It was something I always wanted to do. Something I thought I'd never have the guts to do. So when the opportunity presented itself, I got in touch with the chicken in me!!For 24 hours I contemplated the point of doing it. Why? Why jump out of a perfectly operational plane? When I got to the site, I looked around and continued asking myself the same questions. The odd thing is, it was like I was a zombie. I was moving, walking, talking, without really thinking.
I was presented with a waiver that pretty much said that if I die, or sustain any serious injuries, EVEN if it's due to negligence, that I (or my next of kin) will not sue. I actually signed!
As I walked towards the plane, the question marks increased in my head. As we elevated to 15,000 feet, I pretended to be fine - yet my brain was on freeze! As I yelled, 'no no no, it's ok I changed my mind', I was ignored and pushed out of the plane.
I was falling to the ground at a speed of 130 mph! For a fraction of a second, I think my heart stopped. Then, adrenaline kicked in! The wind was slapping my face and I couldn't stop smiling (just like those guys in the pic!).
At about 5,000 feet, I pulled the cord and got yanked back. Suddenly, all that loud noise stopped. It was the most peaceful and serene feeling ever. I felt like a bird slowly gliding towards the earth.
The landing wasn't that smooth, but the minute I stood up, my whole body was shaking. What a rush!!!
17 comments:
the title sounds very cool for a movie name ! and your story is beautifuly written
mbarak 3leich ishahar ,MSB w min 3uwadah kil sina inshallah;*
WOW you actually did it??
Did they train you before, wela bes chithy 3ala Allah?
Were u scared as u fell?
I want every little detail :P
Hahahahaahaha ia m more interested in how the landing occured :P ...Seriously it's cool of you to have done that.
Woooooooooohoooooooooooooooooooo!
Ive always wanted to do it, inshAllah when i get married im going to do it with my hubby :P bs 3ad inshAllah i dont end up with a chicken.
So tell me, did u need any training, wela bs chithy, up up and away?
mother courage: thank u very much =)
3laina o 3laich.. 3asa Allah e3eeda 3laikom bil se7a wil 3afya.
miyafushi: yeah.. oct 2000. 6 years ago now and i've got the video to prove it ;) they give you a 10 min training course. they show you a video and demonstrate from a fake plane how you're supposed to do the jump.
i was beyond scared, but at some point, i was just numb!! not sure what other details u want, so ask and i'll tell. feel free to email me if u want =)
fractal: typical! ;) normally, as u land, the min ur feet touch the ground u start running and then u stop. however, if the wind isn't 'right', u shouldn't try to land on ur feet cuz u might end up shattering ur knees. in a situation like that, as u approach, u lift up ur knees and land on your.. well, u get the picture!
delicately realistic: yes, they give you training before u jump. there's several diff types of jumping depending on what suits ur needs. 3ad a7la shay is that they gave me two options for when i jump out. to just jump out and let the wind catch me, or roll out (as in, when i jump, i grab my knees and tumble turn like clothes do in a dryer!).
i told them if they manage to get me out of the plane at all, that's gonna be an accomplishment on its own, and to forget about tumbling!! =)
I'm guessing here, but the chute opened?
a daydreamer: hehe guts or stupidity.. not sure which!
ashleee: ummm, yeah! the chute opened ;)
u were alone? i mean, it'd sound more fun if u like took part in making a star in the sky with other 4 people.
still, big WOW!! i wish i'd go skydiving oneday too.
still breathing: no it was tandum plus the camera guy recording the whole thing... so there was a total of 3 of us in the air.. bs definitely no star shapes nor any fancy sky diving.. it was good i got out of the plane at all! =)
wow MSB i didnt know you had it in you! i would never ever ever ever do that my knees felt like jelly just for reading ur post
izzi: u'd be surprised what we're capable of doing, if we just set our minds to it.
wow.... gosh, i don't know what to say. never thought i'd think about sky diving, but you make it sound amazing. i think i'd be so afraid of the chute not opening... but i'd love to feel that peacefulness after you open the chute. great story!
tooners: i didnt really worry about the chute not opening cuz i had on my chute, the spare chute, plus when ur tandum jumping, that's another 2 chutes attached to u. PLUS, in case u faint or panic and forget to open the chute, there was a device that measures ur altitude. if u get past a certain point without opening the chute, it will automatically release it for u. do it, do it, DO IT! ;)
yes! faint or panic exactly what would happen to me i'm glad they thought of that... i love engineers!
You have fulfilled my lifelong dream! Well I guess since you've done it, my turn is not far behind ;)
istas: not to worry.. it's all under control! =)
june: not fair.. u've got a preview for ur life!!!! ;)
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