Newsgroups: rec.skydiving
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 23:19:49 -0400 
From: Gina Ly <gl0z+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: FWD: EXCELLENT AFF SCHOOL, FANTASTIC DROP ZONE (LONG!)


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DIARY OF AN EXCELLENT AFF SCHOOL, FANTASTIC DZ! (IMHO)

Disclaimer: I would have had this posted earlier, if I still had an
INTERNET account, or had $$$ for a WELL or ECHO account.  But I'm
still shelling out $$$ for those AFF jumps! :-)

I.  AFF SCHOOL: FREEFLIGHT 813-783-9991

Having done a static first jump course at Skydive East (Pittstown,
NJ) back in September 1991, I acquired an urge to follow through
with a few more jumps before making a decision on whether to take
this sport seriously.  By virtue of living in New York City, the
next four attempts to take another student static line jump between
then and around July of this year resulted in no jumps due to: (1)
bad weather; (2) bad weather; (3) strong winds; (4) bad weather.
I was just getting frustrated waiting to get out of a Cessna 182 at
3000' on that "steerable" T-10 --meaning that you can change the
direction of your view ;-), with a look-grab-close-pull-punch belly
reserve.  Grrr.  So I decided to check out my alternatives by
getting the following: (1) Dan Poynter's Skydiving handbook; (2)
Membership to USPA / subscription to Parachutist; (3) subscription
to Skydiving; (4) back issues of Jan Meyer's Sport Parachutist
Safety Journal; (5) Jan Meyer's USPA exam software package.

After much reading, research, and inquiries, I decided to go to the
best AFF school that I could afford.  No waiting for jumpable days
in sunny Florida, and the fare from NYC is cheaper than if I went
to the West Coast.  After calling different AFF schools in the FL
area, I settled on the outright friendly-but-professional
Freeflight school being run by Frank Arenas at the Skydive City
drop zone.

Day 1.  At Freeflight, a tandem jump was recommended before
starting the AFF program in order to introduce freefall to the
student, aside from practice ripcord pulls and the actual ripcord
pull.  I took it on the day I arrived (Sept. 9) and experienced my
first line twist (beer?), and lost my ripcord (definitely, beer).

Day 2.  AFF I with Jeff "Barbone" Barbani and Dino Procos was
definitely fun, and not at all disorienting due to the previous
day's tandem jump with Mike Bergerson.  AFF II with Jeff and Frank
was interesting since we had to leave the porter at 9,500' instead
of the customary 13,500' due to darkening Florida clouds!!!  My
first freefall in rain (hail?), yahoo!  When the sun shone later
that afternoon, it was on to AFF III with Jeff and Frank.
Incidentally, Reddy's videotape of my AFF II was instrumental in
pointing out: (1) my head high position; (2) bizarre left hand
position upon "reaching."

Day 3.  The next day, AFF IV, IV (again), and V with Jeff was fun
but a definite learning curve was apparent.  The AFF IV repeat had
me pulling during a flat spin to the right, causing an impingement
on my right shoulder which still hurts like hell to this day and
requires about twelve visits to the physical therapist (even a
month after it occurred!).  Thanks to this injury, I sat out the
whole next day.
Day 5.  After a day of resting, I figured I was ready to jump as
long as the tylenols and icy hot tubes were handy.  My AFF VI with
Mike was generally painful, and I did not jump through the rest of
the day and the next two whole days!

Day 8.  The AFF VI repeat with Mike went generally okay, except for
the major line twist with slider up and end cell closure.  The AFF
VII and AFF VII repeat (and still not passed!) later that day was
starting to play tricks with my mind, though.

Day 9.  Another AFF VII with Dino still didn't result in my
graduation.  Due to a bad spot, I landed in some farmer's
backyard!!!  Interestingly, that "open" field didn't look so easy
to land in once the *barbed wires* became visible *-).  Upon Dino's
recommendation, I did two high solos for the rest of that day to
clear my mind of whatever was messing up my Level VII(s).

Day 10.  Is this the day I graduate from AFF?  My first high solo
of the day was so-so, just tracking here and there.  The second
high solo of the day was interesting, since it was my first time to
go through "heavy industrial smog" that was quite white and smelled
clean ;-).  That disorienting puff was with me from 7,500' to
4,000'.  AFF VII (repeat # 3, take # 4) with Mike was quite rough
around the edges but I did finally graduate (yahoo! beer!) with the
condition that I go through some one-on-one instruction.  This AFF
school definitely has SAFETY as a priority!

The remaining days went spent on one-on-ones with Jeff, one-on-ones
with Dino, one required hop and pop, one required hand deploy
transition jump, and fun jumps to the end!

Conclusion:  Having very, very experienced (jumps > 4,000),
qualified (world champion, world record holders) *and* enthusiastic
AFF instructors can make or break the prospective skydiver.  Other
students and jumpers I have met on the drop zone have expressed
more than positive feelings about the school's philosophies.  I may
be hurting physically even now, but my soul belongs to the sport.

     FreeFlight / Skydive City
     P.O. Box 1178, Zephyrhills, FL  33539
     813-783-9991, Fax: 813-782-5112
     Owner (and also AFF/I): Frank Arenas
     AFF/Is: (currently) Jeff Barbani, Dino Procos, Mike Bergerson
     Packing?  with Jay and Marcus, it's no problem.
     Student Gear: Sun Path Javelin and Relative Workshop Vectors,
     with Manta canopies, square reserves, FXC AADs.
     "Tell 'em Vannevar sent ya!"

II.  DROP ZONE: SKYDIVE CITY 813-783-9399

From both a student and newbie's perspective, Skydive City is
probably _the_ primo drop zone.  With the Freefall Express program,
you get either the Turbine Porter or Twin Otter for $15 to 13,500'.
If you get 15 tickets, you are entitled to mail in for a Frequent
Faller Club free jump ticket (something Yvonne at Manifest made
sure to point out).  Even on the slowest days when I was doing AFF
levels, Joey's Twin Bonanza was available for $15 to 13,500'.
During the off season, I've been on the Twin Bonanza, or the
Freefall Express Turbine Porter or Twin Otters; more Twin Otters
and a DC-3 are available during the regular season.  Also, the
wonderful Sunshine Factory has a store on the DZ.  And Cathy's
there with her "guaranteed packing" deal!  Jumpers from all over
seem to converge at SDC: a friendly, busy (but unhurried), well
equipped (washing machines, toilets, showers) DZ.

     Skydive City
     40247 Tucker Road, Zephyrhills FL  33539-1599
     813-783-9399
     Mayor Jerry Bird, with Yvonne bravely manning Manifest
     Where's Neufie?
Conclusion:  Do it at Skydive City!

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Comments?  Questions?  I have no Internet address, so please post
them on the system or write/call:

Vannevar Yu  A-(in the mail)
50 West 34th Street Apt #19-B8, New York, NY  10001-3091
Work Phone: 212-310-7720, Work Fax: 212-310-1190

P.S.  Looking for quality (<150 jumps) used complete rig for 185
lbs. 6' tall medium frame jumper.  New gear donation readily
accepted @-).

P.P.S. Jan Meyer's Aerosoftware USPA exam software was directly
responsible for my perfect scoring "A" license test.
     Aerosoftware P.O. Box 356, Davis CA  95617; 916-756-8781.

The comments and information stated are my own, and not of my
employer, mail site, or location of residence.  I have no economic
interests with either Aerosoftware, FreeFlight or Skydive City.

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