First, the annoying part. I arrived at the DZ about 2 minutes before load 1 took off. Very cool that Grant got to jump with his son! The down side is that JR swung some deal to fly a demo jump in Johnstown, so the plane didn't come back until almost noon. At that point, the tandems scheduled for noon were here, so we waited for them to get trained. I got on that load and did my jump. I didn't go right back up on the next load (although I could have) because I wanted to talk to Doc Larry or Grant about how to do the 5000' clear & pull. Load 3 turned out to be the last load of the day.
Doc Larry told me to do a blind exit. I got positioned in the door so that I could dive out chest into the wind, closed my eyes, exited, and kept my eyes closed for 10 seconds. Maybe a little more, because I was at about 12,500' when I checked. Completely different feeling. I felt myself go steep, felt myself level out, felt a turn that I was easily able to correct. When I opened my eyes, I was stable, belly-down, and in great position. Worked on turns & tracking until 5500. Waved off at 5000', opened at 4500'.
Under canopy, I did some more braked turns, some steep turns, some spirals. Quite a bit of turbulence at 1700' that messed with my control of the canopy somewhat.
Pretty good landing pattern. Landed right in front of the hangar. Flared at the right time, but I think the almost 0 mph winds contributed to my skid on the landing.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Started working Cat F jumps
Two jumps today before the wind picked up.
The first was a solo jump. I was 2nd to last out. I tried the delta position for tracking and was amazed that I didn't start tumbling.
Nice, on-heading opening just across Airport Rd. aiming at the 6. Turns, sharper turns, spirals. Got in the landing pattern at the right time, followed the pattern, and landed right in front of the hangar. Flared all the way through, but I still slid and skidded a little. Took a divot of grass with me in my right sneaker.
The second was a coach jump with Casey to do tracking. We were both outside the plane, I did the count, pushed off into the wind, ended up diving and flipped. The plan was to come together first before doing the tracking, so I wasted some time trying to get back to him. Finally gave up, turned 90 degrees, and tracked for about 3 seconds. Got stable, turned around, did it again. Now at about 6200, so I did it again. At the end of that one, I got stable and saw that I was at 4,500 or so. Waved off and pulled. Casey told me that I should start waving off in front of my face to get that last look at altitude.
Easy opening, on-heading. Did a bunch of deep brake turns. Braked until stalled, backed off, then eased up on one side to turn the other direction 180 degrees. I did that about 8 times before it was time to get into my landing pattern.
On landing, I thought I maybe flared too low, because I hit kind of hard. PLFed, so no injury. Afterwards, a guy I never met before said that he was getting caught in rolling thermals from the heat off the runway getting blown by the breeze, and that he had gotten slammed into the ground. Maybe the hard landing wasn't all my fault.
The first was a solo jump. I was 2nd to last out. I tried the delta position for tracking and was amazed that I didn't start tumbling.
Nice, on-heading opening just across Airport Rd. aiming at the 6. Turns, sharper turns, spirals. Got in the landing pattern at the right time, followed the pattern, and landed right in front of the hangar. Flared all the way through, but I still slid and skidded a little. Took a divot of grass with me in my right sneaker.
The second was a coach jump with Casey to do tracking. We were both outside the plane, I did the count, pushed off into the wind, ended up diving and flipped. The plan was to come together first before doing the tracking, so I wasted some time trying to get back to him. Finally gave up, turned 90 degrees, and tracked for about 3 seconds. Got stable, turned around, did it again. Now at about 6200, so I did it again. At the end of that one, I got stable and saw that I was at 4,500 or so. Waved off and pulled. Casey told me that I should start waving off in front of my face to get that last look at altitude.
Easy opening, on-heading. Did a bunch of deep brake turns. Braked until stalled, backed off, then eased up on one side to turn the other direction 180 degrees. I did that about 8 times before it was time to get into my landing pattern.
On landing, I thought I maybe flared too low, because I hit kind of hard. PLFed, so no injury. Afterwards, a guy I never met before said that he was getting caught in rolling thermals from the heat off the runway getting blown by the breeze, and that he had gotten slammed into the ground. Maybe the hard landing wasn't all my fault.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Back in the air for 2011
I only managed one jump today. I got on load 2, then the clouds came in. Hung out, went to get some lunch, and finally the clouds cleared out. Then the winds were too high. Hung out, watched the wind, saw two readings of 15 & 16, then got a 21, which set my clock back to an hour. Done.
I had a brief refresher with Grant. Talked about a couple of things, then talked about what I wanted to do today. I had been thinking about that, and my preference would have been to do a couple of solo jumps just to get back in the swing. That sounded good to Grant, so I geared up for load 2.
I was going to be first out. Spotted with Mike M, who was video for a tandem. Jumped out, got stable quick, and tried some turns. I was much better at stopping them when I wanted to than last fall. Felt the head-to-toe rocking once, arched better and fixed that.
Hard opening with a fast turn. Enough to make me lose my sense of where the airport was, which sucked because it was now hidden under some clouds. I had a decent idea, so I flew toward a hole and saw the airport. I was between the 6 and the road. The clouds came my way, and I tried to stay out of them. After one of my turns, I found myself completely inside a cloud. Weird. Cooler, and damper. I got out quickly to see where I was, and I was still in good shape for my landing pattern.
I turned off the downwind leg a little early. I ended up in the other field toward the big hangar. Flared too high, flared unevenly, didn't complete my flare, so I PLFed.
I had a brief refresher with Grant. Talked about a couple of things, then talked about what I wanted to do today. I had been thinking about that, and my preference would have been to do a couple of solo jumps just to get back in the swing. That sounded good to Grant, so I geared up for load 2.
I was going to be first out. Spotted with Mike M, who was video for a tandem. Jumped out, got stable quick, and tried some turns. I was much better at stopping them when I wanted to than last fall. Felt the head-to-toe rocking once, arched better and fixed that.
Hard opening with a fast turn. Enough to make me lose my sense of where the airport was, which sucked because it was now hidden under some clouds. I had a decent idea, so I flew toward a hole and saw the airport. I was between the 6 and the road. The clouds came my way, and I tried to stay out of them. After one of my turns, I found myself completely inside a cloud. Weird. Cooler, and damper. I got out quickly to see where I was, and I was still in good shape for my landing pattern.
I turned off the downwind leg a little early. I ended up in the other field toward the big hangar. Flared too high, flared unevenly, didn't complete my flare, so I PLFed.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Refresher training
Refresher training today. Picked this over yesterday's safety day, because I really couldn't do both. Smart move. Mostly JR, a bunch of Grant, and a little Vic for about 6 hours, minus a lunch break. Essentially, the first jump course, but some of the basic stuff and the first jump specific stuff cut out, with some more things added in now that we've all jumped at least a few times.
A day well spent.
A day well spent.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Two solo jumps - turns & stopping turns
I got on the first two loads today, then the wind picked up. Pretty gentle winds on both my jumps. Jump run was right along the runway, heading about 240 degrees. Exits started 1/2 mile before the airport and .3 miles before the airport.
I wanted to work on turns, and stopping turns. I also have this odd rocking motion going on. Rocking head-to-feet, lengthwise along my body. Bill Hanrahan said that I should relax more, then work on my feet. I need to figure out what my neutral body position really is. This helped on my second jump.
Both times, I was across the street from the camping area when I opened. I wasn't really able to ever get over the 6 prior to entering my landing pattern.
On the first jump, I kept going toward the 6 until I was a little low. A tandem was pretty much in front of me, so I just did a shortened landing pattern and landed nicely right in front of the big hangar.
Pretty much the same landing on my second jump. This time, the canopy kited a little after I landed until I pulled in one of the brake lines.
Jamie had a tandem cutaway on the next load. I rode with him to the farm to retrieve the main. Since the winds were kicking up, it seemed like something useful to do. Learned a little about the malfunction he had (tension knot that caused the canopy to go into a hard right turn).
I wanted to work on turns, and stopping turns. I also have this odd rocking motion going on. Rocking head-to-feet, lengthwise along my body. Bill Hanrahan said that I should relax more, then work on my feet. I need to figure out what my neutral body position really is. This helped on my second jump.
Both times, I was across the street from the camping area when I opened. I wasn't really able to ever get over the 6 prior to entering my landing pattern.
On the first jump, I kept going toward the 6 until I was a little low. A tandem was pretty much in front of me, so I just did a shortened landing pattern and landed nicely right in front of the big hangar.
Pretty much the same landing on my second jump. This time, the canopy kited a little after I landed until I pulled in one of the brake lines.
Jamie had a tandem cutaway on the next load. I rode with him to the farm to retrieve the main. Since the winds were kicking up, it seemed like something useful to do. Learned a little about the malfunction he had (tension knot that caused the canopy to go into a hard right turn).
Sunday, October 17, 2010
One jump, then wind
The plan today was to just do as many jumps as I could squeeze in. Probably all solo fun jumps, but maybe a coach jump, too.
Winds were out of the WNW at about 10-15 when I got on the plane. Turns out they were a little stronger when I landed, and if there had been another wind speed reading before I got on the plane, I probably would have been grounded.
The upper winds were strong, too. Roughly the same direction, but 45 & 50 mph.
Todd (never met him before) got out first. I went out a few seconds after him. Stable almost instantly. No tumbling or flailing. I did a couple of 180 degree turns in either direction. At about 9,000 feet, I looked down to see the ground moving under me. That surprised me, until I thought for a second and realized that's exactly what should be happening with 50 mph winds. I did a barrel roll, a couple more turns, then waved off and pulled.
I opened up across the street from the airport near the trailer park area. I tried to get to the other end of the airport for a while, then took Grant's advice to point into the wind and not get blown to the other side of the runway. I never really got into a good landing pattern, but I got pretty close.
I landed in the main area a little toward the picnic tables. Didn't stand it up, mostly because of the wind. Fought with the canopy until Jamie yelled that I should swing around to the other side. Once I was downwind of the canopy, pulling on the lines didn't make it reinflate.
In the hangar, the chart showed the winds were too high. I waited for a while, and finally got a reading low enough for me to jump. The next reading was back up to 17, so the clock reset. I headed for home.
Winds were out of the WNW at about 10-15 when I got on the plane. Turns out they were a little stronger when I landed, and if there had been another wind speed reading before I got on the plane, I probably would have been grounded.
The upper winds were strong, too. Roughly the same direction, but 45 & 50 mph.
Todd (never met him before) got out first. I went out a few seconds after him. Stable almost instantly. No tumbling or flailing. I did a couple of 180 degree turns in either direction. At about 9,000 feet, I looked down to see the ground moving under me. That surprised me, until I thought for a second and realized that's exactly what should be happening with 50 mph winds. I did a barrel roll, a couple more turns, then waved off and pulled.
I opened up across the street from the airport near the trailer park area. I tried to get to the other end of the airport for a while, then took Grant's advice to point into the wind and not get blown to the other side of the runway. I never really got into a good landing pattern, but I got pretty close.
I landed in the main area a little toward the picnic tables. Didn't stand it up, mostly because of the wind. Fought with the canopy until Jamie yelled that I should swing around to the other side. Once I was downwind of the canopy, pulling on the lines didn't make it reinflate.
In the hangar, the chart showed the winds were too high. I waited for a while, and finally got a reading low enough for me to jump. The next reading was back up to 17, so the clock reset. I headed for home.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
2 jumps today, not working on any Category skills
I jumped twice today. The first was a solo jump, which was the first time I ever jumped with nobody else around. The second was a coach jump with Tammy's dad, John Fitzgerald.
Clear blue skies. Winds from the west / southwest at a fairly steady 10-15 mph. Warmed up to about 75.
A group of 3 (Aaron's friend, Casey, and a woman I don't know) went first on my first jump. I watched them for about 5-6 seconds and went out from kneeling. I was stable very quickly, then I must have done something with my feet because I ended up flipping over. Flipped back and started working on turns. I still have a tendency to flatten out my arch on turns. Keep working on that.
Under canopy, I found myself a lot further downwind than I wanted to be. I tried to fly into the wind to get to a good spot to enter a landing pattern. I just wasn't making any headway over the ground. Gave up trying, and flew around over the field at the long end of the runway, just east of the hangar. I kept looking for other traffic, and saw none in my area. Basically landed straight in and ended up directly in front of the hangar door about 30 feet into the grass.
A solo jumper went first on my second jump. Then John got into position facing into the door. I put my right hand on his belly to help with the count. He went, and I went right with him. I angled my body into the wind, rotated my left arm to point toward him, and ended up face-to-face about 5 feet away. Then I tumbled. I must have screwed up my legs. Got stable, turned around, and flew to John. We grabbed hands for a second and backed off. He dropped lower, and I caught him. He let me sink lower, and when I stuck my butt up to slow down, I turned 180 degrees left. Turned around, came back to him. We dropped, I caught him again. He let me sink, and I did another 180 degree left turn. Turned around, came back, we docked until about 6,000. Released, I turned and tracked away about 50 feet, waved and pulled at about 4,500.
I watched John keep falling and watched him pull. That was something I'd never really watched before.
I played around under canopy, and got into a good landing pattern. Until the very end, where it became obvious that I was not landing before the taxiway. About halfway across the taxiway, I started a gentle flare, pulled my feet up just a little, then finished my flare and landed on the grass on the other side of the taxiway.
Clear blue skies. Winds from the west / southwest at a fairly steady 10-15 mph. Warmed up to about 75.
A group of 3 (Aaron's friend, Casey, and a woman I don't know) went first on my first jump. I watched them for about 5-6 seconds and went out from kneeling. I was stable very quickly, then I must have done something with my feet because I ended up flipping over. Flipped back and started working on turns. I still have a tendency to flatten out my arch on turns. Keep working on that.
Under canopy, I found myself a lot further downwind than I wanted to be. I tried to fly into the wind to get to a good spot to enter a landing pattern. I just wasn't making any headway over the ground. Gave up trying, and flew around over the field at the long end of the runway, just east of the hangar. I kept looking for other traffic, and saw none in my area. Basically landed straight in and ended up directly in front of the hangar door about 30 feet into the grass.
A solo jumper went first on my second jump. Then John got into position facing into the door. I put my right hand on his belly to help with the count. He went, and I went right with him. I angled my body into the wind, rotated my left arm to point toward him, and ended up face-to-face about 5 feet away. Then I tumbled. I must have screwed up my legs. Got stable, turned around, and flew to John. We grabbed hands for a second and backed off. He dropped lower, and I caught him. He let me sink lower, and when I stuck my butt up to slow down, I turned 180 degrees left. Turned around, came back to him. We dropped, I caught him again. He let me sink, and I did another 180 degree left turn. Turned around, came back, we docked until about 6,000. Released, I turned and tracked away about 50 feet, waved and pulled at about 4,500.
I watched John keep falling and watched him pull. That was something I'd never really watched before.
I played around under canopy, and got into a good landing pattern. Until the very end, where it became obvious that I was not landing before the taxiway. About halfway across the taxiway, I started a gentle flare, pulled my feet up just a little, then finished my flare and landed on the grass on the other side of the taxiway.
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