Sunday, August 12, 2007

AFF Training Level 3- "Just Relax"


Jason's favorite advice was a little ovewhelming at times.

Dee and Jason were my instructors for my second jump of the day. I was very excited and confident after the last jump. After going over this jump a few times I became very nervous about getting this one perfect and staying relaxed.

We had a good exit. Once our normal checks were done I got very freaked out when they let me go and I began to spin to the left. I corrected with my arms, but went back into the left spin right after the correction. This process repeated itself once or twice. Dee told me later that I had my left leg bent back a little more than my right, causing the left spin.

I didn't check the alitimeter from the moment they let go of me until 6,000' when Jason shoved my alti in my face. At that point I realized what was going on and did a proper wave and pull at 5,500.

From the start I was too high in the landing pattern. I was so nervous about dropping too low that I entered about 200' higher than normal. I attempted S turns to lose some altitude. I think I did them too tight, because they didn't seem to help much.

Half way through the final approach I started to think I might overshoot the landing area and end up on the taxiway. I applied full brakes for a moment in another attempt to lose altitude. I did manage to lose altitude, but also slowed to a near stop while still quite high. When I attempted to flare my landing nothing happenned beacuse of the loss of speed.

This was an incredible landing. In order, I hit my feet, head, feet, then landed face down. Purely as a reaction I jumped up immediately after coming to a stop. I wish this one was on video. I left mud streaks all over the rig, jump suit, and helmet. OOOPS.

I was hurting after this landing and decided to call it a day after the debrief, which confirmed my failure of the level.

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