Alot of info here so far, Ill just say this. Years ago a good friend of mine who owned a Pik 20, and was a master jumper, was selling his pik. He was a big guy, my size 230 6'2" he wore a square reserve and as he put it "its the largest square reserve I could buy". He sold it to me as my chute was way too small and rather old. Several of us went to a local jump school and did the ground school and a static line jump. I opted for the 5K jump so I could have time under canopy to steer and judge glides ect. I felt it was invaluable experience and am glad I did it.

I have not jumped since but still have one important memory. When they were talking about if the chute doesnt open, then pull the emergency handle. As I let go of the strut on the 182 and arched I was amazed how fast the plane got small and almost simultaneously I thought something should have been happening and a second after I was looking for the handle and then it happened. The chute opened! Yea! They had one way radios and although the jump master on the ground was directing my flight path to the ground, he would have had me overshoot the target, so I ignored him alittle and delayed my turn onto final by a few seconds and landed on the spot. I went down to one knee so flare timing was alittle late but all in all a very good experience.