Jump!
Managed to voyage to Headcorn (Kent) and arrive in good time for the 8.30 sign in, then in a group of 11 had a full days training including how to exit the aircraft, how to land, malfunction drills (fortunately not needed except for one guy whose lines got tangled, relatively easy to sort out), canopy control and where/how to steer into the dropzone.. all followed by an exam. Only one guy failed, presumably on the test.. one minute he was there then he was gone. I thought the instructor was pretty good, Dave, who seemed an ex-army type who had mellowed out to teach the likes of us, although he did lose his temper a couple of times (fortunately not with me).
Then went for a stroll round the area, saw hot air balloons and alpacas, and got invited to have a few drinks with the staff/instructors.. I was going to camp out but had earlier discovered they had a dorm room for a mere £2 a night, and it was only me in it!
Woke up feeling nervous and went and signed in, name on the board! 2 of the guys went up with some tandem jumpers about 9.15.. one of whom went way of course, almost landed on a railway line, swerved out and ended up in someones garden. He then had his pass revoked for showing a 'lack of control' although he claimed it was the wind. 20 minutes later they announced it was too windy for static line jumps, being over 15 knots.
About 5 hours of waiting followed! nerves giving way to a 'Grrr, just wanna get up there and do it!' and then resignation.. perhaps we won't get to jump after all? Looked round the museum, sat about, ate ice creams, twiddled thumbs.
Then finally.. wind has dropped! prepare to go. Nerves return! All kitted up we walk like John Wayne out to the airfield and get in 'the caravan'. Being bundled into a light aircraft with the door open and nothing to hold onto whilst the horizon rolls up and down as it tilts and pitches is a hairy experience in itself. The first guy jumped out.. okay! and another lurch, in which the photographer on board almost fell out the door! Two more jumps.. Try to remain calm and not even think about air sickness.
Suddenly its my go 'Get in the door!' I wait on the edge.. this is the worst bit sitting with your legs dangling in the slipstream, waiting to launch out, its like being on tip toe on the edge of a skyscraper.. Go!
Rather awkwardly I push off, and owing to my shoulders coming forward and the weight of the 'chute my centre of gravity shifts and I am instead going down head first! (instead of in a feet first 'starfish') but then theres the jolt and I resume normal drills after the chute opens and I check all is okay and have a moment of 'phew, this is actually quite niiice.. then have to locate and steer my way round to approach the drop zone from the other side, into the wind.
I was coming in quite well but at the last had to decide whether I would make it across the river boundary.. or land in it.. made the decision to veer left, and land in the field next to it, with a bit of an 'ummmph' and wonder for a moment if I've done myself a mischief but have to get up and wave to show I'm okay.
Back at the airfield its all jokes and handshakes and a beer an individual debriefings on how we did, mine was okay but not great due to the shaky exit and landing a little short, but all is well and I get my certificate to put on the fridge.
Certainly a day (or two) to remember!
here be photos: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=104536&id=552132682&l=358553c7a9
Then went for a stroll round the area, saw hot air balloons and alpacas, and got invited to have a few drinks with the staff/instructors.. I was going to camp out but had earlier discovered they had a dorm room for a mere £2 a night, and it was only me in it!
Woke up feeling nervous and went and signed in, name on the board! 2 of the guys went up with some tandem jumpers about 9.15.. one of whom went way of course, almost landed on a railway line, swerved out and ended up in someones garden. He then had his pass revoked for showing a 'lack of control' although he claimed it was the wind. 20 minutes later they announced it was too windy for static line jumps, being over 15 knots.
About 5 hours of waiting followed! nerves giving way to a 'Grrr, just wanna get up there and do it!' and then resignation.. perhaps we won't get to jump after all? Looked round the museum, sat about, ate ice creams, twiddled thumbs.
Then finally.. wind has dropped! prepare to go. Nerves return! All kitted up we walk like John Wayne out to the airfield and get in 'the caravan'. Being bundled into a light aircraft with the door open and nothing to hold onto whilst the horizon rolls up and down as it tilts and pitches is a hairy experience in itself. The first guy jumped out.. okay! and another lurch, in which the photographer on board almost fell out the door! Two more jumps.. Try to remain calm and not even think about air sickness.
Suddenly its my go 'Get in the door!' I wait on the edge.. this is the worst bit sitting with your legs dangling in the slipstream, waiting to launch out, its like being on tip toe on the edge of a skyscraper.. Go!
Rather awkwardly I push off, and owing to my shoulders coming forward and the weight of the 'chute my centre of gravity shifts and I am instead going down head first! (instead of in a feet first 'starfish') but then theres the jolt and I resume normal drills after the chute opens and I check all is okay and have a moment of 'phew, this is actually quite niiice.. then have to locate and steer my way round to approach the drop zone from the other side, into the wind.
I was coming in quite well but at the last had to decide whether I would make it across the river boundary.. or land in it.. made the decision to veer left, and land in the field next to it, with a bit of an 'ummmph' and wonder for a moment if I've done myself a mischief but have to get up and wave to show I'm okay.
Back at the airfield its all jokes and handshakes and a beer an individual debriefings on how we did, mine was okay but not great due to the shaky exit and landing a little short, but all is well and I get my certificate to put on the fridge.
Certainly a day (or two) to remember!
here be photos: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=104536&id=552132682&l=358553c7a9