| re: .0
Where are you located? There's an airport in Orange, MA that
has a program which I and a few of my not-wrapped-too-tightly
friends are planning to take this summer. In all honesty, I'm
not all that psyched to jump out of a plane (hell, I don't even
get a kick from jumping out of bed in the morning), but that
stuff about floating through the air. . .awesome, rad, way
cool, etc.
Actually, what I really want to do is free-fall, but as I understand
it, one has to log a number of static line jumps (read: $ + $ + $)
before qualifying. Mike - is parasailing skydiving with one of
those rectangular chutes? That's ultimately what I'm aiming for -
like free-fall from 12K ft. then pop open a parasail (?) at about
3K, ride the drafts for a half hour or so, then work the control
lines and touch down light as a feather. . . oh yas!
Steve
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| There hasn't been any skydiving going on at Orange for about 6 years
now. Teaching methods have changed a bit in the past 5 years, you
now have a few different options depending upon where you go. The
options (depending upon where you go) are static line jump, tandem
jump, and Accelerated Free-Fall. In a static line jump your parachute
is deployed automatically as soon as you clear the airplane. For
a tandem jump you are wearing a harness that is attached to the
harness of an experienced skydiver and you skydive as a single person.
In AFF you leave the airplane with two experienced skydivers from
aroun 12000 feet, perform a few simple maneuvers, and then deploy
the parachute. Most drop zones use large rectangular canopies for
students these day, with automatic devices on the reserves should
you end up descending too quickly at too low an altitude.
Here's a list of New England DZ's, I don't know which programs are
offered by the various ones, so it is probably best to call for
information before deciding which one to try.
Connecticut Parachutists, Inc., Box 507, Ellington, CT 06029 203-871-0021
Jenn-Air Inc.-Pepperell SPC, Nashua Rd, Rt 111 E. Pepperell, MA 01437
508-433-9948
Massachusetts Sport Parachute Club, PO Box 122, Turners Falls, MA 01376
413-863-8362
New England Skydivers, Northampton Airport, Nothampton MA, 413-586-1889
Skydive Lebanon, Upper Guinea Road, RFD #1, Box 1255 Lebanon ME 04027
207-339-8863
Stardusters PC, PO Box 95, Rt 169 S. Woodstock CT 06267 203-928-4652
Rich (665 jumps)
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