01/02/03: Being uncomfortable in a new city

warch · 01-09-2003, 10:16 AM

I think Hang gliding would be much cooler. You would, (I imagine) have the sensation of flight and control. This was not the case falling in a parachute- I had the sensation of being a sack of potatoes in a crotch harness. The rush was in the jump, having that plane door open and taking those steps.

More of the silly story: I did my jump in Hazelton, PA, a clear winter day, wearing ski gear under a the jumpsuit. They had a radio strapped to my chest to direct me to the dropzone. I had practiced on the ground, "toggles will drop and allow you to steer right and left..." What really happened is that as the chute opened I was too short to reach the toggles, so I was just floating away, arms flailing. I swore loudly, bit and spit out my gloves, then climbed one side of the chute ropes to get one toggle. (that made the other one pop up even further) So, I could go right. The voice on the radio instructed "Go left...left...left...your other left..." I had to go 180 right to head left. I landed miles away in corn stubble. I like to think the landing was spectacular, of course the only witnesses were farm animals.

01-09-2003, 10:16 AM	#12
warch lurkin old school Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,796	I think Hang gliding would be much cooler. You would, (I imagine) have the sensation of flight and control. This was not the case falling in a parachute- I had the sensation of being a sack of potatoes in a crotch harness. The rush was in the jump, having that plane door open and taking those steps. More of the silly story: I did my jump in Hazelton, PA, a clear winter day, wearing ski gear under a the jumpsuit. They had a radio strapped to my chest to direct me to the dropzone. I had practiced on the ground, "toggles will drop and allow you to steer right and left..." What really happened is that as the chute opened I was too short to reach the toggles, so I was just floating away, arms flailing. I swore loudly, bit and spit out my gloves, then climbed one side of the chute ropes to get one toggle. (that made the other one pop up even further) So, I could go right. The voice on the radio instructed "Go left...left...left...your other left..." I had to go 180 right to head left. I landed miles away in corn stubble. I like to think the landing was spectacular, of course the only witnesses were farm animals.

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