A licence done !!

Ooh yeh

27 jumps down

Well, perfect weather today at last. So, did 6 jumps, including the 2 ones I needed to do with a coach (jumping with another person, docking with them, and repeating, etc), and also a 'hop and pop" which is basically you jumping out the plane at 3500 feet, getting stable and pulling immediately to show you can do so in emergencies, etc.

So all the practical tasks and jumps needed for my A licence now in the bag. All that remains is for me to answer some questions (did the written test on the first day - got 90%), and then get taught how to pack my own canopy*

*I figured if I left that bit till the end I wouldn't have to actually be stupid enough to have to TRUST my own packing and have to jump with it :-)

So, fingers crossed I hang around tonight for these bits and bobs, and I can have tomorrow off sitting around the pool.

I don't fly back till sunday afternoon, so will come down again sunday morning to do any remaining paperwork and should come away with a shiny official 'A licence' allowing me to jump pretty much anywhere**

**expect the UK which as per usual with stuff like this (paragliding, paramotring, scuba diving, etc) refuses to acknowledge other counties qualifications even though every other country does. Luckily I'd rather eat my own poo than jump in the UK, so not a problem.

Here is the last jump - where I 'dock' with the coach a few times. My exit was ok, then I was rubbish getting stable (too busy focusing on trying to catch the coach), then I got it back together.

You might find the end part interesting: I turned away from the coach and tracked/delta-ed away before I pulled. During this the coach is not moving - you might be surprised by just how much horizontal distance I can get in a few seconds 'tracking away' where I 'fly' more than fall by changing the shape of my body/limbs - it's this sort of thing that wearing a wingsuit (squirrel suit) advances.

http://youtu.be/2MyTKOs2Jz4

One more jump

Looked perfect today. Sunny, light winds.

Got here about 9 and just landed from my first jump. Really getting the hang of free fall now. Relaxed and ultra stable, I can slow myself up, speed up, turn, go forwards and backwards and even Summersault, etc.

However b he time I landed the wind was 25mph. I was farting around trying to land on the spot and didn't really focus and just landing well - and with an audience of instructors that wasn't my finest hour.

Anyhoo, now its 200 jumps to be on the plane because of the wind.

Once the wind has got up its never when down all the time I've been here, so that might be it :-( and closed tomorrow as thanksgiving.

call that a gun, THIS is a gun

Crap weather again today (cloudy, then too windy), so went back the the gun range.

'Course I'm an expert now that I've been once 'yeh, I'd like a 45 this time'. They are pretty straightforward automatics - safety, cocking, chambers, magazine, etc.

So - the 45… you'd think maybe that .45 of an inch ain't that much bigger than 9mm… well you'd be wrong. the bullets are about twice as big:

More 'stopping power' and more of a kick back. Also they cost about twice as much (12 quid for 50 rather than about 7 quid for 9mm).

So, here's my efforts with the 45:

not too bad. I reckon the burglar would be dead.

The outliers are where I got a bit carried away and just kept shooting quickly without aiming - it's kind of addictive. No wonder so many people are shot in america. :-)

Anyhoo, after that weather still shit today - even though the clouds burned off the wind is 25mph so the DZ closed down, so back to the pool for some sun. I've had it all to myself all week, but today had to share it with this bloke:

Weather

So, no updates for a while, because nowt happening.

Friday afternoon the wind was up and only experienced jumpers could jump so I went back to sit around the hotel pool.

Saturday and Sunday were sunny but very very windy, so called the DZ through the day to check but otherwise took the opportunity to get some sun and relax at the pool too.

Monday, grey sky all day. You can't jump if you can't see the ground. So that was a lost cause.

Today - its grey sky 100% again. The fore case says it will clear, so I'll keep an eye on it, but nothing else I can do really.

Thursday over here will be Thanksgiving, so DZ will be closed (as will everything else) so days I can get jumps in are rapidly disappearing.

4th Solo

The wind had got up quite a bit by now, and I didn't really allow for it properly in my approach, so I landed 100m short of the spot which wasn't very good. Otherwise though, it was a good jump.

4th Solo (and last to be videoed) at Sebas…

3rd Solo

Here a video of my 3rd Solo: summersault out of place, and landed within a few meters of the spot, so a good one.

Solo Number 3 at Sebastian, Florida

2 jumps today

Weather forecast said cloudy all day, so I was looking forward to a first lie in…. but 7am and it was a blue sky!

I got to the DZ at 9.30 (usually only opens at 9) and they had already done 3 loads. My first one was the best - nice clean summersault exit, and then some tracking, turns, etc then under canopy - landing 3m from the spot in the end.

I then got on the next load too - a bit rushed, but another summersault exit, and this time just concentrated on arching and how small changes in body position change how you fly through the sky.

When we loaded I knew the wind had got up, but at altitude it didn't seem so bad - turned out it was really strong lower than 2k or so: so I ended up landing 100m or so from the spot that time: not great. Even getting the canopy collapsed was tricky.

Because of the increased wind, they then stopped anyone without a 'C class' (300 jumps) licence jumping so called it a day and went back the relax at the pool.

The instructors have also had a U-turn and decided they don't want me jumping with my gopro camera anymore till I have 100 jumps.. which is annoying as there is no good reason for it, and I was finding the footage really useful to see what I was doing right and wrong. However - what they say goes, so no more video footage :-(

Here me doing a summersault out the plane:

and here's my canopy opening… very slowly… this one takes what seems like ages where it just sits there like a ball of crap (I am informed that that is simply the way this one opens!):

tvs

Was in Wallmart yesterday for a look around.

65 inch TV anyone ? 800 quid and it's yours! mental.

helmet footage

So, worse the go pro in the helmet yesterday for my second solo. Here's the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0TXGtKyOe8

Went well. Again, weather was cloudy and wind got up so only one jump all day.

solos

So, crappy weather today, so only managed one jump solo. I have a number of tasks I have to do to get my A licence so I took the opportunity to get as many of them done as I could: so after exit I did 2 back flips, a barrel role, some tracking (sort of wing suit/squirrel suit flying) and then under canopy I did some rear riser, front riser controls. Finishing with some kiting of the wing as the ground was sodden where I landed.

I'm at 18 jumps now, so hopefully we'll get some better weather to get it up. Though they have an event on this weekend where folk torn up to track at 45 degrees (basically it means they all fly about the sky like a flock of birds) so it'll be quite busy, and us beginners get bumped to the back.

I might have to have a day off and do summit else at some point.

I must admit I do like the solos - I'd only done 2 before back in 2006, so now I've doubled that number. Getting out the plane yourself and just falling towards earth at 120mph with no one else to help you is really calming and relaxing: it's all up to you - do what you like, etc. I suppose it's the ultimate activity for someone who like being alone :-)

When I jumped out today, after I'd finished all my back flips, etc I was still around 7k so I had 2k to play with (I'd decided to pull my canopy at 5k), and I just watched the ground rush up towards me. At terminal velocity that means 1000 feet every 5.5 seconds. So you are watching the ground for 11 seconds before pull… forget or get it wrong and you'll be hitting something hard 25 seconds later. There is just such a primitive sort of calmness that I really like. A lot of folk thing skydiving is an adrenaline sport, but its not for me - its just very calming and controlled. I imagine it's the same sort of feeling some folk get doing yoga or summit.

stu

Stu Solo

Had my first solo this afternoon after the shooting range. Been raining all day - clouds cleared so we all ran into plane for a quick one. Up to 14000 feet, and out the door. I did some spins and 'tracking', which is where you sort of point your body and fly forwards (a bit like they do with the squirrel suits but without the squirrel suit). …. landing was a bit long, and the ground was absolutely water logged so not a pleasant landing really.

By then it was 2.30 and looking like more of the same weather for the rest of the day so called it, and headed home till tomorrow.

putting a cap in yer ass

Crap weather today, so after sitting about the DZ all morning watching wave after wave of rain come in I persuaded a fellow brit, and a german lufthanza pilot to come down to a local gun range with me.

Luckily Stephane, the pilot, had fired a handgun in the army… so he was our 'expert'. Saying that, the gun shop owner couldn't really care: "have you every shot a gun before? me and chris: er.. no" "ok - well sign this bit of paper to say if you do summit stupid its not my fault. here's a GLOCK 9mm, have fun"

With the extensive safety briefing over, we bought 50 bullets each ($13) (handgun hire for $5 each), and off we went.

Stephane showed us how to load it, and we were off shooting targets at the indoor range. Even with ear protectors on, its loud, but no as much kick as I was expecting. Plus the GLOCK handgun, being ceramic is very light - it feels like a little toy gun (as 9mm lead death rains out the end).

Amazing how quick you go through 50 bullets. As the full 25 yards it's pretty tricky, but as you can see, my target would still very definitely be dead.. so don't mess with me!

Chris on the other hand's target came back without a single hole in it.. the funny thing is he was sure he was right on target! hahaha.

Will probably go down again later in week and try my hand with a 45 or a magnum. Amazing that in the UK, you can't shoot a gun, even in a frecking private gun club but over here, I give em $5 (no ID required) and can shoot a handgun all day!

 

Helmet cam

Just to be clear here: I am not sneaking on this helmet ! I have not been able to use it up to now as it is full face and the intended instructors need to see your face during training. They have however fully examined my helmet and are happy for me to jump with it ! I will be double checking again with them today before i jump !! You don't piss about with things like this in skydiving !

Qualified !!

Well, in what might be the quickest time ever, I have qualified through the whole AFF course, finishing today with the last jump (level 8).

Since I'd done it before, plus I picked it all up quickly, I just did levels 3,5,7 and 8 (a solo).

So now all signed off.

Next step is my A licence. This requires at least 10 more jumps and various other tasks that need to be complete. But I didn't expect to be at that point in 3 days I must admit.

So starting tomorrow, it's solos all the time and getting those jumps in.

sweet.

I'm not allowed to jump with a camera on my helmet till I've done 100 jumps as it's a tangle risk, however I have a cunning plan, which is that I have fitted my camera INSIDE my helmet. So I'll be giving that a try sometime tomorrow probably.

Right now, Skydiver Stu is signing off for a few beers.

stu

Video

Here's the first video. Shot at 2.7k on go pro 3 black and edited down to 1080p

http://youtu.be/d0MxcY92VoY

Level 5 in the bag

So, they skipped me level 4 and just did Level 5: This is one instructor, full release and I have to do 2 360s.

Went perfectly, so they are skipping me on to level 7 which is my second last jump before course finishes then it's a matter of me doing solos till I get my 'A licence' which lets me jump anywhere with other people.

Here's me (right) waiting to exit:

and here's my instructors:

and here's me in flight and right after I deploy:

Level 3 complete

They skipped me over level 2, so this morning was level 3: the first time they let me go completely and I control my own stability. It went fine, I kept stable and on heading and had a nice float down under canopy, so they are skipping me a level again to level 5 as my next jump.

Level 5 is down to one instructor. And my aim is to complete 2 360ø turns - one clockwise, one anticlockwise.

Right now, we are waiting for some clouds to clear.

Helmets

This is the first state I've been in recently that seems to have taken to the bicycle again : there are actually bike lanes!! And quite a few cyclists around.

However - a very very different sort of demographic cycles over here. For a start they ride these things that look a bit like mountain bikes, but have curved frames and handlebars.

And wait for it: no gears and no brakes.

yup, that's right: no brakes. at all.

seems to be some sort of fashion thing.

Which leads me to who rides em: 20 something hipster types.

Christ knows what the accident rate is: basically your choice is: have accident on bike or jump off and have accident next to bike.

Ah.. and helmets.. Now, the helmets for sale and worn in the UK are a joke: a bit of polystyrene sitting perched on top of your head like top hat on an elephant. No protection for the other 90% of the head, and hardly any for the bit they do cover.. and they are all streamlined as if it matters a damn: is a motorcycle helmet streamlined ? no.. and we don't cycle along at 8mph.

However, over here I don't believe cycle helmets actually exist! If they do I've not seen one… So we have these folk riding around on bikes with no brakes, and no helmets, and the traffic of course mainly consists of 3 ton flat bed pickups. quality.

Motorcyclists are also in abundance. Mainly of the Harley variety. Unlike cyclists, they all adhere to the same sort of protective clothing:

- tshirt
-shorts
- bandana (to keeps spilled brains in).

Again, not a helmet to be seen.

It's amazing natural selection hasn't eliminated them all yet.

Fiat 500

So, they gave me a Fiat 500 hire car. 

Well, they gave me a choice of a toyota yaris and a few other things, but I fancied the 500.

The thing is - they must have just started importing them over here. I have literally not seen another one. Maybe there are a few in Orlando (where I picked it up), but not down here on the coast.

Not only that: but I've not seen anything else as small either: there are no 'smart cars' over here for example. Basically I've got the smallest car in Florida I think.

Plus - this is Florida: home of the 'true american' : whereas on the west coast you'll see tons of japanese and european cars - over in Florida they are the minority: it's still Harleys, full size trucks, and hideous big Buicks and Cadillacs that look like they have been designed by a 5 year old. Some of them are truly awesome: yesterday I say one that had a vinyl roof !! 

Anyhoo - driving this thing around is making me feel like a celebrity! Folk stop and stare! Younger folk (<40) seem to like em - kids give me the thumbs up, etc. However the died in the wool american republicans (and Florida is full of em! - churches, and religious radio everywhere) not so keen…. I had some old bloke out cutting his grass, stop and give me the thumbs down! 

Admittedly it's not the best colour: sort of 1940s green.

Quite what they did to it to make the american model though is a mystery: the thing is automatic, has been given typical american 'steer with your finger' light power steering, and seems to drive like a car twice it's size (which is not a compliment). They have somehow 'americanised' it to drive like every other piece of shit american car.

On the plus side - it's got cruise, aircon, iPhone connection, leather seat, etc, etc. 

 

It's just that any 'nippy', 'fun-ness' that it may have had is gone: truly stunning that they've done that to it. I imagine if you drove a mini over here it would feel the same. Even the doors feel like they have been loaded up with lead to make them feel heavy and 'sturdy' or the americans.

that aside, the driving position is weird: it's like an old Lancia: you are sort of pointed at an angle with your legs angled off out to the side.

Level 1 complete

cool didn't think I'd get a jump this morning as been raining, but just had my first jump for 4 years. Jumped from 13000 with 2 instructors. Went nice.got my stability again pretty quickly so they are skipping me up to level 3.

Wind has got up though - landing was straight down as 20mph wind and the canopy only flies at 20mph. I wanted to show off and land on their target spot but they told me to limit my landing pattern to not flyover the concrete so I had to land somewhere else.

skydive canopies are fun to fly - not like paragliding canopies at all - you can basically chuck em all over the sky -spins' etc and they are totally stable.

Anyhoo. Now waiting was wind to ease off. . .

Day 1 in not so sunny florida

Well, got to the DZ (drop zone) this morning at 8am. Windy and cloudy here in 'the sunshine state'.

It's now midday and I've done all my ground training refresher and passed the test, but I don't think I'm gonna get a jump today - the wind needs to be 14mph maximum for student jumps, and at the moment it is around 17 gusting to 22. Forecast says its gonna stay the same for the rest of the day.

Tomorrow looks much the same, though maybe calming down in the evening.

So today - I'm gonna hang about the DZ just in case. Tomorrow, I think it will be do other stuff till the afternoon, unless they particularly thing that I could get a jump in the morning.

The plan is to have me to a 'level 1' jump again. Thats the first freefall jump you'd usually do - 2 instructors, one either side of you and you are focusing on stable falling, altitude awareness and good canopy control and landing. Hopefully if I get that right we can skip some levels.

It's not stopping more experienced jumpers going though, which is annoying.