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| Customer Review: |
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1: good for beginners
i purchased the book only after i finished my a liscense on the look out for some help on how to proceed on improving my rw and/or freefly abilities. although the book offers a chapter on 'how to go on' it hasn't helped me too much since i live in germany and there is mostly references to clubs and dz in the u.s. in that chapter. it doesn't give advice on what is now important to practise or concentrate on. for all beginners however, it is a brilliant lecture since it prepares well for the first jumps and introduces the sport very well and positive. it is also nice for a bit remembering the first jumps and how one felt or reading about the history of skydiving. all in all - a nice to have lecture but nothing beyond the 25th jump.
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2: Advanced Primer
Where Jump! is a basic introduction to parachuting the Skydiver's Handbook is a how-to book for the serious enthusiast. This book includes details on manuevering in freefall, technical details of rigs etc. There is also a chronology of parachutes and parachuting (which is not an actual history, but you can't have everything).
This is a must-have for those thinking about taking up the sport and for those who are committed.
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3: A Licensed
I got a few books a week before ground school and read all of them. I wanted to pursue a sport which could have poor outcomes if not prepared. So I was going to come at it with as much of a background as I could. This book goes beyond anything you will need to know for your first 50 jumps. It tells you the outs for every possible situations and how not to get in these situations. Highly recommend if you plan on going through jump school or just need a refresher.
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4: Recommended
Jump by Tom Buchanan is also good. Skysurfing is where it's at! On it's tenth edition because it contains everything you need to know.
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5: Flaws in tandem rig
It's a good book, but needs to be more explicit about the risks
assumed by first time students, especially the 'safer' tandem
dive.
I was determined to make my first tandem jump next summer,
but then I checked the USPA's online accident report and
learned that during the summer of 2007 two first time tandem
students died when they slipped out of their harness during
the jolt of chute deployment and fell. The opening shock jolt
made their bodies do a pike position and they just slid right
out.
Now I wouldn't go within a mile of a drop zone; especially because
this major design flaw in the tandem harness rig should be
corrected; why isn't this a a top priority for their
design engineers? A couple of strategically placed reinforced loops
in the jumpsuit itself, or an inverted Y strap connecting the chest
and leg straps. A wedgie is a small price to pay for the extra safety.
I've seen many pictures in Photobucket or Image shack of Tandem
students dangling so precariously their heads are practically at
their instructors waist. It's crazy.
I was prepared to overlook the infamous liability waivers and insurance
exclusions, but this is too much. I felt sick when I read it.
Please look at the UPSA's online site of accident reports before
doing this, and warn anyone you think might be contemplating it
to get all of the facts first.
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