Skydiving FAQ

A tandem is $230. The solo First Jump Course is $180, which includes your first jump, gear rental, and semester club dues.

We use only USPA-certified instructors, commercial-rated pilots, and equipment that meets and exceeds FAA and USPA guidelines. Every reserve parachute is repacked every 180 days by an FAA-certified rigger, even if it was never used. Each jumper carries a main parachute and a reserve.

Tandems exit at about 10,000 feet. First Jump Course static line jumps are from about 3,500 feet.

At Abilene Municipal Airport, 801 S Washington St, Abilene, KS 67410, just 2 miles south of I-70. It is within 30 minutes of Salina and Junction City, and about an hour from Manhattan.

Walk-ins are welcome for tandems, but booking a few days ahead helps us confirm instructor availability. A $50 deposit holds your spot when you book online.

Yes. Tandems are available almost every weekend. See our Tandem page for details, or email info@skydivekstate.com to schedule.

No. We are a registered student organization of Kansas State University, but we are open to everyone.

Absolutely. We encourage spectators. Just remember this is an airport, so please watch your children. Pets are discouraged, but if you bring one, keep it leashed and away from the parachutes on the packing floor. Most importantly, keep children and pets away from the propellers. If you walk into a propeller, you will die. It has never happened here, and we would like to keep it that way.

The Kansas State University Parachute Club (also known as Skydive K-State and Skydive Kansas State) is a group member of the United States Parachute Association (USPA), the national governing body for skydiving in the US. We teach using only USPA-certified instructors following USPA safety regulations. We use only commercial-rated pilots, many of whom are also certified flight instructors. Our airplane and equipment meet and exceed all FAA and USPA guidelines. Every reserve parachute is repacked every 180 days by an FAA-certified rigger, even if it was never used.

No alcohol may be consumed at the airport while we are skydiving, even if you are done jumping for the day. Once the day is over, join us in Abilene for dinner and drinks. Joe Snuffy's and La Fiesta are the club's usual post-jump hangouts.

We are not medical experts. If you have a question about your fitness for skydiving, please consult a doctor. If you are under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs, or narcotics, you will not be allowed to skydive.

For a tandem, this should not be an issue, but please tell your instructor the nature of your past injury. For solo jumps, you need full use of both arms to steer and land safely. If you have had a dislocated shoulder before, we do not recommend jumping solo, because opening forces can dislocate a weakened shoulder.

You must be at least 18 years old and weigh under 220 pounds. These limits are for legal reasons and, more importantly, your safety.

Weather-appropriate clothing with tennis shoes is best. Boots are fine, but avoid boots with shoelace hooks, as they can be a snag hazard.

Expect about 10 to 20 minutes covering aircraft safety, freefall body position, and landing. Your instructor handles the important stuff, so there is not much to stress about. Try to arrive about 30 minutes before your jump time to complete waivers and meet your instructor.

Usually about 30 minutes before your jump. You are welcome to show up sooner to hang out and watch the experienced jumpers.

All of our instructors have several hundred, if not thousands, of jumps, and their parachutes have opened on every one. In the extremely rare event of a problem with the main parachute, your instructor will release it and deploy the reserve. Scary as that sounds, every skydive is built with a large margin for exactly this, so even a main malfunction is not a big deal. Chances are excellent your skydive will be flawless. Parachutes are designed and packed to open, and that is just what they do. The reserve is packed every 180 days by an FAA-certified rigger. You can feel safe knowing you have two parachutes with you on your jump.

Yes, if time permits. Otherwise you are welcome to schedule another jump, or sign up for a First Jump Course if you want to get your solo license.

The $180 covers your instruction, your first jump, rental of the student gear for that jump, and club dues for the semester. There are no additional costs for your first jump. Subsequent training jumps average about $50, and you can earn your license in as few as 25 jumps. We also offer a package for jumps 2 through 6 for $180 total, gear rental included.

It is held in two parts. Friday evening, 6 to 10pm, in a room at the KSU Student Union (the exact room is announced for each course). Saturday morning, 8 to 11am, at Abilene Municipal Airport. You jump later that Saturday, as long as conditions are safe for first jumpers.

The classroom portion is typically at the KSU Student Union from 6 to 10pm on Friday. After you sign up, you will get an email with the room details. You can also find it on the Facebook event for your course date.

Yes. If you miss any part of the class, you miss training, so you would not be allowed to jump until you complete all of the required class work. Remember, the deposit is nonrefundable if you miss class.

We will try to tell you the next available opportunity. As a solo student, it is your responsibility to find a time to make your jump, and it is important to jump as soon as possible after class. We jump nearly every weekend the weather is good, and static line instructors are almost always available. Email info@skydivekstate.com to check availability, ask in our Facebook group, or watch the News page.

Usually between noon and 5pm, though we cannot guarantee an exact time. Weather, aircraft maintenance, or the unexpected may push your first jump to another day.

If you have not jumped within the last 30 days, you retake the Saturday morning portion at no cost (club dues apply if it is a new semester). If you have not jumped within 120 days, you sit through the entire course again at no retrain charge (dues apply if it is a new semester). Beyond 180 days, you sit through the entire course and pay a $20 instructor fee, plus dues for the new semester. Any jumps on your account stay there.

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