"Why jump?" We jump to get to that magical four dimensional playground in the sky called freefall. This is the only place where you can fly your body in all three regular dimensions, up/down, left/right, forward/backward, plus the fourth dimension of relative speed. Not even NASA astronauts get to play in four dimensions. In freefall, you can cheat the boundaries of time and space, but only for one minute at a time.

"Where can I try Skydiving?" Almost anyone can try the modern sport of skydiving at any United States Parachute Association affiliated drop zone. Most people make their first jump thru the TANDEM skydiving method, but there are some common sense restrictions that have to be followed for everyone's safety. The Tennessee Skydiving Center is a fully accredited member of the USPA and offers both Tandem and AFF, the Accelerated Freefall course for those wanting more than just a one time adventure.

"How high do you jump from?" Most skydives start at 13,000' above the ground. This is an industry wide common altitude because it generally doesn't require any special breathing equipment.

"How do you breathe in freefall?" This falls into the realm of folklore. One CAN breathe in freefall. You just do it, you breathe in, then you exhale and repeat.

"Can you steer your parachute?" The aerodynamics of the ram-air canopy provide it with exceptional maneuverability, allowing the jumpers to land almost anywhere they wish. Think of it as more of an inflatable glider than a parachute. Turns are made by pulling down on the toggles (never called 'strings') to deflect air off one side of the trailing edge of the wing, just like on an airplane's horizontal stabilizer. The wing shape also provides tippy-toe soft landings. BTW, skydivers never refer to their canopies as a 'chute.'

"Don't your ears pop on the way down?" Yes, but just like in Scuba, it is something you just learn to work with. De-pressurizing your sinus cavities and ear canals is usually done once under canopy or on the ground.

"What kind of plane do you use?" Just about any and every kind of aircraft has been jumped, including jets, balloons and helicopters. Here at The Tennessee Skydiving Center one of the planes we jump from is Mike Mullin's Super King Air, the fastest climbing Jump Ship in the entire country. Seven minutes to altitude... yeehaw!

"How fast do you fall?" When you leave the aircraft, you are moving horizontally at the same speed as the aircraft, typically 90-100 MPH. During the first 10 seconds, you accelerate up to about 120 MPH straight down. It is possible for accomplished skydivers to change their body position to vary the rate of fall. By flying head down or standing up in freefall, speeds increase dramatically. The fastest recorded freefall speed, done without any special equipment, is 346 MPH.

"What if your parachute doesn't open?" By United States law (FAA regulations), all intentional parachute jumps must be made with a single harness, dual parachute system with both a main canopy *AND* a reserve canopy. In other words, you have a second (or spare) canopy in case the first one fails to open properly. Canopies today are more of a high tech flying machine. The 'main' canopy is what the skydiver uses on every jump and can usually be repacked for use in about fifteen minutes. The 'reserve' canopy is even more carefully designed and packed. The reserve must be inspected and repacked every 120 days by an FAA rated parachute Rigger - even if it has not been used during that time.

"How hard is the landing?" The aerodynamics of the modern "square" canopy provide it with exceptional maneuverability, allowing the jumpers to land almost anywhere they wish and provides tippy-toe soft landings. The days of landing like a sack of flour are history. Most skydiving beginners land standing up on their very first jump.

"Haven't people been killed doing this?" Yes, but the accident statistics for general skydiving still surprise many people who actually take the time to compare the facts. In comparisons using the National Safety Council's methodology of one fatality per 100,000 participants, general skydiving ranks below many activities that are perceived to be "less risky." This includes sports like scuba, mountain climbing and boxing. General skydiving's accident rate is also below most other air sports perceived to be "more tame," like soaring, ballooning and hang gliding.

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