In this installment of our skydiving guide we look tandem jumping.
One of the most common ways to start within skydiving is tandem jumping, which involves you and an instructor exiting the plane and descending together.
The instructor has complete control of the jump, including the free fall, canopy release and landing. He or she steers the two attached jumpers both horizontally and vertically; the novice can simply relax and enjoy the jump.
Tandem jumping allows a novice to be initiated into skydiving with a minimum of training, risk, and anxiety. Many beginners use this as a stepping stone to static line or accelerated freefall skydiving, and ultimately to solo jumping. Tandem jumping also tends to be the cheapest option as a novice requires very little pre-jump instruction and need neither purchase nor hire equipment.
While other jump programs require several hours of ground instruction, tandem jumping usually covers a few basic issues such as the cooperation needed to safely exit the plane and descend properly. Such training will normally take less than a couple of hours.
When you exit the plane, the instructor will nearly immediately deploy a small chute (called a drogue) to help slow your descent to the normal free fall speed, about 120 mph (193 kph). Without it, the combined weight of you and the instructor would result in a descent speed of about 200 mph (321 kph), which is much faster than a first time skydiver should experience.
At the appropriate elevation above ground level (about 3,000 feet - 914 m), the instructor will pull a cord to deploy the main parachute canopy, shortly after which you'll then descend at the normal rate, about 10 mph (16 kph), until you touch down on the ground.
One of the most common ways to start within skydiving is tandem jumping, which involves you and an instructor exiting the plane and descending together.
The instructor has complete control of the jump, including the free fall, canopy release and landing. He or she steers the two attached jumpers both horizontally and vertically; the novice can simply relax and enjoy the jump.
Tandem jumping allows a novice to be initiated into skydiving with a minimum of training, risk, and anxiety. Many beginners use this as a stepping stone to static line or accelerated freefall skydiving, and ultimately to solo jumping. Tandem jumping also tends to be the cheapest option as a novice requires very little pre-jump instruction and need neither purchase nor hire equipment.
While other jump programs require several hours of ground instruction, tandem jumping usually covers a few basic issues such as the cooperation needed to safely exit the plane and descend properly. Such training will normally take less than a couple of hours.
When you exit the plane, the instructor will nearly immediately deploy a small chute (called a drogue) to help slow your descent to the normal free fall speed, about 120 mph (193 kph). Without it, the combined weight of you and the instructor would result in a descent speed of about 200 mph (321 kph), which is much faster than a first time skydiver should experience.
At the appropriate elevation above ground level (about 3,000 feet - 914 m), the instructor will pull a cord to deploy the main parachute canopy, shortly after which you'll then descend at the normal rate, about 10 mph (16 kph), until you touch down on the ground.
0 comments:
Post a Comment