[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by aigel

i am the only one wondering about being strapped to a guy's front side for that long? I would only go if I'd be strapped to a female instructor. She could be big and strong but definitely female please. I am not homophobic but do not enjoy being that close to a man unless it is a close friend. Females? I'll make an exception.

G

Then you would not jump tandem! A really important thing is that the instructor on a tandem is at least as big as you are and bigger helps. Finding a girl instructor that is bigger than most guys is going to be hard... if not impossible.

If you guys want to go further, its only a matter of $$. If you are going to do it right, try one or two tandems and if you still love it (which I really do) then do an AFF, or Acc Free Fall. If the instructors feel that you "can hack it" they put you in your very own rig and you jump with two instructors. Each holds onto the students harness as you three depart the plane.

They stay with you through-out the free-fall and when its time signal you to pull the drogue chute. You do so and when they see that you have a good main they let go. Should something happen they stay with you until you pull your reserve (or they pull it for you) and you are under a good chute.

Now you can also go the old fashioned route, with 10-15 "static line" jumps. You go out of the bird, the chute opens immediately and you float down. Fun but just not as much fun as the free fall. Just depends on how much $$ you want to spend and how fast you want to make it until you are signed off on your own.

The landing is easy, I have friends who had no legs who did it just fine. Its the free fall thats the rush...

Joe A
D-9114