Skydiving in Suffolk

Why would you jump out of a perfectly good airplane? 

The folks at Skydive Suffolk, which is based at Suffolk Executive Airport, have an answer to this age-old question. 

"Skydiving is something that is extremely exciting if you're into thrills,” David Rosas, one of the instructors, said. “If you're into trying new things, pushing the envelope, this is the sport for you."

Few “sports” can match the adrenaline rush associated with skydiving. 

"It's so extremely amazing to see someone that's extremely nervous, extremely scared or terrified, and once we cross that threshold of leaving that airplane, everything goes away," Rosas said.

The sport is drawing more and more people to it.

Skydive Suffolk instructor Blaine Theriot said, "It has to do with people finding out about it and becoming popular.  Some of it has to do with it getting safer and safer as the years go by."

In 2018, there were more than 3.3 million skydive jumps – an increase of 100,000 since 2016.

Before takeoff, jumpers become acquainted with the equipment on board one of Skydive Suffolk’s planes.  They put on their gear by themselves, but they won't jump alone – first-timers and non-certified skydivers will have an instructor attached to them when they leap from the aircraft at 14,000 feet (more than two miles up in the air).

Rosas said, "We've got two parachutes in here.  If one of them doesn't work, we can get rid of it and use the backup.” 

In his nearly 5,700 jumps, Rosas said that he had to employ the backup chute only twice.

So, what’s the reaction after completing the first jump? 

Theirot said that for "Some people it's relief; some people it's, 'Oh man, that was amazing.  I'm super glad to be back on the ground.'”  And, then, there are the comments Skydive Suffolk loves to hear.  “Some people, they're like, 'I want to go back in the air right away.'"