philhartree 0 #1 January 16, 2002 So, there I was, on the last night of the holiday chatting to some english guy. Being a Brit myself on holiday in Lake Wales, Florida, it was nice to catch up with a fellow countryman. I was on holiday with 4 freeflyers and me, an 80 jump flat flyer. I was telling him what a great time jumping i had had, and the fact that the US is a litle more 'progressive' compared to the UK. I had gone to the US with the intenetion of getting my CAT10 / FS1 (formation skydiving qualification that allows you to jump with other jumpers) You also have to have this qualification if you want to freefly in the UK. As i didnt need the FS1 to freefly in the US, my mates persuaded me that I should freefly and do the FS1 back in the UK.It turns out this guy's an AFF instructor on the DZ. He said "well, come down tomorrow and i'll rally another 2 AFF instructors up and we can do your FS1 here" Only problem being we were planning to leave for the airport at about 11.00 "ok" he says "turn up at 0900, we'll brief the dive and jump it"I thought about it over night and came to the conclusion it was fate talking to this guy... I only needed to pay their slots and with jumps being cheaper than the UK, I thought it would be my best shot.I turned up at 9.00, briefed the jump, jumped it and was packed and saying my goodbyes by 11.00 It was my first jump of the day and last jump of the holiday and I had achieved my FS1. The qualification (for those of you that may not know) is a 4 point 4 way - I managed a 10 pointer, so i was really proud of myself - proud to bursting!!I had a load of new jumps to my credit too: first FF / big way sit / 100 jumps / CASA / tracking / tube / rodeo / camera / train / all good!I love this sport!Phil---If you have to ask, you don't understand Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 259 #2 January 16, 2002 Congrats! Consider yourself virtually pied for that 100th....Oh, and.... of course, how could I forget.....BEEEEEEERRRRRR!!!!!!pull and flare,lisa-- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RemiAndKaren 0 #3 January 16, 2002 Was it Andy? (dont know if he's still there)RemiMuff 914 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
philhartree 0 #4 January 16, 2002 Nah - a guy with the freakiest accent... he originated from the North East, alreet pet, went over to NZ for many years and is now in the US. His name is Neil Bradley IIRCPhil---If you have to ask, you don't understand Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
philhartree 0 #5 January 16, 2002 Of course... the case was put in it's rightful place.... on the smiley face!I'm a poet and i didnt even know it....All the time i speak in rhyme...Phil---If you have to ask, you don't understand Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
E150 0 #6 January 16, 2002 Congratulation - I know all to well how good it all feels. Nice one. Breaks the bank though. Is the US more progressive than the UK? I dont think you can get more pregressive that AFF (CAT 8) then SKY-U (CAT10/FS1). I think its fantastic progression. WARP is just a bit scrapy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #7 January 16, 2002 Congrats...Lots of milestones out of the way!!!"I got some beers....Let's Drink em!!!"Clay Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
philhartree 0 #8 January 16, 2002 I didnt mean skills progression... I mean a little less.... anal, i guess.... as i understand it... if you have your A licence in the US you can jump with anyone... none of this: "...well, you cant jump on this one cause we already have a CAT8 on it" or "...you cant do solo sit, coz u havent got your CAT10" As a result - it seems that things like FFing are available far earlier in the skydiving career...I know it;s safety and all... but i was jumping safely enough on large sit jumps and i think as ling as you have a good brief and get confidence with smaller jumps in the beginning - you can progess faster?Just my £0.02 (hehehehe i always wanted to do that) Phil---If you have to ask, you don't understand Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #10 January 16, 2002 "you can progess faster?"Definately....I don't know why anyone would try and regulate what you do on a SOLO jump. How are you supposed to learn to sit fly without just trying it........"I got some beers....Let's Drink em!!!"Clay Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
E150 0 #11 January 16, 2002 You can do a sit fly solo when you have an A licence. you juts have to have good FFF kit. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #12 January 16, 2002 "You can do a sit fly solo when you have an A licence"I'm also of the opinion that beginner solo sit flys are probably more dangerous than if they did a 2 way with someone that was good. I know I used to backslide 400 yds or more when I first started. If you are solo it can be pretty hard to tell what's going on."you juts have to have good FFF kit"That's always a good idea!"I got some beers....Let's Drink em!!!"Clay Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
philhartree 0 #13 January 16, 2002 i guess they do over here - either that or i misunderstood the notices on the notice board...Maybe it;s not the UK but individual DZsPhil---If you have to ask, you don't understand Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
philhartree 0 #14 January 16, 2002 The notice i saw at our DZ goes something like.... You can only sit fly if you are on a coached jump or have already attained FF1.... And seeing as you need FS1 to go to FF1 - that's no solo FFingPhil---If you have to ask, you don't understand Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #15 January 16, 2002 So whats the policy for Fereigners? If I came there and wanted to FF would I get static? I have 117 jumps at the moment..."I got some beers....Let's Drink em!!!"Clay Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RemiAndKaren 0 #16 January 16, 2002 Clay: they have pictures of you at Heathrow... skydiving would be the least of your worries When we moved to the UK, we never had any issues (but then again, we had about 600 jumps).And getting a C licence is as simple as getting the DZO to sign a form (dont knwo what it is in the US, but CDN is a bit more complicated)! AND, Karen send away for hers via mail, and we got her BPA "passport" type doohicky with the licence the next day! Now, I dont want to give too many compliments to the Brits, but that is FAST....RemiMuff 914 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #17 January 16, 2002 "Clay: they have pictures of you at Heathrow... skydiving would be the least of your worries"Yeah...they're just mad that I descimated their Guiness stocks the last time I stopped in Ireland..... They were beerless for weeks...Are they still holding that grudge?"I got some beers....Let's Drink em!!!"Clay Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
philhartree 0 #18 January 16, 2002 You know - i have no idea!Coz i'm pretty new to it all - i just keep my nose clean and go by the rules of the DZ - i'm a good boy i am!And i have more jumps than you too - but less posts Phil---If you have to ask, you don't understand Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #19 January 16, 2002 "but less posts"Loser...LMAO!!!!"I got some beers....Let's Drink em!!!"Clay Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #20 January 16, 2002 QuoteI had a load of new jumps to my credit too: first FF / big way sit / 100 jumps / CASA / tracking / tube / rodeo / camera / train / all good!All on the same jump, right?Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom.-General George Patton- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chickenhawk420 0 #21 January 16, 2002 If it ain't potatoes its the guiness, mmmmmm guiness extra cool...... pub time Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Sebazz1 2 #22 January 16, 2002 ________________________________________________first FF / big way sit / 100 jumps / CASA / tracking / tube / rodeo / camera / train / all good!________________________________________________Who do you owe all that beer to? The DZ you did the jumps at or the DZ at home? 9 cases of beer, yeah baby........SebazzI'm thirsty for some air and some brew......... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites E150 0 #23 January 17, 2002 Spent! You have to buy them there and then. Mind you we have a new A lic member who owes so much beer, he is providing for everyone at our Valentines meet this year! ROFL. I owe for landing on the runway . . twice! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites philhartree 0 #24 January 17, 2002 erm............i didnt want to be that much of a hog - so i spread it out over a few jumps... Phil---If you have to ask, you don't understand Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites cpoxon 0 #25 January 17, 2002 Phil,Firstly congratulations on getting your Cat. 10. I hope that with 3 AFF instructors on your four-way, they didn't make it too easy for you! :-P> I had a load of new jumps to my credit too: first FF / big way sit /How big is a big way? I find that the more jumps I do the smaller and smaller a group I want to be in, depending on who's in the group of course (although me being there is not a good start). Were you aware of where everyone was at all times? How close was the group through-out the dive and how much was it moving around? How and where did it break off?You say you with a group of freeflyers so I hope they were looking after you and making you aware of all this stuff, but it sounds like you had a lot going on and it's very easy to get carried away. Not trying to put a downer on all the things you've achieved but I thought I was safe in biggish groups until I had a collision and lost a helmet with camera. :-(> 100 jumps / CASA / tracking / tube / rodeo / camera / train / all good!Were you wearing the camera or was someone filming you? If you were wearing it, did you combine it with anything else like freeflying? Whereas I personally don't believe you need to be FS1 to freefly (although you should have demonstarted that one is competant at several of the skills required to achieve it) I do believe that 200 jumps is still a good guidline for strapping a camera to your head.Where do you jump in the UK Phil? It's probably in another thread somewhere but I don't hang around here too much. Going to the AGM?Craig Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Prev 1 2 Next Page 1 of 2 Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
Sebazz1 2 #22 January 16, 2002 ________________________________________________first FF / big way sit / 100 jumps / CASA / tracking / tube / rodeo / camera / train / all good!________________________________________________Who do you owe all that beer to? The DZ you did the jumps at or the DZ at home? 9 cases of beer, yeah baby........SebazzI'm thirsty for some air and some brew......... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
E150 0 #23 January 17, 2002 Spent! You have to buy them there and then. Mind you we have a new A lic member who owes so much beer, he is providing for everyone at our Valentines meet this year! ROFL. I owe for landing on the runway . . twice! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
philhartree 0 #24 January 17, 2002 erm............i didnt want to be that much of a hog - so i spread it out over a few jumps... Phil---If you have to ask, you don't understand Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cpoxon 0 #25 January 17, 2002 Phil,Firstly congratulations on getting your Cat. 10. I hope that with 3 AFF instructors on your four-way, they didn't make it too easy for you! :-P> I had a load of new jumps to my credit too: first FF / big way sit /How big is a big way? I find that the more jumps I do the smaller and smaller a group I want to be in, depending on who's in the group of course (although me being there is not a good start). Were you aware of where everyone was at all times? How close was the group through-out the dive and how much was it moving around? How and where did it break off?You say you with a group of freeflyers so I hope they were looking after you and making you aware of all this stuff, but it sounds like you had a lot going on and it's very easy to get carried away. Not trying to put a downer on all the things you've achieved but I thought I was safe in biggish groups until I had a collision and lost a helmet with camera. :-(> 100 jumps / CASA / tracking / tube / rodeo / camera / train / all good!Were you wearing the camera or was someone filming you? If you were wearing it, did you combine it with anything else like freeflying? Whereas I personally don't believe you need to be FS1 to freefly (although you should have demonstarted that one is competant at several of the skills required to achieve it) I do believe that 200 jumps is still a good guidline for strapping a camera to your head.Where do you jump in the UK Phil? It's probably in another thread somewhere but I don't hang around here too much. Going to the AGM?Craig Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites