07PETKO

I'm taking my grandfather up on Thursday.

USAFA10s

I must say that jumping was probably the coolest thing I have ever done

flieger83

A balloon drop is amazing: you start with zero speed...and the first few seconds are a test of your body control as you have very little of it until you get some speed! Then...all of a sudden you're terminal...and floating along and enjoying a nice freefall.

I was preparing to do El Capitan in the 80's when they "stopped" allowing it. So I never did my "E" jump and decided I wasn't going to be a BASE jumper anyway.

But after 500+ FF's...I started to get stupid; I was having TOO much fun and doing dumb things. And this sport will NOT tolerate stupid. (rode my reserve due to being VERY stupid)

So I sold my rig and haven't jumped since.

But I am getting the urge, big time!

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83

funnyesq

Wow...what a rush. Truly awesome and fantastic. One less thing on the Bucket List. Couple of comments/questions for those "experienced"...

1. out at 13,000 feet. A bit windy down below...don't know if that made it any windier at 13,000...I did expect very strong wind feeling.
2.. according to my video...drone released after about 8 seconds...during that 8 seconds I did feel like I was falling..unsupported. The video angle is weird...but I think we were more or less head down like in a dive vs. more horrizontal...don't know if that had any effect on my initial "feeling" I think most said there is no "sudden drop" feeling...I think I did feel that. I did see in other videos that the drone was release right away or like after 3-4 seconds.
3. Once drone deployed I was fine...no feeling of moving down...mostly remember loud wind and its incredible force against my body. Shook hands with the camera guy in front of me...fun!
4. Chute deployed at 5,000..not bad...no jerk...floated effortlessly down after that...few spiral turns...was relatively short ride after deployment.

hornetguy

Congrats. Sounds like a great time. ahh the memories!

07PETKO

1. Winds aloft are usually stronger than winds on the ground, but it's going to be windy and loud regardless.
2. Eight seconds is actually later than what I'd consider normal for setting the drogue. The "dropping feeling" is odd; I don't think I've ever felt that, really. The plane must have been moving extremely slowly (which is understandable in strong winds). The cessation of the feeling, though, probably had more to do with your reaching terminal velocity than any real significant decrease in speed by the drogue. It's mostly just there for stability.
3. Sounds like a fun ride. Congrats on taking the plunge! Any plans to continue in the future?

funnyesq

1. The main reason I did it was the ulitmate in "letting go" I tend to be a control freak. Heights and falling is another "fear" but not that bad. I'm not good with roller coasters and going upside down (yet). Although I have gone on Splash Mountain and the like...nothing upside down or really high and big drop.
2. Once out there was nothing I could do about the feeling and I remember thinking..oh well do the arch...I did flail a bit. I timed the drop without the drogue at about 8-9 seconds. The engine had cut down just before they opened the door but they warned us that would happen. I don't know how much drop in air speed there was. The wind was strong and yes I did expect it to be strong.
3. Part of me thinks that yes once I hit terminal velocity that was what stopped the feeling which was probably coincidentally about the time he deployed the drogue. At that point I truly did not feeling any sensation of falling. 0, nada, none. It was just the pressure of the wind as if I was on a floor sortof. We turned a bit back and forth but no real spins and the videographer grabbed my hand at one point to shake it ...that was fun. Then he turned upside down and the chute was deployed. 50 seconds of free fall including the 8-9 free, free fall. hahaha