My first jump was from a Cessna 182 out over the water on the north shore of Oahu. It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon as are most afternoons in Hawaii. We had completed our ground training which consisted of
about 99% of what to do when things didn't go as planned. About 1:00 that afternoon we were geared up and the other 2 students and Jump Master and my self headed out to the aircraft.
The 182 Cessna can hold 5 people, a pilot, a Jump Master and 3 students. One student in the back of the compartment on his knees, On seated behind the pilot facing rear and one seated next to the pilot where the right seat would be if there was one, and the Jump Master on his knees between the front students legs. That was my seat. The door closed, the pilot shoved in the throttle and the plane taxied to mid field for take off. With 10,000' of runway 5,000’ more than enough. As we start our take off roll the JM hooks up my static line to the D ring in the floor, should we have an in flight emergency the JM and I are rolling out the door. With my static line attached all I need is 300' for a fully open canopy. There were three distinct facial expressions on that aircraft. Danny Black the DZ owners son and skydiver, with a smile that just would not quit Danny was a natural pilot. The Jump Master with a grin that nothing could remove short of death and the other student, who just sat there with a deer in the head lights look or that may have been a mirror I am certain I looked the same. The climb to 2800" took about 3 minutes. Drop Zone policy was that the first load of students are not to be dropped with out a WDI pass. (Wind Drift Indicator) As the plane levels out for the WDI pass the pilot gives the Jump Master the not he shouts DOOR turns the handle and nudges the door open. My eyes get the size of dinner plates. The JM leans out the open door and directs the pilot to line up in the centerline of the runway, as the aircraft passes over the DZ he throws out the weighted 1 foot by 20’ yellow streamers that supposedly drifts like an open canopy. When the door opens there is a sudden blast of wind and the smell of burning aviation gas, anything lose is now flying around the inside of the cabin and talking in just about out of the question. The Pilot has been turning a large circle and climbing to 3000 feet as the JM watches where the WDI lands and is directing the pilot for the first student. The pilot cuts the power back, it is jump run. The directions were simple. GET IN THE DOOR, There I was sitting in the open door my feet hanging in to space. GET OUT, This is the fun part you have actually got to get your ass out of the and stand on the step over the right landing gear with your right leg hanging in to space and both hand on the wing strut and look back in at the JM. The JM looks down then up at me, grins and says GO. I throw my self in to space spread my arms and legs out and start counting. onethousandone, onethousandtwo, onethousadndthree, by the end of 3 seconds I am sitting in the saddle looking up at a wonderfully round T10. At this point the cheap Radio Shack CB radio comes to life with directions from ground control. All the noise is gone, just the breeze in your ears and the voice on the radio telling you to turn right or left.
OH My God I did it. All too soon the ground is coming up at you and everyone on the DZ is watching your first landing. And now, you all of a sudden have a whole bunch of new friends. The other skydivers who have been jumping all day as your class was going on many of them come over to shake your hand and welcome you the sport which is arguably the most fun you can have with your clothes on. I was hooked. Every weekend that I was not at sea, or other wise committed I was at the DZ. I even gave up my weekend SCUBA diving for skydiving.
Hunter Johnson
Comment from Accel:
Hey Hunter, great story! I must admit that I still enjoy SCUBA too and finding time for both can be tough. Skydiving that north shore of Oahu is amazing visuals. The sea to the north and the montains to the south. The airstrip sandwiched between them...cool.
