Sky Diving - Men Channel

Indoor Skydiving Presents Freefall Experience

2008-04-21T08:06:00.002-07:00

Those wanting to experience the effects of freefall while skydiving, but hold onto a fear of jumping from an airplane, can experience the sensation with indoor skydiving sessions. Typically lasting about three minutes, the customer can climb into a vertical windtunnel and find out what all the fuss is about without having to leave the security of a flying aircraft.

Many use indoor skydiving centers as a step in training for the real thing, learning how to maneuver during freefall and what to expect with the wind rushing at them. The only reality missing with indoor skydiving is the sudden change of direction they experience when they leave the aircraft and start falling towards the ground. Sport skydivers, clubs, groups and military practice can be accomplished in the vertical wind tunnels without the additional expense of all the equipment and the airplane rental.

While no parachutes are deployed, it is the freefall that gives most people their fear of the first jump and indoor skydiving can help prepare them mentally for the experience. In a tunnel of wind approximately 12-feet wide and about 12-feet high, learning the right horizontal position to slow the fall speed and how to become oriented with the ground can be learned without the fear of freezing during the fall and forgetting to deploy the parachute.

Learning Acrobatics Without Added Pressure

Many teams just learning to perform stunts in the air, such as joining hands and trading equipment during freefall can be done during indoor skydiving without the constant fear of forgetting to check the altimeter. Even with audible notification that it is time to open the canopy, some may overreact during the first few times of attempting to join a group in the air and if the chute is deployed without proper separation, disaster can result.

Others view indoor skydiving is a new sport and, while they may never consider actually jumping from a plane or a building, also known as base jumping, they enjoy the feeling they get inside a vertical wind tunnel. Most can create winds of 120 miles per hour, simulating the thrill of freefall.

While time in the tunnel may vary, typically lasting about three minutes, there is an instructional period lasting about 30 minutes and another 15 to 20 minutes to put on the protective clothing before the indoor skydiving fans are turned on, lifting the person into freefall flight, the closest they will probably get to soaring like a bird.

Research On Skydiving Adds To Sports’ Safety

2008-04-21T08:06:00.001-07:00

Since before parachuting became a public sport in the 1950s, research on skydiving had been done to determine the size of the canopy, the length of the cords and at what altitude a person could safely jump. Most jumpers agree that every time a person completes a successful jump, there is more to add to the research on skydiving, which can added to the diary of the current highest jump on record.

In 1960. taking part in a Air Force experiment ad jumper used a hot air balloon, riding in the gondola to a height of 102,800 feet in around 90 minutes. Wearing a pressure suit he jumped from the gondola, and completed the near 20-mile descent in just over four and a half minutes. The research on skydiving shows that with the thinner are at the higher altitude, he had reached speeds of up to 700 miles per hour during the descent. This record, held by Captain Joe Kittinger, still stands.

Some people seem to have a need to find out how much a body can endure when conducting research on skydiving, and there are numerous records set during their attempts to be the best in the sport. The number of parachute descents in a single day stand at 640 and the lifetime record number of jumps by one person stands at over 36,000. Still, research on skydiving continues to find better materials and evacuation equipment to help pilots coming under mechanical problems.

Better Equipment Results From Research

Some contend that research on skydiving supports a theory that a jump from outer space is possible, but critics point out that re-entering the atmosphere at orbital speed would cause a brief fireball, eliminating the person making the attempt. Still, there has been many improvements made to equipment as a result of all the research on skydiving.

The altimeter is the connecting force of a jumper with their height from the ground. Many mechanical units fail if they are turned upside down. New types are capable of accurate readings, regardless of the position in which they are read. Other innovations as a result of research on skydiving, is the shape of the parachute. Some shaped like wings, allow the jumper to achieve horizontal direction during their descent, as well as coming to a near stop prior to putting their feet on the ground. It is this type of research on skydiving that is making the sport more attractive to a wider range of people.

How Common Are Sky Diving Fatalities?

2007-11-18T06:05:00.001-08:00

All sports carry with them a certain amount of risk, but some sports are significantly more dangerous than others. The question is, are sky diving fatalities more common than fatalities in other sports?

Not all sports carry the risk of dying – after all, assuming fitness isn’t an issue, sports like tennis and snooker don’t carry any real risk at all. The sports concerned here are those which generally involve high speeds, such as motor racing, rally driving, and of course skydiving.

What Is The Cause Of Most Sky Diving Fatalities?

The equipment used in skydiving nowadays is state of the art and designed specifically to ensure that accidents are cut to an absolute minimum. All parachutes are checked and packed carefully before each use, and each skydiver has two parachutes – the main chute and a reserve in case the main one doesn’t work for any reason.

Many more sky diving fatalities have been prevented by the use of an automatic activation device or AAD, a gadget that opens the reserve parachute at exactly the right time and height above the ground, assuming you have not already opened the main canopy.

In short, the main cause of sky diving fatalities is pure and simple – human error. As you do more skydives you will gain more and more experience, but this does not necessarily mean you will know all there is to know about the sport.

Weather conditions, wind direction and any number of other factors can affect how you make your way back down to earth. Cross winds and similar issues can send you away from the drop zone you are aiming for, and taking alternative measures to bring yourself back to the drop zone can result in making an error of judgement.

Mid Air Collisions

Some sky diving fatalities are caused by mid air collisions occurring when more than one jumper from the same plane get too close to each other. This sometimes causes their parachutes to become tangled.

It is vitally important that you check your canopy and where other skydivers are in relation to yourself before making any attempt to turn or steer yourself in mid air. When you watch a video of skydivers it’s easy to forget they’re falling at over a hundred miles an hour.

It’s arguable that most sky diving fatalities could be prevented, as they are more commonly caused by humans than by any other factor. Skydiving is an exhilarating sport, but it should always be treated with the respect it deserves.

Our Sky Diving Team

2007-11-18T06:04:00.000-08:00

Thinking of a skydiving adventure? If so, you and your team have picked the right place. The most fun part of sky diving as a team is that it can be a way of gaining and learning more about skydiving. Whether or not you are competing, jumping with a team is great fun and a very rewarding experience you will never forget.

Team Diving

One obvious difference between normal skydiving with a team or by yourself and tandem parachuting is that with tandem style two people are attached together. One person is the passenger, and the other is the tandem-instructor. The passenger is simple along for the ride while the tandem-instructor has all the jump responsibilities. Beyond the obvious difference of two people skydiving together, the tandem method is a larger parachute that is used to accommodate the extra weight.

A major variable to keep in mind while skydiving with a team is the weather. The weather is a big factor and you have to keep an on it as it can suddenly change and you might have to reschedule. Therefore, you can never guarantee that anyone will definitely jump by a certain time with a certain person on the plane. If you have friends that are going to watch you, be sure and tell them they might be waiting a while. This activity is definitely a weather-controlled sport and you just never know when you may or may not jump at the scheduled time.

You are now on the plane, ready to sky dive with a team, and finally the pilot gives you the first warning. You are approaching the jump point. Your heart drops while you stomach does flip-flops as you instructor signals you to stand up and turn around. A few quick clicks and some tightening of straps another person is being strapped securely to your back. The pilot gives you the green light. You step to the edge of the door and look out and then look down. You freeze for a second and only a second because that is all the time you have to think as you as now flying in the air with the ground suddenly rushing up to meet you.

You are under the canopy for a few minutes and the view is unlike any you had experienced from any other location on earth. Wow! I can see my house from here!
You are just beginning to relax a little but then your partner pulls the ripcord. A few seconds later you feel as though you have been stopped in mid air and you do not remember those straps being that tight on the ground as you had you first flight as a team!

And then, with all the skills you learned from your instructor, you step back to earth as light as a feather, wanting to skydive with a team all over again.

Important Skydiving Information To Learn

2007-07-30T07:44:00.001-07:00

Before you go skydiving you need to know some important skydiving information. First off when decide you want to take skydiving lessons you need to consider your options and carefully consider the basic skydiving information so you can choose a facility that meets your needs. There is a lot of skydiving information that goes into choosing your location and skydiving school.

You should be familiar with any health conditions you have. Research skydiving information on the health requirements that exist at the skydiving school of your choice. Health regulations will often vary between the different skydiving facilities. Next you need to find skydiving information on the types of skydiving so you will be prepared to make the selection on which method you would like to try first and how far you would like to go with your training.

Know The Requirements

There are always medical fitness requirements in each country and even city so it is important that you know this skydiving information. They may not be very prohibitive, but you should know what they are. If you are in good health and physical condition then you likely won’t have any trouble. However, there are certain conditions that will require the approval of a doctor. You should always tell your instructor of any conditions you have since they may want to judge your performance while on medication. It is a good idea to wait a few days if you have been scuba diving recently or just gave blood. If you don’t know for sure then you should always contact your doctor or instructor and ask them before assuming you will be fine.

In addition you should look up skydiving information on any age requirements that your country, city or training school enforce. In the United States a minor under the age of sixteen will typically need a notarized consent from a parent or legal guardian. Those who are consenting for a minor are often required to observe any pre-jump instruction. Typically a skydiving school will require individuals to be at least eighteen before they can enroll in skydiving instruction.

You will also want to learn general skydiving information since many good teaching schools will require you to pass a written, oral and practical test before you can make your first jump. These tests are often given after ground training or a first jump course so you don’t have to worry too much, provided you pay attention you should know all the skydiving information you need to pass the tests. Knowing the basic skydiving information will also help to give you the confidence you need to attempt your first jump.

Choosing A Method Of Skydiving Lessons

2007-07-30T07:43:00.000-07:00

There are three options you can choose from when taking skydiving lessons. Which you decide to do will depend on how much time you have, how much you are willing to spend for instruction and how well you handle your nerves. For your first jump during skydiving lessons you can choose between tandem, static line and accelerated freefall or AFF. Each of these methods varies in how much skydiving lessons are involved. Some are just a quick experience in skydiving while others offer a full first jump course that starts you towards becoming a certified skydiver. You will want to consider the experience each of these methods has to offer and choose the one that appeals to you the most.

Tandem Skydiving

For the first jump many choose tandem for their skydiving lessons. This allows individuals to experience skydiving first-hand without having to deal with the stress of a more involved program. Many schools will offer two types of tandem skydiving lessons: either as a fun jump or as the first step to further skydiving lessons. For a fun jump you typically only go through thirty minutes of ground instruction while the other type will require a standard first jump course that can take up to four hours or more. With tandem skydiving you will jump while attached to the instructor and follow some basic instructions. If you don’t remember what to do the instructor can easily take over control of the jump.

Static Line Jumps

Over a period of thirty years, static jumping has changed from the original military use into an effective method of training sport parachuting. With this option your skydiving lessons will consist of four to five hours of ground training and then you will jump from about 3,000 feet. You follow a poised exit from the aircraft and a static line deploys your main canopy. You get about two to three seconds of falling experience before the parachute opens.

You will have about fifteen minutes of preparation before a second static line jump and then you will be trained to pull the ripcord by yourself after about two good jumps with the static line. Although you will still do three more static line jumps while pulling a dummy ripcord to show you are ready even though the static line is still deploying your parachute for you. Then you will be cleared for your first freefall jump.

Accelerated Freefall

This AFF program started in 1982 as accelerated skydiving lessons compared to the method of static training. This is the best option if you want a true taste of the modern sport of skydiving. You will often have about five hours of ground training because you will have to do a fifty second freefall on your own during the first jump. Then you will jump from about ten to twelve thousand feet while being assisted throughout the jump by two instructors. You then pull your own ripcord at about four thousand feet.

My First Skydive In Texas

2007-07-07T00:34:00.001-07:00

You want to skydive in Texas. You have never jumped out of a plane in your life and you are scared to death. But you want to feel the excitement that people are talking about these days. You do not have much money, so the traditional method of making you first jump is still the most economical.

Tandem skydiving in Texas is the jump most people make for their first skydive. It takes minimal instruction and allows you to make you initial skydive with an instructor who is attached to you. Tandem freefall lets you experience the thrill and beauty of skydiving with the security of an instructor right there with you, able to talk to you and point things out in free fall and after the parachute is open. Tandem jumping is truly a skydiving classroom in the sky! Because you are falling on a cushion of air, freefall is a buoyant feeling similar to floating on water, only much, much more thrilling!

Skydiving Training In Texas

Sky diving in Texas, first jump classes is regularly scheduled every weekend and holiday. To arrange for a first time jump, you have to call and set up an appointment for weekday flights. Because the staff is so highly skilled, we can teach you as fast as you can learn. You progress to the next level based upon your performance not on how many jumps.

Tandem freefall jumps and all returning student jumps can be scheduled for any day. Tandem and student jumps are scheduled every hour, or as little as two hours for the instruction and jump.

Summer weekend schedules fill up quickly, so it is recommended calling ahead and make a reservation for a scheduled flight, as you as you know you can confirm it. Weekend first-jump classes have scheduled times and you should arrive about thirty minutes early to sign in.

After the ground-school training, from skydiving in Texas, you will jump from 3,200 feet. Your parachute opens automatically. During the next five minutes, you will maneuver your very responsive parachute and you will enjoy the sights like you have never seen before!

Skydiving in Texas, training includes everything you need to know about how to seer yourself and land gently near or on the target. A ground coach is standing by with a radio. If you wish, you can take a video camera man along to film it all.

Skydiving in Texas, can be a world of fun and excitement for your first time flight.

When Not To Choose Tandem Sky Diving

2007-07-07T00:33:00.000-07:00

Often tandem sky diving will be your first jump if you have never done sky diving before. Tandem sky diving is where you are harnessed to an experienced skydiver who has complete control over the dive. You will have some simple instructions to do during the jump, but the instructor can take over if you forget something. Tandem sky diving is a very safe way to make your first skydive.

However, tandem sky diving isn’t for everyone. Skydiving has some health risks involved that you should consider in addition to the risk of jumping out of an airplane. In fact jumping out of a plane isn’t as bad as the health risks that are commonly associated with anxiety and high altitude that causes very lack of oxygen and low air pressure.

Health Conditions To Consider

Those with neurological problems should be checked by a doctor before doing tandem sky diving. This includes anyone who has had epilepsy, blackouts, a head injury or stroke. The tissues in your head can expand or contract due to the low air pressure which can increase the neurological damage. Although partially paralyzed individuals can do tandem sky diving with no problem.

Those with uncontrolled hypertension or high blood pressure should not do tandem sky diving. A hypertensive crisis can result from the anxiety, lack of oxygen and air pressure changes. If you are taking medication for your hypertension and you have it under control then you should check with your doctor before attempting a tandem sky diving.

Always check with your doctor before doing tandem sky diving if you have any kind of cardiovascular condition including heart problems or a history of stroke. You can have a heart attack as a result of the lack of oxygen at the high altitudes. In addition, those with chronic bronchitis, emphysema or asthma should check with their doctor before doing a tandem skydive. Those with pneumothorax or a collapsed lung should not skydive.

You need to have good musculoskeletal structure in order to land. You should tell your instructor if you have had previous fractures, back problems or arthritis. If you have ear or sinus problems you can do tandem sky diving but you should check with your doctor first and be prepared since it can be very painful.

Lastly you should avoid tandem sky diving if you are very anxious or tend to freak out when overly anxious. This would make the skydive unsafe for both yourself and the instructor. However, if you are in good health and physical shape then tandem sky diving can be both safe and fun. If you have any health conditions it is generally best to check with your doctor before you skydive to find out if there are any restrictions.

So What Is Skydiving Anyway?

2007-07-07T00:31:00.000-07:00

Skydiving, parachuting, base jumping… they are all extreme sports, but sometimes it can be hard for the lay person to tell the difference between them.

Asking “what is skydiving” is a fair question, because both skydivers and parachutists end up landing on the ground with the aid of a parachute after jumping from an aeroplane several thousand feet up in the sky.

So what makes skydiving different from parachuting?

The main difference is that with parachuting, your parachute opens as soon as you are clear of the aircraft. You then get to enjoy drifting back down to earth over the course of several minutes.

What is skydiving, on the other hand? Well, this is arguably a slightly more daring version of parachuting. You exit the aircraft and freefall without the aid of a parachute (either on your own or strapped to an instructor) for around sixty seconds or so before the parachute is eventually opened.

What Is Skydiving – More Dangerous Than Parachuting Or Not?

Arguably neither sport is more dangerous than the other. With proper safety measures in place there is no reason why you shouldn’t make hundreds of successful parachute jumps or skydiving jumps over the course of many years. Indeed many people do just this as a hobby or as part of a competition team.

What Is Skydiving – Expensive Or Not?

Many sports require a certain amount of investment, especially to begin with, as you will need to get the right equipment. In this case, once you’ve done your first jump with loaned gear from the skydiving center, you’ll want to buy your own jumpsuit, helmet and goggles if you are intending on skydiving on a regular basis.

Your initial training costs significantly more than subsequent jumps you make afterwards. This is because even if you decide to jump solo, you will still need instructors to jump with you to make sure everything goes smoothly.

What Is Skydiving Training Like?

Every reputable skydiving center will provide expert and hands on instruction for both tandem and solo jumps. The instructors are also well aware that skydiving – especially for the first time – is a very nerve-wracking experience. They will do all they can to put you at ease to enjoy the whole experience.

So what is skydiving? Well, it’s exciting, exhilarating, daring, nervy, demanding – and enormous fun. Many people struggle to go through with finding the courage for their first jump, but when they do they immediately want to do it again.

That’s skydiving in a nutshell.