[Blindtlk] Skydiving?

[BrianMiller]

Hi Jim,

Are you doing a tandem dive, or a solo dive? If the former, then it's no big
deal... Exciting, for sure, but pretty simple, really. 

I did it for my birthday a few years ago and loved it! I did a tandem dive,
so your jump partner is the one with the expertise. I had no problems with
the company when I showed up as a blind jumper... They were totally cool
with it. With a tandem jump you are basically like a bag of laundry being
tossed out of a plane. If you ask, your partner will let you steer the chute
-- it's a blast to do donuts in the air. There's simply nothing like that
rush when you first exit the plane... O man, it's freaky, scary, and a hell
of a lot of fun.  

If you are doing a solo dive, I'd be keen to hear how you managed it... I am
certain it can be done, but you'd have to have some way to communicate with
another jumper to help guide you to the ground, and to let you know when you
are about to land so you can prepare yourself.  

Good luck!

Brian Miller
Alexandria, VA


-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jim
Portillo via blindtlk
Sent: Saturday, May 28, 2016 5:59 PM
To: blindtlk at nfbnet.org
Cc: Jim Portillo
Subject: [Blindtlk] Skydiving?

Hello,

Well, as the subject of the email might suggest, I will be going skydiving!
It's a birthday gift from some friends, and we figured, big birthday, do
something big!  I've been wanting to do this for a long time, and now the
occasion merits it.

As the date approaches, I began wondering about how it would be and if there
was anything special I, as a blind person, would need to know.  I'll be
taking a class before the jump, but I can't help but think that there's the
possibility of the instructors being uneasy with the blindness factor.
So, I figured I'd ask if any of you folks have done this and if you have any
words of advice.  It will be tandem with an instructor.
I just hope I don't have to wear earplugs, because that could block hearing
any instructions.
I'm very excited and think this will be a huge thrill!  We'll see how it
goes.  I guess I'll have stories to tell my friends at convention. :-) 

Jim

Sent from my iPhone 6!
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