My wife had bought me a gift certificate a few weeks after our wedding last year for a jump in Oak Island. Finally got around to using it this past weekend. My kids got to watch (I was hoping I didn't go *splat*) and thought it was fantastic.

This was a serious operation. I got there and had to wait for 4 full loads to prep and jump before it was my turn. A load was probably 12+ people.

I had no nervousness at all, except thinking I might screw up the timing of the instructor, strapped to my back, in disembarking due to being clumsy.

Once we got up and ready, a bit above 14,000 feet, the group in front of me went out and it was our turn. We spun around and I stood up and out we went, no hesitation.

And I immediately realized two things. 1. Holy shit it is cold; and 2. You ever try to breathe while holding your head out of a window at 70mph? Me either, but I assure you it is difficult.

I'm not sure how many seconds we fell for. Maybe ten. I was focused on how damn cold it was and I was a bit concerned with not being able to breathe, but I finally worked through that bit. I was amazed that I could hear my instructor speak. He checked our equipment and then gave me the thumbs up to move around a bit. I was freaking loving it. You could see for miles, ocean this way, Bald Head Island that way, mainland over there. And I was full-speed at it all.

I felt the chute start to pull and next thing I know we went from 100mph-ish to 30mph-ish in about a second. Me nuts weren't a fan of this. But we floated down, him letting me do some pulls on the canopy, sending us this way and that, and doing one spiral that did actually scare me a bit. I was amazed by how we jumped out way the hell over >>here<<, and we were supposed to somehow accurately land waaaaaay over >>there<<. But sure enough, he threaded the needle seemingly without effort.

My big concern was the landing. I had no desire to break a leg or my ass bone. No sir-ee. I've been the medic in the back of an ambulance more than once with people that hurt themselves jumping from planes, and looked at what was left of a few that never made it to the back of the ambulance. Not my choice of ways to go. But, as we came in for the approach I did the leg lift as practiced, and we sat down (literally) with a slight bump, no issues.


It was awesome, but it was all over within a couple of minutes. I'll probably do it again sometime. I always wanted to go skydiving, but at the same time always wondered if I'd freeze up. I was a solid as an oak. I don't even think my heart rate started to increase until we opened the door (a foot away from me) at 14,000 feet. It was barely up when I jumped. Pretty kick-ass!

Jumping out of a perfectly functional airplane just seems insane.

It is the second best thing in the world.

That sounds like a great time. Glad you enjoyed it.

quote:

I'm not sure how many seconds we fell for. Maybe ten.

You had a little bit of adrenaline going through you. From 14,000 feet you would free fall for +/- a minute and then pull at 5,000.

You get pics or video?

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Originally posted by a1abdj:

quote:

I'm not sure how many seconds we fell for. Maybe ten.

You had a little bit of adrenaline going through you. From 14,000 feet you would free fall for +/- a minute and then pull at 5,000.

You get pics or video?

The wife sprang for both. I wish the video had been longer.

Conrats on the jump! I did the same thing many years ago....and I survived too!

I've taken up 19 souls and then looked back to see the bird empty. I haven't yet had the nerve to try it. Maybe some day. Glad you enjoyed your fall.

I did a couple of jumps when I was younger and loved it. But at the time, I could not afford my own equipment so I let it go.

quote:

You get pics or video?

They're editing out the screams.

That sounds like a lot of fun. It’s good that you actually liked it. Tandem skydiving is in my bucket list. I’m really afraid of heights. Don’t even like to be in an airplane. Someday, I hope to face my fear of heights and check this off my list.

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Originally posted by Edmond:
Jumping out of a perfectly functional airplane just seems insane.

The military term for a non-jumper is a "leg."

The civilian term for a non-jumper is a "wuffo."

This is because wuffo's never tire of saying "wuffo you go an jump outta a perfectly airplane, wuffo?" They think it's cute.

There are no perfectly good airplanes.

I've been jumping and flying jumpers since high school. I've never heard anyone say it's hard to breathe in freefall. The best description for freefall, to me, is floating in loud, breathable water. Jumping is cheap psychotherapy; it clears the mind, and it relaxes.

Why jump out of an airplane? The door's open. No further justification needed.

Only two things fall out of the sky.....

I did it back in 95 and loved it as well and highly suggest everyone do it at least once. The thing I remembered the most was how quiet it seemed as we left the plane and then how loud it got as the wind rushes by your ears as you reach terminal velocity.

I also remember how difficult it was to breath as you free fall and then how it feels like someone is trying to pull you through the harness by your feet as the chute opens.

We jumped at 12,000 feet and it took us 40 seconds to reach 4,000 feet where we opened the chute.

So, the most I fear most is the jumping out of the plane part? How does it feel? Is it like being strapped on a roller coaster ride? I hate roller coasters. Or is it pretty much all about the hard time breathing part that is bad?

That sounds amazing! People say it’s a hell of a rush. Where did you skydive? I have a friend in Winston who is trying to talk me into skydiving.

I too jumped back in '95 when I was first divorced, figuring what-the-hell and can I get my cohones back.

14,000' and an open door, off we went. The fall was great, passing through clouds was awesome and damp, the only thing I didn't like was the groin straps that cut off the blood flow 'down under' and eventually made me somewhat woozy on landing.

At least that is what I tell myself. Did it again 2 years later to make sure.

The only other thing I remember from that first drop is someone saying "Don't become an inkspot"

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Originally posted by ador:
So, the most I fear most is the jumping out of the plane part? How does it feel? Is it like being strapped on a roller coaster ride? I hate roller coasters. Or is it pretty much all about the hard time breathing part that is bad?

I really thought I would hesitate when it came time to jump but all I did is listen to the instructor give his commands, we eased over to the door and out we went the second he said to go. As long as you keep your head up like they instruct you flatten out rather quickly. Roller coasters throw you around more I think.

On the breathing part the biggest thing to remember is that you don't have to breath out of your mouth. I forgot that for a few seconds. Once you keep your mouth shut and breath through your nose it is fine.

Just don't do like the girl that went with me did. She started screaming from the second they left the plane until she was almost on the ground. She almost passed out from hyperventilating.

We were on the ground and could hear her screaming through the free fall and the chute ride down.

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Originally posted by JimTheo:
The only other thing I remember from that first drop is someone saying "Don't become an inkspot"

There was a guy that burned in two weeks prior to me jumping because his main failed and he wasn't jumping with a backup. Made me hesitate for a moment about going but then I figured I had fresh odds.

Good for you, one of the best things I've done. I jumped back in the '70s. static line, no tandem. I did three jumps and retired, I'm thinking about a tandem for my 75th birthday, next year.

Congrats!

I'm jealous (sort of), I wish I had done this in my younger years. At 63 years old now, and a fat 250#'s, out of shape, I do not think they would let me.