TravelingWebGuy

Assisted Free Fall 1

It’s an amazing feeling.

Sitting here now I can hear the air rushing by the jump door. It’s crazy, the feeling you get. On the ground, when I’m waiting for my load to be called, I just go over my routine, what I have to do to pass this next course. Then there’s always the looking up to see if the last load has jumped out, and if they’ve opened their chutes yet.

The real experienced jumpers do something called “Swooping” When they get to about 250’ they pull a hard diving turn headed straight for the ground, their body parallel with it. Then at about 10’, all but a few seconds later, they are screaming across the ground, inches above it dragging their toes over the blade tips. And when I say screaming, I mean it. Not the jumpers, but you can hear the nylon on the chutes thwapping against the wind. They go so fast you hear a whining sound from the wind and the fabric. And they just come down one after another, feet apart.

Then I hear my load get called and I start putting my jump suit on, grabbing my chute, checking the lines, the handles, gear, etc… We hop in this old beat down plane, all the language in it is Spanish, and they cram you in there so tight, you want to jump! And yes, ppl cut wind and it resonates in the air from the all the people so close. Yeah it’s great!But then we hit 12K’ and the red light comes on. Tap the altimeter; check my chin strap, one last chute check and we are at cruising altitude. Everyone starts giving each other high fives, wishing each other luck, telling them to have a good jump, and then woof, woof. 2 people are out and we slide down… More woooof, wooooofs. Every time we get close to the door I can see the people falling more and hear their body resistance to the wind.

Now I’m up. My instructor positions themselves outside the door, I step up and grab the door, both feet on the edge of the door, half way hanging 13,000’ above ground… CHECK OUT… ok… CHECK IN… ok… PROP, DOWN… and all of the sudden it’s like your in the middle of hurricane for a second, the wind just hits you like wave of water pushing you back towards the shore. The body is at about a 45deg angle for a second or two as I get into my arch and create resistance from beneath me. Stick my arms out, relax my wrists and fingers, and push my legs to 30deg angles with my toes pointing out. By this time I’ve adjusted to the sound, now the cold sets in. While you’re free falling you really smell the air! It reminds me of Utah when we’re up in Deer Valley. You can really smell the fresh, cold air all throughout your face, mouth, nose, and eyes. It’s very relaxing if you can believe it. A this point I’ve looked at my altimeter, and I probably moved my arm a little bit, so I’m starting to make a 90deg left turn because I brought my left shoulder down, creating force to push me in that direction. A quick dip of that same shoulder brings me back to my original heading and staring at my instructor. He gives me an ok and I start to make my maneuvers, whether it be a 90deg turn, 360, or mid-air stall, which means tilt your head up and point up towards the sky a little.

I’m in free fall for about 45-60 seconds at which time we are coming up at 5500K and it’s time for me to wave off and pull… YANK! Jolted back into reality from a fast 120MPH to a smooth 30MPH. Although the transition between the two isn’t so smooth. But it’s not too bad. So that 60 seconds is more exhilarating and thrilling than anything I’ve ever done! And I have a great time doing it!