Is jumping out from an airplane 4,3 km (appr. 13.000 ft) above the ground the most scary thing one can do? For me, doing it the first time, it for sure was!
Special warm and utterly grateful thanks to my true guardian angels Mari and Vaike, who both followed me down through the clouds, during the one minute part of the free falling. The girls are just fantastic instructors and very special personalities as well! THANKS LADIES!
1) LEAVING THE PLANE
It is of course insane to jump out from a flying airplane. The craziest thing you can do. If you have any self-protection instinct at all (which you must have, if you still are alive...), then you will be very much afraid of jumping.
Note that jumping is your own decision. Nobody will throw you out. You must dare yourself - that is what makes it such a great thing. When the plane door is opened, be careful so you do not fall out. That might be dangerous! Ha! ; )
2) THE FREE FALL
The speed in the free fall is some 200 km/h (50 m/s). During the dive you should check your altitude on the wristwatch altimeter every 5 seconds, which translates to every 250 m of fall. You are going fast! Keep the classical skydiving position, otherwise you´ll turn upside down, which is not at all good, since the parachute is on your back.
At 1,6 km (one mile) altitude you start the opening procedure of the parachute by pulling a knob at the bottom of your backpack. It is actually unusually hard to reach (being in panic!), which adds to the excitement. Hiding the tiny launch knob somewhere behind you and virtually out of reach is a fantastic design feature... ; ) During the free fall, you can see me doing knob pulling rehearsals a few times.
Until the opening of the parachute the noise in the free fall is very loud. Shouting is impossible, so you communicate with hand signs and touching, if needed - and if somebody is near. You can see me correcting the goggles and helmet several times. The force of the wind is very strong. Violent, I would say. Tight straps are essential.
3: SAILING DOWN
Having opened the parachute and experienced the very sudden stop in mid air, and having checked that you really have a properly flying parachute, which is not always the case, you start your slow and peaceful glide, hopefully towards the landing spot. I was kind of surprised and almost disappointed having a beautifully flying parachute, since I was prepared for all kinds of challenges that might occur at this stage of the jump...
When the parachute is flying, it is very calm and almost silent. I have no idea how long this takes, maybe 10 minutes? Even almost acrobatic steering is easy and your have plenty of time to enjoy the superb view.
The planet is so beautiful, that I fell in love with it again. Too few people realize what a fantastic habitat we have been blessed with. Just look at the clouds, forest and lakes. Let´s take good care of it.
4: THE LANDING
Stalling the parachute at the right moment only 2 -- 3 meters above ground, which is maybe 1 second before you hit the dust, is vital. Otherwise you will experience a rough and painful landing and maybe other complications.
Now I found a hobby I really enjoy. Nothing compares to the adrenalin rush you get when leaving the airplane. It is not possible to describe it, you must experience it yourself. There are many emotions, at least fear, pain, beauty, action, uncertainty, self-confidence, urgency, peace and much more - all rapidly one after the other, and all are extremes.
After this I wonder, what could be more exciting? Tell me! Hooked, I am.
This is real flying. Somebody said that if sitting in an airplane is flying, then sitting in a rowing boat is swimming.
This jump is a part of the Hämeen Laskuvarjourheilijat NOVA (Nopeutettu Vapaa Pudotus = Accelerated Free Fall / AFF) training, held in Räyskälä in July 2010. The first part is only about how to stay alive. Tricks come later.
BTW I am not that FAT! I am just using a life jacket under the jumpsuit, since there are plenty of lakes around that airfield. Nobody wants to swim with or under a collapsed parachute and entangled in a hundred meters of snares... ; )
And finally: special thanks to my dentist Dr. Tuula Bäckman, who prescribed skydiving as a cure to everything. Okay, she´s a skydiver herself...
I hope you enjoyed the video.
Rainer
And now, lets roll...and hey, lets be careful out there!
12.8.2010 22:30: During my jump on the video Mari lost her helmet mounted camera (visible on the video) when hitting the airplane door. The camera was never found 4,3 km beneath in the forest/lakes, but I guess the shot it recorded must be phenomenal. Sorry it is not included here.
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laskuvarjohyppyby bfmikko2,345 views
so the world is round
tms148 6 months ago
Bra Rainer :)
MrJerloy12 11 months ago
what is the song playing called? =D
bunnyboilerboi24 11 months ago