Jump Aerial Summer 2022 Session 2, Group 1
It was a windy week last week and the winds kept shifting, sometimes even mid jump, but Jump 490 Group 1 students of Summer Session 2 were able to get their first jumps in last Thursday and Friday. Due to the winds not being consistant, the landings were interesting and kind of all over the drop zone. This made it a challenging day for photography, but hopefully we were able to capture almost everyone.
As stated in the Jump Ground blog, Airmanship 490's purpose is to develop leadership traits through overcoming their fears and coping with stressful situations. The program starts with 30 hours of instruction in basic free fall parachuting technique and procedure, to include emergency situations they may encounter when jumping. The successful completion of 5 Jumps results in being awarded the Air Force Basic Parachutist Badge "Jump Wings", which they can wear on their uniform for the rest of their Air Force Career.
Prior to each jump, they get their helmut and goggles and gear up. Their jump gear inspected by the instructors, followed by a final briefing on weather conditions, exiting the aircraft, and proper jump technique.
As they walk out of the building they touch the Jump Wings for good luck!
Then it is time to load up into the Twin Otter Airplane which will take them up to the jump altitude of 4500 feet above ground level and out they jump when instructed by the jump master.
AM-490 is the only program in the entire world where the first jump is an unassisted freefall.
It must be quite a feeling being up in the air under a full canopy and being able to get a birds eye view of the Air Force Academy and Colorado Springs. Depending on how the winds are greatly determines where they land in the drop zone. Which means sometimes they land further away towards the edges. Other times they land close to the X where the controllers (and WebGuy photographer) is stationed. This can determine the quality of photos of the cadets while under canopy and landing.
During their first three jumps they have to do a what is called a "Parachute Landing Fall" or PLF for short. The technique is used to displace the energy of the body contacting the earth at high speeds. The parachutist ideally lands facing the direction of travel with feet and knees together. At the moment first contact is made with the ground, the person goes from an upright position to a "buckled" body position. Then they go into a horizontal position while rotating to the side. Some times they don't quite get it right and do what is called a "slide".
It is always wonderful to photograph the cadets after they have jumped. You can see the excitement and relief on their faces as they walk back to the landing zone to pack their chute.
*Note: The jumpers that are under the white and blue canopy are the Wings of Blue Jump Instructors that have taught the Jump 490 students throughout their ground training and aerial jumps. Thanks to the Wings of Blue for all of their hard work and dedication to Jump 490!
To View photos, go to Galleries > Airmanship > Jump. At the top of page, Sort Photo Order OLDEST to NEWEST. Click on the start page you want (259-313) or click on the link below.
*** Sort Photo Order must be set OLDEST to NEWEST for the link to take you to the correct start page.
Jump Aerial Summer 2022 Session 2, Group 1 pgs. 259 (bottom of page, last row) - 313