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<li>Winds aloft are usually stronger than winds on the ground, but it’s going to be windy and loud regardless.</li>
<li>Eight seconds is actually later than what I’d consider normal for setting the drogue. The “dropping feeling” is odd; I don’t think I’ve ever felt that, really. The plane must have been moving extremely slowly (which is understandable in strong winds). The cessation of the feeling, though, probably had more to do with your reaching terminal velocity than any real significant decrease in speed by the drogue. It’s mostly just there for stability.</li>
<li>Sounds like a fun ride. Congrats on taking the plunge! Any plans to continue in the future?</li>
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<li> The main reason I did it was the ulitmate in “letting go” I tend to be a control freak. Heights and falling is another “fear” but not that bad. I’m not good with roller coasters and going upside down (yet). Although I have gone on Splash Mountain and the like…nothing upside down or really high and big drop.</li>
<li> Once out there was nothing I could do about the feeling and I remember thinking…oh well do the arch…I did flail a bit. I timed the drop without the drogue at about 8-9 seconds. The engine had cut down just before they opened the door but they warned us that would happen. I don’t know how much drop in air speed there was. The wind was strong and yes I did expect it to be strong.</li>
<li> Part of me thinks that yes once I hit terminal velocity that was what stopped the feeling which was probably coincidentally about the time he deployed the drogue. At that point I truly did not feeling any sensation of falling. 0, nada, none. It was just the pressure of the wind as if I was on a floor sortof. We turned a bit back and forth but no real spins and the videographer grabbed my hand at one point to shake it …that was fun. Then he turned upside down and the chute was deployed. 50 seconds of free fall including the 8-9 free, free fall. hahaha</li>
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