Freedom works.

Tracking was awesome: it’s about the only move that’s really powerful. The whole dive was fast. Pulled at 3500 feet, over the town with little wind. Did a radical turn and got twists at 1500 feet: thought about taking the reserve, but kicked them out and made it back to the DZ. Received a well-deserved brief period of additional instruction from DZ staff. Great flare though with a good run out

Less was more with sidesliding. If I do it gently, I’m pretty good, but if I go for it, as I did, I loose the arch, the fine control and my heading. Passed through cloud, did a high five, tracked away and pulled at 3500. High wind circuit to land: had to crab backwards to 800 feet, raced downwind to 500 ft, and floated gently down with almost no forward movement from 300 ft. Good flare to land, and boy is it breezy.

The “tramontana” wind is in now and we are grounded. Fingers crossed for later and tomorrow. Three more jumps and I should have FS1 so I can jump with others

As you can see, I’m pretty pleased with myself.

One jump from 13 500 feet and two jumps from 15 500 feet – 60 seconds freefall – this morning. They are working higher for freefliers.

All working on turns in place: 360′s then 90/180/90 left and right docking with the coach. Dive exits on the last two: both slightly messed up with the legs powering me down.

Good tracks to finish. I really felt the affect of bringing the shoulders in on the last one: a much flatter track for greater separation.

So much more fun than AFF

As it happened, it was a great day for a skydive in the UK. The sunrise at Stanstead was spectacular.

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We’re doing 40 mpg consistently: an hour in London traffic and about 30 mins on the motorway.

I found a set of traffic lights in High Wycombe twisted through about 60 degrees. Thankfully, I realised in time that I was pulling into eager crossing traffic.

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