Has anyone done a parachute jump?

I havn't, but my OH has and he loved it!

I have done a tandem jump which was fun and scary. It was relatively easy to do, I wasn't scared until actually up in the plane sitting by an open door, at which point it seemed completely crazy to be thinking of jumping out, but by that stage you are strapped to your parachuter, so you just go with it! The first few seconds of free fall I found exhilerating and scary, it felt almost hard to breathe because the air is rushing past you so quickly. Once the parachute opened it was fabulous, just floating down slowly, and twisting and turning through the air. Landing was fine, just have to lift your legs up while the instructor lands.

Having done it once I enjoyed it but have no interest in doing it again! I also don't think that a solo jump would be for me, but I know others who have done them and been completely hooked!

What about absailing down a building or over a bridge, if parachuting doesn't appeal?

Red

I've done a tandem skydive too- it was fab! Sadly I already have too many expensive/time consuming hobbies, so couldn't follow up on the experience again, but if the opportunity arose, I'd do it again.

As RedB said, it doesn't really sink in what you're doing until you're at the door of the plane and it's too late anyway. ? The freefall is a similar feeling all over your body to sticking you hand out the car window on a motorway- like a big air cushion, it doesn't really feel like you're falling all that fast. The parachuting bit is so peaceful (after the initial lurch when it opens, Mr FigJam wasn't so keen on that bit, but I have to say I found it quite reassuring!), and I even had a shot of making some turns and spirals. ?

I'd reccomend it, there was even an 86 year old lady doing it the same day we did- she'd never been on a plane before! ?

Thanks for your replies. Has anyone done it and HATED it?

Since I started to think about this yesterday, Chris Evans was talking about doing it on R2 last night, and then on the Airport update programme, the Royal Suite manager did a jump...so it seemed like everyone was saying how great it is.

I've done one and loved it too (sorry, I know you're trying to find people who didn't). But I did a solo jump, not a tandem one. IIRC then a solo jump is done from 2000 feet and you technically never do free fall - the parachute is attached to the plane and opens automatically. Tandem jumps are done from 10,000 feet and you do free fall. The training needed before a tandem jump is minimal (as there is someone there to do the work). The training for a solo jump takes a day. You also need much calmer weather to do a solo jump (because of the type of parachute).

As a one off, a tandem jump is the best bet. If you want to take up a hobby, then go for a solo jump.

I've done 2 tandem jumps. The first one I did was about 12 years ago and it was the first time I had ever been in a plane ? it was absolutely amazing, the guy I was strapped to looked like an ex of mine so didnt feel very safe ha ha. The initial out of the plane doesn't feel like you are falling just that your head is stuck out of a car window on the motorway, when the parachute opens its so peaceful. I felt like Mary Poppins and was convinced that the clouds tasted of bananas.

The second one I did was 2 years ago with the Red Devils and it was amazing

https://reddevilsonline.com/

go for it

Thanks. I emailed the Red Devils this morning and they've just replied saying that there is some availability near me in September.

?

Yes, me.

I broke both my legs and ended up in plaster from my groin to my toes for 3 months. Long story. Much pain.

Not what you wanted to hear I'd imagine!

OUCH. I DO want to hear stories like this so that I can make an informed decision, rather than just be swayed by people saying 'go on, do it!'

What went wrong?

Flip Peaches - how on earth did you manage to do that?

KJB - it sounds like a great idea - Chris Evans did make it sound like a lot of fun didn't he? The only other hideously scary thing you could try would be a bungee jump - that's something I'd never do!

I hated it. I was utterly petrified and shaking from head to toe (not the little shakes one might get public speaking but great big ones). You know, with tandem jumps you actually start off above the clouds- it feels like being as high as you are in a normal plane, iyswim. I hadn't anticipated this and it really threw me. I couldn't wait for it to be over.

Long story short ...

Had a call to say ex had died.

Got migraine from crying.

Took Dad's strong heart painkillers for head.

They told me to jump too late.

I passed out.

Landed in ploughed field instead of long-grassed field.

Legs went crunch.

Painkillers worked on legs too, so they helped me walk about a mile to the car (as they thought I was ok).

Dad stopped off at a pub on the way home instead of taking me to hospital.

Which caused a blood clot.

And the painkillers wore off.

Probably the worst of it all was (apart from ex dying, obviously) was my Dad rang the local newspaper and they came and did a story on me. Ended up as full front page of the local rag. Never lived it down. ?

Best thing was the headline said 'pretty 21 year old ..... ' ?

PEACHES!! Oh my goodness. Talk about a load of circumstances coming together! I'm guessing you haven't been near a parachute since eh? [wink]

No, but I did 2 bungee jumps!

Parachute jump, bungee jumps, years of Lau Gar Kung Fu and numerous other dare-devil activities in my youth resulted in me having to have spinal fusion 8 years ago!

Live and learn!

I did a tandem jump in NZ, from 15,000 feet which meant a minute of freefall ? followed by about 7-8 minutes parachute fall. I loved it, with two exceptions:

On the way down one of my eardrums suffered very badly which caused great pain during the freefall part, then a weird whistling noise for the next week or so whenever I blew my nose or tried to equalise ? However this they said was because I hadn't been equalising properly on the way up - swallowing lots etc.

The guy I was strapped to did lots of spirals during the parachute part (to speed up the descent) which was really cool, but did leave me with grazes on the inside of my thighs ? where the straps hadn't been quite tight enough so I sort of slid outwards with the momentum.

BUT even saying that, I'd do it again at the drop of a hat. ?

Tandem skydiving is fricking fabulous. I loved every second of mine. Freefalling at 120mph, there is no feeling like it ?

I wouldn't be brave enough to jump on my own though, partly due to the reason Peaches mentioned (aww poor Peaches ?). I've also done a few bungee jumps but I really wouldn't want to do that again. It hurts my head too much.

Go for it KJB, its a wonderful experience and once the parachute has opened it so serene and gentle.

I haven't done it, but would love to.

I have done a bungee for a deaf childrens charity. Oh. My. God. Never, ever again! I cried all the way up & all the way down. I refused to jump as I was so scared and the bloody instructor pushed me. Was the most awful thing ever.

Peaches - that does sound quite horrible. However, accidents are very rare. The last accident at the airfield I did mine at was 5 years before I did my jump - and that was a twisted ankle. I was quite worried about the landing but I didn't get a bruise.

Just be careful not to land on any miltary bands!

LOL - I saw this this morning.

I did an AFF course in Ampuriabrava back in 1996. In total I did about 50 or so jumps progressing from being held by two instructors whilst in free fall to solo jumps after I think 10 accompanied ones. At the time I loved it, absolutely adored it but since then I have got the fear and don't think I could do it again.

When we were learning a girl had a canopy failure and due to a hard housing couldn't deploy the reserve properly. We all saw her spiralling down with a half opened canopy above her and was convinced she was dead when she hit the ground. By some form of miracle, she had already passed out with fear before she hit the ground and this enabled her to survive, apparently due to non bracing. The following morning she was back at the DZ and ready to go again. I think this in part has contributed to my fear!