Static Line Parachuting This Sunday - Any Advice You Can Give?

sachinbadiani · 10 Mar 2011 at 18:28

Hello!

I'm doing a static line parachute jump this Sunday (weather permitting) from Headcorn in Kent. I last did a jump in 2008 as a tandem, but this one is going to be on my own, for the charity CancerActive in memory of my aunty who passed away 2 years ago tomorrow.

Do any of you who have done this before have any advice for someone like me whose doing it on my own for the first time? Anything to say to calm my nerves?

I'm reading up on the net about how it's going to work, and there will be 8 hours training on Saturday.

Phreaky · 10 Mar 2011 at 18:29

Wear brown trousers.

Pate · 10 Mar 2011 at 18:35

Pray.

DJMK4 · 10 Mar 2011 at 18:54

You should have done a freefall

SexyGreyFox · 10 Mar 2011 at 18:56

I've done 6 static line jumps from a place called Halfpenny Green Wolverhampton way.
We had to walk out of the doorway while holding onto the wing and then make our way onto a small step before jumping off.
With any luck you'll sit on a ledge and drop but they will expect you to arch your back with all 4 limbs pointing out and shouting '1 thousand, 2 thousand, 3 thousand, 4 thousand, check'.
When you check you will look up at your parachute to see if it's OK.
I would imagine they will give you a round parachute so if you look up and see a line over you will have to pull your reserve.
They should make one run where they will fly over the top of the landing zone and they will drop a marker.
The marker will be blown by the wind and from that they will drop you exactly the same distance going the other way so if you pass out or knock yourself out you should drift straight down to the landing zone.
Good luck

Cosimo · 10 Mar 2011 at 18:59

Take out some insurance, don't bother with an organ donor card then:

Phreaky said:
Wear brown trousers.

and

kenmare said:
Pray.

Good luck.

Freefaller · 10 Mar 2011 at 19:08

That's how I started. Be aware - you'll get hooked!

It's not hard, just follow the instructions - keep eye contact with your instructor as you fall out of the plane, arch your back, nice big star shape, and follow the drills they tell you on the radio - trust the instructors to tell you when to turn and when to flare - don't flare too early. Better to flare too late and do a PLF (parachute landing fall).

You'll get a day's worth of training the day before, and a recap on the Sunday before you jump.

They'll go through how to approach the plane, how to use your reserve how to cut away you main parachute. Tell you about the DMZ and the landing area, about using the wind indicators etc...

However, a lot of it will be guided for you on your first jump. The parachute will open for you, and you'll get a bit of a stomach in your throat feeling as you fall out of the plane. Important, look up and at the instructor - it'll keep your form better - looking down will cause you to lose your shape.

You might get twists in your lines - this is NOT a problem, you'll be taught how to kick 'em out. However, don't use the lines until you've cleared them, the instructors there will tell you all about it. They'll teach you how to identify different potential malfunctions etc... They'll put you in a harness and simulate cutting away a parachute and deploying the reserve. It'll get drilled into you so that it becomes second nature! Another tip, tuck away your meat and two veg - you don't want those getting trapped by the thigh straps!

You'll be fine - I wish you good weather for Sunday! Have fun and take pics!

sachinbadiani · 10 Mar 2011 at 19:14

Thank you so much for your advice guys... but one question Freefaller, you talk about malfunctions.. how often do they happen?

As for the meat and two veg - I remember from the tandem the straps were pulling on them.... I mentioned it on my video for the tandem: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MxRlDnxCPQ

Freefaller · 10 Mar 2011 at 19:27

Very very rarely. You have to be aware of them - I did over 500 jumps without one single one. Had a few dodgy openings and times where I thought - hmmm I need to cut away, but saved it! Normally it's 1 in 1000 in average. I know some people who have done 2,000+ without one, but I know guys with 10,000+ who have had dozens! You tend to get them more as you start pushing yourself and start packing your own rig and make silly mistakes - nothing bad though - that's why we have reserve chutes!

OzyOly · 10 Mar 2011 at 19:30

Static line is dead easy. Just remember to arch.

And as FF said, don't flare too high, on my first free fall jump I flared at 50ft and stalled my canopy. Oops.

OzyOly · 10 Mar 2011 at 19:31

Freefaller said:
Very very rarely. You have to be aware of them - I did over 500 jumps without one single one. Had a few dodgy openings and times where I thought - hmmm I need to cut away, but saved it! Normally it's 1 in 1000 in average. I know some people who have done 2,000+ without one, but I know guys with 10,000+ who have had dozens! You tend to get them more as you start pushing yourself and start packing your own rig and make silly mistakes - nothing bad though - that's why we have reserve chutes!

I hate packing, with a passion. I can't pro pack yet, only flat pack and it's a bitch on 280 canopies. Makes me hate elastic bands.

Freefaller · 10 Mar 2011 at 19:35

I only pro pack - never learned to flat pack haha!

I used to have 2 rigs so I could get on 2 loads quickly - and meant I could get back up with my students more quickly too. I do miss doing it - a lot

Actually, my fastest pack was under 10 minutes as I had got a slot on a DC3 in California, and was NOT going to miss the opportunity to jump out of that! Best opening ever! Yeah, bungees become part of your life!

Fortunately I had a 170 and 185 (I don't go smaller as my wingloading @ 16st was more than enough for me!

).

OzyOly · 10 Mar 2011 at 19:44

Freefaller said:
I only pro pack - never learned to flat pack haha! I used to have 2 rigs so I could get on 2 loads quickly - and meant I could get back up with my students more quickly too. I do miss doing it - a lot Actually, my fastest pack was under 10 minutes as I had got a slot on a DC3 in California, and was NOT going to miss the opportunity to jump out of that! Best opening ever! Yeah, bungees become part of your life! Fortunately I had a 170 and 185 (I don't go smaller as my wingloading @ 16st was more than enough for me! ).

I only weigh 8stone so as a student I'm on 200 AFF but they haven't let me pack that yet, just the static line 280s. Bungees will never be part of my life. If I ever get my B licence I shall never pack again haha.

Freefaller · 10 Mar 2011 at 19:55

Get your own rig and learn how to pro-pack it - pro-packing is easy, furthermore, you need it for your IC1 to get your B licence - though it's not IC1 anymore is it? You have to do your CH1 and then your CH2 and JM1 to get your B licence now I believe - so basically the same as IC1 - but with a bit more focus on canopy control. FS1 and FF1 are great fun to go for too!

I was a good ol' C licence! I'd much rather pack my own rig - but that's just me.

OzyOly · 10 Mar 2011 at 20:00

Freefaller said:
Get your own rig and learn how to pro-pack it - pro-packing is easy, furthermore, you need it for your IC1 to get your B licence - though it's not IC1 anymore is it? You have to do your CH1 and then your CH2 and JM1 to get your B licence now I believe - so basically the same as IC1 - but with a bit more focus on canopy control. FS1 and FF1 are great fun to go for too!

I was a good ol' C licence! I'd much rather pack my own rig - but that's just me.

CH1 is now a requirement for A-lience. CH2, JM1 and FS1 (or FF1) are requirements for B licence. Last time I checked anyway, but it keeps changing.

I would get my own rig, but I'm a Uni student with no money, I'll have to keep renting them at Hibaldstowe for now.
I've been out of the sport for a year now because of illness but I'm going to blitz my AFF rejumps during a week in June, I'm fed up of having to put it on hold, I wanna get the licence while I'm well enough haha.

Mucky_Pup · 10 Mar 2011 at 20:09

DJMK4 said:
You should have done a freefall

Not possible unless he's wanting to stump up the cash for an AFF course, otherwise, free fall wouldn't come atleast until his after his 5th solo SL jump. Only way to do free fall off the bat is to do it on an AFF course, or strapped to the front of someone else.

Freefaller · 10 Mar 2011 at 20:09

I saved up for my own whilst at uni - but then again I spent my live at a DZ!

Then I ended up buying newer/better kits, and then ended up with 2! However, I wanted to become an instructor (I was a only a BI) - but it was good fun.

Yeah the rules keep changing. Makes sense though as there are more injuries and deaths owing to canopy control than anything else. So people manage to get themselves under a nice canopy and go and **** it up at the last minute because they don't think.

I did a lot of canopy control tuition as I loved being under canopy almost as much as the actual dive!

FS was my thing, though I did get my FF1 too - just.

sachinbadiani · 12 Mar 2011 at 22:43

Thank you dmpoole and freefaller and others for your good and positive advice. I have had my training today, and I'm going to get a good night sleep. Did the training and the written test at the end, and got full marks. The good thing about the training was that there was a lot of practical involving the whole group and we went over many times each thing, and recapping over and over again. The practicing of the landing was my favourite.

As for the meat and two veg, I'll have my jogging bottoms on again.

And as kenmare said, I'll be praying tonight and tomorrow. Just hope the weather is ok (and that the weather forecast is wrong).

Freefaller · 12 Mar 2011 at 23:06

Hope the weather holds out for you - I told you the training would be good!

Enjoy it tomorrow if it happens and let us know about it!

OzyOly · 12 Mar 2011 at 23:33

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