. It turns out the street address occurs twice in this area and given a fifty-fifty shot my GPS failed miserably, we did arrive, but late. We met some of the staff, our instructor Nick, our classmate and his father and we then were introduced to the sizable hold-harmless paperwork. I've signed many waivers in my day but this was truly monumental in comparison. We soon were learning the equipment, how to use it and what to do in case things don't work out the way we hoped. We then learned and practiced our dive-flow which is our routine from stepping out of the plane to preparing to jump, the actual jump and the free-fall routine up to the chute deployment. As the rushing air in free-fall makes speech difficult, we're also taught the visual cues we'll need to follow. We also covered flying the chute and how to make our landing approach as well as landing, which is called Parachute Landing Fall or PLF for short. PLF is really just a six step process for falling down.
Finishing class, we went outside to find the weather not very conducive to jumping. We also found we were not the only disappointed, grounded jumpers. Not only was the cloud ceiling low but winds were a bit high. As the winds died down and the clouds lightened, "hop & pops" or low altitude jumps, began loading the plane. While Noel & I were still grounded we found it a little calming to watch the experienced jumpers but still the anxiety gnawed persistently. We met many other jumpers, both new and experienced, who were friendly and eager to offer encouragement to both of us as we passed time. A re-occurring theme for the weekend went as follows; someone would ask what Noel & I were doing, we'd then reply "an AFF jump", then the inquisitor would follow with "how many jumps?", to which we'd reply "first time". Then we were asked if we'd done any tandem jumps which would garner a "no" from Noel & me, then invariably would follow a pregnant pause and... "Cool" from the curious bystander. These little exchanges did nothing to help calm the apprehension we both felt. As evening approached the clouds finally lifted enough for AFF jumps, unfortunately we were queued low on the flight manifest due to returning students from the previous days' class. We eventually gave up on a same day jump, scheduled to return the following morning and made our way back to Carolina. On our way back, we found what had been only heavy clouds covering us at the drop zone had turned into angry rainstorms taunting our return drive. Five cars had crashed and spread out over the roadway, fortunately no one was seriously injured.
Awaking the next morning, I made a quick check to discover partly clouded skies forecast and once again we made our way to the jump zone. Our punctual arrival was met again by heavy cloud cover. Shortly the clouds gave way slightly, encouraging Nick to get me suited up for my jump. As we stepped outside the tease of blue sky was soon overtaken by returning heavy clouds. Settling in once again, Noel and I nervously waited out the uncooperative weather. With the absence of a breeze the thick layers of clouds were incredibly slow to dissipate. We watched jumpers plan their free falls and pack their gear as we reviewed our dive flow and signals with muted anxiety. The dreary sky mocked us as we waited, knowing the weather forecast called for clear skies but having to endure the thickly shrouded ceiling. Eventually the sky again lifted enough to accommodate "hop & pops" but Noel and I sat anxiously sidelined by the low ceiling. Eventually, and I do mean eventually in every apprehensive, tedious meaning of the word you can conjure, the grey gave way to a beautiful blue, cloud dotted sky. Suiting up, Nick and fellow instructor Nash checked and re-checked my gear, we once again reviewed the dive flow and signals. We walked to the plane and reviewed the dive flow on and near the plane and once again checked my gear. Loading onto the Cessna 186, instructors checking my gear one last time, the wait was officially over.
The waiting may have been over but the uneasiness remained in full glory. Our mode of transport was a slight distraction to my nervousness. Our plane can accommodate four jumpers, just not comfortably. All non-necessary weight is stripped from the interior of the plane leaving a bare framework of cold metal ribs and the the exterior skin exposed to the passenger area. Sandwiched between the pilot and the door with my back to the front firewall, I sat on the floor of the plane. Sardined in the remaining 'passenger area', Nick sat between my legs with his back to me and Nash sat beside Nick with his back against the pilot's seat. Ryan, the photographer, sat with his back to the rear of the passenger compartment staggering Nick & Nash's bent legs. A description of the position of my long legs would not do justice to how uncomfortable it was for me as well as my fellow passengers. This tight seating arrangement was made even more uncomfortable by the untiring butterflies in my gut. Sitting on the floor of the plane afforded only a view up and out the window, revealing only sky. The plane ride was loud but not uncomfortably so and as we climbed the temperature dropped so at least my sweat subsided. Occasionally quizzing me as we climbed, my instructors would ask "What is this altitude?", "What happens at this altitude?" and so on. After about twenty minutes we arrived at 11,000 feet, the plane leveled and idled down, and the jumpmasters scurried into position and asked "Are you ready to jump?" to which I replied "yes". It was finally time to do something, my nerves finally calmed as stagnant anticipation was overtaken by action. Nick opened the door and climbed out on the step over the wheel, followed by Ryan who climbed out along the fuselage, holding onto the door jamb. I then checked in with Nash and proceeded to climb out to Nick's left, Nash followed taking my left. As the three of us stood under the wing with Ryan behind us, I asked Nash to show me the drop zone, then I started my dive flow and jumped.
Actually, stepped off and to the right is more like it but what a step. I really wasn't scared or nervous and was able to enjoy the experience, to some extent. Focusing on my tasks, altimeter and report...body position...practice chute throws...altimeter...circle of awareness...instructions...altimeter..., I was still able to pilfer a few glances at the beauty surrounding me... the green, the nearby lake, the roads... Too fast the altimeter approached and hit 6,000 feet, time to lock on and prepare for... 5,500 feet, the end of my free fall. I waved off my instructors, pulled my chute and counted... one... two... three... four... five... moment of truth, look up at chute... beautiful, full and square. I grab and release the rear control handles and take control of my chute.
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Finding my bearings, I quickly locate the landing zone and head for my predetermined play area, the place where I can practice piloting my chute for awhile. I'm surprised how slowly I'm descending as I turn right, then left, then flare 1, flare 2, flare 3... However, too soon I start to receive commands from instructor Gary who guides me through my landing setup as well as my landing. Descending on my final approach, I'm surprised how responsive the oversized chute is and how easy it is to follow the runway. In class I was instructed to watch the horizon as I land and it seems the ground is too quickly rising to me. Just as I think I will hit comes the command "flare, flare, flare", slowing both my forward speed and decent I touch down before ungracefully losing my feet to my front and my arse to the ground. As I stow the controls and finish gathering my chute I'm met by Nick and Ryan congratulating me on my first jump. Returning to the facility I drop my gear and find Noel is on the manifest.
Noel is soon suited up, Nick is joined by Gary, and the trio prepare for Noel's jump. Following the same pre-jump procedure Noel's gear is checked and rechecked and rechecked again, as well as reviews of the dive flow again and again. Soon she is loading into the larger 206 with Nick, Gary and Laura, who will photograph the jump, and preparing for take-off. I'm sure her nerves were a little grated by sitting as the plane took three tries to start before heading off the runway and racing to altitude. One thing that surprised me during this experience is that, on the ground, you can hear someone in free fall. Soon I heard Noel, Nick, Gary and Laura in free fall and watched them as they pulled their chutes. Racing to the ground, Nick and Gary prepare to assist Noel as she descends and eventually touches down safely.
Following my jump, I'm asked many times at the drop zone if I'll jump again and get certified. Honestly, I can understand the appeal and one day may pursue this sport to its fullest, but the time and money investment is not appealing at this time, okay, mostly the money investment part. But I did truly enjoy meeting some wonderful people and making some good friends while having a unique experience I believe met all my expectations. Yes, one day I will most likely do it again.
AFF Skydive HD Video
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