A DIFFERENT KIND OF FLYING
As a pilot I always look forward to different types of flying, so when Shaun said he wanted to take me skydiving for my 50th birthday......I jumped at the chance. My birthday isn't actually until September but Shaun was between classes in Hawaii and came home for a week, so on Saturday August 27th. Sue, Shaun, Ashley and I drove to Cullman, Alabama to spend the day at Skydive Alabama. What a great group! The tandem instructors are top notch. The aircraft is a King Air 90 that hauls 13 jumpers.
As you could guess, safety is a big concern, as well as making sure the newbie's feel comfortable and telling us what to expect.
But still.......nothing can prepare you for the adrenaline rush you feel when you stand on the edge of the open door looking at the ground 14,000' below you while the air rushes by at 130mph. Before you know it your out the door. ( I think the instructors know not to let us stand there to long or we might have second thoughts ).
I thought I knew what " wind in the face flying " was, from my experience flying open ultralights, but nothing compares with hurling toward the ground at over 120mph from over 2 miles high, while you think your cheeks are going to peel off your face! Actually once the initial fear is over and the adrenaline kicks in, the freefall is like nothing you have ever felt. I can now see how someone could get addicted to it. After a long 65 seconds of freefall, we got to feel what its like to go from 120+mph to 10mph in under 3 seconds.
Once under canopy, the ride is more relaxed. You get a chance to see the sights, find the airport landing zone, try to return your face to normal, and tell your instructor how awesome the ride was. This part lasts about 4 minutes before the ground reaches up to you.
Well......everyone survived. Everyone had a great time. And everyone will do it again (some of us are even thinking about lessons). A special thanks to everyone at Skydive Alabama. Jason and Jamie (the tandem instructors) are the best! WE WILL BE BACK!
