Bokdrol

I got a bit more info (2nd/third or maybe even 4th hand so factor that in) on some of the issues that weren't made clear from a skydiver's perspective in the documentary (1) The rig was military club hire gear taken out on the Saturday but not jumped due to a weather day. It should have been returned to the gear store on the Saturday but was kept out overnight and the main was allegedly doctored on the Saturday (2) the reserve was allegedly done on the Sunday in the cubicle. (3) an experienced rigger was in court and did the reserve job in a similarly confined space, in the given time, to support the prosecution.

So, have you decided what you are going to do next?

The photo ID thing has been trialled in UK local elections so it's not something new. Most people turned away at trial/local election time simply forgot to bring some form of ID with them. If you don't have a photo ID you can go on the YouGov site and apply for one. Even the ubiquitous technophobe OAP will carry a bus pass, which is an acceptable photo ID document. There's little or no excuse.

My observations exactly. Plus there was possibly an infant in the cubicle with him too. I'm sure Cilliers' defence must have covered this vital aspect in the trial, but even then, the fact that Mrs C. said at the first trial and under oath, that she 'may have got rid of a perfectly good main' (plus other stuff in his favour) and I'm you would be forgiven for doubting the conviction. I also felt that the 2 Wiltshire Constabulary I/O s had him hung drawn and quartered pre-trial, their main contention being that he was a nasty geezer and a serial lover-boy. I couldn't figure out the D/I bloke who seemed a bit of a jobsworth but I guess that's detectives for you, but the lady detective certainly had an axe to grind over male philanderers and used quite a lot of her 15 mins of fame to highlight her own personal issues vis a vie males in general. But the clincher for me was the Ch4 front page photo of Victoria, a Grand Caravan in the sky and a paraglider flying below it....(that's a joke for some of you).

Headline over here ' Sensational upset awakens USA from 100 year cricket hibernation'. I doubt that'll really be the case (it was a BBC headline after all) nevertheless, for anyone who has any interest in the game it was brilliant all round - most especially the super over. As with most unfancied teams who put one over a far bigger and more experienced team, the USA may now have played their 'final'. Time will of course tell.

That's very relevant (and my schoolboy '2 way radio' error, too). Thanks for a clearing up my non-instructor waffle. I'm sure that any inaccuracies/misconceptions would be ironed out at ground school.

You can sign up for doing AFF level 1 only. That way you don't commit to the whole expensive course and it's (possibly) not much more £ than a tandem. You'll get ground school training on one day. That'll teach you the essential basics of skydiving, emergency procedures, body position, equipment etc etc. and then next day (or even same day if you are lucky) you go up with 2 instructors who will keep a grip on you to keep you stable until it's time to deploy your nice big, slow, easy handling student canopy. An instructor will even deploy for you if you want or if you can't. You'll then get a brilliant solo descent from about 6k. Far more exciting than a tandem and it's 'real' skydiving. Once you are under canopy you get talked down to the ground by 2 way radio comms, and even told when to flare for landing. Try it. If you like it, you can continue. If not, you've done a proper jump, not a carnival ride.

Your annual regional Assn. membership (USPA/BPA/BS or whatever) should cover third party insurance. But I suggest that you double check this at your local DZ.

Looks like fun. Do the toilets work? At my age I need to pee at about 10grand....last time I jumped out of anything that had seats that comfy looking it was an old Antonov Bi-Plane that took about 30 mins to get to 4 grand for h&p only.

There's a lady by the name of Fleur Jones who coaches. FB group Fly With Fleur.

I'm just guessing here that you are going to be (a) a tandem student/passenger rather than (b) a solo/AFF level 1 skydiver. There is a difference between the landing routines on (a) and (b). If you are attached to an instructor who takes you for the jump/ride on a tandem (a) the former type of jump, the instructor controls that landing with certain input from you, the student/passenger, and you are going to have to lift your legs up high for the landing. Tandem landings are typically, although not always, slid in on your butt. If you can't lift your legs with ease as you will be instructed, you might want to have a second think about attempting the ride. Although 99% of tandem landings work out ideally, I've seen some that don't. If you are doing the latter (b) solo/AFF jump you'll be landing on your own, controlling the landing/flare via radio comms. from your instructor. Solo AFF student canopies are big and forgiving and you 'should' have a relatively soft landing given that AFF students only jump in pretty clement conditions and you are also talked down by your main instructor. There is likely to be some leg shock on landing whatever the situation and if you can't PLF (that's a sort of landing roll like you see the paratroopers do in the movies) or are bothered about doing one in an emergency, you should also have a second think about it. Although I don't have the inside line on joint dislocations of any type, my understanding is that, although they may seem repaired, another one is always just waiting for the wrong conditions. If you have any doubts, don't jump. Disclaimer: As with all skydiving/medical situations, the only people to advise you whether or not to jump are your instructors and a medically qualified Doctor. Don't take what I have said as gospel. I am neither a tandem instructor nor a Doctor nor do I have experience of dislocations.

Would be interesting to find out how this all washes out. Seems to me from the list that suicide/potential suicide/skydiver error/ (I'm guessing possibly an unsecured chest strap in more than one instance) health issues and simple bad luck could be the main contributing factors. I don't know the DZ or it's owner. If what I've posted could be legally misinterpreted in any way please would admin delete the post. Thank you. They're just my observations from a non-instructor/DZO fun jumper's perspective.

There seems to be one called 'Blue Sky Adventures' aka Skydive Stuttgart. Looks like they may be a weekends only operation. e-mail [email protected].

Depends how far you are prepared to travel. Empuriabrava and Seville in Spain are the only ones I've jumped at and they are open all year round. There'll be a rigger at or attached to most DZ's - I've only used Empuriabrava for repack though. The loft is on site.

The last time few times I was at Empuria ( last visit Sept 22) the old bunkhouses were still there but didn't looked occupied - they were behind a gated fence. Check with the DZ if you ever plan to go there.