I’ve done this in Michigan, former golden knights instructor as ornery as one could expect. Trying to save lives by harshly directing the students on procedures and risks. One lady couldn’t take the verbal abuse, was freaking out, quit and drove away. Probably saved her own life and others. Not cut out for this.
The plane had about 10 students plus the pilot. Having my PP certificate already, the plane looked old, rickety, and a counter argument to the “why would you jump out of a perfectly good plane to skydive?” aphorism. Felt kind of dumb and wonderful at the same time, had steerable chute and radio in the helmet so chief (field mom) could direct you from trees, power lines, etc. Never needed to go again.
I’ll take the Cessna 150 (or better) any day over 1960’s unpainted jump plane.
forgot key moment - you side at open door with feet dangling, then with signal, step out holding onto the wing strut, feet fluttering behind. You count then slide hands off strut and slip backward downward. After 3 seconds or so and tether pull, look up. Should see a billowing chute opening. If not, just look down and wait for alternate landing. (actually we had a safety backup chute where you land, roll and twist to not break your legs and back like in ww2. If it works, fella who packed it gets a “save”. 3000 saves or so for the mean jump master at the time with one fatality in many years, always “multiple, flagrant, violations of procedures and attention.”