AFF Program - Stage 3/Jump 3 - 13,000ft

So I’ve decided to carry on with the AFF. One of the main reasons I’ve chosen to carry on is because of how pissed I am at myself for screwing up the chute pull on jump two. The plan for the day is to try and carry out jumps # 3 and 4.

My jump masters today are Bret Townley (look here http://www.youtube.com for an interesting video of a tight jump) and Doug (sorry I forgot your last name Doug.). Bret has more than 14,000 jumps and is also a corporate pilot. His motto is its more fun to jump from them [planes], then fly them. Both are accomplished skydivers and were great jump masters.

The goal for this jump is to practice turns. After the exit, and once we are stable, the reserve side JM (Doug) will let go. My job is to then turn 90 degrees and face him, then check altitude. Doug will then give the signal to turn 90 degree again, this time in the opposite direction with Doug staying directly in front of me. Time permitting Doug may give me the signal for another (bonus) turn.

Everything on this jump goes perfect (except the landing). I get all my turns in plus the bonus one. Best of all I had no issues pulling my chute. The landing was a bit rough. Jim (talking to me on the radio) had me flare a bit too early. This causes me to fall from the sky with about 6 feet left to go. When I land I immediately feel my ankle start to twist. Luckily I had studied the PLF and went right in to it. My ankle is a little sore, but it won’t keep me from jumping again.

In the end I passed my stage 3 and was cleared to go onto jump 4!

This means only one jump master, which then means the jumps are $40 cheaper!