http://houston.skydivespaceland.com/first-tandem/video/

From A Perfectly Good Airplane

            On the morning of December 12 2003, there was a young boy just turning to the age of 18. His parents surprised him the night before at an early birthday dinner for as one of his gifts was a tandem skydive. The boy was overwhelmed with joy and fear since this was his first ever skydive. I am going to go thought how that boy felt before, during, and after the jump on that wonderful day, because that boy was me.

            To begin with, we got up pretty early in the morning to make the drive out to the area where the skydiving establishment was located. My parents and I arrived at the location and the butterflies have already started rumberling in my stomach. Sweat already flowing down my face in the fear of me jumping out of a perfectly good airplane. We walk into the building where everyone was located to sign in. The clerk behind the desk was asking questions that I could not even hear, because I was anxious and ready to get this jump over with. My father and I signed in and then had to go watch a quick video of what to do in the dive. We all then suited up in the flight suits and head gear and waited for the plane to land so we can board it. Then came the goose bumps, sweat flashes, and nervousness as we got on to the plane and started to climb in attitude.

            In addition to the skydive, my parents had brought the video option that came with the skydive. So as we were climbing to the attitude we were going to jump from, all I can see was the instructor and the camera guy asking me question. I was speechless, all I could do was nod at them and get ready to do this leap of faith. We got to the right height and started to do the pre-checks and getting fastened and strapped together. The door opened and a big gust of air came in and hit me in the face. Now I was really nervous and scared of what was about to happen. The instructor and I started waddling to the door, and the camera guy was on the side of the plane waiting for us. The instructor said on the count of three to jump. We got in position and started to count. What threw me off was after the instructor said one, we were already out of the plane. This caught me by total surprise.

http://houston.skydivespaceland.com/first-tandem/video/

 

            Finally after exiting the plane, the adrenaline rush kicked in. I stopped breathing for the first 3 seconds, but felt like 5 minutes due to the trickery of the instructor. After I gained my composure the jump was still breath taking. The view was gorgeous and just put in to the meaning of how small we really are. The skydive was coming to an end as the instructor pulled the rip cord and the parachute popped out of the canister, and we then proceed to slow down and I was able to take in all the area as we glided down to the earth’s surface. As we landed my heart was still racing at a million times a second and all the blood returning back to my body. To say that I have lived a jump like that.


            This is what it felt to me as a new 18 year old boy jumping out of a perfectly good airplane from start to finish. Now elven years later I am going back to get my skydiving license because of the rush I have achieved and the feeling that came with this. Of that one day now is becoming at life style change and a new hobby of mine. My suggestion to everyone is to go ahead and jump from a good plane. It might be your new fun filled hobby.