Brochures say "3 months." Italian reality: it depends on frequency, weather, consistency. Three concrete scenarios with real numbers.
Fastest
6–8 weeks
4–6 jumps
Tropical paradises (Florida, southern Spain, Thailand) with consistent weather. Impossible in Italy due to variable weather.
Pros
Cons
Total estimate
~€3,500–5,500 all-in
Most common
4–6 months
2–4 jumps per weekend
Italy April–October. Classic format: leave Friday evening, jump Saturday/Sunday, home Sunday night. 30–40% of weekends cancelled by weather.
Pros
Cons
Total estimate
~€2,200–2,800 all-in
Longest
12+ months (sometimes 2 years)
1–2 jumps per month
Limited time/budget. You jump when possible, no cadence. Function: slow passion, not competitive goal.
Pros
Cons
Total estimate
~€2,500–3,200 all-in
In Italy April–October, expect 30–40% of jump weekends to be cancelled or reduced by weather. Ground wind > 11 m/s, low cloud cover, afternoon storms, morning haze: all block jumps.
Plan 50% more weekends than jumps needed: if you need 25 jumps, plan 12–15 effective weekends = 20–25 "attempt" weekends. In winter, weekends fall to 80% useless: northern Italian schools often close December–February.
School choice changes your timeline: more planes = more jumps/weekend, Southern schools = less dead weather.