4 jumps

Stayed in Lancaster last night, got to dropzone about 9:15.

First jump - repeat of last practice pull.  All good, but dropped my head a little when I threw the newspaper.  Not enough to mess me up.  Higher winds today.  Still legal for me, but after all these no wind jumps I was not thinking right.  I opened, did controllability checks, and was over the area where I would have turned from downwind to base.  Tried to get back, but didn't make much progress against the wind.  I didn't do a very good pattern and ended up landing next to the runway down the grassy area to the right.  Stood it up.

Second jump - clear and pull. Bumped my elbow on the step, but no injury, no bruise, no pain.  Broke my arch, legs were a little uneven.  But finally at the point where I deploy my own pilot chute!  Landed next to the runway, down the grassy area to the left.  Jedd says I could do some sashays on final to not overshoot.

Third jump - clear and pull.  Still dropped my head a little.  Worked on canopy skills.  Rear riser turns before unstowing the brakes.  Rear riser turns with the toggles in my hands.  Braked turns.  Landing pattern not too good again.  I wanted to check off the braked approach but I think that was a bad idea given the landing pattern.  On the grass next to the runway.

Fourth jump - 10 second delay from 5000 feet.  Or not.  Mark the pilot said the turbulence at 5000 feet was violent, so he's probably take us to 5500 which was fine.  At 4000+ we were on jump run.  I was spotting.  Supposed to pass over the peas, but we were more toward the parking lot.  Still in the right angle.  I asked for the cut, but Mark was telling Jedd to get us out of the plane.  I don't think we actually got the cut.  I went out, left foot on step.  Jedd next to me.  Out-in-out exit count.  I was totally confused looking at my altimeter with my old man's eyes.  Instead of 5000 down to 4000, we exited at 4000, so I let us go to 3000 because I was looking for the next lower number.  3000 is not a big deal, but not what the jump called for.  Threw, had a fine canopy ride.  Landing pattern was not great.  Winds were definitely higher, and gusty.  Came in next to the runway, down the grassy area to the right.  Flared too high, let it up, then punched it back down.  I was falling straight down with no forward motion.  Just before hitting the ground, a gust started pushing me backward.  My feet hit, my butt hit, and my head snapped down to the ground.  Then the wind dragged me and the canopy until I could get up and more upwind of the canopy.  All were concerned about concussion possibility.  Heather wouldn't let me leave for about an hour.  I feel fine, just a little stiff in the top of the back when I push my chin to my chest.

3 IAD practice pull jumps

 Got here a little later than I wanted to, but in the end that didn't matter.  3 jumps, all practice pull, all with Jedd.

First - Dearched.  Found the newspaper, pulled and threw it.  Even though I dearched, I stayed exactly on heading.  Normal canopy practice stuff.  Another pretty much dead calm day, so I ended up overcompensating for the previous overshoots and landed in the grass next to the runway by the far end of the field.

Second - Same story.  But this time I landed in the corn.  Right at the corner, so easy to get out, but still.  Video shows me with a good arch, but then looking down when I pulled.  Don't know why.  I know I'm doing this by feel, not trying to see what I'm doing, but there is no question what I'm doing wrong.

Third - On "Go" I took a fraction of a second to look up at the wing, then when I let go I focused on watching Jedd watch me while I left the plane and did the practice pull.  That did it.  Head stayed up, kept the arch, threw the newspaper.  There was a little breeze on this one, so I tried to adjust for that.  Overthought it.  Landed next to the runway but next to the field.  Rose up when I flared, so did a PLF.  Austin said it looked like I didn't finish my flare.

During the day, did some packing work with Adam.

After the third jump, I was really feeling wiped out.  Heather asked, "Are you drinking enough water?"  All I said was "Nope."  Did I mention it was 95 degrees?

Back for more tomorrow.

2 IAD Practice Pull Jumps

 2 from 3500.  John S on the first, Josh on the second.  Got the newspaper out on both.  I'm off radio.

First - Slipped off the strut.  Not sure why.  Diverted my attention, so I looked down and dearched while reaching for the newspaper.  Good canopy ride after controllability checks.  Lots of rear riser stuff, braked turns, turns starting in brakes and letting up a toggle.  Probably made my turn onto final a little early.  Landed parallel to the runway.  Flared a bit too high and PLFed, but very close to the X.

Second - I think I slipped off the strut again, but Josh said Go so he's not going to hold it against me.  Decent arch, maybe my legs could have been better, got the newspaper out.  Same canopy stuff as last jump.  Saw that the winds had shifted since we were on the ground, but stuck to the old rule I learned that the landing pattern stays unless everybody agrees to change it.  On the other hand, I was the only one in the landing pattern, so I could have modified it safely.  Landed parallel to the runway a little further down than I wanted.  On the grass, before the line that would be the extension of the corn field.  Hope that makes sense.  Flared just a hair too high, but easy stand-up landing.  Canopy stayed up, then started going behind me so I pulled on a brake line to deflate it.

Think I need to do one more practice pull then I go to 5 second freefall.