Who has jumped out (skydived) of an airplane?

[pokerfan]

I have, twice. Solo static line jumps both times. Then I decided I was pushing my luck and stopped.

[Blue-Jay]

1. 72 jumps.

I stopped doing it several years ago, but I'd like to get started again

[barb162]

32. You're brave

That's all I gotta say.

[kay1864]

2. I have

Long time ago. It was fun.

"Pushing your luck"? IIRC it's safer than scuba diving.

[AllegroRondo]

3. only when the Army made me

static line, 5 times.

[pokerfan]

12. Re: only when the Army made me

A young man joined the Army and signed up with the paratroopers. He went though the standard training, completed the practice jumps from higher and higher structures, and finally went to take his first jump from an airplane. The next day, he called home to his father to tell him the news.

"So, did you jump?" the father asked.

"Well, let me tell you what happened. We got up in the plane, and the sergeant opened up the door and asked for volunteers. About a dozen men got up and just walked out of the plane!"

"Is that when you jumped?" asked the father.

"Um, not yet. Then the sergeant started to grab the other men one at a time and throw them out the door."

"Did you jump then?" asked the father.

"I'm getting to that. Everyone else had jumped, and I was the last man left on the plane. I told the sergeant that I was too scared to jump. He told be to get off the plane or he'd kick my butt."

"So, did you jump?"

"Not then. He tried to push me out of the plane, but I grabbed onto the door and refused to go. Finally he called over the Jump Master. The Jump Master is this great big guy, about six-foot five, and 250 pounds. He said to me, `Boy, are you gonna jump or not?' I said, `No, sir. I'm too scared.' So the Jump Master pulled down his zipper and took his penis out. I swear, it was about ten inches long and as big around as a baseball bat! He said, `Boy, either you jump out that door, or I'm sticking this little baby up your ass.'"

"So, did you jump?" asked the father.

"Well, a little, at first."

[LostinVA]

4. Swimboy just did

[RebelOne]

5. I have 6 times. Then, like you I decided

not to push my luck any further and quit. My first jump went perfectly. I came down square in the middle of the drop zone. But every jump after that something would go wrong. The risers would wrap around my neck or I would be dragged by the chute when I hit the ground. And on my final jump, I got lost and couldn't find the drop zone and landed several miles away from it.

[pokerfan]

11. The risers wrapped around your neck?!

He was just a rookie trooper and he surely shook with fright.
He checked off his equipment and made sure his pack was tight.
He had to sit and listen to those awful engines roar.
You ain't gonna jump no more.

Chorus:
Gory, gory, what a hell of way to die.
Gory, gory, what a hell of way to die.
Gory, gory, what a hell of way to die.
He ain't gonna jump no more.

"Is everybody happy?" cried the sergeant looking up.
Our hero feebly answered, "Yes", and then they stood him up.
He jumped into the icy blast, his static line unhooked.
And he ain't gonna jump no more.

He counted long, he counted loud, he waited for the shock.
He felt the wind, he felt the cold, he felt the awful drop.
The silk from his reserve spilled out and wrapped around his legs.
And he ain't gonna jump no more.

The risers swung around his neck, connectors cracked his dome.
Suspension lines were tied in knots around his skinny bones.
The canopy became his shroud, he hurtled to the ground.
And he ain't gonna jump no more.

The days he lived and loved and laughed kept running through his mind.
He thought about the girl back home, the one he left behind.
He thought about the medicos and wondered what they'd find.
And he ain't gonna jump no more.

The ambulance was on the spot, the jeeps were running wild.
The medics jumped and screamed with glee, rolled up their sleeves and smiled.
For it had been a week or more since last a 'chute had failed.
And he ain't gonna jump no more.

He hit the ground, the sound was "Splat," his blood went spurting high.
His comrades they were heard to say, "A helluva way to die."
He lay there rolling 'round in the welter of his gore.
And he ain't gonna jump no more.

There was blood upon the risers, there were brains upon the 'chute.
Intestines were a-dangling from his paratrooper suit.
He was a mess, they picked him up and poured him from his boots.
And he ain't gonna jump no more.

http://www.west-point.org/greimanj/west_point/songs/bloodontherisers.htm

[RebelOne]

13. Believe me they did.

After the chute opened, I got twisted around and risers wrapped around my neck. I was fortunate to get free, though, but I had marks on my neck for a couple of weeks. Kinda like rope burns.

[Doubtful Optimist]

6. I've got 34 jumps.

I've been jumping since last August.

The most fun was my 29th jump: jumping the jet in Perris.

:D

[Blue-Jay]

10. Isn't the jet a hoot?

It's weird when you get caught in the wash for a few seconds, and it's like you're floating completely still.

I jumped the jet in Quincy at the World Freefall Convention about 8 years ago or so.

[Doubtful Optimist]

18. It was really amazing.

The WHOOOOOOSH!!!! as you jump out is really, really cool.

I was 3rd out, so I stabilized and flipped over and watched as everyone piled out the ass end of the jet.

I had that first-jump shit-eating-grin on my face for a couple of days after the jet. I can't wait to do it again.

[Connonym]

7. Once just to say I did it

but I occasionally think that I should do it again because the first time I was so nervous I don't think I fully appreciated the float down. Although there's no guarantee I wouldn't be just as nervous a second time because my ass is scared of heights.

[pokerfan]

9. I did it in college just to say I did it

I didn't have a lot of expendable money but there was a club that offered a class and two jumps pretty cheap.

I didn't mind the float at all because I felt supported but letting go of that Cessna for the first time was a rush. Fortunately, I wasn't first; one of my friends was. We got into position, the pilot dialed back the power, Kevin crawled out under the wing and got into position. When the jumpmaster said jump, Kevin just shook his head. After a couple of more balks we were no longer over the DZ so he had to come in and we went around again. The second time he went. It was like one minute he was there, next time he was just gone. I didn't have any problem when it my turn but I'm still glad I wasn't first.

[swimboy]

8. lostinva does not lie

Hyped but too cloudy

Next day: Coming in for a landing

Adrenalin-enriched victory walk

[Doubtful Optimist]

20. Very cool. Here's me on my first jump, my AFF-1.

Yes, I went straight to AFF without a tandem jump. Yes, I'm crazy.

[BrotherBuzz]

14. Not me! but I rode in the co-pilot seat and watched....

a dude toss his parachute out the plane, then jumped out and started chasing after it. The film crew followed him.

After the jumpers departed, we did a wing-over and pointed to earth for a spectacular and incredibly fast descent back to the airstrip. We were on the hard before the jumpers landed; the dude caught up with his chute.

[Doubtful Optimist]

21. I've seen that film.

That guy's freaking nuts.

[BrotherBuzz]

25. Cool! I never saw the film but I made the nose cone

the chute rode in. Where did you see the film? Is is viewable online?

[Doubtful Optimist]

27. It may or may not have been him.

Was he dressed in a long sleeve white shirt?

Anyway, someone at my home DZ brought a bunch of DVDs one weekend. Since jumping there usually starts with arriving Friday night and staying until Sunday, we watched a bunch of skydiving movies on Friday night.

One of them included guys pushing pre-made livingroom sets out the back of a C-130 cargo plane, along with a couple of different cars and jumping either seated on the couch or in the car.

Some of the freeflying was just incredible. To see what you can actually do while falling well over 100 mph is exciting.

I'm in the process of putting together a rig and have done some coached tunnel time learning to freefly, but it'll be a couple of months before I finally have my own and can jump with a coach.

[BrotherBuzz]

33. I have a pea brain and don't remember what he wore but I do know he was Japanese and...

he was being filmed for a Japanese reality 'believe it or not' type TV show. I hope to see the footage someday.

Your experience sounds very similar to what happens at the local club, including the DVD's and film. The owner is something of a legend as he does a lot of Hollywood film stunts, including all the James Bond work, and draws a lot of cool people to perform stunts for odd projects. One season there were a lot of 30,000 foot jumps that took a lot of preparation and cost a ton of money but I can't remember what they were trying to accomplish (again, I'm stuck with a pea brain).

The only other project I got involved with was building the wooden framework for a replica Leonardo da Vinci parachute. I didn't get to fly with that one because it had to be lashed and launched from the bottom of a leased plane located at another airport.

Tunnel freefly sounds cool (and comparatively safe). I do believe Tunnel freefly would be as close to jumping as I would ever choose.

[Scooter24]

22. My god...

Dude has some balls. lol

I'd have blacked out just watching that let alone make it through the nose dive.

[BrotherBuzz]

30. I was too jazzed to blackout

Just after we did the wing-over the pilot calmly pointed out the front windshield to show where the skydivers were. I was so disoriented I didn't initially understand they were below us, but I soon figured it out as we passed them and raced toward the ground (the damn pilot smiled because he purposely didn't explain the maneuver beforehand for his own amusement). The approach to the airstrip was crazy, too. We did another wing-over (or roll?) as we crossed the landing strip (we approached from the west to a north - south oriented strip). This time I understood where down was, but the place where we would soon be landing (down) was straight out his side window. Cool! This was my first flight in a small airplane, and it was definitely an 'E' ticket ride!

[Xithras]

15. Me, once.

I just didn't get into it. I'm happy in a kayak, or climbing a mountain, or hiking through the forest for my kicks. I just didn't get the appeal of skydiving. I mean, the views are pretty, but I can see pretty views from the top of a mountain. I don't think I even got an adrenaline rush during the brief free-fall.

[MsKandice01]

16. Once...tandem at 14,000 feet...

That free fall was awesome. The parachute ride down wasn't so great though because the harness was cutting off the circulation in my legs. I still plan on doing it again though.

[sarge43]

17. My husband has 346 sport jumps.

The only time he was hurt was when a freak wind gust caught him about 10 feet from the ground. He landed improperly and dislocated his shoulder. So if his stats mean anything, it's a fairly safe sport.

[greatauntoftriplets]

19. Not me, I am terrified of heights.

My :loveya: served with the 82nd Airborne and jumped into combat in Vietnam during the late 1960s. Once he got discharged, he swore never to make another jump. And didn't.

But he did introduce me to the following ditty. A song the 82nd sang while training.

He was just a rookie trooper and he surely shook with fright
He checked off his equipment and made sure his pack was tight;
He had to sit and listen to those awful engines roar,
"You ain't gonna jump no more!"
Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,
Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,
Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,
He ain't gonna jump no more!

"Is everybody happy?" cried the Sergeant looking up,
Our Hero feebly answered "Yes," and then they stood him up;
He jumped into the icy blast, his static line unhooked,
And he ain't gonna jump no more.
Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,
Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,
Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,
He ain't gonna jump no more!

He counted long, he counted loud, he waited for the shock,
He felt the winds, he felt the clouds, he felt the awful drop,
He yanked the chord, the silk spilled out and wrapped around his legs,
And he ain't gonna jump no more.
Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,
Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,
Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,
He ain't gonna jump no more!

The risers wrapped around his neck, connectors cracked his dome,
Suspension lines were tied in knots around his skinny bones;
The canopy became his shroud; he hurtled to the ground.
And he ain't gonna jump no more.
Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,
Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,
Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,
He ain't gonna jump no more!

The days he'd lived and loved and laughed kept running through his mind,
He thought about the girl back home, the one he'd left behind;
He thought about the medicals and wondered what they'd find,
And he ain't gonna jump no more.
Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,
Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,
Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,
He ain't gonna jump no more!

The ambulance was on the spot, the jeeps were running wild,
The medics jumped and screamed with glee, rolled up their sleeves and smiled,
For it had been a week or more since last a 'chute had failed,
And he ain't gonna jump no more.
Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,
Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,
Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,
He ain't gonna jump no more!

He hit the ground, the sound was "Splat!," his blood went spurting high,
His comrades then were heard to say: "A hell of a way to die!"
He lay there rolling round in the welter of his gore,
And he ain't gonna jump no more.
Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,
Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,
Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,
He ain't gonna jump no more!

(slowly, solemnly)

There was blood upon the risers, there were brains upon the chute,
Intestines were a'dangling from his Paratrooper suit,
They picked him up, and poured him from his boots,
And he ain't gonna jump no more
Gory, gory, what a hell of way to die,
Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,
Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die,
He ain't gonna jump no more!

Edited to add paragraph breaks in the song.

[Scooter24]

23. Not me...

I'm scared of heights. I even get a bit nervous on planes even though I log over 50,000+ miles a year.

Maybe one day I'll do it, like around 40, when I'm over the hill... :hide:

[Doubtful Optimist]

24. No need to hide from me.

I started jumping last year when I was 42.

I can see doing this for the next decade or two. Longer if I'm able.

It really is a full body workout. Remember that your manipulating your body to aerodynamically fly at 125 miles per hour or faster.

After jumping a full day, I can guarantee you that the next day you'll be sore as hell.

[salin]

26. In honor of my 33rd birthday

after the jump I learned that a 'visiting scholar' that I worked with, was paralyzed because of a skydiving jump, and I decided that while I loved the experience (and treasure the memory) that I didn't want to test fate. Glad I did the jump - but won't do it again.

[Doubtful Optimist]

28. There are a lot of people who jump for their birthday.

It's always fun to talk with the people who are doing their first jump on the way to altitude.

Sometimes they're white they're so scared. Other times, they're having a blast (at least externally) and are joking it up with you.

[salin]

29. I was both.

The two friends I jumped with were disappointed - they were looking for a great adrenline rush. I had no expectations. We jumped (Modesto area) from 15,000 with about 5,000 free fall and 10,000 with the chute. I didn't much care for the free fall (bugs in the teeth thing) - but found the 10,000 with the chute the most amazing thing I have ever experienced. Silent - beautiful - soaring - pull a cord on one side and bank... it was phenomenal. I LOVED it. I enjoyed it so much that even my cautious self was looking at the costs of doing enough jumps to go solo (I was in grad school and living in the bay area so had almost 0 money beyond subsistence). Then I learned that a friend/colleague was crippled as a result of a bad jump - and my cautious nature dove back in. Just don't have that courage. But can certainly understand why folks do a lot of jumps. It was one of the most peaceful and gratifying experiences of my life.

[cloudbase]

31. I own a bailout 'chute,

but I sure as hell hope I never have to use it.

[Shine]

34. Tandem skydive for my 40th b'day, check it out:

Wheeeeee!!!!!! I'm the one with the big shit-eatin' grin on my face! :bounce: 18,000 ft jump. 90 seconds of freefall, at 120mph. Yeah, baby!! Rock on.