When it was my turn to leave the plane, I got in place and jumped backwards!  Piece of cake! From my log book:

6/21/05 Jump 17 - Deland, FL - AFF: CAT F: Canopy Control Course - Exit Altitude: 5,000 - Skyvan - Evaluation Hop & Pop: FUN!!! Jumped out backwards from the Skyvan. Canopy opened slower than normal as I expected.  Got to holding area. Off a little on landing pattern. Entered final approach later than expected. Flared a little late.  Soft butt slide. Next time: Finish Flare. Keep Feet Down. Scott Miller D-13234

I dropped of the canopy in the packing area and went to the classroom for our first session.

Scott discussed the basics of canopy flight and told us what he wanted us to do on our next jump.  He wanted us to do a series of practice flares and see how our canopy would react to each.

  • Slow Flare
  • Medium Flare
  • Fast Flare
  • Medium Flare looking up
  • Medium Flare with our eyes closed.

The goal was for us to see the difference between them.  We were also supposed to focus on how the canopy reacted to the flare. It would slow our forward speed, plane out, and as we finished our flare, it would set us down.