August 16, 2013 - I jump out of a perfectly good airplane

Skydiving has always been something I wanted to try.  I used to wear a parachute when I flew my glider, but of course, I had never actually used one.  It had occured to me that jumping the first time by yourself in an emergency situation wasn't the best way to do it.  So I knew I should experience it at least once under proper instruction before having to do it in an emergency situation.  LIke many things, however, I just never got around to it.   Fast forward to last December.  My daughter Maggie wanted to go skydiving for a birthday present.  OK, we bought her a gift certificate, but it's a little too cool in December for skydiving.  Then my kids bought me a gift certificate for my birthday.  So while on family vacation in Ocean City, Maryland, one day we made the short drive to Laurel, Delware -- where they have a big skydiving operation - to finally do it.

We dove with Skydive Delmarva.   Recommended.

 The weather couldn't have been better.  It was a beautiful flying day.

As you might imagine, they do make you sign a few forms releasing them from liability in case, well, you know.  Here Maggie is signing her life away.

 
   
When we first arrived, the place was deserted, except for a few Skydive Delmarva people.  We didn't even see a jump plane.  But then the jump plane landed (below), we looked up, and parachutes were blossoming overhead.  I landed here a few times in the Citabria, never in the RV.  It's a nice grass field:  long, wide and smooth.
   
Outfitted in a snazzy purple jumpsuit.
   
 
My instructor, John, was a nice guy.  He briefed me thoroughly on what to expect and what to do.  Later I asked him how many jumps he had:  4,500.  That's a lot of jumps.
 
Maggie and I ready to go.
   
A very experienced jumper in my EAA Chapter advised me to get the Video & Picture package, so I did.  It was worth every penny.  Here we are talking with the videographer.  He jumps with two GoPros mounted on his helmet (seen in his left hand).   I told him Maggie was the prime but try to get me in where he could.
   
Boarding the jump plane.
   
Taking off.  The Twin Otter really gets up and goes.
   
We climbed up to 12,000 feet or so.  I guess it took about 20 minutes.  Which was way too much time to think.  My instructor and I were way in the back of the plane.  Actually, in the front.
 
The weather was absolutely perfect.  The visibility was so good I could see beyond Cape May at altitude.  The sky was blue with some puffy white cumulous down at 5,000 feet.  The winds were light.
 
We climbed until the plane suddenly leveled off, the engines changed pitch, and almost immediately a buzzer went off.  Then things started happening very quickly.  People moved to the big open door and jumping out.  I went into an "out of body" mode about this time.  Where you can't believe you are doing something as you are doing it.
 
 
   
There were two benches running the length of the cabin.  As people jumped out, we scooted forward.  My instructor is on the right with the snow leopard spotted hat.  Maggie looks pretty excited.
   
The girl in the green suit was a first time jumper like us.  You can see how she and the instructor are buckled together.  She bought the video package too.  The videographer is hanging outside the plane with his left hand and feet just visible in the door.
   
Then it was our turn.  We crouched in the doorway, my feet right on the edge.  Beyond that, nothing but air for 12,000 feet.   What was I thinking when I said I wanted to do this?
   

The instructor did the three - two - one - jump thing and he dove out of the plane with me along with him.

The initial encounter with the airstream was rough.  And the sensation of dropping like a stone was strong.
   
 
   
On the ground, someone had said freefall was almost like scuba diving.  You were in a medium and did not notice you were falling at 120 mph.   That was about right, once we were stabilized after a few seconds.
   
 
   
Now it is Maggie's turn.
   
 
   
There they go!
   
 
     
Maggie looks terrified.  I'm glad there isn't a picture like this of me.
   
Heading straight down.
   
She's having fun now.
   
Maggie's instructor had even more jumps than mine.
   
Holding hands with the videographer.  Check out the wrist altimeters.   Your altitude -- good thing to know as you hurtle toward the earth at 120 mph.
   
 
   
 
   
The instructor reaches for the rip cord.
   
I think the tandem jumpers popped the chute around 5,500 feet or so.  For me, the freefall portion of the drop seemed to go by quickly.  It was so overwhelming that it seemed like seconds but was probably minutes.
   

There goes Maggie.

The parachute deployment was surprisingly mild.
   
 
   
Maggie's chute fully deployed.,
   

My chute is the blue and red-striped one.  I remember seeing Maggie in mid-air and waving, but I don't remember us being this close.

While we were floating down, John had me practice the landing steps a couple of times.  Not a big deal.  You flare by pulling both handles down all the way, and hold your legs straight out in front.

Then we did some steep turns.  To go left, just pull down the left handle.  To go right, pull down the right handle.  The G-forces resulting from the turn surprised me.  But I know them well from flying the RV.
   
Parachuters fly a little landing pattern, just like airplanes.  John and I on final, coming in for a landing.
   
I did what John told me to do and we had a nice, soft landing.
   
Happy to be on the ground in one piece.
   
Here comes Maggie.
   
 
   
Not a textbook landing but it got the job done.
   
 
I think Maggie liked the jump.,
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
Lynnette finally finds a plane that she likes.
   
 
   
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