Skydiving

[SpokaneCY]

How'd those go?!??

Package was for 2 flights plus basic ground school. Ground school was basically stick and rudder basics. Got towed up to 7,000 feet with me in front and the instructor in back and I got to pull the lever to disconnect. After the tow plane dove out of sight he gave the glider to me. Made some nice gentle turns and I was instructed to keep the speed around 50 kts. 50 kts felt really slow. We never "soared" and we made no attempt at catching thermals.

I flew the glider until the last 1,000 feet and the instructor took over and landed.

I did NOT take my second flight and I couldn't put my finger on WHY until recently... I think I was getting claustrophobic... The cockpit was tight for me (I'm 6' and 215lbs), my knees were wedged against the sides, and I was starting to get a little freaked out by how slow we were flying. Really smooth air and absolutely no air sickness issues, but I just wanted out of that glider at the end.

I flew (aircrew anyway) in the USAF, fly extensively for work, have 30 skydives and flew hang gliders for a while, but sail planes are not for me which kind of pisses me off as I love the flying sports.

I may try the powered parachutes (sitting in a trike with a motor and large parafoil) next or may just find other earthly pursuits.

 

[OPButtrey]

Flying a glider has got to be cool

A buddy and I were hanging out in Ames one summer In the 80s and we saw some gliders near the Ames airport. We drove out to get a better look after one had landed. A guy comes up to us and asks if we're interested in soaring. We kind of looked at each other and said "sure". He said for $25 he'd take us both up.

The glider was a two seater and the pilot would sit in back and, during our turn, one of us would sit in front. My friend went first and so I had go to the tip of one of the wings and pick it up so it was level and then run along holding the wing as they picked up speed during takeoff. I always get a kick out that.

A couple things I remember during my turn was how flimsy everything seemed. The canopy was far from sealed to the body when closed so you you had this rush of air the whole time. The stick seemed really flimsy as well and I was afraid it would detach! I got to pull the release knob to detach us from the tow plane so that was cool. It was a little nerve wracking and I wouldn't do it again but I'm glad I did it that one time.

 

[baller21]

And you wore assless chaps? :wideeyed: The Des Moines jumpers have a weird dress code! :smile:

They're not called the couch freaks for nothing.

 

[JVAR]

I was back in the early 80s. I was taking the first jump class and while at a football game the head of the club - I THINK his name was Hashim??? jumped in to start the game and broke his leg on landing. My Mom was not amused.

I was at that game with my dad. I remember that something was wrong with his chute and he was falling really fast, and the whole stadium was pretty quiet. He bounced when he hit the turf and everyone knew he was hurt pretty bad.

 

[Bu4ISU]

And you wore assless chaps? :wideeyed: The Des Moines jumpers have a weird dress code! :smile:

If you're talking about me.. Sorry those were just my chubbies

 

[CysRage]

I was set on skydiving in the future until a man fell to his death in Fort Dodge when his parachute didn't deploy. I know the odds of that happening are extremely slim but still..

 

[Bu4ISU]

I was set on skydiving in the future until a man fell to his death in Fort Dodge when his parachute didn't deploy. I know the odds of that happening are extremely slim but still..

Meh. You hear of hundreds of people that die in car crashes each year and it doesn't stop you. It's different I know, but still

 

[WIB]

I was set on skydiving in the future until a man fell to his death in Fort Dodge when his parachute didn't deploy. I know the odds of that happening are extremely slim but still..

Do a tandem with Hashemi in Boone. He's done like 16,000 and is an awesome guy.

 

[4theCYcle]

Hashem Hashemi. I just looked him up online and see he surpassed 16,000 jumps last year

IIRC, he teaches or taught at MCC.

 

[4theCYcle]

But ya, hang gliding, skydiving and bungee jumping are all on my bucket list. Was supposed to go skydiving this past April/May, but it was windy when we were going to go.

 

[BryceC]

I did it in Brooklyn, IA, they let me do accelerated free fall the first time. Jumped from 11k feet, they kind of hold on to you during the drop because most people have total sensory depravation and just rag doll out of the door. I landed myself the first time. I had a good time but it was just something I wanted to do and I don't need to do it again.