ScoopUK

Glad you had fun chief. If anyone else fancies giving it a go at anytime, particularly the UK contingent, get in touch and if I can help in any way I will. Maybe it's the logistics of going from the airport to the DZ you want to know, who the contacts are, accommodation etc. Nothing in it for me, just spreading the fun times around

Interesting, true to an extent. The more people overtly preach safety the more it becomes background noise and we tune it out. Anyway... enough of that being serious lark

Glad to hear you enjoyed your tandem so much. Good luck with your AFF.

Didn't your parents teach you not to bow to peer pressure. Man the fuck up! ... Safety third!

I think it was remarkable how relaxed you were and enjoying the moment. I'm sure I tend to look full of focus and straining like a little kid taking their first steps, but I guess that's kinda what I am in this world. I shall have to start reading the psychology part of your book I have rather than the canopy flying bit!

This is now not very far away for people like me who have to make plans around work. If anyone else fancies it I hope to see you there.

Just go for it. My first jump back after 6 years was really intense. I was screaming and whooping and hollering in freefall. What a rush! Renew your BPA and get yourself down your DZ to get some refresher training. It was pretty painless for me.

As a young apprentice not earning much money I gave up a few years back after getting my A licence as I felt I couldn't progress and got frustrated. In the UK there are loads of restrictions on what you can do as an A licence holder, ie can't jump with someone unless you have FS1 / FF1 qualification or are being coached FS or FF etc (at that time, think might be able to jump with D licence holder now). You try and find a coach and they expect you to pay their slot AND a coaching fee. When you're already paying £25 for a jump ticket it becomes expensive particularly if you don't really have an interest in FS but are just doing it because you have to. The there was the weather to contend with. The alternative was to get a cheap flight, go abroad and do what you like on holiday meeting and jumping with loads of cool people and actually having fun. Back again now because the calling was just too strong. Got more money nowadays too. Still going to have to rethink my progression. Having fun = retention. Jumping through hoops = people leaving.

Thanks, I've already ordered one and was wondering how long it would take. I have asked the dealer I bought it through but they haven't replied to my emails.

Anyone ordered a Vigil 2 recently? What's the current waiting time? Ta very much.

To give you a scuba diving equivalent you should, in theory, only be able to buy certain gas mixtures on production of qualification card proving you are competent. Oxygen as a decompression gas, trimix for deeper diving or even nitrox can kill you if you don't understand the theory or don't have the practical skills to handle the gas planning, contingencys and switches safely. Then there are rebreathers which could kill you in the same way and many more... It's very similar to flying a high performance canopy. The reality... anyone can buy whatever they want if a shop doesn't check (most don't), if they do check you can get someone else to buy it for you or buy second hand or if its gas you can pump the gas yourself or get someone to have you cylinders filled for you. There are some conscientious retailers who wont sell to you but they are rare. In any case it'd be far too complicated and costly to implement and manage. How would you define wingloading when we know it's not linear? The stock answer would be 'refer to Brian Germain's chart'. Whilst I respect Brian that is one persons assessment of the WL situation and even that is very complicated with various exceptions and anomalies noted. (BTW - It looks very much like it's based on scuba diving decompression tables, perhaps because his wife is a diver?). Besides which, I thought we had freedom in our developed modern democratic countries? We seem to be getting more and more regulated and looked upon by authorities. Bottom line - You can't protect people from themselves. Not in a free society.

Joe Jennings started with only 80 jumps and I'd imagine camera equipment was still fairly bulky then. Just playing devils advokate.

Hi, I'm turning to the community as I haven't yet got a response from my container manufacturer (pre-empting the smart arse stock reply). Hopefully they are busy building my gorgeous rig rather than answering stupid e-mails I've read many times that as a rough rule of thumb you can generally go up or down a size of canopy (assuming its a like for like type of canopy). My container is sized for a specific canopy which I have already but I may buy another as I just fancy a new one and I've been offered a good deal which makes it more worthwhile. The new canopy I'm looking at, depending on which packing volume figures you believe, may be larger in volume anything from 4-29 cu in. Is this a possible issue or no problemo? I don't really have an understanding of how much 29 cu in is in my head. Ta very much

Once you are in the air you'll have all the room in the world. That can't be beat. Just imagine that if being surrounded by sweaty skydivers is getting a bit too much.

You might find it better if you can get to a DZ mid week rather than a weekend when it's busy. Hopefully you can get up on a load that isn't full then. It can get cosy on a busy day. This is the inside of a Twin Otter: http://danieljamesmurphy.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/PlattsmouthSkydiving-017.jpg If you're sat on a seat do you think you'll still have a problem? If it's an aircraft where you are sat on the floor all wedged against each other I would imagine that would be more uncomfortable for you.

You'll have to blindman every landing. It'll be safer that way as you'll legs will bend away from you rather than under you

Thought this would be an interesting poll. You don't have to justify yourself to anyone, I'm just interested to see the results. If you want to discuss things then that's cool too but I know it's already a well discussed topic. So, is your reserve smaller, larger or the same size as your main? For the accuracy, CRW, swoopers and other anomalies amongst you there are also options that may explain why you have a particular reason for sizing your main how you do. If you have a 190 main and a 193 reserve or similar we'll just treat them as being the same size. You can make multiple answers if you have more than one rig.

Are you one of these pessimistic people in life that warns everyone about everything just so when something does go wrong you can say 'told you so'? What if... what if... what if... How the heck did you ever get into skydiving? You must be a nervous wreck.

Nor do I, they know each other. I took his post to mean nothing more than him being appreciative of the system we have here in the UK. Maybe it's because us Brits take this system for granted we don't always think of medical insurance. I know I've jumped abroad without it. Pay for something I normally get for 'free'... don't think so! Hard expense to rationalise.

It is busy and if the wind picks up it knocks things on the head pretty quick so you are right. Where else would you recommend in Europe as I am keen to find somewhere different that you can jump hard and preferably cheaply. I really don't care about wind tunnels. I have no idea why you'd want to fly in a tunnel when you are at a great DZ unless it was bad weather or you were team training.

Empuriabrava, Spain is very busy and they have a wind tunnel on site too. You'll have no problem achieving what you want there. It's also home to Babylon Freefly so if you are after top quality coaching you could do worse ;-) http://www.skydiveempuriabrava.com/index-2.html If you are licenced use the 'advanced' menu.

Hi all, I'm heading off to Italy beween the 4th-15th September 2013 as I have an interest in getting some coaching from the atmonauti guys and girls in Fermo. The kids should have just gone back to school so flights a bit cheaper than peak holiday time. Ryanair fly Stansted -> Ancona for those who may be interested from the UK. I was intending on heading out there by myself but actually it'd be pretty cool if a few people fancied going so we could take advantage of the coached group training (only +4 euros per jump) and just generally have a good time somewhere different. These dates aren't any planned event or boogie, just a normal period in the life of the DZ so the more the merrier so that plane can get up in the air as often as possible. Also means these dates aren't rigid so maybe anyone interested could overlap their visit slightly different times. They have a bunkhouse and can do airport collection/drop off from Ancona airport so it needn't be expensive. That's what I intend to do but there are local B&Bs for the more civilised amongst us. What's atmonauti? Well, my interpretation is a type of angle flying with a pretty specific flight angle and low vertical speed. You may think of it as tracking but with different body positions than typical. They jump in formation like a flocking/tracking dive but can take grips and even have an RW sub-discipline if you fancy turning points. Looks like fun and it's another tool for the bodyflight toolbox. Best of all you can't learn it in a wind tunnel so no spoilt whipper-snapper with hours of tunnel time can show you up ;-) If atmo isn't your thing then fair enough, this thread isn't for discussing that. There are other threads for you to research and revive. The DZ: http://flyzonefermo.webnode.it/ Historic Fermo: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermo Human Flight School: http://realhumanfly.webnode.it/atmonauti/human-fly-school/ Let me know if you're interested or contact Marco direct (address on Atmonauti website). A video probably explains it better than I can: https://vimeo.com/61294678

In a blend of trying to be cost effective, be safe, have nice kit and try and futureproof myself I've just ordered a new (but basic featured) custom container and new reserve but going to source a second hand AAD and main canopy. I figure at some point I'm going to change the main anyway and as long as the AAD is good for a few years that'll get me going. I find it hard to find pre-owned containers in my size though and I want to be comfortable. Others recommend not buying a new container and instead buying new canopies. YMMV. If you can, find someone you respect who knows you and the local scene to guide you. Forget about fashion. We're all idiots and all look stupid, so you may as well be safe and stupid.

Andy you friggin' pikey! I sent you a PM the other day as I'd heard you were busted up. I guess I now know why you haven't replied. Heal up quick. You have more people to piss off, you're work is not done yet. PS - I still blame you for the points I got on my driving licence so rather than make a donation I'm sending you a bill for £60

What did you get in the end? Weather is glorious here!