Talked to JR first about refresher training. We agreed that I'm good. DZ was very busy today. First good weekend in a while, so all the backed up tandems and CAT A students showed. Still no 230 or 240, so I was fighting for the 2 280s.
Both jumps were from the King Air at 13,500. In both freefalls, I worked on turning quicker, tracking, and forward motion.
First landing was a little poorly planned. Got into the pattern late, turned into base leg late and went quickly into the final leg. Plenty of altitude to get level, just not the best pattern. Slid in.
Second was better. Landed about 25 feet from Amy, who said, "Nice landing."
Monday, May 27, 2013
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Weather. Ugh.
Arrived about 3 minutes too late to get on load 1. Should really have remembered to empty the dishwasher last night, which was why I ran it early.
Got geared up for load 2. About 2 minutes before we would have walked out to the plane, the wind went from 7 to 19. I'm off. Another 19, then 22, lots of gusts, radar shows the rain coming. I think a 3rd load went, and that was about it. Rained for half my drive home.
Got geared up for load 2. About 2 minutes before we would have walked out to the plane, the wind went from 7 to 19. I'm off. Another 19, then 22, lots of gusts, radar shows the rain coming. I think a 3rd load went, and that was about it. Rained for half my drive home.
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Back in the air with 3 jumps
27 days after refresher training - next week would have meant another round of refresher training, and not free!
Very little wind today. Flew the Cessna 182 all day. The 230 and 240 rigs are getting new AADs. I didn't want to downsize, so I pulled the 280 out. I really forgot how that handles. Lots of toggle input to get it to turn fast. Flaring sends it back up and stops its forward motion.
Jump 1 - Cat D2 with Jamie. I went out on the step, he gripped me, and I did the exit count. Stable fast, one PT, 360 right, slow 360 left. At that point, we were at about 6200, so I signaled to stop maneuvers. He flew around to my main side, watched me wave off and pull at 5000. I landed in front of the FBO building (bldgs on the left). Jamie wanted me there in case I overshot, which would be bad, because the field beyond the picnic area just got covered with manure.
Jump 2 - Tried swoop-n-docks with Doc Larry. I waited a little too long after he went. I went right into a steep dive, and didn't flip. Not sure what was in my mind, but I turned before getting to his level and blew past him. I turned toward him, and tried to close. I know I was forcing things at this point, and probably over thinking and not just doing. I didn't pull my arms back far enough for good forward motion. I didn't stick my legs out straight enough for forward motion. My legs were spread apart. I had a great track at 5000, got stable, and opened at 4500. Larry gave me some good feedback afterwards about just doing the maneuvers rather than thinking about them. He also said not to worry about crashing into an instructor - he'll get out of the way in plenty of time. Landed standing up in 0 wind right in front of the hangar.
Jump 3- Solo jump to remind myself about how to get good forward motion. At 10,000, it was Jamie and Casey doing an E, and me. Casey got a little anxious, so we went around a couple of times. On the third time, Casey and Jamie got out, but slowly. I waited the 15 seconds that Jamie asked me to wait, then did a poised exit off the step. Flipped (rare these days), got stable in probably 5 seconds after exiting, and worked on forward motion perpendicular to the line of flight. Felt good. When I opened, I was way the heck over Shatzer's farm, so I turned toward the airport and just flew straight. Crossed the road at about 1700 feet, so I was fine. Had some time to play with the canopy, then got into a wide landing pattern because I was getting closer to Casey's altitude. No problem, she was well below me. Casey and Jamie were in front of the hangar about half way between the pad and the runway, so I aimed a little to their left and landed straight in front of the hangar.
Feels damn good to be back in the air!
Very little wind today. Flew the Cessna 182 all day. The 230 and 240 rigs are getting new AADs. I didn't want to downsize, so I pulled the 280 out. I really forgot how that handles. Lots of toggle input to get it to turn fast. Flaring sends it back up and stops its forward motion.
Jump 1 - Cat D2 with Jamie. I went out on the step, he gripped me, and I did the exit count. Stable fast, one PT, 360 right, slow 360 left. At that point, we were at about 6200, so I signaled to stop maneuvers. He flew around to my main side, watched me wave off and pull at 5000. I landed in front of the FBO building (bldgs on the left). Jamie wanted me there in case I overshot, which would be bad, because the field beyond the picnic area just got covered with manure.
Jump 2 - Tried swoop-n-docks with Doc Larry. I waited a little too long after he went. I went right into a steep dive, and didn't flip. Not sure what was in my mind, but I turned before getting to his level and blew past him. I turned toward him, and tried to close. I know I was forcing things at this point, and probably over thinking and not just doing. I didn't pull my arms back far enough for good forward motion. I didn't stick my legs out straight enough for forward motion. My legs were spread apart. I had a great track at 5000, got stable, and opened at 4500. Larry gave me some good feedback afterwards about just doing the maneuvers rather than thinking about them. He also said not to worry about crashing into an instructor - he'll get out of the way in plenty of time. Landed standing up in 0 wind right in front of the hangar.
Jump 3- Solo jump to remind myself about how to get good forward motion. At 10,000, it was Jamie and Casey doing an E, and me. Casey got a little anxious, so we went around a couple of times. On the third time, Casey and Jamie got out, but slowly. I waited the 15 seconds that Jamie asked me to wait, then did a poised exit off the step. Flipped (rare these days), got stable in probably 5 seconds after exiting, and worked on forward motion perpendicular to the line of flight. Felt good. When I opened, I was way the heck over Shatzer's farm, so I turned toward the airport and just flew straight. Crossed the road at about 1700 feet, so I was fine. Had some time to play with the canopy, then got into a wide landing pattern because I was getting closer to Casey's altitude. No problem, she was well below me. Casey and Jamie were in front of the hangar about half way between the pad and the runway, so I aimed a little to their left and landed straight in front of the hangar.
Feels damn good to be back in the air!
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Refresher Training
Nothing much to say. Today was the free AFF Refresher Training. Hopefully, it's the last time I have to do that.
No jumps. I still have a cold, and my ears felt pressure coming down the hill from South Mountain. 10,000 feet was really going to hurt. Anyway, by the time we were done with training and ready to jump, the wind had picked up from essentially 0 to 20 mph in 30 minutes.
No jumps. I still have a cold, and my ears felt pressure coming down the hill from South Mountain. 10,000 feet was really going to hurt. Anyway, by the time we were done with training and ready to jump, the wind had picked up from essentially 0 to 20 mph in 30 minutes.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
3 jumps. 2 coach jumps w/ Casey
Chilly, very little wind. Cessna 182 all day.
Got on load 1 to do a 2-way with Rick. Never met him before. I went out on the step, he dove out after me. Got together, did a 360, got together again, broke off, tracked away, open at 3000.
Packed to get on load 2 with Casey to do fall rate changes. I went out on the step, he came out with me. I floated up to catch him. I thought we would dock for a second, but as soon as we touched hands, he backed off and sank. Surprised me a little. I got down to his level and we just about redocked again before we were at 5000 and had to turn to track away. I went a little further on my final leg and was near the little hills before the cornfield. I flared based on the top of the hill, realized that I was going to land in the lower part, so I held the partial flare, flared the rest of the way a second later, and slid in the landing.
Packed to get on load 4 with Casey to do swoop and docks. We went out on the step, I dove out after him. Waited half a second too long. I kept my arms in the normal position for a few seconds before remembering that I was supposed to be swooping down. Got easily into the dive, and overshot. Admittedly, I was trying to make up the time I lost, so I overcompensated. He sunk again, I swooped and overshot again. Didn't get it right, but I definitely have the feeling of what swooping is supposed to feel like for next time. Landed in front of the white building, about 8 feet before the taxiway.
Got on load 1 to do a 2-way with Rick. Never met him before. I went out on the step, he dove out after me. Got together, did a 360, got together again, broke off, tracked away, open at 3000.
Packed to get on load 2 with Casey to do fall rate changes. I went out on the step, he came out with me. I floated up to catch him. I thought we would dock for a second, but as soon as we touched hands, he backed off and sank. Surprised me a little. I got down to his level and we just about redocked again before we were at 5000 and had to turn to track away. I went a little further on my final leg and was near the little hills before the cornfield. I flared based on the top of the hill, realized that I was going to land in the lower part, so I held the partial flare, flared the rest of the way a second later, and slid in the landing.
Packed to get on load 4 with Casey to do swoop and docks. We went out on the step, I dove out after him. Waited half a second too long. I kept my arms in the normal position for a few seconds before remembering that I was supposed to be swooping down. Got easily into the dive, and overshot. Admittedly, I was trying to make up the time I lost, so I overcompensated. He sunk again, I swooped and overshot again. Didn't get it right, but I definitely have the feeling of what swooping is supposed to feel like for next time. Landed in front of the white building, about 8 feet before the taxiway.
Saturday, November 17, 2012
3 jumps today
Chilly day, low winds (temporarily over 16, but I spent all that time packing anyway).
Jump 1 - Out after a 7-way. Worked on fall rate changes. Yeah, I got that squared away. Worked on steeper dive for the swoop & dock, but felt a little unstable, so I backed off. Braked deeper and deeper until stall started. Landed in front of the other hangar. Packed.
Jump 2 - Tracking & steeper dive while tracking. Stayed stable this time, and felt the angle change downward. Horizon was gone, and I was looking at the ground. The sound of air going by my ears went up a lot. Easily got stable in a belly-to-earth position afterwards. Opening seemed slow, but maybe I'm just hypersensitive about my own pack jobs. Landed in front of FBO. Packed again.
Jump 3 - Steep dive in freefall again. Canopy opened fine. Turns & spirals under canopy. Landed by other hangar.
The coaches and instructors were crazy busy with tandems. I wasn't able to squeeze a jump in with any of them. Oh, well, maybe next week...
Jump 1 - Out after a 7-way. Worked on fall rate changes. Yeah, I got that squared away. Worked on steeper dive for the swoop & dock, but felt a little unstable, so I backed off. Braked deeper and deeper until stall started. Landed in front of the other hangar. Packed.
Jump 2 - Tracking & steeper dive while tracking. Stayed stable this time, and felt the angle change downward. Horizon was gone, and I was looking at the ground. The sound of air going by my ears went up a lot. Easily got stable in a belly-to-earth position afterwards. Opening seemed slow, but maybe I'm just hypersensitive about my own pack jobs. Landed in front of FBO. Packed again.
Jump 3 - Steep dive in freefall again. Canopy opened fine. Turns & spirals under canopy. Landed by other hangar.
The coaches and instructors were crazy busy with tandems. I wasn't able to squeeze a jump in with any of them. Oh, well, maybe next week...
Saturday, November 10, 2012
4 jumps, and I jumped a rig I packed. Finally.
There was almost no wind today. Made for some interesting landings.
Jump 1 - King Air, only got 4,500 feet. Jumped, got stable, hung out for a few seconds, pulled. I jumped the 240 last weekend because Doug had the 230 all day, and I forgot just how responsive the 230 is. Had a lot of fun under canopy, then had a less than perfect landing with no wind.
Jump 2 - I was going to pack the 230 with help, then jump it. Jim Smith was looking for one more to fill out a Cessna load, so I grabbed the 240 and got on. Spotted. First out at 4,500. Got stable, hung out a bit, pulled. The right toggle had a big loop of line that should have been stowed. It took me about 30 seconds of looking at it following the line, but I decided that the handle did no go through the loop, and released the brakes. On final, I realized I was heading for the taxiway. Put on some brakes, and landed well clear.
Jump 3 - I packed the 230 with a little help from Autumn. Took the King Air all the way up. Worked on turns using just legs. Did some tracking. Pulled a little higher just to have some extra time. Canopy opened fine with a little right turn when it inflated. Nice landing in front of the FBO.
Jump 4 - I packed the 230 with no assistance. King Air all the way up. Turns using just legs, including a 360. The canopy opened a little slowly, and seemed to be skinnier from front to back for a few seconds, then popped out into a perfectly good canopy. Maybe I was just overanalyzing it. Landed in front of FBO.
Talked to Van about getting some things signed off, and what I have to do to finish up this A license.
Jump 1 - King Air, only got 4,500 feet. Jumped, got stable, hung out for a few seconds, pulled. I jumped the 240 last weekend because Doug had the 230 all day, and I forgot just how responsive the 230 is. Had a lot of fun under canopy, then had a less than perfect landing with no wind.
Jump 2 - I was going to pack the 230 with help, then jump it. Jim Smith was looking for one more to fill out a Cessna load, so I grabbed the 240 and got on. Spotted. First out at 4,500. Got stable, hung out a bit, pulled. The right toggle had a big loop of line that should have been stowed. It took me about 30 seconds of looking at it following the line, but I decided that the handle did no go through the loop, and released the brakes. On final, I realized I was heading for the taxiway. Put on some brakes, and landed well clear.
Jump 3 - I packed the 230 with a little help from Autumn. Took the King Air all the way up. Worked on turns using just legs. Did some tracking. Pulled a little higher just to have some extra time. Canopy opened fine with a little right turn when it inflated. Nice landing in front of the FBO.
Jump 4 - I packed the 230 with no assistance. King Air all the way up. Turns using just legs, including a 360. The canopy opened a little slowly, and seemed to be skinnier from front to back for a few seconds, then popped out into a perfectly good canopy. Maybe I was just overanalyzing it. Landed in front of FBO.
Talked to Van about getting some things signed off, and what I have to do to finish up this A license.
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