MY FIRST SOLOS
As Labor Day weekend approached we were very excited to get some jumps in. We could use the bowl all 3 days! Well Saturday came... and it poured! Sunday morning was overcast with a low ceiling. Sunday afternoon there were a few, tiny blue spots so we figured we'd take a drive out anyway. Boomer had just said, "There's nothing I'd like better than to look out ahead there and see some canopies coming down." And not 5 minutes later as we were driving, that's exactly what we saw! We started getting excited. We pulled into the DZ and found out that was the first load they had put up. We watched another load go up and it had to circle 3x to find a hole. Boomer and I were nervous about going with it being our first time on our own and while someone else would be spotting we were ultimately responsible for deciding if it was a good spot for us to get out. If Jay or Gary were spotting we'd feel pretty comfortable but who knew if they'd be on the same load. The next load had a long spot and most made it back but one didn't. A few were telling us to go for it. (Even though they suspended AFF) but we talked it over and decided to wait. If we had had even a few solo jumps under our belts already it would have been different but we just didn't feel ready under these conditions. Some might think we are wusses but as parents we just feel we have to be on the cautious side. It did brighten a bit more after that... and there was no wind so we were almost about to reconsider but then they wanted to close up early to go to this pig roast they were having on our FJC instructors farm. John, the plane's owner offered to try to get together a few more runs but we felt we had had our chances if we wanted and didn't want to hold them up.
It was crummy again all day Monday. So much for our great 3 day weekend!
The next weekend, Sept. 9th and 10th, they were going to be jumping from their old airport out in Turners Falls. I think there was some acrobatic air show at Orange that weekend. Originally we had planned on taking a break from skydiving that weekend. But then after not getting to jump the previous weekend, we started thinking about going to Turners Falls. I had an EMT course all day Saturday but we decided if the weather looked good on Sunday that we'd give it a whirl.
Sunday arrived and it was perfect! Bright blue skies, little to no wind. Well a 7-8 MPH wind would have been nice, too, but since the Turners Falls airport was right on the Connecticut River I figured there would be less chance of me ending up in there with no wind! Boomer was excited to jump there as that is where he did his 6 S/L jumps 20 years ago.
The ride out there was really pretty. I was feeling a little anxious but didn't have that awful sick feeling. Usually on the ride out I like the nice, quiet time to focus on my dive and do some visualizing and get myself prepared. But this time we took our daughter, Colleen, along and there wasn't one moment of silence. Man that kid can talk! It only took us about 20 minutes longer to get to Turners Falls than Orange. We were really surprised to see quite a few people there when we arrived. Jumping was in full swing. The King Air was just constantly going back up and then after 4 loads it would head back to Orange to get fuel. Things were moving right along and now that we didn't need JMs we had no problem getting on a load. I had planned on going first but I needed a few minutes to get my head ready and Boomer was anxious to get going so I told him to go for it.
He is still using the "big boy" rig and it was set up for S/L so they had to get that ready for him. Gary brought him over some water gear and made sure he put that on. He had a new wrist altimeter and goggles and he was excited to try them out. I had gotten a helmet and I was really glad because they hadn't brought all their equipment and the small scratched up helmet I liked best wasn't there. Another girl, an AFF student, was looking for a small helmet, too, so I lent her my new one.
There was a small, grassy area right in front of the runway where most people were landing. Gary had been telling us we should have no problem landing there. On the other side of the runway was a much bigger landing area with some sandy spots. If you landed on the other side you would have to wait for someone to go get you or walk all the way around but I knew I was definitely landing there.
Jay took us inside and showed us the map of the DZ and told us since there was hardly any wind that jump run was right along the runway and that from the bottom edge of the airport to about half way across the water was a good spot. There weren't any students or tandems on Boomer's load so he would be last out. He headed out to the plane.
Colleen and I went out to watch them come down. Before long we heard the whistling of freefall and then saw canopies start to appear. Colleen is asking, "Which one is dad? Which one is dad?" and I'm frantically searching the sky trying to spot the rainbow color of the "student" canopies. I don't see it anywhere and start to worry. Finally I see it way out past the others. It seems like it is taking him forever to get down. But it looks like he is landing in the small landing area and at least the others have landed and he won't have to deal with traffic. He slides in right where Gary had suggested. I'm impressed. Colleen and I go running over.
We find out he ended up a little long on his spot. He wanted to make sure there was plenty of time between him and the previous group so he did his count in the plane before climbing out and then the climbout and poised exit took a little time. He tumbled on exit and took a while to get stable. Then he basically just worked on staying stable. He realized he was way out over the river so he pulled a little high. Once opened he was nervous because he was basically on the other side of the river. He was worried about being able to make it all the way back. He was real happy that Gary had made sure he had the water gear on. He tried doing the accuracy trick to see where it looked like he would land and he thought it felt like he would make it to the edge of the runway. He tried flying in partial brakes to see if that would help him get any further.
He relaxed a bit when he realized he would make it OK. He was planning on landing in the bigger landing area but then noticed he was too low to be crossing the runway so he would just have to try for the small landing area. (And I thought he had planned it all along!) He didn't quite land where he was aiming for but it ended up OK anyway. It wasn't a stand up landing but then again a few of the better skydivers were sliding it in, too.
Ok. He's down safe.... time for my turn! I went in and got signed up for a load. Then I went out to look for a rig. All I saw were 2 Raiders. I had really wanted to jump the Manta a few more times until I felt more comfortable moving down. I went in to talk to Don at manifest to tell him I didn't think I'd be able to make that load. He said he thought I'd do fine on a Raider. I told him it was my very first solo and it was at a new drop zone and I didn't think that was the right time to try a different canopy for the first time, especially with no wind. Gary came in then so Don asked him what he thought. He said he thought I'd be fine, too, but if I wanted a manta he would go find me one. I followed him outside where he found one unpacked and then helped one of the riggers get it packed for me.
I was a little nervous about it being packed so quickly and kept badgering them with questions about it. I told them I had heard you should never hurry a pack job just to make the next load (like that doesn't happen constantly! lol). They assured me Jud was an excellent packer and it may have been done fast... but right. Thank God everyone isn't as neurotic as me. All the instructors etc. would be completely crazy by now!
Gary helped me get everything on and checked me carefully then pointed me towards the plane. Jay had come over to Boomer and I earlier and had offered us one of his own water gear packs that we could keep for the day so we wouldn't have to wait for one. He was out by the plane and came over and met me and told me to just walk calmly towards the plane... it would wait. He walked along with me and gave me another complete check and some words of encouragement and off I went. I climbed in the plane and got a pretty good seat on the floor near enough to the door so I could see out. There was a 2 way sitting next to me and then what I thought was another 2 way on the bench across from me. And then the rest were tandems and some camera people. We started discussing exit order and I found out that the 2 on the bench were actually a S/L student close to graduation and his instructor so they were going out after me. I made sure they knew it was my first solo and that I'd be opening high. I told them I planned on waving off at 4500 and pulling by 4000. I got to talking with the instructor. Her name was Bonnie and I think she knew I was nervous and she kept talking to me and giving me a few pointers and made me relax a bit. At one point she asked my name and I said, "Donna". The girl from the 2 way next to me goes, "Donna? As in "Ty" Donna?" I go, "Yes!" It was Rhonda!! This girl I had been e-mailing since early spring that I had met through the NG and we had yet to meet up! It was so cool to just find her sitting next to me on the plane! And I wouldn't have even known if I hadn't just been asked my name!
Rhonda asked me what I planned on doing on my jump... just falling?? LOL I told her.... Yea, probably! Originally I had been thinking I'd try a back flips and some turns or some mad tracking so I could feel like superwoman. It just sounded so easy to not have to do anything and just fall if I wanted to. No pressure... nice and simple. What more could you ask for? Piece of cake!!! Right????? Right??????
In no time we were on jump run. Bonnie had offered to spot so that was good. Boomer had done a poised exit but I had decided I just wanted to dive out. It just seemed easier than trying to climb out and then hanging out there all alone in that wind. I was afraid I'd get ripped right off the plane... though what would it matter? I was going to throw myself off anyway! But diving just seemed less complicated. Rhonda and her boyfriend just whipped out that door in no time! I was ready right behind them and counted to 5 and then hurled myself out. I almost thought I had it when I felt myself flip over and start tumbling. I would love to see some of these exits of mine on video because I really feel like I'm flipping all over the place but I don't know if I really am or it's just my perception of things. I started getting a bit nervous and could feel myself tense up and I tried very hard to think relax... and ARCH!
I stabled out but was still tense. I gave up all thoughts of trying any flips. I was potato chipping a bit and that made me nervous which made me more tense which made me buffet even more! I tried very hard to think RELAX... big breath... hips down... head up... RELAX... arch!!! Much easier said and done on the ground!!!!!!!! I finally seemed to be pretty stable but I was too nervous to try anything and rock the boat. I just took the time to look all around. Man, the view was incredible! I could see the airport (wow it looks much smaller than Orange!). I could see the beautiful Connecticut River snaking along the end of the runway and saw how it looped around like Jay was talking about but wasn't on the map he was showing us.
Then I started realizing how everything was getting so much bigger so quickly!! I had been constantly checking my altimeter. It had never moved so slowly before!!! At 6000 ft the ground seems to be screaming up at me! It starts to enter my brain where I actually am and what I am actually doing and I quickly stop that thought before it scares me to death. I force myself to just think about what I am suppose to be doing and not where I am. The thought of going unstable right at pull time creeps into my thoughts and I fell myself tense up a bit again which makes me rock a bit. Shit! I stare at my altimeter and see it finally go below 5000 and I think... Close enough!! I do a big double wave off..... slowly (at least in my mind!) to take up some time. And pull!!!!
My canopy opens just fine. I do my controlability check as I head towards the airport which I had already seen in free fall so I had no trouble finding. There is hardly any wind so I just head in the general area of the big landing area and float around up there. It is a gorgeous day and the view was breathtaking. You could see boats on the river and the green hills and the air was crisp and fresh and it was just such a "wonderful to be alive" feeling and I just reveled in it for a while. I knew I should be practicing canopy maneuvers but it was my first solo and I just wanted to lose myself in this wonderfully free feeling for a while. I just felt sorry for people who would never be able to experience this. To me... it's what life is all about!
I did notice that the S/L student's canopy was below mine and I worried a bit about the fact that I pulled a little higher than I said. I hope I hadn't messed them up at all. I get so nervous about doing something wrong, especially when it involves others. I know I need to learn to open lower like the "regular" skydivers do. I know it's important for safety reasons. Yet I like the idea of having a few more seconds if I need to deal with a malfunction. Why can't everyone just open higher??? Plus I really like my canopy rides now.
I've been circling around my landing area and did throw in a few attempted flat turns. My manta is so big and docile that all my turns seem pretty mellow. I start to plan my landing. I'm a little confused on how to do it because the runway (which I'm not suppose to cross below 1000 ft) is right next to the landing area and is on the side I want to be making my final approach from and with such light winds I need a long approach. I see the S/L student land right where I wanted to so I make a new plan a little past him. On the other side of the landing area is all trees so I try to stay away from them too. Then I notice the wind has shifted a bit and is now coming almost down the runway so that gives me a better angle to make my approach. I finally work my way down and come in for my landing and overshoot where I was planning on landing by quite a bit and end up in some tall grass. I slide in nice and easy and am actually quite pleased with myself. It was my first time landing without a radio, first time at a new DZ, first time not landing on sand, and after a first solo and I survived! Damn... an awful lot of beer if anyone finds out!!!! lol
Our daughter was starving so we decided to go across the street to this little stand that was closing for the season so everything was half price. The place was mobbed and it was so funny to sit there listening to all the whuffos as they watched all the parachutes come down while they ate. They say some of the funniest things. Thank God I'm not one any more!
After lunch we headed back to each do another jump. It turned out that they had stolen the pilot chute off the big boy for the manta that I had used so Boomer had to wait for someone to have time to switch it back over and pack it. The riggers were really busy because a lot of tandems and students had shown up. Jay found out we were waiting for it so he got them to put the pilot chute on and then gave Boomer a packing lesson while I watched. He had one of the master riggers check it out and finish it off and Boomer was ready to roll. Soon he was off on the plane.
I was watching when they exited the plane and mostly followed the 4 way as it was the easiest to see. I saw them separate and open up and I glanced a way for 1/2 second and looked back up to see my first cutaway. This one parachute was floating away by itself and this white reserve was now opened. Damn that was fast!!! I hadn't even seen anything wrong. It was a little unnerving. Can I react THAT quickly??? I tell myself, "You HAVE to and you CAN!" We see the cutaway canopy land past the edge of the airport behind the trees and find out as the jumpers come down that it ended up in the water. Luckily it turned out a boat out there saw it happen and went and picked it up.
Most of the jumpers are down except for Boomer and a tandem. I see he is headed for the small landing area again. He does a pretty good job but lands a little close to the pavement but luckily still on the grass. He kind of slid in again. We find out he did a poised exit again and again tumbled a bit. Again he basically just fell straight and worked on staying stable. I think he did a few PRCPs. He didn't see the actually malfunction and cutaway but he did see the canopy float away and into the river. We never did end up finding out what actually happened there.
My helmet was being used again and I signed up for the next load after it would be down. I had plenty of time to get ready and get checked out and I felt good. There was going to be a 4way and then me and then some tandems. I had told the 4 way I was opening at 4000 even though they were in front of me. Then in the plane I made sure the tandems knew even though they tell me no problem since they open high. Then I saw Glenn, a camera guy at the back of the plane and figured I better tell him, too, because if he was on the tandem right after me he would be falling past them and opening lower. He joked about waving at me as he fell past me! lol Then seriously said not to worry... there be no problem.
It was a nice ride up and everyone was chatting. The 4 way was a group of regulars from the DZ and they are all really nice. They saw me sitting on my knees and tried to get me to sit more comfortably. I told them I was afraid to sit all the way down with my legs out because I'd never get back up again with that manta on my back. They assured me they would help me. Then one of the girls who was sitting on the bench offered me her seat so I could be more comfortable but I told her that I was scared up there and liked the floor. That got a few laughs and looks. I'm sure they all, and all you reading this, think I'm totally nuts... and you are probably right!
We get on jump run and soon the 4 way are gone. Glenn counts out 5 seconds and then nods at me. I hestitate another second or so and then dive out. I think I've got it... I think I've got it... hmmmm suddenly I'm facing the other way and bouncing around a bit. Not sure exactly what happened but I stable out quicker. Now I'm thinking that since this is my second time on a solo that I should be more relaxed and that things will go much smoother. They are for 2 seconds and then I find myself slowly starting to turn left. I arch a little harder and find myself starting to spin quicker!!!! What the fuck???? I've never had unintentional spins before. How come now???
I remember one of the little quotes at the bottom of one of the pages of The Skydiver's Handbook. If you can start a turn, you can stop a turn. I lean my right shoulder down and it slows my left spin. I really shift my body to the right and the turn stops. I start to relax into a good arch and feel a slight turn to the left again! Damn! So I decide to just make a right turn. I look to the right and make a nice 360 right turn. I stop. Feel that left crap again so I lean my right shoulder down again. It feels weird but it keeps me from turning. (After I landed I noticed my water gear was way off to my left instead of in the center so I'm wondering if that could have had anything to do with my turning). I decide to do another half right turn. I see the airport in front of me so I just keep that heading. I still have to keep that funny position to keep from turning. I check out the view again. I love looking at that river. Maybe we should come back to this airport! I start buffetting again a bit. I've been staring at my altimeter and again it's crawling!! The ground is screaming up at me again and I try to just accept that feeling and not let it scare me. I make it to 4500 and feel relieved and wave off and pull by 4000. I had noticed in the plane that my altimeter was reading higher than everyone else so I figured I might even be a little lower than my altimeter said.
I enjoyed my canopy ride again. Both times I surprised myself by not really being nervous at all about landing without radio help. I just felt I could do it. The wind was still real light and variable. It ended up that I should land heading towards the runway. Because I hadn't wanted to be over the trees I ended up turning onto final too early and saw immediately I was going to end up out in the runway. I turned slowly towards my left and felt my mind being indecisive as to what to do. Luckily I came to my senses and yelled at myself and said make a decision and stick to it!! I landed in some grass off to the left of the sandy area. I think I flared about right but I didn't have my feet set to run with it like I needed to so I stumbled forward a bit and fell to my knees but was fine. Colleen comes running over and says, "Why didn't you land in the X I drew in the sand for you, Mom???" Truthfully... I hadn't even seen her, or Boomer or the truck... never mind her X!!!
Oh well. We went home tired, mostly happy but a little disappointed in our free falls and exits. So much to work on. So much to learn. I was exhausted and crawled into bed by 9:00. I slept dead to the world for 2 hours and then woke up and couldn't get back to sleep the rest of the night. I just kept skydiving in my head all night as I layed there getting more and more tired! I think I'm going to need sleeping pills to come down off my natural high!
************************************************************* I DECIDED TO ADD THIS NEXT PART ABOUT THE NEXT WEEKEND EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T JUMP BECAUSE I THINK I LEARNED SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT!