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Skydiving Equipment

Editor — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 23:19:20 +0000

You might think that it is no big deal to board a plane and then leap from it once you reach a certain altitude but you are mistaken. If your equipment is not inspected, something could go wrong and you could end up falling to your death. This is why everyone must know what the proper skydiving equipment are before they jump.

The parachute rig which is the gear used by every skydiver is made of 5 parts.

1. The first is the parachute itself which is also known as the main canopy. This is the first one deployed when the skydiver reaches a certain altitude to reduce his or her speed before hitting the ground.

2. If there is something wrong with the first parachute, there is the reserve or second parachute that will be deployed by pulling the cord. Sometimes, this will deploy automatically if you happen to have an automatic activation device or AAD.

This is programmed to deploy the second parachute once you an altitude of 750 feet or 230 meters from the ground.

Your primary and secondary parachute is placed inside a backpack. So they don't come loose when you pull the cord, it also have thick shoulder and leg straps which you have to put around your body. This is then connected to a line which runs from the parachute to the container. There are usually 5 sets of lines namely A, B, C, D and brake lines.

3. No one is stupid enough to jump out of a plane in shirt and jeans. This is why you must always skydive with a jumpsuit. This is designed to protect you the moment you jump off the plane because of the strong winds and other forces of nature which could tear your clothes.

The jumpsuit also gives your protection especially when you are landing. A lot of people do not land feet first once they hit the ground. Even if they do, the wind could pull them down and you could get scratches or cuts until you are able to take the parachute off.

4. When do you deploy the parachute? That is a very good question and to do that, you will need to have an altimeter as part of your gear. This device will tell you how are you are from the ground and is very useful especially when you decide to skydive at night.

5. You will also need protective gear like a helmet and some protective padding. To be sure, you can also get a spinal protector which will protect your spinal cord should you accidentally fall on your back when you hit the ground.

You must always check your gear regularly before you get on the plane and before you jump. If there is a problem, you could be plunging to your death which is why this is also inspected by one of your companions or the instructor.

Of course no one wants that to happen so that you will be able to do this over and over again. If you like this activity so much, you could probably be jumping every weekend and chances are have already lost count how many times you have jumped. In short, you want to do it again and this can only happen if you have the right skydiving equipment.

Wind Tunnel Skydiving

Editor — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 08:18:20 +0000

Let's say you are afraid of heights. Does that mean you will never be able to skydive in your entire life? The answer is no because you can experience the thrill thanks to wind tunnel skydiving.

Wind tunnel skydiving allows people to fly in the air without the need to jump off from planes or put on a parachute. The machine used pushes the winds upward at about 120 miles per hour so it can push anyone off the ground.

There are two types of vertical wind tunnels.

The first is the outdoor vertical wind tunnel while the other is the indoor wind tunnel. The outdoor tunnels are smaller or portable making it easy to move from one venue to the other. The indoor tunnels are fixed in one place and because they either use recirculating or non-recirculating wind tunnels, these are ideal to use all year round even in places that have cold climates.

Wind tunnel skydiving is more popular among the masses because there is no chance that anyone will suffer a fatal accident. Those who operate it can control the wind speed from 80 to 120 miles per hour so the activity is in a controlled environment. Since it is a low impact activity, almost anyone can do it even if you are carrying a few extra pounds.

Regardless if the wind tunnel is indoor or outdoor, the motors that make it work are powered by either diesel or electricity. There is a control unit manned by an operator that can increase or decrease air speed depending on the size and skill level of the tunnel flyer.

So what do you wear when you try out wind tunnel skydiving? For this activity, you will need to wear a jumpsuit, a helmet and a pair of goggles. You can borrow those from the indoor diving center so you don't have to buy anything.

The wind tunnel facility is also a great place to practice what it is like to freefall before you open your parachute. This is because you can practice there for as long as you want without the need to rip the cord. After all, the same laws of physics apply here and when you are up in the sky.

If you are able to execute your maneuvers inside a closed environment, then you shouldn't have a problem doing it after you exit the plane.

The price of indoor skydiving varies so you have to check if there is one in your neighborhood and compare their rates. You can easily find a wind tunnel skydiving facility by browsing for them online and be happy to know that there are a few that allow you to make a reservation so there is already a slot for you even for you reach the parking lot.

Indoor skydiving is a lot of fun. This will give you the chance to see how it feels like to fly without the risk of ever crashing into the ground.

If you want to try the real thing, you can go to a skydiving center and then sign up for a tandem jump. This will give you the chance to descend to the ground with the guidance of a certified instructor who will do all the work so you should just relax and enjoy the ride.

The Less Popular Types Of Skydiving

Editor — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 03:25:20 +0000

Skydiving has a lot of types. However, there are ones that are commonly known such as freestyle, formation and freeflying. Although these three are considered to be the ones that are always done and seen on television or in media, there are still other types of skydiving that are most likely not known to many.

If you are new to the sport of skydiving and want to know more about it, then knowing the less popular types would still be important. Who knows? Maybe you'll be having a knack for these less popular types!

Skysurfing

This type is actually said to be an even more extreme and radical rendition of skydiving. In skysurfing, the diver would be diving with a board that is somewhat like a snowboard, but a bit smaller in size. This board would be attached to the diver's feet.

Skysurfing is said to be hard simply because board attached to your feet is extremely difficult to control. In fact, even simply standing straight would require you some skill and precise balance that you can only get from considerable experience in free flying.

Once you gain some experience and become a master of skysurfing, you would have the ability to use your boards to execute rapid rolls, tumbles, and spinning helicopter acrobatic stunts. Just like in Freestyle skydiving, you would have to have an auxiliary partner, whose duty is to film your skysurfing performance. As a safety measure, the boards can be detached while you are in mid-aie. However, this can cause extra hazard fro those people on the ground, which is why not every skydiving club allow this kind of skydiving.

BASE Jumping: As Close As It Gets

BASE jumping is actually considered to be the most extreme and dangerous among the types of skydiving. "BASE" is actually an acronym which refers to the structures that the skydivers jump from: Building; Antennae, which can be an uninhabited structure, aerial mast or tower; Span, which are bridge-like structures; and Earth, such as cliffs or canyons.

This kind of skydiving is only done by very experienced divers. This is so, because such kind of diving includes huge risks due to the fact that the jump is quite a short one and has close proximity to a lot of structures that give huge risks of entanglement, collision and the likes.

According to statistics, in between 1981 to 2007, there is an estimate of one hundred eleven experienced BASE jumpers have already met fatal endings due to some complications in the jump, that basically lead to a failure.

Wingsuit Flying: Flying In Style

This branch of skydiving is a recent one. A winsgsuit is an up to date invention in which skydivers put on a specially designed suit that has webbings stitched in between the arms and legs.

When the wingsuit is worn while skydiving, it results to an airfoil, which gives the skydiver a lift. Thus the diver is apportioned with an even more highly developed level of control over his descent speed and trajectory that seems impossible at normal circumstances.

However, this kind of dive would usually entail you to use portable computers and other gadgets to record your velocity and distance travelled. Records show that the slowest speed ever accomplished with a wingsuit is 25mph. Once you get to reach the specified altitude, you would have to unzip your wingsuit's arm webbing in order to deploy your parachute.

Wingsuits are commonly used and popular with BASE jumpers. This is due to the reason that when they wear wingsuits, they can have the ability to turn their 60 second freefall period into a longer span of 3 minutes. Nevertheless, this kind of skydiving is only done by very experienced divers. I fact, it's recommended that you should have hundreds of jumps under your belt even before you decide to embark on this kind of skydiving.

Accuracy Landing: Getting It Straight To The Point

This type of skydiving is a competitive one in which a skydiver would earn points in the competition for being able to land as closely as he can to a specific target point or area on the ground. It is usually done solo and the landing part is the one given the most attention.

What You Really Need To Know About Skydiving

Editor — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 01:12:20 +0000

Skydiving came from the recesses of necessity, as people need an escape route when an aircraft suddenly becomes unfit or unsafe to continue flying, or when it cannot land safely. It was conceptualized from a stunt done during 1797 when a crazy Frenchman by the name of Andre Jacques Farnerin jumped out of a hot-air-balloon and landed unscathed.

Obviously, this brought in a multitude of new possibilities into the table. Emergency safety in aircrafts has been improved and the US military even used it as a strategy that helped them win World War 2, especially in the European theater. With necessity established and good to go, people turned their attention to leisure.

Initial Public Outcry

Of course, it comes as no surprise that people would be moaning about the dangers of jumping out of an airplane that is thousands of feet above sea level. While doing so with the plane threatening to crash onto the earth like an impromptu meteorite, they all got squeamish with doing so out of a perfectly good one. Surely, they never saw the potential that skydiving could bring onto the table.

Soon enough, it was proven that it was safe beyond any shadow of a doubt. Statistics show that only one in every one hundred thousand jumps go wrong and such circumstances are evidently rare. In comparison to other activities, skydiving is surprisingly safer.

Financial Misconceptions

Most people would think that skydiving is a luxury that is only accessible to the wealthy. While this is not entirely a fallacy due to the cost of equipment used for skydiving, not everyone who skydives is rich. There are charity organizations set up to let people skydive without expense at all. Also, sponsors can be called upon to fund an event where you can skydive for charity as well. As expenses may be grand, skydiving doesn't have to be aristocratic at all. It is definitely available for those with both the desire and the heart to do it.

Health Concerns

There are also health concerns regarding skydiving for each individual. Surely, there is no way that a sick person can skydive, right? Well, that may be true, but for only conditions that would definitely be affected from such an adrenaline-pumping activity. An epileptic, for example, would not be fit for a jump at all. On the other hand, an asthmatic can partake as long as he/she can keep it under control with medication. If you are one of those with medical conditions and you want to skydive, obtain an authentic medical certificate from your physician before participating in such an activity.

World Achievements

There are a lot of trivia when it comes to skydiving, and some of them are quite amazing indeed. For example, there was an event held in Thailand back in 2006 where 400 people from 312 countries jumped from 23,000 feet in a flower-like formation for around a minute and a half. There's also one of the oldest world records in skydiving, which is the longest skydiving jump in history.

Joseph Kittinger's extraordinary jump lasted for over four minutes from a height of 102,800 feet, which is quite unbelievable. The record, as of this writing, still stands and is one of the most amazing feats in skydiving history.

Skydiving Photography Considerations

Editor — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 05:16:20 +0000

Being a skydiving photographer is just as extreme as being a skydiver. So if you plan on becoming one, there are some considerations that you might want to deliberate on first before you go out and buy your camera. Here are some of them.

The Price Of Art

Getting to fly a camera is just as fun as skydiving gets. However, it could also make your fun into a frustrating and expensive affair in a great hurry, and can eat out your valuable jump money much faster. Why is it expensive? Well, first off, you still do pay for your jumps even if you have a camera. Well, you do, but maybe for about your first 50-100 jumps with the gadget on. Your proficiency on using the equipments and techniques would have to improve first so that time would come that somebody would see it's worth it to pay for your slot. Take note that it's your skill with the art that should improve and not your flying skills.

This is just one reason that you should make sure that your precious money spent on the camera equipments would not be wasted because of inexperience.

For What Purpose?

First off, just like with other major purchases, you should have an idea on what exactly you want to do with your equipment. One camcorder can be useful for AFF, tandems, freeflying and 4-way; however, if you don't know which model and brand you should get, you'll probably end up with equipment that don't exactly function the way you want it to.

Get A Master!

If you're new to this stuff, it would be best that you find a mentor. Try your best to find an experienced camera flyer to ask input from them. Also try to ask how they started in the field, what equipment they got and why. You can also ask them about expensive and hard lessons that they've learned through experience, as for sure any camera flyer that has adequate experience has at least one eye-opening story in store for you.

Shopping Galore

Apparently, once you're done with your homework, then it is time to go shopping. Nowadays, there are a lot of options and choices available for you that sometimes it's overwhelming just to know who you should trust and know exactly where to go. Should you buy through mail or locally? Should you avail of the extended warranty they are selling you? Should you get extra batteries? How about getting a wide-angle lens?

There are more choices to make that you're probably clueless with, which is just one of the many times that you'd really benefit from having a mentor.

Safety First

For newbies or want-to-be camera flyers, taking precaution in buying your equipment is the right way to do it. You should always make sure that what you buy would really provide you what you need.

For example, if you are planning to shoot a freefly revolution and have some awesome head-down footages, then getting a large 3-chip camcorder would probably not be the right choice. However, if you're planning on challenging one of the top-of-the-line freefall photographers for the "Top Dog" title, then you may want to get the most feature-heavy and powerful camera available in the market.

Basic Requirements

Obviously, if you want to be a camera flyer, you would have to meet some basic requirements, such as being able to skydive. At least having basic training and a bit of experience would do. Of course learning how to operate the gadgets and some of the techniques are important too, but these can all be learned within the whole process.

The Roots Of Modern Skydiving

Editor — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 11:14:20 +0000

The past few decades have seen a dramatic rise in public interest in skydiving as both a sport and recreational activity. Once viewed as a prohibitively dangerous activity for lunatics and thrill-seekers, modern safety standards and copious information available through different media has made parachuting much more accessible. Exactly how did this sport develop?

Ancient Ancestors

People have always dreamed of flying, and this has pushed many to do quite foolish and exciting acts. Several countries have legends of people gliding to safety from a high point with the use of a large cloth to slow their descent. Most of the legends involve robbers and thieves, but one notable exception is Emperor Shun of China. He reportedly escaped from a burning tower by tying several large straw hats together.

The Chinese are credited with the invention of the parachute, with records describing the device from as far back as 100 BC. Arabian texts also mention similar apparatus in the 12th century. Parachute-like drawings have been found in the notebooks of several medieval and renaissance inventors and engineers, the most notable among them Da Vinci's pyramidal sketch from 1485.

Great Grandfathers of Parachuting

Early parachutists jumped from high towers and cliffs, with mostly unfortunate results. Materials and deployment technology was still lacking compared to the benefits enjoyed by modern BASE jumpers. In order to survive a jump using these antiquated parachutes, people had to get higher up. That just wasn't possible until the Montgolfier brothers had the brilliant idea of hot air balloon flight.

Unsurprisingly, the first official parachute jump was performed by someone from the same country. Frenchman André-Jacques Garnerin invented the frameless parachute (previous incarnations had the cloth held stable by wooden armatures) and performed his pioneering jump from a hot air balloon in 1797. His jumps also paved the way for the invention of the parachute vent to improve stability. Jeanne-Geneviève, his wife, is credited as being the first female parachutist, and is reputed to have preferred the gliding parachute.

Jumping from Airplanes

Jumping from balloons became a fixture of carnivals and daredevil acts until the invention of the airplane in 1903. Parachute development had continued with the invention of the harness and the pilot chute in the late 19th century. These innovations proved quite useful to the first plane jumpers, a distinction shared by both Grant Morton and Captain Albert Berry in 1912.

Trusting in a scrap of cloth was still considered a dangerous activity, with the common belief that most people would "black out" because of the speed of descent. Georgia Broadwick silenced the skeptics by performing the first free fall dive in 1914. After World War I, barnstorming became a popular entertainment in America, where parachute diving became a staple of these airplane acts. World War II saw furious military research and development for a better parachute, and these efforts culminated in the successful deployment of paratroops on D-Day in Normandy.

After the war, many of the veterans found that they enjoyed skydiving so much that they started taking it up as a recreational activity. Public knowledge was increased by such popular exhibitions as those by Britain's Red Devils. This paved the way for further developments in safety and the modern sport enjoyed by millions today.

The sport has branched into many fields including accuracy diving, wingsuit gliding, formation flying, and freestyle air-surfing and skyskiing.

Faq's About Skydiving

Editor — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 23:40:20 +0000

There is no doubt that skydiving is an extreme sport. After all, you are jumping from a high altitude and there is a chance that you could plunge to your death. But there are measures to prevent that from happening and usually one of the many questions people ask about this activity.

First, is skydiving safe? Skydiving is considered to be safe when there is only an average of 35 fatalities or even less per year. There are more than 2 million skydivers in the US so that is a very small figure. The cause of most of the fatalities is carelessness on the part of the jumper and not faulty equipment. This is why the equipment used needs to be checked and rechecked before a jump is made.

Is there a minimum age limit for skydiving? Here in the US, you must be at least 18 years of age. In other countries like the UK, the age limit is much lower since you can jump at the age of 16. There is also no limit to what age you can jump as long as you are in good physical condition which means someone who is pushing 60 of higher can still do it.

Do skydiving centers enforce a weight limit? The answer is no. Anyone can make the jump but if they weigh 226 pounds and above, there are additional charges that need to be paid.

Can you jump if you have a health condition? It depends but you will not be allowed to do should you be epileptic, have heart ailments or obese.

Is there special equipment you need to go skydiving? There are 5 basic things you need to go skydiving. These are namely the backpack, jumpsuit, helmet, altimeter and parachute. All of these should be in good working condition so you will not encounter any problems when you make the jump.

What happens if the parachute does not open? Fortunately, all skydivers carry a second parachute in their backpack. Once they pull the cord, this will deploy so you will descend safely into the ground.

What are odds that you need to use your second parachute? The good news is that this is very rare because the equipment that you rent is inspected by a certified FAA or Federal Aviation Administration rigger.

Are bad landings often in skydiving? The answer is no but they do happen. This is why you are trained on the ground first to teach you how to land safely but sometimes the wind or carelessness on the part of the jumper may cause this to occur.

Skydiving is a safe extreme sport which you should probably try out if you want to experience the thrill of jumping from a high altitude. There are many skydiving centers around and they are committed to make this experience a safe and memorable one so you can do it again.

If you just want to try it out, you can visit one and sign up for tandem skydiving where an instructor will be the one to wear the suit and guide you the moment you jump off the plane so you enjoy the view. The rates of the jumps vary so you should compare the prices of the different skydiving centers before taking the plunge.

Skydiving Gears

Editor — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 13:01:20 +0000

Skydiving is a recreational sport that requires the jumper to jump from a high altitude or from a plane. Therefore, during the jumper's free fall, he relies on the equipment and presence of mind for his safety and survival.

Skydiving schools provide their students with all the necessary equipment during training. Upon graduating from the school, skydivers may continue to rent equipment but most of the graduates purchase their own.

The most important equipment of this sport is of course, the parachute. A skydiving parachute actually has a lot more to it than just a fabric canopy. The drogue chute is used to open the main chute. There is also a reserve chute, in case something happens with the original parachute.

Another safety precaution that comes on sky diving parachutes is the automatic activation device or AAD. AAD is a device which automatically opens at the chute approximately 800 feet altitude if for some reason the jumper does not open the parachute. It is a device required to student jumpers and worn mostly by veteran jumpers.

Both the original parachute and the reserve parachute are ties into a backpack. This backpack is strong, durable, and tied by nylon straps that make up a harness. The harness is buckled around thighs, chest, and shoulders of a jumper. All these harnesses and lines make sure that the parachute stays connected to him during the dive.

No parachute is 100 percent reliable. Most malfunctions result from human error. Some reasons for parachute malfunctions can be traced to improper packing, poor technique at the time of deployment, or inadequate pre-jump inspection. A reserve static line or RSL is attached to the main parachute to activate the reserve parachute if the main parachute is jettisoned during an emergency.

Any type of clothing can be used by the skydivers. But there are special jumpsuits that have better aerodynamic performance. These jumpsuits have handles or grippers so that fellow jumpers can grasp into while doing maneuvers or aerobatics.

Aside from this, there are fabrics that control the speed of the descent. Tight and slippery jumpsuits allow for faster falling rate for small people. Large, canvas-like jumpsuits provide a slower fall for bigger people.

Aside from jumpsuits, comfortable shoes are also important. There are skydivers who recommend athletic sneakers for easy landing. A helmet is also needed to protect the head. To record the great experience, there are helmets equipped with cameras. Helmets used in skydiving range from aviator-style hats to full coverage motorcycle-like hard helmets.

A good altimeter is also a great equipment, this would help you track the altitude during your descent. There is an alarm that goes off reminding the skydiver to open the parachute when he has reached the altitude when to deploy the parachute.

In order to protect their eyes from rapid descent as fast as 150 mph, skydivers wear goggles. They might even have light gloves, should the conditions during the jump be cold.

Skydiving can be expensive. Lessons, flight time and equipment can lead to about $100 to $1000 depending on the level of commitment. You can rent the skydiving equipment if you plan to do it once or twice. But if you're planning to do it regularly than you would have to invest on your own gear.

The United States Parachuting Association estimates $2,000 to $6,000 cost for an airworthy equipment.

Skydiving Myths Revealed

Editor — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 05:55:20 +0000

People who have not tried skydiving have a lot of misconceptions or "myths" about the sport. Sad to say a lot of people are misled by these myths and tend to have wrong perceptions about the sport. Here are some of the most common skydiving myths that buzz around and the true explanations to them.

Friends And Secret Signals

Most people think that if you would be skydiving with your friends, you should have a "secret signal" with your buddy to tell that your parachute failed to open. And when this happens, you would make your way towards them and give your buddy a bear hug or hook yourself to their parachute pack thingy and then afterwards the chute would inflate just in time to save the both of you.

If this myth were true, most probably both of you would have broken arms by the end of the dive; which you would think is way better than hitting the ground in terminal velocity. Additionally, there is no known hand signal for 'my chute failed, please let me hug you' kind of stunt.

If you were to skydive in a group, it is a protocol that before any of you would pull their parachute, you should be a hundred and one percent sure that your air space is clear. This is done so that you wouldn't be entangled with any of your group mates once all of you pull out your chutes. Collision is also another thing to watch out for.

Secondly, that 'parachute pack thing' is actually called a 'rig', as to no skydiver would refer to it in that way.

The Ultimate Myth: Death

Of all the myths of skydiving, this one would be the truest, especially if you are falling at terminal velocity and suddenly you are face to face with the ground even before your parachute has slowed down your descend, then you'll probably die. Well of course this myth would only happen if you let it. This is exactly why you have to commence a pull sequence, then deploy your main chute and make sure that it's working properly so that you can give yourself the chance to cutaway and get your reserve.

The Going Solo Myth

Another one would be if you're for some impious reason, making a dive by yourself, then your last resort of surviving would be to land with as much surface area that you can get and the type of surface you'll be landing on.

First off, you should know that it is extremely common to have a license and skydive alone. A lot of skydivers do this. In fact, if you get a license you can do this, especially if you want to see the beauty and sacredness of watching the sunset as you freefall all by yourself.

Second if ever both of your chutes fail to inflate, there is no choice but to fight for your life even if blood would fill your goggles. You can not rely on your buddies nor your surface area.

You can't really rely on landing in water, since this is something that you wouldn't really want, because it's just the same as landing on cement. However, if you can, try landing on something soft and steep like a mountain side with some snow.

What Is Skydiving

Editor — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 05:52:20 +0000

Skydiving is an activity where people jump off from an airplane at high altitude before landing on the ground. While many consider this an extreme sport, it is also used by the military for various purposes.

In sports, parachuting is the term used for skydiving. Here, a group of people jump from an aircraft and perform various aerial maneuvers before landing. While they are airborne, a group of judges watch what they do and score them accordingly. The team that garners the most points wins.

In the military, skydiving was a backup system to save airmen who have to evacuate their aircraft. But years later, this was soon replaced with ejection seats. This did not stop the military from maximizing its potential because they soon realized that this is one way to drop troops quickly into a battle zone.

During the Second World War, airborne troops were dropped behind military lines. This practice is still being done today not only by the regular army but also by specialized units. Outside the military, wildfire fighters are deployed into a remote site if that is the only way in the fire zone.

The history of sky diving dates goes back to the 18th century because this was done by Andre Jacques Garnerin who jumped from this air balloon with a parachute.

To make skydiving safe for those who jump, the gear they use is checked on a regular basis before they board and exit the aircraft. If the first parachute fails, a backup parachute is deployed and sometimes the person does not have to do anything if this is deployed automatically once it reaches a certain altitude.

Skydivers have to be physically fit, attend classes and be certified before they can go on a jump. For people who just want to try it, they can enlist the services of a skydiving company who will assign someone to do it with them.

There are thousands of sky divers in the US and the number is still growing because there are over 400 skydiving centers scattered all across the country. Some are open all year round, seven days a week while there are some that are only open on weekends. This really depends on the weather conditions and the discretion of those who run it.

Although there is no minimum age for skydiving, most skydiving centers require the individual to be at least 18 years of age. You can still jump even if you are 60 years old as long as you are not epileptic, have heart ailments or obese.

Skydiving is a safe activity despite the fact that you travel at a high speed before finally landing on the ground. On average 35 out of two million people who jump are killed each year. The cause of death is carelessness while very rare is it caused by equipment failure.

This is why it is important for skydivers both amateur and professionals to be trained very well in the use of their equipment. After jumping a few times with someone and taking ground classes, you may soon want to try this on your own.

Before you can do that, you have to sign a legally binding assumption of risk agreement which means that despite the risks involved in jumping from a plane, you are still willing to do so and not holding the skydiving center responsible should something happen.

All About Skydiving Weights

Editor — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 01:17:20 +0000

If you want to go skydiving, having the proper equipment is a must. Although there are some equipment that are considered to be staples or standards when diving, there are also those that can be add-ons depending on your body and the type of jump you'll be doing. One of these extra equipments is called weights.

What Are Weights For?

Physics has a lot to do with skydiving, which is why your weight can affect how fast or slow gravity can pull you. If it's the case that you're reasonably light, you would sometimes have to fly at your range's edge in a rather extreme body position that is very uncomfortable to you just to keep down with your diving mates.

As a solution to this problem, wearing weights can help you assume a more versatile and comfortable flying position. However, the kind and amount of weight can still vary on the diver. They would usually base it on your body mass and size. Also, factors such as the neutral position you'll use and your level of experience can play important roles too.

For you to maintain a comfortable neutral while flying in a varied group, having a good jumpsuit and weights are both very helpful tools. You should also learn to adjust the amount of lead that you are wearing. Doing so would highly depend on the type of jumping that you will be doing. All of these are essential so that you can maintain a comfortable position with that specific fall rate.

However, you should also take note that 12-14 lbs of lead would cause your parachute to work as if it is approximately a size smaller. Additionally, you should be aware that you should have the capability to jettison the weights easily, if ever you have an accidental incoming water landing. There are different kinds of weight apparatus, here are some of them.

Weight vest

If you'll be making use of a box position, like the photo right, using a weight vest would be the best choice. Additionally, this would be your pick if you're heavier down your hips than your shoulders. Conditions like these are critical since, if majority of your weight is lower than your center of gravity, you would have a predisposition to backslide.

Being able to fly neutral would require you compensation, such as executing bigger legs-out position during your freefall. This can drastically reduce your capability to move dynamically forward; and ironically, can create more drag. If you wear a chest weight, your legs could come back to having a 90-degree position, which would enable you to have a faster fall rate and at the same tie allowing you to have movement with fuller range.

Even though weight vests are efficient, they also have some limitations. After an assured point, you may also need to wear weights in the middle of your body. If this is the case, getting a weight vest that can accommodate upper and lower weight would be the right choice. It is really uncomfortable if you'll wear more than 12 lbs of lead in a single vest. This can put a big strain on your shoulders and neck; thus, weight belts would do the trick.

Weight Belts: Another Alternative

If you have an evenly balanced body, then a weight belt would be perfect. This is also preferred when doing the mantis position. You can wear it outside your jumpsuit and is one of the most comfortable ways to wear weights. However, you should make sure that it won't interfere with your handles, especially if your torso is short.

Rig weight

This kind of weights can be placed in your rig itself. There are some rigs that have pockets in which you can put weights. However, the rig size would be the one to determine the amount of lead you can put.

Skydiving Equipment, Knowing Your Jumpsuit

Editor — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 11:41:20 +0000

Appropriate equipment is vital if you want to try or even pursue the sport of skydiving. Your jumpsuit is considered to be one of the most important equipments that you'll need to take a dive. If you're new to the sport, you should learn some certain jumpsuit essentials first before you go off on a jumpsuit shopping spree. Here are some of the things you should consider when buying a jumpsuit.

To Get A New One Or Not? To get a new equipment or a used one is actually more of a financial choice rather than something to be done out of fear or a want to impress. This doesn't only apply for jumpsuits but other equipments as well. If money would not be a problem for you, then obtaining all these toys would be an exciting game for you.

However, if like most people, your finances took a big bite from finishing your recent skydiving course, then your mortgage is already due yet your salary is still 2 weeks away, then you'd probably have to deliberate on buying equipment based on your budget.

To think of it, there is no point when you have all brand new gadgets but have no money to pay for the jump itself. There's nothing wrong in purchasing used gear or even a mix of old and new. In fact it can be a good way to save up for this new obsession of yours!

Something About Jumpsuits

Having a well fitted jumpsuit, that is customized for your fall rate requirements and the type of skydiving jump you'll be doing is valued in gold, and is most likely your shopping lists' best value for money item. Initially, you may think that the price is very expensive just for a clothing item. Nevertheless, for sure you'd appreciate its value in terms of its excellent materials, durability, and workmanship.

What's So Special About Jumpsuits?

Generally, formation skydiving jumpsuits are custom made starting from materials used up to its measurements. The industry's best manufacturers would usually sponsor a top team that provide them research and development feedbacks. The suits made are regularly updated and modified from the recommendations that are based on numerous tunnel hours and thousands of jumps. Those suits that you should avoid are the ones that are cheap copycats of the originals in which their manufacturers do not even know how to jump.

First Suit Tips

It is highly recommended that you buy your 1st suit from a dealer, instead of measuring yourself. Generally, dealers would provide you excellent advice about the suit type, which is most appropriate for your fall rate and skydiving requirements. Additionally, they would take expert measurements. Plus, they would also consider what you'd be wearing underneath your jumpsuit to make your suit a much tailored one.

Dealers also show you colour fabric swatches coming from various manufacturers and would assist you in picking out your jumpsuit options. If ever you have any alterations, it would be in their expense. In general, suits would take 8 weeks to be done, unless if you want a rush order. Factors like time of the year also matter on how long your suit would finish.

However, if you do want to take measurements by yourself or ask your friend to do it, it's important to take note the weight vests and warmwear you'll be wearing.

Gearing Up For Skydiving

Editor — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 04:46:20 +0000

There's more to skydiving gear than just a couple of weights and jumpsuits. There are other accessories that you will need if you want to jump safely high up in the air. Here are the things you need to have around to get into this extreme sport.

Altitude Helpers

One of the most essential gadgets for a skydiver is an altimeter and there are a lot of varieties to choose from. Choose an altimeter that is easy to read and comes with a warranty. Buy from stores that offer a lifetime warranty. This is especially helpful just in case you accidentally drop it in the creeper pad.

Audible Warning Devices

These devices may not be as important but wearing this when you skydive can give you security benefits. You may not depend on it so much but having a warning device that alarms when you exceed your altitude is definitely helpful. These are particularly useful if you are a skydiver who wants to get into freefly, flat-fly and breaking off high. This gadget helps because every freefall time changes every time you dive.

If you're serious about freeflying most professionals advice that you must have an audible as a safety gear that guides you when you travel in higher speeds.

Audible devices can come in different kinds from the basic models to the more advanced which actually turns into a log book that records freefall time and speed and sync up with your computer as part of your statistics. In fact the more features an audible device has, the more expensive it is.

Protective Helmets

Another essential skydiver's gear is a helmet. Should you decide on purchasing one then you should consider safety and comfort. Do take the time on finding one that fits you perfectly. For extra protection, you can purchase a full-face helmet. This accessory is good for those who wear contact lenses.

On the other hand, going with open-faced helmets let's you communicate better because your face is more exposed. But wearing open-faced helmets exposes both your mouth and jaw. Another pair of goggles would have to be purchased to get more protection.

Another protective accessory is the leather frappe hats. These hats are essential for a skydiver but give little protection when it comes to injuries. This is a great choice especially if you're an experienced diver.

Glove Protection

Gloves are necessary to protect your hands. Wearing one protects you from scratches, burns, accidents and the cold weather. Get one that is thick enough so that it protects you from the cold and thin enough so that you're still sensitive enough to feel your handles. To get the perfect glove to skydive, purchase one from a specialty store and not your regular sports shop.

Hook Knives Safety

Having hook knives around is necessary for skydiving. You'll need this should you encounter a line-over malfunction with you reserve chute. There are lots of hook knives to choose from. Choose the ones that you not only prefer but that is handy enough to fit your rig. Never place your hook knife near your chest area because you'll lose it right away.

The best place for this gadget is right in your leg. Keep your knife blades sharp by not using it for other purposes.

The Truth About Skydiving

Editor — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 14:50:20 +0000

With skydiving being one of those popular pastimes that are also seen as dangerous and even life-threatening, there are those who would want to know more of it, while other want none of it. The facts can become skewed with a multitude of urban legends and fearful superstitions fueled by statistics that go along the lines of "unbelievable" and "plain awful". Such facts need to be straightened out for those who do have interest in skydiving, whether one-time or lingering.

Can you freefall even when you've got a condition?

One of the misconceptions is that skydiving is out of the question when one suffers a health disorder. This is not always true as it depends with the said disorder. To verify such details, have a physician check you and sign a medical form if you are deemed fit to skydive, despite your health maladies. As long as it either does not interfere with the activity or is kept under control, then it is definitely fine to take the plunge.

Must you be so young to skydive?

Other things are also worried about when it comes to skydiving. Youth as a requirement is also another misconception in skydiving. One must take note that most skydivers are around or below the age of 40, while being at least 18. There have been numerous senior citizens who have done it, so it means that you can do it as well as any other person can. There shouldn't be any problem with your health in skydiving.

Will skydiving eat up my savings?

Expense is also something that keeps people away from wanting to skydive. The equipment, aircraft, and personnel required for a jump definitely does cost a bit, so expenses are a big factor in one's desire to take up skydiving. This one is somewhat a valid point for those who stay away from skydiving, but there are ways to avert this.

Some people do it in interesting ways, such as jumping in charity events and such. This does take away the expense part of the equation as it is about getting enough people to support the charity, letting them pay for both your jump and for the charity itself.

Are you ok with jumping out of a plane just to land later?

The dangers of skydiving have been greatly exaggerated. Yes, it does seem dangerous to jump out of a perfectly good airplane in an attempt to land safely on the ground by having some big piece of cloth slow your descent. That surely doesn't sound like a kindergarten concept that anyone can get into, really.

Statistically safer compared to vehicular accidents

Despite these things, skydiving is not as dangerous as first thought. Statistically speaking, it has been found out that skydiving is safer than taking public transport. As unbelievable as this sounds, there is reason behind this apparent madness. Safety has become more and more accessible with the advents of modern technology, enabling a skydiver to deploy his parachute even when upside down, which was impossible back in the past. This is just one of the ways in which technology and human ingenuity meet to solve problems and improve things.

Skydiving is a great sport that celebrates the full experience of life itself. The thrill and excitement gives people a rush unlike anything else imaginable. And now, it is also safer than ever before, which is nice to know.

Indoor Skydiving

Editor — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 19:46:20 +0000

Most people think that skydiving can only be done outdoors in the sky. However, with the development of technology, there is now an indoor rendition of the sport, which is done through vertical wind tunnels.

What Is A Vertical Wind Tunnel?

Vertical wind tunnels (VWT) are wind tunnels that blows up air in a column. This is actually a recreational wind tunnel that is most of the time advertised as "bodyflight" or "indoor skydiving". It's also a training tool that most skydivers use.

These wind tunnels can give people the ability to fly on air without needing parachutes or planes, simply by the force of wind that's generated vertically. The wind inside these tunnels generally moves upward at 120 mph, which is also a falling human body's terminal velocity, although it can vary from one person to another.

VWT's are most of the time called 'indoor skydiving' because of its popularity with skydivers that say the sensation they get is very similar to the real thing. As the person 'floats' in midair inside the wind tunnel, this is termed as 'bodyflight'.

Bodyflight

Bodyflight is said to be the art of 'flying your body' but in a controlled method. Control would include rolls, fall rate control, turns, lateral movement and some other acrobatic stunts in mid-air. Knowing bodyflight skills help skydivers go closer to each other while freefalling, so that they can link for formation skydiving, and then fly away from each other again until they reach a safe distance so that they can open their parachutes.

A lot of bodyflight skills could be learned and practiced from VWTs. Most skydivers use this as practice equipment so that they can be better in controlling their bodies while falling from the sky.

Bodyflight can be done through decreasing/increasing your body drag, by using your legs and arms as rudders for motion control. Additionally, other techniques used similar by airplanes are used.

Types Of Vertical Wind Tunnels

Basically, there are 2 main types of VWTs, namely: outdoor and indoor. The outdoor type can be either portable or stationary. The portable ones are the types that are often used for movie productions, demonstrations and are usually rented for big events like state fairs and conventions.

Portable units give a dramatic effect for the spectators and the flying person, since there are no walls bounding the flight area. This kind of wind tunnel gives you the opportunity to fly with a partial or full sky/outdoor view. Some outdoor units can also have nettings around or walls so as to keep beginners from flying out the tunnel boundaries.

For the indoor types, you also have to sub categories, namely: re-circulating and non-re-circulating. Non-re-circulating wind tunnels generally suck air via inlets found in the building's bottom portion. Then the air would go up the bodyflight area, and exit through the top portion of the building. However, the re-circulating type would create an aerodynamic loop that has turning vanes, which are similar to scientific wind tunnels, but has a vertical loop and a bodyflight chamber inside the vertical portion of the loop.

Re-circulating tunnels are usually used in places where the climate is too cold for non-re-circulating types. Indoor types usually have a smoother and controlled airflow than outdoor types. They also have more control on temperature. Thus, they can be operated year-round in places with cold climate.

Before Jumping, What I Need To Know About Skydiving

Editor — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:34:20 +0000

Skydiving is a sport that may make you shake to your core, that is if you're afraid of heights. So let's know the basics of skydiving, to make us feel a little bit safer when we try to jump. Skydivers can fly laterally, they can also do barrel rolls, somersaults, swooping dives, and glide and soar like a bird. But how do they do that?

This is because the falling body reaches Terminal Velocity. There are no acceleration, the body have gained a steady momentum because the atmospheric drag or air resistance and body weight became equal and opposite. At terminal velocity, the falling sensation disappears. The Terminal velocity makes it easier to perform acrobatics, formations or just take picture from the specially mounted camera.

Remarkably, skydiving is a safe sport. Those who experience accidents are often under a fully functioning canopies and experienced jumpers who try to do extreme movements. Beginner accidents are rare and fatalities due to malfunctioning equipment are rarer still.

There are four essentials in skydiving: fundamental safety, free fall plan, parachute usage and manipulation, and safe landing.

With fundamental safety, this means knowing the how and when of this sport. Checking the gear, proper procedure in jumping, presence of mind in case of emergency, parachute deployment, managing parachute failure, selecting a good landing site and actual landing is included in fundamental safety.

A skydiving beginner should learn how to maneuver or turn the body while in free fall. It is important for the diver to manage a stable position while falling downward at a velocity of 120 mph. This is the second basic element in skydiving.

Parachute usage and manipulation is the third essential thing to learn about skydiving. It is important to learn how to open the parachute in mid-air safely or open the reserve chute when the major parachute would not open. Opening the parachute requires timing. It even pays of if the beginner knows how parachute works and what it is made of.

Choosing a landing site is also a fundamental of skydiving. Choosing the right landing spot will help you avoid tangling on trees or ending up in open sea.

When you have enough knowledge of the four fundamentals, it does not mean that you will jump aboard the next plane and do the dive. There are preparations to be done by a skydiver before jumping. Make sure that the equipment are properly packed. You also need to coordinate the jump with the pilot of the plane.

Weather and wind conditions should be checked and monitored, these will decide the best place for jumping off the plane. Jumping pattern and order should also be determined to avoid mid-air collisions. Jumpers should practice the maneuvers that they will do before entering the aircraft.

The average fall speed of skydivers would be 120 to 150 mph. When they are free-falling in the air, jumpers can change their body position and do the maneuvers. All maneuvers are stopped at about 1,200 m or 3,900 feet. Jumpers have to turn away from each other and give the signal before deploying their parachutes. Waving their arms show that the jumpers are ready to deploy the parachutes. But they would have to gain enough space first from each other.

A parachute ride normally lasts two to three minutes only. The jumpers could make the landing softer by flaring the parachutes seconds before the actual landing. To avoid injury in arms and legs during landing, the jumpers could roll forward. There are some experienced jumpers who land on their feet while running.

Skydiving is an enjoyable recreational activity, as long as beginners follow the basic safety measures and listen to their skydiving mentors.

How To Enjoy Skydiving

Editor — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 03:54:20 +0000

Skydiving is a lot of fun. It is like riding a rollercoaster but even better because the ride does not end in just a few seconds. Once you have completed ground school, it is time for you to do the real thing.

There are three types of skydiving that are done in the US. There is tandem jumping, static line and free falling.

In tandem jumping, an experienced jumper does this with you. This person will be the one to guide you all the way till you reach the ground. You don't have to do anything the entire time except enjoy the ride.

The position of a tandem jump is with the instructor on your back carrying an extra large parachute that is capable of carrying weights of up to 500 pounds. You will wear a harness that is attached to the instructor and once you exit the plane, you guys will be in free fall motion for about a minute or so before the parachute is deployed and you slowly descend to the ground.

The tandem jump is considered to be ideal for people who don't meet the physical or proficiency requirements to make the jump on their own. This will allow people who are overweight the opportunity to still have fun.

The cost of a tandem jump could be from $70 to over $300. If there are a lot of skydiving centers where you live, you should check each one out so you can get the best deal.

The static line jump had its origins from the military. This is because your parachute will automatically open a few seconds after you jump off the plane. The jump is done at an altitude of 3,000 feet and after a series of jumps you will now be the one to pull the cord.

The third and last is the accelerated free fall. This is the best way to experience modern sport skydiving because you can do some acrobatics before it is time to pull the cord. You will exit the aircraft between 10,000 to 12,000 feet and slowly drop to the ground with the parachute open at 4,000 feet.

The entire time that you do any of these jumps, there will always be an instructor around from the moment you board the plane until you land on the ground. They may not be attached to your back anymore like in tandem jumping but they will be beside you to make sure everything went according to plan.

The three types of jumping are considered part of the training requirement so you can do a solo jump. It will cost money to become a licensed jumper even if this is not required by the FAA or the Federal Aviation Administration but this is a requirement if you plan to jump in drop zones regulated by the United States Parachute Association or USPA.

Skydiving is a lot of fun and you need to be trained on the ground first before you are allowed to jump off from an aircraft on your own. If you have the time and money, you will be able to get a license in less than year so you can jump anytime and anywhere.

Just remember everything that was taught to you in class so the next jump won't be your last.

Skydiving 101, The Truth About Parachutes

Editor — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:16:20 +0000

Skydiving is considered to be a very extreme sport, yet a lot of people nowadays are becoming very inclined to it. As time passes, more daredevils come into being and get hooked on this breathtaking sport.

However, due to the danger coupled with this sport, a lot of people that have not tried it may have some misconceptions about it. This is very much true especially regarding the issue of malfunction in the activity. To serve as a guide to those who want to try out this sport, yet are having doubts of doing so, here is an overview about parachutes and malfunction issues.

All Hope Is Lost For You

This is probably the myth that a lot of people are scared of happening and is the one that hampers them from trying out the sport. For most people who haven't tried out this sport, they would likely think that once their parachute would fail to open or inflate, then are in big trouble and somewhat feel that they are at the moment screwed beyond no doubt.

If you're in mid-air 25,000 ft high, falling with the pull of gravity, feeling the wind rush on your face and something like this happens, you would definitely be scared to death. However, it is important that you understand the basic principles of a parachute first, before you even go have anxiety attacks.

Chutes Are Made To Save You

The truth is parachutes do want to open; since they are specifically designed to open. These are made to save you and assist you with your descent; and most likely your chute would perform its function and fulfil its purpose. In fact, all skydiving rigs have two parachutes. This is the standard and is actually stated by the law.

Proper care and safety measures are done when parachutes are packed. Basically, the main chute could be packed up by anybody who knows how. However, for the second chute, also known as the reserve chute, it could only be packed up by a certified F.F.A. rigger who has undergone extensive training about the subject.

Malfunction Issues

Additionally, malfunctions on the primary chute are not that common, unlike what most people think. It also does not mean that you're screwed, dead or whatever fatal ending you may think about. As a matter of fact, a lot of those mal-functions are actually minor ones and are very simple to correct even if you're in mid-air. As a safety measure, if ever your primary chute's malfunction can not be corrected you can simply release the primary one, so that you can open the reserve parachute that you have got.

Lastly, if ever a malfunction occurs, you would not feel so extensively screwed since before you are even set for a jump, you would have to undergo special training. So basically, you would already know what to do, even before you take a jump.

In realty, skydiving is a really fun sport to engage in. Sadly, a lot of people are still scared of trying it out due to a lot of factors. For instance, media can be one of the causes of such fears; this is especially true with some movies that show malfunctions happening during a dive. However, if you're affected by things like this, you should keep in mind that these are only movies. There's a lot more to skydiving than parachute malfunctions and you'll never get to experience them unless you get the courage to take that great leap of faith off an airplane!

Skydiving For Beginners, Not For The Faint Hearted

Editor — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 05:18:20 +0000

In recent years, skydiving has become an immensely popular sport for daredevils and trend-followers alike. Some may want to try it at least once in their lives just to say they did; others may thoroughly enjoy their first time and decide to make it a regular activity. Of course, like any death-defying activity, facts must be learned and precautionary measures must be taken.

How fast do you go?

The speed by which a diver drops from the sky is approximately 200 kilometers per hour, only slowing down slightly when his parachute opens. So if you can handle this fast drop, then you'd enjoy the jump.

From how high do you jump?

Skydivers are taken by plane at least 13,000 feet above the ground. Some acrophobics may be able to handle this, as long as they mentally condition themselves for it. But if looking down from the plane makes you queasy, it's not too late to back out from the leap.

What should you wear?

You have to don a skydiving suit that fits you to a T. Don't leave any room in your suit for air to rush in, as this will hamper your drop. The best type of material for your suit is spandex or polyester, since it's light and formfitting.

When should you do it?

The best time to go skydiving is in the morning. That's when the weather and the wind are at their most moderate. Before jumping, take a very light breakfast. Don't eat anything too rich or oily, as you don't want your breakfast to be spewing out of your mouth and into the air!

Can anyone just do it?

Before you decide to skydive, it's best to get a clean bill of health from your doctor first. You'd need to present a health and fitness certificate to the skydiving instructor before you're given the go-signal.

It's a high-maintenance sport

Like most extreme sports, skydiving is expensive. You'd have to rent the equipment, the parachutes, the plane, the pilot, and pay the tandem instructor. Average cost per dive is $25. Shelling out a big amount for a one-time skydiver won't be too hard on the wallet. But if you fall in love with the thrill and decide to take it up as a regular activity, you'd have to have more than enough spare cash to burn.

Have there been any casualties?

Fatalities cannot be avoided as far as death-defying sports are concerned. The good news is the numbers are few and far between. There are approximately 1 in every 100,000 skydive deaths. These are mostly due to circumstances, such as weather conditions, rather than equipment malfunction. Parachute riggers, who are tasked to prepare and set up the equipment, ensure that all equipment is safe to use before the jump. So you're surely in good hands with them.

Do I still dare try it?

That's something you should ask yourself after reading the facts and absorbing the precautions. If you're suddenly balking at the thought, then maybe it's not the right time to do it-yet. But if reading the facts still sends the adrenaline pumping through your veins, then skydiving is definitely for a thrill-seeker like you! It can definitely be considered a feather in one's cap.

Skydiving Varieties

Editor — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:27:20 +0000

Skydiving is a pleasurable sport once you have overcome your initial fears of it. If you are planning your first jump, you have three varieties to choose from: tandem skydiving, static line and accelerated free fall.

Tandem skydiving is most popular for beginners. Tandem skydiving refers to a type of skydiving where a beginner or student is connected via a harness to an experienced skydiver. The experienced skydiver or tandem instructor controls the whole jump. The student needs only minimal instruction before making a tandem jump.

The first time skydivers gets exposed to the skydiving routine in tandem skydiving. Some training programs, still gives instruction on how and when to deploy the main canopy themselves. But the tandem instructor remains primarily responsible for safe and timely parachute deployment.

The tandem skydiving equipment is relatively different from the normal skydiving gears. Tandem skydivers use the drogue parachute. The drogue parachute is immediately deployed after leaving the plane in order to slow the free fall speed of two people. This would lengthen the duration of the jump. Tandem skydivers also use larger main parachutes so that the weight of two people can be supported.

A tandem instructor is not just an experienced skydiver you know. There are rules and regulations that limits who may skydive with a student. In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration or FFA requires a skydiver to have more than five hundred dives and three years of skydiving experience before becoming a tandem instructor.

Tandem instructors who have passed the requirements demanded by their laws are required to pass an instructor certification course before they start jumping with their students of the plane.

Static line skydiving is said to be the oldest method of learning how to skydive. This is similar to the way parachuting for military airborne soldiers. They have to jump 3,000 feet high with a cord hooked on a plane that pulls your parachute open.

Students would have to undergo the Static Line First Jump Course, which take 4 to 6 hours. After taking the course, the student could immediately to the static line jump under the direct supervision of a USPA certified jumpmaster or instructor.

A static line parachute jump involves no freefall. As the student exit the aircraft, the parachute is opened by a static line attached to the aircraft. Unlike tandem skydiving, this requires the student to land on his own. But his descent to the ground is done with the guidance of radio communications.

Static line skydiving can bee similar to the technique, Instructor- Assisted Deployment or IAD. The IAD is when the instructor initiates the deployment of the student's parachute when the student jumps off the plane.

The last skydiving variety that beginners could try would be the accelerated free fall. Accelerated free fall is commonly called AFF, with this training discipline, there are two certified instructors that jump off the aircraft with the students. They would accompany the students while in free fall and will hold onto the student's harness. That is why it can also be called Harness Hold Training.

The students have their own parachute with AFF. As part of the AFF training, the students are trained to handle emergency procedures. Since the students will also direct their landing, their training also includes proper landing procedures.

Since instructors would also be free falling side by side with students, they would be able to correct the student's body positions and other problems encountered during the free fall. The students may also radio ground personnel to direct the student to the landing spot, but the student must develop the skills for solo landing.

There are many skydiving methods and varieties to choose from. Are you ready to take the jump?