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Safety is stated as an important component at Start Skydiving. The 2022 season begins today, March 5, with US Parachute Association Safety Day. Lots of skydivers here to refresh and renew important knowledge. The folks that work at Start Skydiving are knowledgeable and dedicated to their craft. Which is a major component, in my mind anyway, that make it the number one drop zone in the Nation!
I couldn't have asked for a better first time skydiving than the experience I was given here. Such a wonderful crew filled with adrenaline junkies who want nothing more than to share their excitement with you! We scheduled our jump time for 12PM, so we showed up at 11:30 to register. The guy who registered us was absolutely fantastic - funny, sarcastic, informative, and so personable. Once we finished, we headed into the main room where all the instructors, gear, etc were stationed. We didn't know where to go at first, so the guy up front told us to walk around and chill until our names showed up on the TV screen. There is a monitor listing the planes, passengers, and wait times on it. Our names weren't on the list yet, so we played foosball and cornhole to pass the time. Once our names were on the board with about twenty minutes until boarding, our instructors greeted and geared us up. Even if you don't pay for a video package, the instructor still takes a GoPro with them to document your jump...which is a good tactic because you're more likely to buy the video afterwards once you see it playing back! It took us 2 hours after our scheduled jump time to actually board, so not too bad. Go as early as you can to avoid super long delays. Once we were in the plane and getting close to the proper altitude, all the instructors got everything ready and explained the proper form when exiting. The free fall is indescribable. It was amazing, but it's something you have to experience yourself to understand! My instructor, Rodrigo, let me take control of the handles once the chute was pulled, which was cool. He took control again when we were close to landing and he did it perfectly. It was fantastic! I don't know how long the entire skydive lasted. Time isn't really on your mind when you're plummeting towards the Earth! We played the plinko game after we jumped and got a free appetizer for Bourbon's Craft Kitchen. Because I checked in on Yelp, I got $10 off the video package, so be sure to do that! Overall, I had a phenomenal time. If I had to suggest anything for next time, it would be for the instructors not to spin so much during free fall. Or at least ask the tandem jumper if they get sick easily. I spun a little bit and it made me kind of queasy, but that's okay. I would 10000% recommend this place if you want to skydive. You won't regret it!!
We loved skydiving with Start Skydiving this morning! From scheduling our jump online to actually jumping out of a plane, the entire experience was smooth, easy, and just made me want to hop right back on the plane for a round 2! My husband is a quadriplegic and can't move his legs so we love that Start Skydiving has a special jumpsuit that allows the tandem instructor to strap onto your legs to help ensure a safe landing. The fact that they provide FREE skydiving if you are terminally ill or permanently disabled is simply the icing on the cake! Now, on the actual day of, our instructors, Phil and Brian, were the epitome of professionalism right from the start. They cut no corners to ensure that we were properly harnessed and ready to jump! They communicated clearly and effectively to make sure we knew what to expect and what to do. Our videographers, Gila and Natasha, were so much fun and provided a much needed comedic relief prior to our jump. They worked as a team so that no part of my husband's transfer to the plane, take off, or jump went unrecorded per our request, which was so appreciated. The actual jump was amazing! The weather was a little cloudy so we could only jump from about 10K feet but that was okay because I don't anticipate this will be my last time skydiving ;) After our parachutes were deployed, both my husband and I were allowed to steer the parachute! The view was awesome and just being in mid air with nothing but a chute keeping you safe is an unbeatable experience! Like I said, I'm fairly certain this won't be my last time skydiving and, if I got the chance, I would dive here again in a heartbeat. Thank you Start Skydiving and especially to our awesome crew: Phil, Brian, Gila, and Natasha.
Total bucket list worthy! Stephen put me on a plane, then pushed me out if it! Aghhhhhh! One of my closest friend and I will never forget this memory that they made for us. The weather unfortunately did not work with us the way we wanted it to but they kept checking the forcast every 15min for updates. 4 Hours past our reservation jump time we suited up. Videos were great. Pictures.... the best. Smiles all around. Great people, best friend = 5 stars.
Great place to go for skydiving. Just like the name, we started with skydiving from here last weekend. It was our (I and my wife) first skydive, and for that matter first extreme adventure, and it became truly memorable, thanks to the folks here - especially the diving instructors. The location is good. About 40-45mins from downtown Cincinnati. Quite inside once you take the exit from I-71 North. There is a residential area on one side of the location but still a lot of free lands available on the other side. There is a free make-shift parking (pebble-surface) available close to their office. The registration process was quick and there was a lady who escorted us to the diving site. Depending upon the rush, you may be diving in 30mins to an hour. So, your registration time is NOT your dive time but they have a large LED that displays your aircraft time and your diving instructor's name so that you know when to be available at the site. They start preparing about 20mins before the dive is scheduled. Our instructors - Brian Marzluf and Kyle Whittier - were great. Kyle was very engaging and friendly but also very meticulous in ensuring all the required procedures are followed. He's great with pictures and videos based on the results in my DVD. The dive was very thrilling and the landing very smooth. On a sunny day, you get really breathtaking views at this location. Brian was great. However, my wife could smell cigarette while talking to him which made her a little uncomfortable. It's better if he quits smoking but otherwise, a better mouth freshener will do. In terms of handling the dive, he was great and meticulous. He could be better in photography and videography. At the time of dive, his hand was more towards left than in front of my wife, where we see Kyle was more effective and captured better shots. The aircraft was good with a seating capacity of 8. We had four divers and five instructors (and of course, two pilots). One of the instructors dived at about 8K feet. They take you till about 11-13K from where the plane stabilizes and the divers dive one after the other. You already start feeling the wind as soon as they open the door. The dive was one of it's kind of experience and landing was very smooth. They were quick with getting our photos and videos DVD which got ready in just about 20-25mins. Overall, definitely a great place to skydive if you're looking for an amazing experience.
I first went in Oct of 2009 at their Lebanon location with a group of friends. We were able to book as a group and get a discounted rate. It definitely helps to have other people you know there with you while you wait and wait... :) When you jump, if you are still on the adrenaline high, and not thinking all that straight, you have the option of pre-purchasing your next jump at a greatly reduced cost. (Currently that is $109) So, as you may have already guessed, I did just that. Here it is almost a year later and I need to hurry up and use my pass. I just jumped at their new location in Middletown. I really like their new location. It's a very nice facility. There is a large, comfortable, fenced in area to the left of the hangar as you approach that has seating and umbrellas to get you off your feet and out of the sun. Your friends and family not crazy enough to jump with you can patiently wait here and watch as you descend slowly from the sky. Currently, their only bathrooms are port-o-potties, but I hear that they are working on a restroom facility. You need to make a reservation for your "class time" online or you can call and do this over the phone. Then just show up, park and walk to the back side of the big, blue hangar, through the door marked: "enter here." If it's your first time, you will pass up the check in desk to your right, and walk straight back to the left to check in for your waiver and safety video. Once you have this paperwork complete, you will walk back up to the check in desk and they will process your payment and ask you to wait. They recommend expecting to be there for something between two and six hours. It all depends on how you line up with the available planes, your instructor's schedule, and the number of people wanting to jump. Honestly, the most difficult part of the whole process is the waiting and the anticipation. This is why having friends, family or something to occupy your time and mind is your best bet. Be sure that you've had something to eat, but don't eat a big meal right before you show up. Inside the hangar is a bustle of people filled with excitement. It's palpable. People are packing their parachutes to the right, to the front of the hangar, the group jumpers are practicing their stunts/routines or in many cases, engaged in group prayer. It can't hurt, I guess. ;) The experienced staff that will be jumping tandem with you are always upbeat, kind, and knowledgeable. They put you at ease immediately and are used to dealing with peoples' nerves or jitters. Everything is explained thoroughly throughout the process to keep you from having to think about it. You walk out onto the small airfield and stack into the tiny plane like sardines in an only slightly thicker can. It's a surprisingly long ride up to 12,500 feet. When the little plexiglass garage door is slid open and you can feel the air rushing by and see the ground below, it gets real. You shuffle off to the side, lean out, and on the count of three it's too late to change your mind. Arch back, don't panic, and breathe through your mouth. Better yet, scream in delight or fear, no one will be able to tell the difference and you can claim whatever you want when your wobbly legs are on stable ground again. After you reach a stable fall, you open your arms up and settle in for the fall. The chute gets pulled at 5,000 ft, so you have some time to take it all in. Let your instructor know if you want to do a standard jump from the plane or a tumble maneuver. If you are motion sick or particularly scared, I would avoid the latter. You may also do some horizontal spinning during the initial fall. If you aren't up for this, you may want to alert the guy on your back. If you want to pull the chute, talk about that before you make your way onto the plane. It's a great feeling when the chute opens and your breathtaking descent is suddenly and abruptly interrupted by what feels like being pulled upwards rapidly by your shirt. Then, settle in for a long, slow, lazy and serene glide to the ground. Again, there is the option to do some spinning at this point which can be slow or very quick. This is something you will want to discuss with the guy holding the reigns. The landing is easy and painless. The hardest part is not running back in and booking the next time slot. You will notice people of all ages, creeds, sexes, etc. Don't think this is only for the adrenaline crazed youth.
When I was 17 I wanted to go skydiving but was told you aren't allowed until you hit 18. When that happened I lost my nerve and put it off as one of those things I'd get to someday. Well, as I've gotten older my life list has gotten much much longer and sky diving still nagged at me because I've been over 18 for quite some time now. I was sitting at home when I got a text message. It was from my mom.."Did I tell you what I'm doing this weekend? I'm going skydiving! Wanna go?" I looked at the text, put my phone down and just sat there. You see, my mom is the most conservative woman ever. She doesn't take crazy risks, and often tries to get me not to either. So to get this text from her.. wow. Of COURSE I had to go. My first piece of advice.. get there EARLY!!! We were one of the first groups there and still had a short time to wait. If you get there later the wait gets longer and longer, so jump in the morning. When we arrived we had to go into a room and watch a safety video. You could feel the electricity in the air from all the people who were buzzing with excitement about their first jump. The t.v. comes on and starts going into the safety bit. I look up and there is a man talking very seriously about the risks of jumping out of a plane, who looks like he came out of a ZZ Top video. Come on now.. how can you take that man seriously?? Maybe he was there to ease the nervous tension? Once the video is over you go to the hangar and meet your tandem jumper. We got the video and photo package too so the videographer comes over and does a quick interview with you. You get suited up in your jumping outfit and then you wait for the plane. I was with a crazy spikey blonde haired guy who was perfect for this type of job. Sometimes you can just look at someone and know what they do.. you may not have been able to guess right away with him, but you'd probably come close with any extreme sport. He joked around with me and we headed to the plane. The plane ride is amazing and much smoother than a commercial flight. We all got quiet as we looked down at the land below us and took it all in. I watched my boyfriend who was strapped to an older man go first, then my mom as she snuck a quick glance back at me, and a wave.. and then it was my turn. We were on the edge of the plane and the videographer went first... We jumped and my breath was taken away for a moment.. When you first jump you're in a freefall and it doesn't feel like you are falling as fast as what you really are. It's incredible. It was raining so it was actually ice when it was hitting me.. The videographer was below me getting the expression on my face the whole time and the ground was showing up faster and faster... Finally he pulled the chute and we were ripped back upwards into the sky. You glide for a little bit and he let me take the handles to spin us around. It was the most peaceful feeling I've ever felt in my life. The landing was completely smooth as we slid in on our butts. It was the greatest experience of my life and I will definitely do it again someday. All of us came down with huge smiles on our faces and that was the coolest thing in the world to see.. my conservative mom standing there telling me she wanted to go again. Awesome. :) The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because I purchased the video and pictures. I didn't care about the video because I really only wanted to get pics but you can't buy them separate. Well the video turned out awesome, but there are absolutely 0 pics of me in the sky. I was so bummed. My mom got AMAZING still shots of her on her pics and I really wanted something to share with everyone besides a video. : ( The other thing is that another photographer snaps shots of you as you land and they take you back in the hangar to view the pics. These pics are separate.. and honestly if I could do it again I wouldn't buy them. You don't really need to because your videographer catches alot of the same pics. But if that's the only complaint I have.. well it was worth it. I loved the actual place and the jump. I will go back.
While I was visiting some friends in Cincinnati, OH, we attempted to jump in 2010. It seemed like the right time to celebrate: 1/ Celebrate being alive and kicking for three decades ( milestone birthday ). 2/ Celebrate my friends's undergraduate survival ( graduation ). We made a reservation online, and purchased four tandem skydive spots, and of course video of our jump. Have I mentioned I have a mild form of what's called " acrophobia ", that is fear of heights. I thought jumping from the sky might overcome my fear. We drove couple of hours to Middletown Regional Airport, and it was nice clear day to Jump! The staff at Start Skydiving were AWESOME, friendly and made us all feel comfortable. We checked-in and we were prepared to skydive. When our turn came up, our jump was cancelled due to inclement weather. They were so flexible to reschedule, and to transfer my spot to another friend, since I was just visiting Cincinnati. My friends did their jump few months later, and they highly recommend Start Skydiving. Four and halfYelps.
This place is absolutely wonderful. I had the best experience here. And considering it was my first time jumping out of a plane, I would say that is very important. Every single person I dealt with here was great. Super laid back atmosphere, but very safe. I paid about $135 for my groupon and an additional $99 for the video and stills (which is so worth it, trust me - if you go, GET THIS PACKAGE!!!!!) I plan on coming back and jumping with these guys again. I felt nothing but safe. Awesome experience. Amazing people. Great prices. :)
This was my first time skydiving, and I was definitely nervous. But the staff is super friendly and the chill attitude of all the "experienced" skydivers made it so easy! There isn't a lot of time to overthink the whole jumping out of a perfectly good airplane thing-- I was in and out of Start in a hour and twenty minutes. This even includes the 20ish minute wait for our dvds. Amazing! Definitely get some sort of video package! They offer three different kinds. I just got the video and stills done by a camera person for $100. The cheapest was 75$. My tandem instructor was insanely experienced. I asked how long he had been skydiving and he said over 10 years this was a "family profession" (mind you this guy looked to be early thirties, tops!) My bf's tandem instructor was equally as experienced at 10 years of jumps and walked us through the process and what to expect once in the air. If its your first time, Start Skydiving is no better place, if you've gone before wait and visit a place with nicer scenery.
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Great experience jumping out of a plane... However, their staff and process is confusing and unprofessional. I honestly didn't feel super safe or comfortable when we were in the hangar. Some of the paperwork, training video, and clueless check-in girl just made me feel sketchy. However, the guy I was tethered to answered all my questions and made me feel great as we suited up and jumped out of the plane. I guess my beef is with everything from the front desk, scheduling, paperwork, all the way to suiting up. Nice planes, good chutes, fun and kinda "radical" guys in this industry. Lots of "dude thats gnarly" type of talking. Guess it comes with the territory. The videos / DVD are totally worth it. If you're gonna drop $100 to jump out of a plane, pay the extra and video it cause you may never do it again! read more
12 years ago
What a great experience! Thrilling...I felt completely safe. You will wait -- be prepared -- changes in weather will affect the timing of your drop, but you want everything to be safe, right? My tandem instructor Gravy explained everything perfectly, so I knew what to expect...we had a great drop, and I will go back. Four stars because the front counter staff seemed a little bored and slow, and could've explained the process about waiting to us newbies a little better. read more
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More info about Start Skydiving
1711 Run Way
Middletown Regional Airport - Hook Field
Middletown, OH 45042
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(513) 422-5867
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http://www.startskydiving.com
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