Consol - Jumps 24 - 26 / 12,500ft

So it’s Friday and a week since my last jumps.  The plan was for me to jump again Father’s day weekend and get my A License then, but the thought of only being two jumps away is killing me.  Being I’m none to productive at work I decide to skip out early and head to the DZ.  I’m about an hour and half from the DZ so I figure I easily have enough time to get in at least two jumps.

Jump #24 - First jump of the day.  I’m no longer that nervous but for some reason I feel really wobbly this entire jump.  I’m not sure if it is the smaller chute (180), but it is the same container so I doubt that.  No the less, I still do my usual (flips, rolls, 360’s, and tracking).  I pull @ 4000ft.  seeing as I’m on a new smaller chute I decide to play with it a bit.  It definitely is a ton more responsive.  So I’m coming in on my final and find that the winds have shifted and will have some fun with a downwind landing.  You’ve got to love Perris and the variable wind directions.  I’m literally thinking great, this is my first jump on a smaller canopy and I’m coming in for a downwind landing.  Thankfully at the last moment the winds shift again and I’m able to have a nice gentle landing, although I’m off target having been pushed further along by the winds at my back.

Jump #25 / The big “25″ - So I’m nervous for the big 25, but only because I will be jumping out of the Porter, and I’ll be the first one out.  Up until now all my jumps have been from the Otter.   For some reason I’m always nervous when having to do something for the first time.  Even if it is as simple as manning the door.  I’m probably just worried about screwing something up.  Luckily there are experienced up jumps on the load and they lend a hand as usual.

I dive out of the porter and have decided to work some more on my tracking.  I track east and west and does it feel great.  My tracks are real stable now.  I pull @ 3500ft and have a stand-up landing, although I’m a little short of the target.  I just need to get used to the decent rate of the 180.

Jump #26 - I wanted to get in one more jump prior to taking the oral quiz for the A license.  This will be another jump from the porter.  No worries this time though.  Same as usual.  I pull @ 3500ft and have a stand-up, on target landing.  I’m really liking this new chute.  will most likely be on it for about 25 jumps before I can think about going smaller.

A License - So I past the test with no issues.  James gave me about 25 questions.  As expected I bought plenty of booze and got chucked into the pool.  Unfortunately the guy who threw me in “Barrel” also got pushed in as well.

So on to the next challenges.  B-License and sit-flying.

Blue Skies