22nd September, 2006
Free Falling
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!!!
Posted at 7:21 pm |
Brava Valentia said:
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;*
September 22, 2006 at 9:02 pm
MiYaFuSHi said:
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
September 23, 2006 at 6:32 am
fractal00 said:
Hahahahaahaha ia m more interested in how the landing occured
…Seriously it’s cool of you to have done that.
September 23, 2006 at 6:47 am
Delicately Realistic said:
Woooooooooohoooooooooooooooooooo!
Ive always wanted to do it, inshAllah when i get married im going to do it with my hubby
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?
September 23, 2006 at 11:42 am
MSB said:
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!
September 23, 2006 at 11:47 am
MSB said:
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!! =)
September 23, 2006 at 11:50 am
A Daydreamer said:
you have guts mashallah!!! noooowayyyyy could i have done it!!! even though ive always thought it would be an awesome experience, but im sooo afraid of heights that i think i might get a heartattack when i get up there… bss mashalalh, good for you!
there is an old song i used to listen to in high school called Free Falling… your title reminded me of it…
September 23, 2006 at 3:32 pm
Ashleee said:
I’m guessing here, but the chute opened?
September 23, 2006 at 4:03 pm
MSB said:
a daydreamer: hehe guts or stupidity.. not sure which!
ashleee: ummm, yeah! the chute opened
September 23, 2006 at 7:53 pm
still breathing said:
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.
September 23, 2006 at 11:19 pm
MSB said:
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! =)
September 24, 2006 at 6:43 am
izzi said:
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
September 24, 2006 at 5:24 pm
MSB said:
izzi: u’d be surprised what we’re capable of doing, if we just set our minds to it.
September 24, 2006 at 7:11 pm
tooners said:
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!
September 25, 2006 at 9:07 am
MSB said:
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!
September 25, 2006 at 9:19 am
istas said:
yes! faint or panic exactly what would happen to me i’m glad they thought of that… i love engineers!
September 26, 2006 at 7:33 pm
June said:
You have fulfilled my lifelong dream! Well I guess since you’ve done it, my turn is not far behind
September 26, 2006 at 9:48 pm
MSB said:
istas: not to worry.. it’s all under control! =)
june: not fair.. u’ve got a preview for ur life!!!!
September 26, 2006 at 10:05 pm