I Really Think I Would Need A “Push” To Do This
Last week I was flying back from Chicago. I started looking out the window and day dreaming a little bit. My colleague next to me had her eyes closed and was probably pretending to sleep so she didn’t have to have a conversation with me. (Amy clearly a smart move!)
As I was looking out the window I thought about what it might be like to be up 10,000 – 12,000 feet and actually jump out of a plane. To me it does sound a little crazy to go a few miles up, have the door open and probably see land and jump…
I started to ask myself what kind of person does this? Who would jump from a safe plane to the ground? Are the people who do this crazy? Are they just thrill seekers? After a few minutes I asked myself a very important question – would I do this? Am I crazy to even think about it with a family, good health and a great job?
I start to imagine myself with a parachute on, goggles, the door open and wondering if my heart would stop. Could I actually do it without a small push and frankly attached to an experienced skydiver. One thing is for sure, if I was ever brave or crazy enough, I have two friends, Andrew and Kenny who I know would do it. So in some ways I would be in good company.
- Have you ever jumped out of a plane?
- Do you know anyone who has?
- Would you ever do it?
I look forward to your thoughts and comments.
May 4th, 2007 at 8:28 am
I have a friend who i think is on her 20th jump or something insane like that. She says it is addicting. It’s an expensive hobby; it’s about $150 - $200 per jump.
I say NO THANKS. I can buy a nice pair of shoes for that price; and only risk the life of my ankles.
May 4th, 2007 at 9:35 am
My girlfriend went on a first date with a real “thrill seeker” and he took her skydiving. FIRST DATE — what ever happened to a movie?!?? She didn’t want to look like a wimp so she did it and although she did actually like it, she said her face hurt so badly for days because of how strong the wind was blowing the skin backwards off her face. Thrill seeking for me is staying at a Motel Six instead of the Ritz
May 4th, 2007 at 10:06 am
I did a tandum jump from 11,000 feet and it was incredible. It was about 14 years ago and I’d definitely do it again. Just say the word and we’ll be signing a waiver and jumping out of a Cessna.
I’ve also driven 140+ mph in a NASCAR at Texas Motor Speedway. There is likely some “thrill seeker” mentality to both.
Based on your driving, skydiving would be better for you (no cell phones allowed in the race car).
May 4th, 2007 at 10:28 am
I jumped out of a “perfectly good airplane” once. It was probably about 25 years ago.
I was young and single, and a good friend who had done it a few times talked me into giving it a try.
I went up with a small group in a little plane to about 2000 feet. It was a static line jump, which meant the ripcord was tied to the plane and if you failed to pull the cord in time, the static line would pull for you.
Getting out of the plane was weird. It was a little Cessna whose passenger seats had been removed to make room for the jumpers. To prepare for the jump, you edged out of the plane, put your left foot on a little platform that was about the size of the sole of your shoe, and hung onto the wing strut (for dear life) with both hands. Then the idea was to just “step off”, count to five and pull the cord.
Come the moment of truth, I stepped off the little platform just like I was supposed to. It turns out that my hands were smarter than my brain, because they didn’t let go of the strut. So here I am 2000 feet above the world flapping in the breeze. I figured out what I had done wrong and then let go.
The wind is so overpowering as you’re falling, that it’s very disorienting. So about the time I got oriented and remembered I was supposed to count to five, the static line pulled my cord and my chute opened.
The trip down was amazing. Very peaceful and quiet.
Would I do it again? Not with a family to support. But it’s something I’m glad I did, and wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.
May 5th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
The higher up you get, the less real it seems to me (within limits):
May 7th, 2007 at 7:09 am
When I was younger if I had the chance I would have. My twin sister did it last year with her fiancé she loved it and they were together. We all have pictures of the big day. I would never take the chance on not being able to enjoy my family and friends. My biggest fear would be hurting my back, as we know it is the core of the body. I won’t even go on a roller coaster any more. I cannot imagine being out of commission, that there would make me go crazy!
May 7th, 2007 at 8:15 am
Years ago I actually made an appointment to do it with a few friends. In the end I cancelled because I had 2 small kids and I couldn’t take the chance. I probably would have chickened out anyway, or at least have needed a big push. Now even though my kids are grown I wouldn’t even consider it. I blame it on my grandkids , but the truth is I really would rather find my thrills on solid ground!!
May 7th, 2007 at 8:50 am
I haven’t done it; but would love to try it. I’ve always wanted to either try skydiving or bungee jumping.
May 7th, 2007 at 10:23 am
I’ve often said ‘never jump out of a perfectly good airplane’, but then I was convinced to jump off of a perfectly good boat in the middle of the ocean to scuba dive. I thought I’d never do that either, so never say ‘never.’ I do think as we accummulate responsibility for others (family, friends, etc) we are less apt to take chances like this. I guess it depends on how compelling the outcome is. For me, scuba brings immense joy and fulfilling experiences. I hate thrill rides, so I don’t think sky diving would give me a payout strong enough to outweigh the emotional risk. Perhaps Rosanne Barr said it best when she said, “Forget extreme sports. Take a real challenge. Stare down a 30 year mortgage. Get married and have sex with the same person the rest of your life!” I think she’s probably right.
May 7th, 2007 at 12:28 pm
I thought about doing it often and actually met a young lady that was in her triple digits of jumps (she had a friend with a plane, which made it economical for her…). She invited me along once, turned out to be too windy and that was the end of that dialogue. I also met a Navy pilot who was paratrooper and managed to escape a near death jump, where he had to pull his reserve chute and “walked away” with a broken ankle and some scrapes and his chute now covers the ceiling of his bedroom! As others have expressed the responsibility of a child and a mortgage and the possibility of this fragile infrastructure being mangled, just doesn’t appeal!
May 7th, 2007 at 9:34 pm
I jump now and then. Once you are out the plane’s door and free-falling, the air feels quasi liquid and you can extend your body to sort of surf along horizontally as if you are flying - which is really amazing. When the parachute pops open, you drift with the breeze awhile, and everything on the ground is miniature. You see what the world looks like to a hawk. I think the danger is a bit overrated. Modern parachutes are extremely stable and reliable. Last time I jumped the plane was packed with adolescent girls who were laughing and having a grand time. Those girls got pretty quiet once it came time to tumble out the exit door, but when I saw them on the ground after the jump they were ecstatic. I felt pretty good myself.
May 8th, 2007 at 3:49 am
My daughter, Susan and her husband, Mike, jumped in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. The video is spectacular and she is lucky I was not there to pull her back in the plane! They have tried it but I would not do it due to my fear of heights and having “no control” which way the wind blows you, etc. Great question - makes you stop and think of the risks we take each day and where we put our priorities in our lives! Thanks.
May 10th, 2007 at 9:18 am
My sister actually bid at a fund raising auction for this experience. Lucky her — she won. Included was a video of the experience. She had to attached to an experienced sky diver. Thrilling experience, she was scared to death (and you can tell by the look on her face on the video) and vows would never do it again.
I also have a friend in NY who actually competes throughout the country in synchronized sky diving — she has won several gold medals.
May 11th, 2007 at 11:20 am
My brother was a U.S. Army Paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division, and on one of his jumps his chute DID NOT OPEN! He had to pull his reserve, and after that he terminated his jump status.
I think it would be fun, but I do not think I would do it now, maybe when I was younger. The closest I came was when I rappelled out of helicopters in the Army.
May 15th, 2007 at 10:52 am
Jump, Merrill, jump!!! About a week after I first met my wife I accompanied her as she took her first parachute jump. I was recovering from a kneee injury and my doctor told me to steer clear of jumping… Instead I sat in a lawn chair with a cooler at my side while I watched her jump.
I thought my doctor-ordered excuse was excellent because I’m not a fan of heights. However, if you fast-forward 10 years, I’m frequenty reminded by my kids that mommy is brave because she jumped out of a plane (and dad is…. well…)
May 29th, 2007 at 11:51 am
Thanks for all your comments - I never thought this would be such a hot subject.
I may reconsider and jump after seeing the new Taco Bell commercial last week were the sky diver is actually eating a crunch wrap supreme while he is floating to the ground. Since I love taco bell it might be a great experience.
November 11th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
I just read an article that Former President Bush takes a surprise plunge to mark his reopening of his presidential museum.
For the record this was his sixth skydive - he is 83! Wow
He first jumped way back in 1944 when he was shot down over the pacific island of Chichi Jima.
Ne wants to make jump number seven on his 85th birthday!
Good for you!
Merrill