How high up do you go when you skydive?

Answer 1

That depends. An experienced jumper needs to be open by 2000ft, and inexperienced one needs to be open at 2500ft. If you go above 15,000ft above sea level you will need oxygen in the airplane as the air is too thin without it. Most of the jumps are usually around 12,000ft above ground level.

Skydivers who are more interested in the canopy (parachute) flying aspect of skydiving usually exit at around 3000ft to 5000ft and open their parachute just after exit. That maybe for CRW (canopy relative work) or making formations with open parachutes or swooping which is a discipline that focuses on parachute landing with respect to accuracy, distance covered over the ground and skimming across water during landing. Students may do low exits for fun and to improve their canopy handling skills. The cost of a low exit jump (Hop and Pop) is usually lower than a high attitude exit so jumpers on a budget will opt for this type of jump. As someone who has done a few hop and pops onto the beach, it is a lot of fun and variety in jumping is the spice of life.

Commercial operators in New Zealand will take tandem and sports jumpers from 9000ft to 16500ft and the maximum altitude is 20000ft though only a few operators have the aircraft capable or the inclination to do so and a premium is charged for that altitude. Sports jumpers need to have completed a high altitude course and supplementary oxygen is required for such jumps.

Answer 2

Many people make their first skydive with a tandem skydive. This is where they are harnessed to a qualified instructor. The 2 of them then jump from around 12000ft freefalling for around 45 seconds. After this time, the instructor opens the main parachute and the 2 then slowly glide back to the dropzone over a period of 4 or 5 minutes.

Answer 3

That depends on quite a few factors. These include:

• Altitude of dropzone (asl) above sea level. E.g. there is a dropzone in Texas which is at 5000ft, therefore they cannot fly above 10,000ft asl.
• The capability of the aircraft. Some aircraft are stronger than others. For example, an old Cessna 182 may only be able to get to 10,000ft. Whereas a Dornier G92 can get up to 15,000ft.
• What height the dropzone owner chooses to fly at. A typical height range is somewhere between 11 and 15 thousand feet. The higher you jump from, the more fuel is burnt getting there. Many dropzones cater for the first time tandem skydiver and therefore limit the height of their jumps. However, experienced skydivers prefer the extra altitude generally.
• What type of skydivers are on the aircraft. If it is a 4-way formation skydive in competition, the height is 10,5000ft. If it is a 4-way training jump or a freefly headdown formation jump, then it maybe 15000ft. Without supplementary oxygen breathing equipment, 15K is the limit.
• Jumps have been made using space suits from around 120,000ft incredibly.

If you are a first time skydive, I would be careful where you choose to do your first tandem or accelerated freefall jump. For a little extra cost, you can double your freefall time to up to a minute. On your first jump you will open at around 5000ft, therefore there is a big difference between an exit height of 10,000ft and 15,000ft. I jump at Skydive Hibaldstow (skydiving.co.uk) where they have this extra altitude and believe me, it is worth it.

In America, it's typically 10,000' to 14,000' above ground level (AGL). The American Federal Aviation Administration sets the rules here, all passengers and crew are required supplemental oxygen above 14,000 mean sea level (MSL), but that number is very often cheated on by 500 to 1000'. So, at a drop zone with a 1000' MSL elevation 14,000 AGL would be 15,000 MSL.

Answer 4

Normal recreational skydiving is done between 2,000 and 15,000 feet. Most jumps are made at 13,000 feet.

Answer 5

Anywhere between 3 000 and 15 000 feet, depending on how much free-fall time you want.

Answer 6

it depends on the height of the plane wen u dive u go thousands of miles

Answer 7

about 30cm