Skydiving has evolved significantly since the first parachute was designed back in the 1480s. Today, sport skydiving exists as a hobby, participated in by thousands of skydivers across the globe, and tandem skydiving appears on most people’s bucket lists.

Here are ten key moments in skydiving history that brought us to where we are today.

1483: Leonardo Da Vinci and the World’s First Parachute

Leonardo Da Vinci (Leo to his friends) was an incredibly talented artist with an eye for detail. But even more than that, he was an exceptional scientist and engineer.

His intricate study of the world around him led him to create great works of art. It also led him to theorize much about the human anatomy, architecture, sculpture, music, engineering, geology, hydraulics and the military arts.

He took a keen interest in flight and sketched a conical parachute design in 1483, which is recognized as the first parachute. An accompanying note read: “If a man is provided with a length of gummed linen cloth with a length of 12 yards on each side and 12 yards high, he can jump from any great height whatsoever without injury.”

In the year 2,000, Adrian Nicholas became the first man to jump with the Da Vinci parachute, proving that it was, in fact, the first working parachute ever designed.

1911: The World’s First ‘Skydiver.

It was sometime between Da Vinci’s sketch and the first skydive as we know it today (though some scripture suggests parachute descents were made in China in the interim). Credit for the first modern skydive is split between Grant Morten and Albert Berry, with controversy rife to this day over who actually jumped first.

Morten was reportedly the first skydiver when he jumped from a Wright Model B airplane over Venice Beach, California using a folded silk parachute. It has been argued that he was actually beaten to it by Berry, a US Army Captain, who jumped in March 1912. Records aren’t clear, meaning we’ll probably never know – but suffice to say, the first skydive was made sometime around 1911-1912!

1914-1945: Skydiving and the Military

Much of skydiving’s development from that point on can be attributed to the use of parachutes in the World Wars. During this time, it was widely recognized that parachutes served a great purpose as a life saving device. It was first proposed by American General Billy Mitchell that parachute troops be used in 1917, with the Italian military credited with the first combat jump in 1918.

In 1933, the Soviets staged the first mass parachute drop when they dropped 62 parachutists from three bombers. They greatly expanded their parachute units and in 1936 dropped 1,800. Parachute regiments became commonplace in World War II, and many armies still retain their parachuting arms to this day.

With parachutes used so much in war, their development was accelerated. When the war ended, the parachutes became available for non-military use, helping to bring parachuting to the masses.

1946: USPA (United States Parachute Association) founded

The USPA is the governing body for the sport of skydiving in the USA. The USPA provides guidance and sets rules in place to keep the sport safe, and oversees its ongoing progression. Today, the USPA is a huge part of skydiving in this country and is the body which awards instructor ratings and skydiving qualifications.

The USPA was founded in 1946, in Mineola, New York, as the National Parachute Jumpers-Riggers, Incorporated. At the time, it represented around 100 members. It was renamed the Parachute Club of America in 1957 and renamed itself again to the United States Parachute Association in 1967. Its inception was an important point in skydiving as it marked the recognition of skydiving as a sport and hobby.

The 1960s: First Ram-Air Parachute Design

The first parachutes were round in shape. This meant they could pivot on their centre, but controlling their speed, direction, and glide ratio was pretty much impossible.

This led to the invention of the first ram-air parachute design by Domina Jalbert in the 1960s. Jalbert was a kite maker, who recognised that the kite shape was much more efficient as a wing. This is because the ram-air (or parafoil) design allows air in through the front ‘cells’ and then retains that air, forming a rigid wing that can be controlled by its pilot much more effectively than round parachutes ever could.

Today, the vast majority of skydivers use ram-air parachutes, with which they perform high-performance ‘swoop’ landings as well as being able to adjust their speed and descent.

1964: First Vertical Wind Tunnel Flight

Skydiving wind tunnels are what we call vertical wind tunnels (VWT). These differ from traditional horizontal wind tunnels which are used to test the aerodynamics of planes or cars.

The first person to fly in a vertical wind tunnel did so in 1964 in Ohio. It was a flight that started a new era for indoor body flight. The first wind tunnel intended for people to fly in was built in 1978 by John St Germain who wanted his children to experience freefall in what he considered being a safer environment.

Since then, indoor skydiving has progressed significantly. Dozens of wind tunnels now exist in the world and many of those are intended solely for the use of skydivers and those who want to experience body flight. Skyventure at Skydive Perris was one of the first wind tunnels for skydivers and remains one of the only wind tunnels situated on a skydiving drop zone. You can find out more about our wind tunnel here.

1978: The Three Ring Release System

The three-ring release system was invented by Bill Booth and patented in 1978 as a means of attaching (and detaching) a canopy from its harness.

It is accepted by skydivers that their main parachute doesn’t always work. This is why modern skydivers jump with a spare, or reserve parachute. But in order to use their reserve, skydivers must first detach the malfunctioning main canopy.

Prior to the invention of the three-ring release system, this detachment was done using capewells, which were cumbersome and could malfunction themselves. The three ring system makes cutting away the malfunctioning parachute much quicker and easier; this is because the design of the system means the mechanical advantage is multiplied by each ring in the series, allowing for the force needed to cut away to be greatly reduced.

The 3-ring is widely recognised as one of the greatest safety innovations in the history of skydiving.

1982: AFF Gets Approved by the USPA

Traditionally, skydiving students learned to skydive solo via static line, which meant that their initial jumps did not include any freefall time. Although there are positives to this method, the downfall was that their eventual introduction to freefalling was a bit rocky. The solution to this was allowing instructors and students to jump out solo, but alongside one another. If a student was unable to nail the freefall alone, it was common for an instructor to jump out with them while holding onto their harness. This is essentially what a modern-day Accelerated Freefall (AFF) jump is!

The issue arose because people were doing this despite the Basic Safety Requirements (BSRs) of the USPA. In 1970, Paul Poppenhager was granted a waiver to the BSRs and was permitted to use freefall as a way to train solo skydiving students at his dropzone.

Today, AFF is the primary method of teaching solo skydivers. It is the most comprehensive and efficient way to train new jumpers. And yes, it’s approved by the USPA. Thanks, Paul!

1980s: Tandem Skydiving Receives Sport Status

Tandem skydiving is a type of skydiving where the ‘student’ jumps from a plane attached to a qualified instructor, sharing one set of parachuting equipment between them. These days, tandem skydiving is the most popular way to experience the first jump – but it’s not always been that way!

In the early 80s, tandem skydiving was still in ‘experimental’ status. This means it was being tested but had yet to be classified as a full sport. The FAA (Federation Aviation Administration) waived the experimental status, opening the door for tandem skydiving to grow in popularity.

1989: Invention of the Cypres AAD

As skydiving has progressed, there have been significant improvements in the safety of the sport. The invention of the Cypres AAD is recognized as one of the most important of these safety innovations.

An AAD, or automatic activation device, is a small device which monitors air pressure and speed. It automatically opens the reserve parachute if it finds it is still falling at freefall speeds by a given altitude. This means that it will ensure the skydiver has a parachute over their heads even if they are knocked unconscious or lose altitude awareness during their descent.

Prior to the invention of the CYPRES, there were a number of AADs on the market but none were considered reliable. Today, the majority of skydivers use AADs, primarily from CYPRES and its rival company Vigil.

1991: Point Break Brings Skydiving to the Masses

Point Break was a film first released in 1991 and later remade in 2016. Its storyline revolved around an FBI agent who goes undercover to catch a gang of surfers who might be bank robbers.

In a plot similar to that of the later film, Cutaway, the main protagonist finds himself drawn into the adrenaline-fuelled lifestyle of the criminals he has been sent to catch. The group persuades the lead character, played by Keanu Reeves, to ‘jump from a perfectly good airplane’ in a scene which shows the skydivers talking to one another mid jump and having an awesome time!

Point Break was one of the first major box office hits to show skydiving, bringing the sport to the masses (although its viability as a true representation of skydiving is questionable!).

2006: 400-Way Formation Skydiving World Record

On February 8, 2006, 400 skydivers crushed the world record for formation skydiving in Udon Thani, Thailand. This is arguably one of the most important moments in skydiving history, because of the sheer amount of inspiration it spread across the skydiving community.

Records of this nature pose questions like: What else is possible? Can we go even bigger and better? And, how did they achieve something so incredible? This accomplishment wildly inspirational for avid skydivers and novices, alike. Inspiration in the sport is integral for growth, which brings us to the next two notable moments in skydiving history…

2012: Felix Baumgartner Shatters The Sound Barrier

In 2012, Felix Baumgartner was the first person to break the sound barrier in freefall. He jumped from 38,969.4 meters above the earth, meaning his fall from the stratosphere was 24 miles above the earth. We would like to express our deepest condolences to Felix’s loved ones, as he passed away in 2025. Long live the legend!

2014: Alan Eustace Does The Highest Freefall

Alan Eustace holds the record for world highest freefall. He fell from a height of 135,890 feet in 2014. He also shattered records for maximum vertical speed with a drogue (822mph!) and distance of fall with a drogue.

Are you Ready to Skydive?

Skydiving is an amazing experience and one which has evolved over more than 500 years. Each year, approximately 500,000 people in the US try skydiving for the first time. Today, more than 10 million men and women throughout the country can say they’ve made at least one skydive.

If you’re ready to join them, book your tandem skydive today. If you’ve got any questions, our team is here to help – contact us!

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What’s the only thing to rival the feeling of falling for someone? Falling with someone, naturally! That makes a shared skydiving experience the best Valentine’s Day gift you can give. And–because we’re hopelessly in love with love–we’re offering a special Valentine’s special that will put an end to your quest for unique Valentine gift ideas.

From now until February 28th, Skydive Perris is offering a Couple’s Valentine’s Special for only $408 that includes:

• 2 flights (each) in our indoor skydiving wind tunnel;
• 2 tandem skydives;
• and a meal at our onsite restaurant and bar

You and your valentine will begin with flying in our Indoor Skydiving Simulator where you’ll experience the sensation of freefall without being attached to an instructor. After your indoor skydiving experience, you’ll go tandem skydiving from 12,500 ft. Finally, finish up your unforgettable Valentine’s adventure with a meal at The Bombshelter Restaurant & Bar. Sure, that’s a discount and we love discounts–but there’s so much more magic at work here than that. Here’s why a tandem skydive is the Valentine’s Day present you’ve been looking for.

1. Science Confirms: Skydiving Beats Chocolate And Roses, Hands-down.

Okay, so you’re more creative than a chocolate-and-roses-for-Valentine’s-Day kinda lover. But if you’re reaching for a gift that you have to put a bow on, you’re still missing the point–and that’s not just us talking. That’s science. Studies confirm that the best Valentine’s Day gift isn’t a wrap-upable thing. It’s an experience.

The Cornell University Department of Psychology conducted a study that determined, conclusively, that experiential purchases result in “more enduring happiness” than the same amount of money spent on possessing something. It didn’t seem to matter what that “something” was.

According to the Cornell study, gifting experiences provides significantly more pleasurable anticipation and much longer-lasting feelings of satisfaction and delight than a new possession. While an owned thing becomes normalized, no matter how spectacular, a memory lives on in our minds and hearts in a way that doesn’t lose value over time.

How cool is that? Thanks, science.

2. Skydiving Makes An Impression Like No Other.

Think about this: A gift says as much about the giver as it does about the receiver, no? A giver who chooses the safest possible option (say: a dozen roses and a box of chocolates) is likely to have personality traits that thematically match that choice. A giver who heads to the jewelry counter is, whether he/she knows it or not, communicating something about disposable income. And–of course–a giver who boxes up a few scraps of lace sewn together with a bit of ribbon is also making a personal statement.

Your choice to give your Valentine a shared skydive is a statement, as well–and we think it’s the best possible statement you could make. You’re saying that you’re excited to share new experiences, that you take well-managed risks and that life around you is never going to be a bore.

3. Skydiving Is The Most Memorable Date.

Dinner and a movie? Yeah–nope. Your love story is way more epic than that.

You and your main squeeze in a 360-degree, three-dimensional, surround-sound experience of southern California. Together, you’ll be introduced to a sport that has enthralled–and continues to enthrall–millions of adventurous hearts the world over. And, if you’re anything like most of the new skydivers we meet every day, you’ll spend the rest of your date leaping around like jubilant puppies, bopping around with enormous smiles as you enjoy a triple shot of confidence, creativity and joie de vivre. (Also: those butterflies in your stomach have a decidedly erotic afterburn. Just sayin’.)

The infinity-and-beyond emotional slingshot of an indoor skydive and tandem skydive twangs the jumper’s heart far above our standard 12,500’ exit altitude, delivering a hit of inspiration that you two are going to be talking about for years after the fact.

Come to Skydive Perris and create a Valentine’s Day memory that’ll last for always. Here’s to love!

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How safe is skydiving? It’s one of the first questions you ask as a first-time tandem skydiver, and rightly so–after all, the idea of stepping out the door of a plane in the air is more than a little daunting. Will you really make it back to the ground in one (happy) piece? Here we address the underlying questions to give you a better idea of the safety of skydiving.

Is Skydiving Safe?

Fact: While there is a small risk of injury, or even death when skydiving, there is a greater statistical risk involved in your morning commute, it’s just a less dramatic example.

We take risks every day. Some are more pronounced than others, of course: riding a motorcycle, walking through a sketchy neighborhood alone at night, SCUBA diving, etc. Even more normalized activities–like the aforementioned morning commute–carries a risk. While jumping out of an airplane in flight might seem like a riskier thing to do, it’s not as great as you probably imagine.

Living a risk-free life is impossible. Attempting to live a risk-free life, at the expense of the experiences that enrich it, is stifling. Taking measured, calculated, intelligent, life-affirming risks is the goal, and tandem skydiving fits that goal brilliantly.

Is Skydiving Scary?

Fact: Yes, but that’s one of the best parts.

Tandem skydiving is scary. But guess what? That’s exactly why you should do it. Jumping out of a plane, high above the “normal” world that you’ve gotten so used to, is to step far outside your comfort zone. Tandem skydiving lets you stretch your perspective; lets you see what you’re truly capable of. It’s magical and alchemical and absolutely unique.

What do the skydiving safety statistics say about the safety of the sport?

Answer: Unequivocally, they say it’s way safer than you think it is.

When you feel your heart pounding and your adrenaline surging in the door of the airplane, you can be assured that it’s for your enjoyment only. It has no real scientific basis.

The United States Parachute Association, of which Skydive Perris is a proud member, has been carefully collecting statistics for many years–and can mathematically prove that the safety of skydiving is not only significantly better than most “extreme” activities, it’s only getting better with time. (If you don’t believe us, look at these safety statistics.)

You’ll note that, according to the National Safety Council, a person is much more likely to be killed getting struck by lightning than he or she is to be killed on a skydive. In fact, that statistic references actual skydiving athletes, many of whom make a hundred jumps or more per month. Tandem skydiving is even safer!

Do You Care About My Safety?

Answer: One hundred percent yes.

There’s a difference when you skydive at a family-owned and operated business–the personal touch. Skydive Perris was started 40 years ago by husband and wife, Diane and Bennie Conatser who bought an old airfield in Perris and cultivated it into the thriving skydiving community it is today. Back in the 70s, their motto was ‘The Fun, Friendly Drop Zone that Cares.” Forty years later, the team at Skydive Perris is just as passionate about the sport of skydiving–and about offering new skydivers a safe, fulfilling experience that they’ll joyfully remember for always.

Skydive Perris demonstrates our dedication to our guests safety through continuous maintenance of our aircraft, careful upkeep of our equipment and the employment of eminently qualified instructors.

If you have any questions about skydiving safety, ask! We’re all about transparency, and we delight in showing our guests the safety procedures and guidelines that we follow. Don’t be shy!

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Many people don’t think they can skydive because they’re afraid of heights. We’re here to tell you that–as weird as it may sound–fear of heights doesn’t matter a bit on a skydive.

If you’re, like, that’s impossible, then calm down, Wiggum. It’s true! It might surprise you that being on a ladder will always feel more precarious than being in the door of a plane. It might also surprise you that skydiving will do nothing to directly cure your fear of heights–though it will help you address all kinds of fears, albeit in a systemic sense. If you’re ready to enter the weird and wonderful mystery house of skydiving and fear, we’re happy to take you on that journey. Just follow our lead.

1. Confirmed: It’s Not Maybelline. You Were Born With It

Snakes? Circus clowns? Zombies? Presidential candidates? Make no mistake, my friend: those are after-market fears. However, literally, every healthy human being was born with a fear of heights. It’s basic to our makeup. Whereas every other fear (except, interestingly, the dark) was added on afterward, we come out of the womb freaked out about high places. It’s called acrophobia, and the struggle is as natural as breathing. Evolution decided that dark and heights are the two things that humans need to be careful around from day one, hour one of our lives.

How do we know? Because of this classic acrophobia study. In it, scientists perched brand-new crawlers on top of one of two tables. These tables were set up a couple of feet from each other, with a sheet of crystal-clear plexiglass to form a table-wide bridge between them.

The baby’s mom was standing on the other side of the opposite table, encouraging baby to make his/her way across into her waiting arms. Even though the plexi was more than thick and wide enough crawl across, none of the babies were into it. Even that early on in their lives, with no previous experience of the feeling, their little brains already ordered them to stop. Baby ducks, however, didn’t even compute the difference between walking across an opaque solid object and a clear solid object. (Wings, therefore, are apparently the only scientific cure for a fear of heights.)

2. Making A Skydive Is A Lot Like Making That Crawl

Here’s the thing: jumping out of a plane is a lot like taking your place on one table and making your way across the plexiglass. Statistically speaking, even though it doesn’t feel like it when you’re standing in the door, you’re going to be just fine. With that first hesitant step, you’ll literally feel the support under you. And when you land, you’ll look back and think: Wow. That was way easier than I thought it would be. …I wonder what else in my life I’ve been unnecessarily hesitant about?

3. The Fear Isn’t What You Think It’s Going To Be

Think you’re going to freak out and freeze up? If you’re like most folks, no matter how scared you think you’re going to be, you’re not.

You see: From the open door of an aircraft cruising along at 12,500’ above the Southern California skies, the landscape below looks pivotally different than it does from that aforementioned bridge or cliff or building. In actual fact, it looks much like a Google Earth map. Since it’s the sense of depth that triggers acrophobia, and depth doesn’t exist from that angle, your fear of heights is going to remain essentially untriggered.

Make no mistake, however: you’re going to have feels. The sounds and sensations of putting on gear and going to altitude are very powerful!

4. It’s Going To Stay With You–As A Help Rather Than A Hindrance

Guess what? That fear of heights, which was carefully built into the structure of your brain, isn’t going anywhere. And that’s a good thing!

If you start talking to skydivers, you’ll notice that many of them are very keenly “afraid of heights.” These are the guys who can’t comfortably stand at a low bridge railing, who hesitate (or refrain) from walking close to the edge of any cliff, who even think twice before venturing up to the observation deck.

The difference is that the height-spooked skydiver is using their fear as a tool for personal optimization. Every time they walk to the aircraft door, they know that they’re up-leveling their confidence, optimizing their physical response to fear and building healthier perspectives on life’s daily challenges. Add all that up, and you’ll see the massive proportional benefits they’re reaping from their fear of heights.

So–how does all that strike you? Are you ready to strengthen your fear muscle and use it to move your personal mountains? We’re standing by to help! Book a tandem skydive near Los Angeles with the experienced team at Skydive Perris.

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Each year, millions of thrill seekers from all over the world experience skydiving for the very first time. The majority of these ‘first jumps’ are made in tandem with a professional skydiver and have allowed people to experience our fantastic sport without having to go through the extensive training required to become a licensed skydiver.

As one of the largest skydiving centers in the US and Los Angeles area, Skydive Perris has accompanied hundreds of thousands of adventure seekers on their first-ever jumps. Given how often we get asked about the safety of tandem skydiving, we felt it was important to address this issue and ultimately give our guests some insights about the safety statistics of tandem skydiving and what goes into it.

Tandem Safety Statistics

The USPA (United States Parachute Association) is the USA’s governing body for the sport of skydiving. They oversee safety guidelines for its member skydiving centers, and they also record and track statistics relating to safety.

With only 0.003 student fatalities per 1,000 tandem jumps over the past decade, tandem skydiving is classified as the most risk-averse from all disciplines of skydiving (wingsuit, free flying, canopy piloting, etc.) At Skydive Perris, we have an impeccable safety record at our skydiving school and have never had a tandem student fatality in almost 40 years of operation.

Statistically, tandem skydiving is safer than it’s ever been and millions have found this risk to be at an acceptable level. However, it is important to point out that tandem skydiving still poses a risk and cannot be deemed 100% safe.

The role of any skydiving center should be to minimize risk as much as possible. The process of reducing risk is not exclusive to the following, but these are huge factors: qualification of instructors, use and maintenance of skydiving equipment and ongoing maintenance of aircraft. These three objectives are at the highest of our priority list.

Tandem Instructor Qualifications

To become a tandem instructor, candidates must fulfill pre-requisites before they can enroll in the rigorous tandem instructor training course. Candidates must have at least three years of skydiving experience, have completed 500 jumps, and be in good health as signed off by a medical doctor. At Skydive Perris, we require our tandem instructors to have a minimum of 1,000 jumps, which is double the national minimum required. Many of our instructors have several thousands of jumps and numerous years of experience in the sport.

Once enrolled in the tandem training course, candidates will be put through their paces, completing a series of evaluations and exams to achieve their USPA rating.

Technological Advances in Equipment

The technology behind skydiving equipment has only improved with time, and new developments have improved the overall safety of the sport.

When making a tandem skydive, you jump with two parachutes. A ‘main’ parachute and a ‘reserve’ parachute. If there is a problem (albeit rare) with the main parachute, the instructor can release it and deploy the reserve parachute. The reserve must be inspected and repacked every 180 days whether it is used or not.

Additionally, all of our tandem systems are outfitted with an automatic activation device (AAD). This device is a computer that measures descent rate (speed), and altitude. In the unlikely event, the parachute is not deployed by a safe altitude, the AAD will automatically deploy a reserve.

The skydiving equipment we use today and the advanced technology behind it are yet another reason why skydiving statistics have improved.

Have Questions?

Skydive Perris is dedicated to delivering the best skydiving experience in the world, and that begins with answering all of your questions. Please feel free to contact us with your questions, we’d be more than happy to answer them.

Skydiving Los Angeles

If you’re ready to skydive the Los Angeles area with confidence, we’d love to welcome you to Skydive Perris. We are proud of our highly qualified team and know that you’ll feel comfortable in their experienced hands.

Book your tandem skydive online today, or get in touch if you have any questions!

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When, where, why and how did you make your first skydive?

Officially Aug. 1981 at Elsinore Para Center on a static line with a T-10 main and belly reserve. Some friends from work were going and invited me to go watch, not jump! Two weeks later myself and another co-worker decided to give it a try. I usually say my skydiving career started in Sept. 1990 though. My neighborhood buddies saw my first jump picture hanging in my house and the next thing I know I was volunteered to organize a skydiving trip. Out of the 9 who went myself and my friend Jeff stuck with the sport.

How many total jumps do you have and how many of these do you estimate are jumps with students?

I recently made jump number 10,000 and would guess that approximately 8,000 of those were with students. That wouldn’t count the static line/IAD dispatches I’ve done.

How did you get into instructing and what do you love about it?

In 1991 I put a video camera on my helmet to show friends what the view looked like on a jump. After about 25 jumps with the camera the DZO where I was jumping told me if I put a still camera on I could film tandems. I said no thanks. He said I would get $25 a jump. I had a still camera the next weekend and started filming students. I think I had about 125 jumps at the time. I saw how the students emotions went from fear prior to the jump to excitement during and to total jubilation after and decided I wanted to be a part of that experience. Shortly thereafter I started looking into getting my instructional ratings. In 1992 I got my initial rating as a Static Line JM. I followed that with a Tandem rating in 1994, an IAD rating in 1996 and finally an AFF rating in 1999. Without a doubt that was a tough one as I was unsuccessful in my first two attempts but finally achieving it in April 1999. I received a patch and a t-shirt. We commonly referred to this as our $1500 AFF-I t-shirt! In my case it was worth a bit more!

You’re an S&TA and the chief instructor at Skydive Perris, can you describe a typical day at work?

Don’t know if there is a typical day. As an S&TA most might think I’m out looking for someone breaking a DZ rule. But I’m not. Most of my duties as an S&TA is involved with administering license exams, verifying rating renewals, researching USPA BSR’s/recommendations or following up with the USPA when a jumper wants to know why he/she hasn’t received their license or rating yet. The only time we’re really visible is when we do have to have a talk with someone about a possible infraction. As a Chief Instructor it’s more of the same only centered more towards the student program. I try to keep the school program running smoothly. It could be dealing with a student who is questioning the way he is being evaluated by an instructor, running a new instructor through orientation to looking for replacement ear buds for the student radios. One of my responsibilities is watching student videos to ensure that we, the instructors, are following our safety practices. I don’t think anybody knows just how much time goes into that. That’s because the videos show they don’t need to be reminded.

You’ve taken many paraplegic and quadriplegic people on tandem skydives, how do these jumps differ to regular tandem skydives?

These are by far some of the most rewarding jumps I do. Because so many people with physical limitations are used to hearing ‘you can’t do that’ in everyday life that it can be such a emotional joyful experience if you can say ‘Yes, you can!’ to a tandem skydive. The biggest difference between a regular tandem and a special care tandem is the pre-jump preparation time. I like to meet the jumper and assess their limitations and brief them on the procedures including the use of a pulley system that lifts and locks their legs into suitable position for landing. I want to make sure they’re comfortable with the procedures, equipment and me. If they have an attendant or family member with them I usually rely on them for assistance during the gear up process. When boarding we need help lifting the passenger up into the plane from the loader and or other instructors. Generally we sit back by the door instead of up front as it makes it easier to move into position for exit and we’ll exit first. Probably the hardest part is setting up in the door as I have to support my weight, the passenger and gear.  Once out the door it’s pretty much business as usual until after opening. An able bodied passenger would be able to lift their legs for landing whereas a paraplegic or quadriplegic isn’t. I use a pulley system that’s attached to their legs at the knees that allows me to lift their legs and locks them in place. With their legs already in a suitable position it’s one less thing I have to worry about on landing. This was designed in part by a friend of mine, a paraplegic, when she was skydiving. Under canopy I try and let them do as much as possible just as I would with any other tandem passenger including steering the parachute if they can. If we’re sliding in the landing I’ll lean back a little and they shouldn’t even come close to touching the ground. There’s always that feeling of excitement and celebration when anyone lands after their first jump, but I feel the vibe is just a little stronger with a special care tandem. Smiles are bigger, hugs are longer, cheers are louder and yes sometimes there are tears flowing.

You’re also an instructor examiner for Tandem, Coach, AFF and Static Line, what is involved in getting these ratings?

First you must meet the requirements for each IE rating sought. For example, to attain an AFF IE rating you must have 500 AFF jumps, taught 50 FJC’s, conducted 50 AFF evaluation jumps in an AFF Instructor Rating Course and taught a AFF Instructor Rating Course under the supervision of a current AFF IE. There are similar requirements for all the Examiner ratings. In addition a candidate must attend the Instructor Examiner Rating Course for any Examiners rating sought. The process can be quite lengthy but the experience and knowledge you gain makes it all worthwhile. I believe it took me almost 3 years to attain my AFF IE. I am very lucky to know and have worked with some of the finest people in the sport who assisted me throughout my process by allowing me to work under their guidance and sharing their knowledge. Tom Noonan from UPT, Chuck McHugh from Strong Ent., Yong Chisholm (the sexy Korean Goddess) and especially Jay Stokes who I did the majority of my internship with. Without the help of these fine folks I don’t think I’d be where I am today. The fact is I’m still learning as I had the opportunity to sit through an IERC with Jay in March. I’m also paying back as I have been working with new evaluators and recently had one attain his AFF IE rating. It’s a good feeling!

What is your favorite part about making new instructors?

When I’m on a student jump, an AFF or filming a tandem, with a instructor who went through my course and I see that big wide-eyed smile on their face in freefall!

What is it about Skydive Perris that makes you want to work and play here?

#1 it’s a first class facility! It has everything for the skydiving community with a family friendly atmosphere. Huge landing area, plenty of aircraft, shaded packing area, restaurant and pool. A range of styles or disciplines to choose from, P3 events, Mark & Darryld jumps, freeflying and wingsuits, (yes, I like wingsuiters). A school that I think sets the standards with an excellent curriculum, experienced instructors, well maintained student gear and an excellent safety record. Most importantly a DZ leading the way when it comes to safety.

What has been your favorite jump to date?

Jumping onto a private beach in St. John’s, Virgin Islands with the Flying Elvi comes to mind. Doing a tandem certification course with the USAF out of a C-130 Hercules would be up there. A sunset load over the Sea of Cortez, in Puerto Penasco Mex., and landing on the beach with a margarita waiting for me was fun. But the most fulfilling had to be Jump For The Cause 2000 at Skydive Perris. I was the Tandem Instructor on a 35-way formation with a tandem in the base. My dear friend Coral Degagne was the passenger. We were celebrating Coral’s 35 birthday with a 35-way and in the process raised $50,000 for spinal cord research. Coral, who suffered a spinal cord injury as a teenager, had been jumping since her mid-twenties and had approximately 250 jumps, all tandems, at that time. It was my first time in the Parachutist magazine, a cover shot! What made it so special, besides the money raised, was the support from the skydiving community. From the Mfg’s. to the sponsors, skydivers on the formation or those just there to cheer us on and Skydive Perris who had faith that we could pull this off safely. It was fun, but exhausting day!

What canopies do you jump and why?

I presently jump Performance Design canopies. Katana 120, a Storm 135 & 150 and a Spectre 190.  I have jumped other makes of canopies but from my early days of skydiving I’ve always liked PD products. Aside from making fantastic canopies they have, in my opinion, great customer service. The Katana is basically my everyday canopy. Great openings, fun to fly. The Storms and Spectres I use for course evaluation jumps as sometimes candidates have their hands all over me at deployment time and these canopies aren’t as sensitive and twitchy. I still have a PD 230 that along with my 190 I use for demos.

What advice do you have for anyone who is thinking about becoming an instructor?

PREPARE! Do the course pre-requisites listed on the proficiency card prior to attending any rating course. Not completing the pre-course requirements may prevent you from attending the course.

Work on your flying skills. With the exception of a SL or IAD rating course you will be tested and evaluated on your flying skills. With so many disciplines today in the sport many skydivers forget the basics when flying on your belly. Spend time before the course to hone your skills. For an AFF rating course one of the best ways is attending a pre-course. Arrive at the course relaxed with an open mind ready to learn. It takes more than just great flying skills to be a good instructor. And remember that even if you aren’t successful at a course you have still gained something…knowledge, and this will definitely help you down the road. Oh, and did I say PREPARE??

When you’re not skydiving, how do you like to spend your spare time?

Spare time?? What’s that? Actually I recently started riding again. I’ve been riding motorcycles since when I was in Jr. High School. Mini bikes, dirt bikes and eventually onto street bikes. I’ve owned a Yamaha and Hondas but now prefer Harleys. I’m not into riding fast, but prefer to cruise and enjoy the scenery. There are a few local Perris jumpers who like to ride so I hope to get a group together and do some riding this summer. I also scuba dive, go to concerts and  go to museums of history. Some of my favorites were the Smithsonian, the Louisville Slugger museum and the Frazier History museum both in Louisville, KY. And now that the Rams are back in town I plan on watching a lot of football this upcoming season.

Tell us something that is little known about yourself?

In high school and college I played bass guitar in a rock band, Rogue Star, (I didn’t come up with the name!). We played cover songs at local parties. Didn’t make a lot of money but it was a great way to get free beer and meet girls! And I spent three years as a hospital cook which is why to this day I don’t eat in hospital cafeterias!

Sum up James Perez in 5 words or less.

Imperfect, (but aren’t we all?), reliable, fair, huggable (is that one or two words?)

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Tandem skydiving is something you’ve always wanted to do, but how do you know where you should go? If you’ve never jumped before, you don’t know what you don’t know and we hope to shed some light on what to consider when selecting the right dropzone (the place where you skydive). 

Choosing Your Skydive Center

Pick a reputable drop zone as not all skydiving centers are the same. Having a great experience is more than just exiting a plane.

Your first step in selecting the right skydiving center is to determine whether the facility is a member of the United States Parachute Association (USPA). These DZ’s are mandated to follow the basic safety requirements as set forth by the USPA. If the skydiving center is not a USPA member, then essentially, they can create and follow their own rules… not always the best idea when it comes to this activity.

Aside from the actual experience of tandem skydiving, customer service can make or break the enjoyment of your first skydive and USPA affiliation doesn’t promise this. The last thing you want to do is to spend money and be paired with an instructor who isn’t passionate about what he/she is doing. Be sure to check out Yelp and Google reviews for guidance.

Another consideration to factor is the aircraft type and the altitude a skydiving center jumps from. There is a considerable variance in exit altitudes based on the aircraft type being used. Remember altitude is your friend! The higher the tandem skydive, the longer the free fall! Often, if you see prices for skydiving that seem abnormally low, question the exit altitude. Often, altitude is compromised when lower prices are advertised.

Planning Your Tandem Skydive

Once you’ve chosen where you’d like to skydive, you need to choose when.

In some states, skydiving is seasonal, so check this out on your center’s website. SoCal is skydive-friendly all seasons. At Skydive Perris we are lucky enough to jump year round. We recommend booking your jump early in the morning, if possible. Weather is typically better for skydiving in the morning, making for a better experience and prettier pictures.

Sharing your tandem skydiving experience only increases the fun! So, encourage friends to book tandem skydives too and take to the skies together in the same aircraft. If your friends/family don’t want to skydive, take them anyway! Spectators are always welcome and a cheering crowd as you land will make you feel on top of the world (again).

Making Your Tandem Skydive

On the day, wear comfortable clothes such as a t-shirt and shorts and sensible footwear like sneakers. Make sure to eat as you would normally and don’t skip a meal. This avoids low blood sugar (that can make you feel unwell with the adrenaline). Don’t be on a tight schedule. Commit the day to your tandem skydive, even if you have booked early. Weather delays can occasionally occur. Even with no delays, it’s best to take your time on the drop zone and make the most of it.

Chat to regular skydivers – you’ll hear some great stories. Watch people landing, even better, whilst enjoying a post-jump celebratory beer.

Skydiving Los Angeles

Wherever you decide to go tandem skydiving, these tips will help to ensure you have the best experience possible. If you are looking to tandem skydive in SoCal, we think we’re a pretty great place to do it, here’s 7 reasons why skydiving is great at Skydive Perris. 

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If you have booked your first skydive, or are thinking about making one, the fear factor is probably playing on your mind. We get asked “Is skydiving scary?” all of the time. The answer is yes… and no. Here, we take you through the process from booking your first skydive to landing and some of the fears you’ll face during the process. We also offer some tips to help overcome your fears. 

Booking Your Skydive

The moment you hit the ‘book now’ button is when things start to get real and you experience that first rush of butterflies. You’re going skydiving! You’ll be thinking about it every day until you arrive at the drop zone, which only exacerbates your feelings of apprehension. 

Arriving at the Dropzone

Once you pull into the parking lot, the reality of what you’re about to do hits you. It’s really happening! Your ambition to be a skydiver is about to be fulfilled. Feeling excited and nervous, you approach registration with your heart rate more elevated than it’s been since you made your booking. 

Seeing People Land

As you await your jump, you will see people landing their parachutes. They are on the other side of their skydives. Soon, you will be under canopy as well navigating back to the landing area. There go those butterflies again!

Gearing Up

Now it’s feeling VERY real. Your tandem skydiving instructor is adjusting your harness and giving a final talk through of the jump. Your mind is racing. You get on the plane and it takes off.

Moving Towards the Plane Door

This is it. The moment has arrived. In a matter of seconds, you will be outside that door, and there will be no floor beneath your feet. As you approach the door, your fight-or-flight instincts are on full tilt. You’ve been trained and you know this is part of the challenge, but this will be the most nerve-racking moment of the entire experience. Deep breath… it’s time to skydive! 

Is Skydiving Scary?

As you leave that plane, something magical happens. Your fear stays in the plane and you are free of it. In fact, you feel the most freedom you have ever felt in your life.

You are totally in the moment and it feels amazing.

Your instructor deploys the parachute and it all slows down. You come into land and all your friends and family are cheering you on. With so much build up to the jump, you realize that the scariest part of skydiving was anticipating it rather than actually doing it. 

You defeated your fear of skydiving and you are exuberant because you know what it feels like to fly.

Tips for Reducing Your Fear

Here are some top tips, from a regular skydiver, for managing your fear of skydiving:

Knowledge is Power

Peruse our FAQs page. These are the most common questions we receive. They are a great source of information to better educate yourself about the experience and to allay your fears.

Arrive Early

Your first skydive is not an experience you want to rush. Make a day of it. Chat to locals about why they love skydiving. Enjoy the atmosphere. Watch who is jumping. You’ll see that those who jump regularly are just like you and you’ll see them loving the experience! It will build your confidence! 

Accept Your Nervousness

Skydiving will induce fear, it’s natural, so embrace it. We all feel it, even after thousands of jumps. Accepting that you will be nervous gives you one less thing to worry about.

So, is skydiving scary? In the end you’ll have to be the judge, but if all the smiles are any indication, our guests tell us the same thing… everything that leads up to it can be scary, but the skydive itself is amazing!

Still have questions? Give us a call! We’d be more than happy to share what you can expect in greater detail. You can reach us at +1 (951) 657-1664.

If you are looking to make your first skydive near Los Angeles, Skydive Perris is the premier destination for LA skydiving and Southern California. 

With the best coaches and staff, best planes, onsite bar, and our own indoor skydiving facilities, we are the dropzone of choice for Hollywood movies and production and skydiving champions alike.

We hope to see you soon!

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