So we always wear parachutes when doing aerobatic flight and often in gliders. So I thought it might be a good idea to get some training in how to do a proper parachute jump, just in case.
Went out this morning to do the first step, which is a tandem jump with an instructor.
The view when you first get out is very similar to being in a small plane, especially a Cardinal with no struts. But the big difference is there is nothing around you. Other than the wind, there is no real sense that you are falling 1000' every 6 seconds. So I see how people could become sort of mesmerized and not pull the chute until too late.
Perhaps because of my experience in gliders I just thought it was like transferring from powered flying to gliding with a high speed gap in between. The first view is a bit breathtaking, but I did not find it terrifying by any means.
It produced a sort of mild adrenaline buzz, similar to a pleasant glider flight. Not as intense as a lead climb. I can see how it can be sort of addicting.
I plan to proceed a bit further with the training until I do a jump with my own parachute and instructor assistance, just to have the feel of what it would be like in the event of needing to bail out.
Went out this morning to do the first step, which is a tandem jump with an instructor.
The view when you first get out is very similar to being in a small plane, especially a Cardinal with no struts. But the big difference is there is nothing around you. Other than the wind, there is no real sense that you are falling 1000' every 6 seconds. So I see how people could become sort of mesmerized and not pull the chute until too late.
Perhaps because of my experience in gliders I just thought it was like transferring from powered flying to gliding with a high speed gap in between. The first view is a bit breathtaking, but I did not find it terrifying by any means.
It produced a sort of mild adrenaline buzz, similar to a pleasant glider flight. Not as intense as a lead climb. I can see how it can be sort of addicting.
I plan to proceed a bit further with the training until I do a jump with my own parachute and instructor assistance, just to have the feel of what it would be like in the event of needing to bail out.
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