Your skydiving experiences.

**MementoMori** · 26th February 2007, 18:07

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** · 26th February 2007, 18:46

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** · 26th February 2007, 18:55

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** · 26th February 2007, 18:59

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** · 26th February 2007, 19:02

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

(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** · 26th February 2007, 19:07

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** · 26th February 2007, 19:14

Originally Posted by Jim2

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!

**nadroj** · 26th February 2007, 19:48

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** · 26th February 2007, 19:48

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** · 26th February 2007, 19:50

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** · 26th February 2007, 20:19

Originally Posted by 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.

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** · 26th February 2007, 20:31

Originally Posted by Hitcher

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** · 26th February 2007, 20:35

Originally Posted by judecatmad

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!

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