Cat C-2 jump

I've spent the last several weeks trying to keep the memory of how I felt on my last C-1 jump with Grant & Matt. Instead of slamming by body into the arch position, I sort of pushed my hips down. The feeling was completely different, and to me it felt like that was the eureka moment.

Today, I did a C-2 jump with Henry, who lives off Marriottsville Rd. We talked first, and did some practice in the mock-up by the picnic tables. This time, there's a King Air on the ramp from NY someplace. This plane rocks! Climbs to altitude very fast. Even though you're sitting on the hard floor, you hardly have enough time for your butt to start falling asleep.

We got out at 14,000 feet. Good climbout. I thought my hotel count was a little weak. Henry didn't say much about it.

Got stable very quickly. I did my first COA while we were still on the hill. Practice touch, 2nd COA, and Henry moved out in front of me.

His extra twist on the jump was that he wanted me to move forward toward him. He was about 5-7 feet away. I had a little trouble getting started toward him, but I made it. He grabbed my shoulders, I checked my altitude, and we did it again. I had a slight turn to my right that I fixed before I moved in on him again. Now we're at about 5,700 feet, so it's time to lock on to the altimeter.

Wave-off and pull at 5,000 feet. Nice looking canopy, controllable, but holy crap we're a long way from the airport.

Henry didn't even try to get back. He pulled lower than me, so he found a clear area and landed. I had some altitude, so I tried for a while. I pointed myself at the airport and flew. While under canopy, Henry got on the radio and told me to let the brakes go and pull down the rear risers. This should flatten out the canopy to allow me to make more distance over the ground without losing as much altitude.

By about 2,000 feet, it was obvious I wasn't making it to the airport. I turned toward the area where Henry landed and started planning how to set up for a landing pattern in that same place. Henry gave me some tips, and I landed about 15 or 20 feet away from him.

The field was surrounded by trees, except for one gap. That took us to the farm. We followed the path with cables on fence posts, and ended up heading to the cow barn. We cut underneath the wires (is that an electric fence?) and found the road. Google Earth says 1.12 miles. 1.12 hot, sweaty miles.

Cleared for Cat D.

Oh, and I STOOD UP THE LANDING! Since that was my first stand-up landing, I owed beer. A case of the Sam Adams variety pack seemed like a good purchase.

King Air
exit 14,000
open 5,000
light variable winds
PD 280 - student rig 3