Woppy,
My father retired in June of this year. He has ALWAYS wanted to jump, so we got him a gift cert to go do it. My darling family said since I fly everyday, and am used to heights, I was going to go and keep him company. I put it off and put it off longer and longer.....not scared, just something i wouldn't NORMALLY do. Planes shouldn't be flying as is, and things that weren't born with wings to make them fly shouldn't fly either. Needless to say, they wouldn't forget about it, so off we went. Most jump schools, or jump locations......hmmmm it's a "different" breed......not crazy per say, not abnormal.....just "different". The day was a bit windy, and since I am 6'2'' and about 220, they said I would go first to test the conditions out............I thought for a moment and asked, so I am the guinnea pig??? SUPER ! ! !! Dad found THAT one funny. I can hop in an airplane that weighs hundreds upon hundreds of tons, go screaming down a runway, have an engine explode upon lift-off, continue flying with a malfunctioning fire supression system, bring that pig back around and land on a 75ft wide runway, coming to a safe hault, evacuate without soiling myself. That's happened only once, and it didn't bother me, but this jumping from a plane thing...hmmmm didn't like it so much....didn't like it until i actually did it. Just kinda didn't think about things, and went along for the ride listening to instructions carefully. Out of the plane we went. The one thing I don't like is that falling sensation in your stomach you get when going over hills etc etc. I was afraid it was going to be THAT all the way down... I will say I felt ZERO of that sensation. We fell about 4500-5000 feet in mere seconds, and poof the chute opened and we floated back to the runway. It was a great thing to do. Since then I have looked into buying my own rig. It is a good time and I DO suggest that everyone does it. As for the bungee thing...hmmm no. havent done it myself, but even these jumpschool guys say THEY wont even do it, their liine, "We use rubber bands because they BREAK, bungee is crazy!" THAT comes from the DIFFERENT breed!! All in all I say again, do it, have fun.. good luck.
