Lets see, try to explain what it's like. Apologies to start as I have just got home from a night celebrating
DT_Xtremez_42:
As you know for those who have read this thread, I've been trying to do the jump for months, and now finally managed it.
Had to be at the airfield for 0830 to register to jump, didn't get there until 0845 as Mandy's boyfriend Martin, who was driving us there, took what can only be called the scenic route, but then it was Mandy who was navigating. Being late was okay as they had to wait for the plane to defrost.
It was a glorious sunny day, very cold and a bit of a breeze, but the airfield is on the coast so that's to be expected, and there was a frost. The owner of the centre had a chat with me and said all charges had been waived, those who run the centre are all ex-forces and because my jump was close to their hearts, I would not be charged. I had to pay for membership to the British Parachute Association but that's all.
Got there and had a quick chat with my instructor who would be doing the tandem with me, he asked me to show him the position, was happy with that and then I went straight into the hanger to be kitted up. Before anyone starts, all of the suits were too big for me, they didn't have any small enough but once the harness was on, it was fine.
Once the plane had defrosted it was towed along the runway and we had to walk out to it. I say walk but with the harness it was more an ar5e swing duck walk all the way. The instructor I had was well over six feet tall, big strapping bloke and had served in the Army for 23 years before doing this. He had only done 1 tandem jump before mine, a fact which he enjoyed sharing with me, on the plane.
The plane was an airvan, and there was a great deal of turbulance as we went up. At one point it felt like we were going to loop de loop, now that got the stomach flippling. It seemed to take forever to climb to our altitude of 10,000 ft. We were sat on the floor of the plane, 2 solo jumpers my instructor and myself and one other set of tandem jumpers. At 9,000 ft it was time to get ready to go.
I had to lift up and sit back on my instructors lap when he hooked the clips that join my harness to his, make sure my helmet and eye glasses were secure, final check of all the straps and then door was opened. The two solo's stood by the open door, held hands and just fell out then I got the tap on my shoulder to say we were moving. The instructor said he'd move me as it felt like he had nothing to carry, according to him I have no weight to me and it felt more like doing a solo jump than tandem.
We moved to the open door and I took position, head back, arms folded across my chest and feet kicked back to the underside of the plane, then I simply fell forward.
The view was fantastic, you could see the curve of the horizon and the clouds just looked like a silky fog over the sea. It really didn't feel like I was falling so fast but apparently it was between 120 and 180 mph, and the 5,000ft in free fall seemed to go so fast. The chute opened too soon for me, but jeez the wind made my eyes stream, even with the glasses on, and you just couldn't breathe. It was beautiful up there and surprisingly warm.
Once the chute opened I just burst out laughing, couldn't help it, it was just such a rush, and then I could look around properly.
You don't realise how fast you are coming down with the canopy until the ground is rushing towards you, one second it's so far away and then it's there and you are getting ready to land. The landing was funny though, the instructor fell on top of me. He said he was braced to take both our weights but I was so light, FFS I'm 8 stone so not a real lightwieght, well okay just under 8 stone but that's not the point.
It really is a fantastic feeling, and to be honest it hasn't fully sunk in that I have just fallen 10,000ft, but I've not stopped grinning all day. At last I have done it, woo hoo.
Good luck and fingers crossed they get to throw you out!
