We arrived at the airfield mid-morning and checked in. We watched an orientation video about the safety, and lack of safety, of skydiving. After the video we signed waivers, measured our weight, and were assigned instructors.
Our skydives would be tandem meaning we would be attached by harnesses to our instructor who would be in charge of deploying the chute and steering our descent. While the instructor was in jumpsuits and helmets, the Wife and I were just in our normal clothes. This felt ... odd ... but I figured they knew what they were doing. As our instructors put on our harness they explained the basics like what position our body should be in when we are in freefall. The instructors would also be the photographers.
We got on the airplane. There were two benches parallel to the length of the plane. We sat straddling the benches. There were six or seven solo skydivers who would jump ahead of us.
The pilot took off and reached 13,500 ft (4,115 m). At this point the solo skydivers opened the door on the side of the airplane (similar to a garage door) and jumped out. Our instructors attached our harnesses, checked all the straps, then told me to just let him 'carry' me to the door.
The Wife jumped first. I followed soon after. I was expecting the instructor to ask if I was ready but he just told me to put my head back and he jumped out of the airplane. I guess they don't want you to think about it too much.
All strapped together ready to jump. |
Free falling ...Yeah I'm Free falling ... |
Chute deployed ... just hanging around. |
Despite my lack of emotion I'm glad I did it and I did enjoy the experience. Not sure I need to do it again but it is something everyone should do at least once in their lives. ✔
Pictures can be found in my 2024 Tampa (Skydiving) Google Photos album.
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