Consol - Jumps 15 - 18 / 12,500ft

Jump #15 - So this is my first jump of the day, which I’m always most nervous about, and to top that off it will be my first jump on my own pack job.  Well sort of.  I did most of it, but had my instructor double checking every step along the way.  Additionally I got some help with stuffing it into the bag and the first few stows.

I’ve got approval from my instructors to pull at 3500 ft now, but for this one I’ll pull at 4000ft.  I jump out using a floating exist and get stable fairly quick, but still have a wobble when going out, whereas everyone else seems so fluid.  I pull off some 360’s, front flips and do some tracking.  I pull at 4000ft and have an uneventful ride down.  I have a stand-up landing on target.

Jump #16 - Second jump of the day and second one on my own pack job.  This time I get a little less double checking, but still need help getting it into the bag.  Man, what a tiring job it is to be packing a 210.  God bless the packers, they are worth every penny.

I jump out doing a floating exit again.  Same results again.  The wobble is nothing that I don’t feel comfortable with, but when I start jumping more with others I want this to be a bit smoother.  I do a few front-flips and barrel roles on this jump and pull again at 4000ft.  Another on target, standing up landing.

Jump #17 -  Third jump of the day and third on my own pack job.  This time it is all me.  They are just there in the room to help if I ask.  I get the chute into the bag this time, but it looks a bit messy.  I’m sweating like crazy and getting tired fast.

This time I talk with one of the guys about my exits and we do a little dirt diving before I load up.  I’m told what I should do is jump out and look back at that plane.  See the door and hold my arch.  What should happen next is I should swing around and be in a nice stable position.  I give it a try and it works great, it was pretty cool to look back on the others in the plane.  I do a bunch more front-flips and tracking.  Pull @ 4000ft and have a nice stand-up on target landing.  After the jump I review my Alti-Track and find that even with all the flips and tracking I was still able to get my avg. fall speed down to 122mph.

Jump #18 - Last jump of the day.  I’m exhausted from the packing so I pay a packer at the school to pack for me on this jump.  Another floating exit and what a blast to see the jumps still on the plane looking back at you.  I do a bunch more front and back flips along with barrel rolls and tracking.  I pull @ 4000ft and land within the circle, but off target from where I was aiming.

Can’t wait to get my license and start jumping with others.  I might even pay for a coach jump next time just to have some company.  So here is what is left on my Proficiency Card.

• Complete Hop-n-pop
• Complete 25 jumps

Blue Skies