Your skydiving experiences.

[MementoMori]

So yeah I'm thinking of doing a tandem skydive at Dannevirke with the Cloud 9 people and I was just wondering who's done it and what your experiences were doing it.

Is it something you'd do again? Was it what you expected?

I'd just like to get a decent idea of what to expect, plus I'm putting off booking it because that finalises things and I haven't quiet justified my reasons for doing it yet!

Cheers. :)

[Hitcher]

I watched Mrs H plummet earthwards strapped to the chest of a man wearing a parachute high above Dunedin's Taiari airport. Fortunately this opened as specified by its manufacturer and both parties returned to earth unscathed.

Unfortunately I exceed the recommended weight limit for a tandem jump. Bugger...

[doc]

Just remember that if all goes terribly wrong. Lock your legs together crossed and stretch your arms out shoulder height, and brace your self I mean brace yourself hard. Then they can come along and use your arms to help unscrew you from the ground. Well thats what Ray Manklowe an Auckland DJ (Think its Coast) use to teach when he was a PJI at PTSU at Whenuapai in the 70's.

[Laava]

Did a 20 sec freefall tandem from 12000ft, man it was great! You will land with a huge smile on your dial and will bore the crap out of everyone, going on about it!

[judecatmad]

It is THE best feeling in the entire world. DO IT!!!!

When you're doing freefall, the knowledge that (equipment failures aside) YOU are completely in control of your destiny is simply amazing.

And even if you're only doing static line, when the chute opens and you have those few minutes of complete freedom and silence...oh, it's just incredible. Just you and the sky. The best.

There is the issue of getting out of the plane in the first place which is very scary (I needed 'assisted release' several times [that's a size 10 boot up the backside...! LOL])...but once you're over that hurdle it's just the best thing you'll ever do.

IMHO anyway

:D

(never fancied tandem cos you don't have the same control over the jump and there's someone there controlling the experience - but it's a good intro and most people that I know that have done tandems always really enjoyed them)

[James Deuce]

Watched Mooch's wife (an experienced skydiver) plummet below minimum open height, then below the tree line. Her parachute opened JIT and she landed 100s of metres away from the airfield.

Not for me after that I'm afraid.

[judecatmad]

Watched Mooch's wife (an experienced skydiver) plummet below minimum open height, then below the tree line. Her parachute opened JIT and she landed 100s of metres away from the airfield.

Not for me after that I'm afraid.


A friend of mine got killed after he did a low hook turn (a turn too close to the ground). Did a couple of jumps after that but that's when I lost my nerve.

But there's risks to everything - hell, we all ride bikes....!!

Even having witnessed such an accident and having lost my nerve as a result, I would still recommend skydiving to anyone.

If I had the money and wasn't such a fat heifer nowadays, I would be back up there. The sound of a prop plane still puts a big grin on my face - I love flying from regional airports for that very reason! :D

[nadroj]

Did the tandem thing imagining it would be like on the bike at 200km without a helmet but found it way different with the weightless sinking feeling. Under canopy was awesome with the total freedom of movement and the view.
Yes I'd do it again but waiting for the instigator of my "voucher" to hit the same milestone so I can get revenge.

[paturoa]

About 10 years ago I did what was called then "Accelerated Free Fall". I don't know if it is still done.

Basically you go along to a couple of training sessions and the do a full jump from 10,000 ft.

2 instructors jump out with you at the same time and hold on to you, one on each side, as you jump and fall. Basically you do everything yourself, they are just there to mind you if you freeze or what ever.

It was a total blast. I jumped over Whenuapai and free fell to 4000 ft where I deployed my own chute, and then controlled the chute right thru to landing. When my main came out the insturctors were ripped away as I stopped. I had a one way radio system so i could hear another instructor on the ground telling me what to do with my chute.

I did a classic slide on my arse landing.

It was a total buzz. I rekon there was more adrenaline in my blood than plasma.

[phantom]

I did a tandem jump with them on my 50th birthday. absolutely amazing, they were very professional and somehow I managed to stay calm on the flight up. At 12000 ft the whole side of the plane opened up and this guy I was strapped to decided to exit the plane. seeing he was twice my size and we were more intimately attached than I had ever been to another man, so did I. The rest was a huge buzz and I don't think I have ever been so exhilirated and terrified in my life before. Go on you'll love it

[marty]

So yeah I'm thinking of doing a tandem skydive at Dannevirke with the Cloud 9 people and I was just wondering who's done it and what your experiences were doing it.

Is it something you'd do again? Was it what you expected?

I'd just like to get a decent idea of what to expect, plus I'm putting off booking it because that finalises things and I haven't quiet justified my reasons for doing it yet!

Cheers. :)

if someone tells you that it is foolish to jump out a perfectly serviceable aeroplane, i'm telling you now (and i fix 'em AND fly 'em) that there are NO perfectly serviceable aeroplanes!

and what does it matter if it stops? you've got a parachute on! the plane that had an engine failure at parakai last year landed in the vineyard with how many skydivers on board?

i fly a mix of tandems and sport jumpers at Matamata. the dannevirke operation looks similar - small town, motivated jump masters who jump cause they love it, not flashy, but safe and enjoyable. if you do the Taupo thing you're moved through like a sausage factory, wham bang you're back on the ground.

[Toaster]

Unfortunately I exceed the recommended weight limit for a tandem jump. Bugger...

Dude, whats the max weight limit? I've always wanted to dig my own grave at 200km/h in freefall.

[marty]

A friend of mine got killed after he did a low hook turn (a turn too close to the ground). Did a couple of jumps after that but that's when I lost my nerve.

But there's risks to everything - hell, we all ride bikes....!!

Even having witnessed such an accident and having lost my nerve as a result, I would still recommend skydiving to anyone.

If I had the money and wasn't such a fat heifer nowadays, I would be back up there. The sound of a prop plane still puts a big grin on my face - I love flying from regional airports for that very reason! :D

as you well know, a tandem master would never do a hook turn at low altitude - just too dangerous

[Her_C4]

Dude, whats the max weight limit? I've always wanted to dig my own grave at 200km/h in freefall.


I believe it is still 90kgs??:yes: :Punk:

[Toaster]

I believe it is still 90kgs??:yes: :Punk:

Geez!! only 90kgs?! I better go take the crap of the century then.

[MementoMori]

The Cloud 9 guys set a maximum weight of 100kgs. I weigh about half that so I think I'll be alright!

Thanks for your answers so far guys, I'm feeling a lot more ready to go out and do it. Just been watching loads of videos of people's jumps on YouTube and it looks incredible.

I guess for a country with such a small population and a tiny percentage of those that jump that someone's gonna know someone who ended up in an accident of some kind, though as mentioned they don't seem to be accidents that would happen during a safer tandem jump. Though obviously, the 'chute could just not open but I guess that's all part of it...

Any more experiences would be greatly appreciated and thanks again for the replies so far - very encouraging. :D

[pixc]

I did a tandem jump over Mt Maunganui a year or two ago. BF gave me a voucher for a prezzie. Took me a year to to get the courage. Sat in a shity chiti-chiti-bang-bang plane. Pilot looked like he wasnt old enough to drive a car. I sat on the floor next to a perspex door. Im sure as we were going down the runway I could see wobbling of wheels and popping of rivits. I crapped myself until the wheels left the runway. After that, the only way down was strapped to the lovely man whom had our only 'chute. Out we jumped..we were farkin high, thats all I know. I was silent the whole freefall. Hes tapping me on the shoulder telling me I can yell and scream if I want. (I was screaming inside let me tell you) through some clouds. (its like puttin your head out of the car window going 180kph in the rain) 'chute opens and oh the pain. 100 - 0 in a split second. The harness left some very nasty bruises. I was over the pain in 1 second flat. The veiw, the sereilness of it all was truely amazing. (To be honest I think the wave of emotions was more due to the fact the the chute did indeed open then the airy fairyness of it all) We yaked all the way down (found out he knew my daddy) then he goes "Shit" and I think "WERE GONNA DIE!". I woffled on so much that he kinda misjudged the landing. We landed safe an sound a good 2-300m from were we where meant to land. No dramas. It was nice of him to miss all the hangers though.

It was fantastic, and a truely amazing experience. I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you are concidering, great. go for it.

[Quartermile]

Man I sooooooooo want to sky-dive someone told me you only free-fall for 3seconds which I find hard to belive, please tell me if different:D

[M1CRO]

Have done both a static and a tandem.. Enjoyed the static alot more as you controlled the entire descent (the chord gets pulled as soon as you jump out).. The walk out on the wing is an experience that you dont forget :)

As suggested by other folk.. Get out & do it :yes:

[jonbuoy]

Go for it, I wouldn't bother with photos - save your money for another jump if your so inclined - (you'll look like your gurning in them and they gave me the gayest 80's jump suite and school chemistry saftey glasses to wear) - up to you though. Just get one before you take off and when you land. Massive rush and so peacefull when your gliding down. You'll be buzzed for days.

[marty]

Man I sooooooooo want to sky-dive someone told me you only free-fall for 3seconds which I find hard to belive, please tell me if different:D

30 secs freefall under tandem from 10000ft. chute has to be open by 5000' so plenty of drift down under canopy.

[Kendog]

I did a static line a few years back, loved it.
I hate heights but was in a group of about 20 others so the peer pressure kept me on track to make the jump.

Went up in the plane without a door, that was a bit freaky. Each time someone jumped the plane would go into a massive banking turn to get back to the jump point, with the gaping gap where the door should be pointing straight at the the ground, that was very freaky. When it was my turn to jump I shuffled up to the missing door and hung my legs out of the plane while literally facing the ground, that was stupidly freaky.

The plane straightened, the engine throttled back to reduce turbulence, the world goes quiet. I have this strong sense/feeling my late mother was there. Waiting, waiting, waiting..... Will I ever get the tap on the shoulder to let me know its time to jump, waiting......
I feel the tap, my body freezes for an instant. This is it. I fall out of the plane with the instructors words ringing in my head "hard arch". Static line free fall is 4 seconds, that time is lost to me as I plummet to earth. All I recall is noise and wind.

Whack, my body is jerked seemingly upwards as the chute opens, but I am spinning from side to side. A moment of panic as I try looking up to see if the chute has opened correctly, but the guide lines block my head. Seconds later it corrects itself and the swinging stops.

I grab the steering/brake lines and relax. I am sitting in what feels like a swing, floating, silence. Its a bit like a dream now, so peaceful. An amazing contrast to a few moments before.

Too soon it's all coming to an end as the ground draws near, listening to the instructor on the ground giving directions. I brake as much as I dare so I don't fall like a stone, but not enough and I hit the ground rather hard, but again the instructors words are in my head "roll and flop".
A few seconds laying on the ground thinking how great it feels and generally reflecting. Then its time to gather up the chute, join the others and tell the story of my experience while listening to others experiences.


It really does feel like this happened yesterday, not 10+ years ago. Words can not describe the experience sufficiently, it really is one of those things everyone should try once in their life time.

[Quartermile]

Cooooooooool I want, I want

[far queue]

I did 6 static line jumps in the early 80's. Round parachutes, not the square ones used now. Went through all the training and stuff, learnt forward and backward landing rolls, how to untangle certain malfunctions, how to use the reserve and so on. I remember they impressed on us over and over that it was important when we jumped to scream out 1001, 1002, 1003, 1004, 1005, then look up both risers to the 'chute an go "check" "check" to make sure the 'chute had opened OK. Well, I jumped out and went "aaaahhhhhhh fffuuuuuccckkk", then the 'chute was open and I was floating down ... then I thought "shit, I better make sure the 'chute looks OK" - so much for drumming that little exercise into me. There was a bit of a wind and I landed backwards with a nice landing roll. I remember being really nervous before the jump and during the climb to height, and on a real high after landing and couldn't wait to go again.

The next 3 jumps were similar - never did stop screaming out when I jumped. Jump 5 was going to my last one, but ... did the usual - nervous on the way up, screamed on the exit, chute appeared to have opened, then I thought "I seem to be descending way faster than my previous jumps, I'd better look up" ... oh fuck, it hasn't opened. The 'chute had come out of the pack and was just streaming above me like a lot of useless washing. I put my hand on the reserve handle and counted 1001, 1002, 1003 (I remembered this part of he training), and just started to put pressure on the reserve handle to pull it, staring at the main the whole time, when the main just popped open. The rest of the descent and landing was normal. I figured I couldn't really let that be my last jump, and have people think I chickened out after that incident. So I did one more jump - completely uneventful.

I remember being told during training that the main chute takes 20-30 minutes to pack, but the reserve takes over 2 hours to pack due to the extreme care that's put into this one, and that if the reserve is unused it's unpacked after 6 months (I think) thoroughly inspected and repacked. It's guaranteed to open. My jumps were done over a month or so and I saw 1 reserve used and one injury. I don't know what the story was with the reserve, the guy went into cloud under what appeared to be a good main and came out of cloud under the reserve. The injury was due to a different guy not following his training. He didn't do the landing roll as instructed, instead he crossed his legs then sat on them on landing, breaking his lower leg.

I remember it was awesome floating down under the 'chute, soooo quiet, and being able to see such awesome scenery everywhere with nothing to block the view, and as you got closer to the ground being able to hear the sounds of the country (dogs, cows, sheep) for miles around.

I did all this 25 years ago, and still remember it all so clearly. Just go do it, you'll never forget it, it's awesome - and safe.

[far queue]

Went up in the plane without a door, that was a bit freaky. Each time someone jumped the plane would go into a massive banking turn to get back to the jump point, with the gaping gap where the door should be pointing straight at the the ground, that was very freaky. When it was my turn to jump I shuffled up to the missing door and hung my legs out of the plane while literally facing the ground, that was stupidly freaky.Ha ha, I remember that too. I remember being scared I was going to fall, when I was going jump out of the bloody thing anyway :laugh:

[Lou Girardin]

Even having witnessed such an accident and having lost my nerve as a result, I would still recommend skydiving to anyone.


Anyone you don't like.

[Colapop]

I'm too big by about 20kgs to tandem jump and I've looked at getting my jump cert. It costs about $3k. You can get jumping after a mornings training (3-4 hours). Each jump thereafter cost about $40 or $50 depending on what height you jump from (10, 15, 20 k feet ??). I couldn't tell you that, that information is accurate but it's something similar to that. That's out at Hood aerodrome in Masterton.

[marty]

Went up in the plane without a door, that was a bit freaky. Each time someone jumped the plane would go into a massive banking turn to get back to the jump point, with the gaping gap where the door should be pointing straight at the the ground, that was very freaky. .


that's pretty average flying - might be good fun for sporties with 1000 jumps, but for static liners who are shitting themselves anyway, the door should be closed and the turn done away from it - it makes it easier anyway to climb back to 4000ft, and much easier to line up the run when the DZ is on the pilot's side.

we have a static line course - run by an ex RAF jumpmaster. many people do 3 or 4 jumps in a day then come back for the AFF course in a few weeks.

[apteryx_haasti]

I did about 5 static lines in the early 90s (was going to work my way up to a solo free fall, but as a poor student...)

In the late 90s I did a tandem skydive at Wanaka from 12000 ft.

All awesome - I love the static line jumps because you have to get up the gumption to get out the plane yourself. I loved the tandem jump because it's from so much higher and you get more freefall.

Go do it!

PS - strangely, the day after the tandem skydive, I did the Kawareu (sp?) river bungy jump in Queenstown. Now THAT was scary!

[Dooly]

Did some jumps in the 80s with the old round chutes.
Used to have to hang out the door of the old plane and swing out, grab a wing strut, balance, then let go!

Gave up after having to choose between hitting power lines or grape vines on my last jump.
Chose the vines.
Alas I clipped one bad, smashed my leg big time and that was the end of my skydiving career.

Good buzz tho.

[Alice]

I did a jump with Cloud 9 from 12000ft awhile back.

Andy has been jumping for many years and has a good safety record. His wife is also an experienced skydiver. The weekend I jumped a bigger plane came over from Taupo so there where about 10 experienced skydivers jumping at the same time, I was the only tandem, we lept out with them. I knew one of the guys and had been encouraged by him to try it. Glad I did, it was a buzz.
Sitting on the edge of the plane with your feet sticking out the door looking down flying along is cool, yu feel safe as with a parachute on. Once we fell outa the plane I kept trying to hook my legs around Andys legs, I not sure why it just happened instinctivly, probably to try to get hold of something solid. After we landed he said it was not a good idea cause thats how they stear themselves, woops.... Anyways, we landed where we should have. Its awesome actually and leaves you buzzing and on a high for awhile. Good adrenalin rush, a scensory overload leaving the plane, dam noisy.
One of the guys lost a shoe, so make sure yu have your shoes on properly.
Later I went up in the plane again, the others keep jumping all day, we had to wear a small emergency parachutes in case anything went wrong, as the last guy jumped the pilot gave the plane a wiggle so the guy fell off, then he launched the plane into a steep dive straight back down, woooo, good for the stomach.

[deeknow]

Well, I jumped out and went "aaaahhhhhhh fffuuuuuccckkk", then the 'chute was open and I was floating down ... then I thought "shit, I better make sure the 'chute looks OK"

LOL !!! Classic. Reminds me of the static-line jump I did a few years ago. My missus at the time jumped just after I did in the same plane-load, as I was descending I heard over the radio the ground staff calling out to her and saying "well done, your in control" ... when we all got on the ground she admitted to doing exactly what you just described, ie leaping out, screaming and only looking up at the chute after calming down, there was no "control" involved. We all pissed ourselves laughing about it at the time :yes:

[judecatmad]

as you well know, a tandem master would never do a hook turn at low altitude - just too dangerous

Indeed - this wasn't a tandem jumper. He was a guy who'd done an AFF course a few month prior in Florida (a popular thing to do in the UK at the time).

NOBODY in their right mind - tandem or solo - would EVER do a low hook turn. It's suicidal behaviour.

But then, so is base jumping IMHO. Good fun, but man, the potential for things to go wrong.......

[dnos]

Do it, you will not regret it.
Has to be the most exhilarating thing I have done.

[Bloody Mad Woman (BMW)]

DO IT. There were two words to describe it TOTALLY ORGASMIC. I did it in Australia, fearful of heights - my thought was how the hell was I going to jump out of the plane! Well I had absolutely no fear in the end - so excited - biggest buzz of my life - we were at 14,000 feet. Beaut landing - I immediately wanted to go and do it all again. I have the DVD of it (somewhere).

[Hitcher]

Please note the following article from British Medical Journal about potential risks associated with parachute jumping.

http://pla.ce.bo.free.fr/biblio/parachute_use_to_prevent_death_and_major_trauma_re lated_to_gravitational_challenge.pdf

[ManDownUnder]

Unfortunately I exceed the recommended weight limit for a tandem jump. Bugger...

'ang about - you weight more than TWO people should???

FARK!

[Colapop]

It's the associated underlighting that gets the weight up - Go Tron!

Umm Hitch - big long lots of words.... not good...

[Swoop]

A friend of mine got killed after he did a low hook turn (a turn too close to the ground).
Was this in NZ?

i fly a mix of tandems and sport jumpers at Matamata.
Oh shit. You'll know Pete R and Kermit then.

the reserve takes over 2 hours to pack due to the extreme care that's put into this one, and that if the reserve is unused it's unpacked after 6 months (I think) thoroughly inspected and repacked.
Your memory is spot-on with those facts!

[judecatmad]

Was this in NZ?


No, it was in the UK many moons ago.

If my memory serves me right, I stopped in 1994 so it would have been around then. One of my biggest regrets is that I gave it up thro losing my nerve. Should have pushed on through.

And now....well, not enough money for that addiction any more!

But definitely, ANYONE and EVERYONE should have the opportunity to jump out of a plane at least once in their lifetime :)

[MementoMori]

Excellent. Well my opportunity has come up so I think I shall take it. I contacted the guys and they're gonna ring me and talk me into it further. From the email I got though, they're bloody passionate about it which is always reassuring.

Cheers for all your replies, will be sure to post up my experience when I do it!

[marty]

Was this in NZ?

Oh shit. You'll know Pete R and Kermit then.

Your memory is spot-on with those facts!

yeah pete is next door. kermit occasionally does a jump with us. if this cloud clears we've got some booked at 12 noon today actually.

there was a death at mercer 2 weeks ago from swooping in - just before the nats

[Swoop]

yeah pete is nextg door. kermit occasionally does a jump with us. if this cloud clears we've got some booked at 12 noon today actually.

someone died at mercer 2 weeks ago swooping in - just before the nats

I guess you will be busy with the herc and the nats coming up soon!!!

[marty]

yeah i'm flying friday and monday but have to work at my real job over the weekend bugger it all....hope to fly the accuracy jumpers as that is heaps of fun, with quick turn arounds and lots of yelling and laughing

[vixter]

skydiving is thee or one of thee best things ive ever done in my life i started out many years ago doing a charity jump on a static line and thought fuck this is good and continued untill i gained catergory 8 basically jumping with who you want when you want!!!

if you just wanna do the one do the tandem as you get to experince the free fall if you think ya gonna get hooked then go through the static system!

[gijoe1313]

I did a tandem down Queenstown a couple years back, awesome experience - I was just on the limit for it 101kgs...they asked the guy who would take me .. and to my relief he said "no prob". I went for the whole kit and kaboodle ... 15,000ft, cameraman and photos blah blah blah (yeah, it's a bit of coin, but figgered it would be cool to have my first parachute documented!)

What can I say? The plane ride was a blast, just hooning it up in circles and watching all my fellow tandems going out at the lower altitudes, then it was just a bit of oxygen for me. Plane gunning it and then ... a final check of the equipment and bingo bongo bango...we were out freefalling, awesome! Funny thing was, I didn't have any anxiety or nerves, just expectations - I guess doing the canyon swing several times already had silenced the buterflies!

Well, out pops the chute and we're dangling there in space. The view was amazing and brought a pang to the heart ... God's own green and beautiful bounty laid out before my appreciative sense. I could see the little dandelion-like images of the previous jumpers pulled to earth, gravity curtailing their brief sojourn of freedom... circling around like my own private cherubim was the photographer getting video of my blown out face and drool :lol:

After a little while, my tandem instructor asked "You are loving this! Would you care for a spiral in?"
Did he even have to ask?
"Go for it!"
With the barest nudge, we went into a wide, slow circle ala Matrix effects and I got to see a 360 panorama of the countryside...little cows and sheeps looking like ants, cars and trucks reminding me of little play toys from my childhood...and above all, the stunning scenery gliding by.

All too soon, we are preparing to land - he brings us in to the landing zone, I can see the upturned heads of those who have landed already and see the ground slowly rush up - with a few steps we are on the ground. Magic. Grin from ear to ear.

Has got me inspired to go for my own cert in skydiving...oh yeah! So ... you won't ever regret doing it! The experience is intense, and the feeling electrifying ... so on ya for doing it.

I drifted merrily along a breeze
Feeling, fun and fancy free!