Schools with platforms like Ft Benning?

Are there any civilian ground schools with skydiving platforms and ziplines like Ft Benning has?

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There is an outfit in Oklahoma that does Static Line / Gutter Gear jumps and training out of a C-47. Not sure of the name but if you google you should be able to find it. Not sure if they have a tower either..

Good luck.

Not sure if any civilian DZs are willing to spend that much money on ground training aids because jump towers and PLF Pits are specifically designed for round parachutes.
Meanwhile modern civilian skydiving schools only jump steerable square parachutes.

Maybe ask one of the veterans' groups or historical recreators if you can attend one of their training camps. Back in 1979, I did a static-line jump with the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion reenactors and enjoyed their company.

As for recreators' groups jumping "gutter gear".....
Hah!
Hah!
Historical reenactors may jump old-pattern rounds, but the parachutes are recently-manufactured and well-maintained by modern riggers. Many of those riggers are recently-retired military veterans who are familiar with the finer points of packing rounds.

You are thinking of the WW II demonstration team. They do not have any platforms, even though they claim students learn like they did in WW II. http://wwiiadt.org/

Is jumping off a chair onto a mat really enough practice to prevent landing injuries? It seems every school is like that.

bamber

You are thinking of the WW II demonstration team. They do not have any platforms, even though they claim students learn like they did in WW II. http://wwiiadt.org/

Is jumping off a chair onto a mat really enough practice to prevent landing injuries? It seems every school is like that.

Pretty much. Modern student canopies are pretty slow and docile. If you land in half brakes, no flare at all, all you need to do is fall over and you should be fine.

That doesn't mean that you can't get hurt. Some students land bad for a variety of reasons. A decent PLF may or may not save you.

If you are that concerned, there are ways of learning to do it better. The "parkour" guys are really good at it. Most martial arts also teach how to fall well.

Or just find higher and higher stuff to jump off of. Chair, then a table, then a ladder, on up. If you can take an 8 or 10 foot drop and PLF out of it well, you should be fine.

wolfriverjoe

***You are thinking of the WW II demonstration team. They do not have any platforms, even though they claim students learn like they did in WW II. http://wwiiadt.org/

Is jumping off a chair onto a mat really enough practice to prevent landing injuries? It seems every school is like that.

Pretty much. Modern student canopies are pretty slow and docile. If you land in half brakes, no flare at all, all you need to do is fall over and you should be fine.

That doesn't mean that you can't get hurt. Some students land bad for a variety of reasons. A decent PLF may or may not save you.

If you are that concerned, there are ways of learning to do it better. The "parkour" guys are really good at it. Most martial arts also teach how to fall well.

Or just find higher and higher stuff to jump off of. Chair, then a table, then a ladder, on up. If you can take an 8 or 10 foot drop and PLF out of it well, you should be fine.

Busting a leg jumping off a table doesn't sound half as good later at the pub.