flyboy091

Ah ok, thanks. I told them.

Hi Just noticed the URL/domain of a DZ I jumped from this summer is not correct (http://www.dropzone.com/dropzone/Detailed/1309.shtml). They also don't use that email. I do believe the listing is for the right place though. URL should be http://www.skydivepalermo.com/

The Solo seemed to me what the description says: a good student canopy. I learned to fly on different Solo 230s with Dacron lines (in my feeling a bit annoying to pack) most of them packed into Icon containers. I then piled up more than 20 jumps on this model afterwards. WL: a mere 1.00 Openings were at all times soft (except once, my bad!), sometimes I wondered if it actually had opened, so much I missed the shock! A couple times it slowly twisted (my bad arch, again), but no big deal. Turning with either brakes or a bit strong effort on back risers were smooth and absolutely forgiving. No chance to do anything with the front risers (after all: those were heavy student canopies and with large risers!). Tried full flare on height, no chance at all to get anywhere close to stall. When on a long spot, they glided slowly and far with half brakes (other story than a ZP EXE for example). Landings were relatively soft for a student that initially flared too early, I hardly ever needed a PLF. All in all: not extremely much fun with the 230, but I felt very safe even when spiraling. The 210 instead (WL 1.1) I've jumped a couple times with so far and I found much more responsive and fast to fly (not as fun as a Silhouette, but still..)

I jumped in Rotterdam in August 2016. Easy to reach from the city centre and the Randstad (train+bus), this DZ offered me a good day primarily because of the "local club" feeling. It seemed rather not commercial, but members were kind and open to a stranger, providing a thorough briefing and the material I needed to rent. They offer nice and soft PD Navigator mains, which I enjoyed. Proper ID is required in advance for security reasons as they take off from the commercial airport next door. This dependence and the location may cause delays or long "hold times" from traffic control also from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport far north, depending on winds and current active traffic paths, so perhaps better to go early or call in advance. I was able to jump from 12k in the first load as soon as ATC allowed. The comfortable C208 was waiting for us inside the airport and can carry up to 15 jumpers I believe. I think these people did a good job finding a green landing area in an extremely urbanized region with commercial air traffic like Rotterdam but with VERY clear points of reference and more than enough alternate fields around. It did take about 15 minutes highway to be driven back to the DZ, which may justify some of the pricing. While in the air loved the views over Rotterdam's port and the amazing skyline with the Erasmus bridge NE of the landing area, as long as one remembers to turn for landing!

This is a local dropzone, running from the SW corner of an apparently little-used city airport without commercial traffic. There is two comfortable landing areas between the runaway and the club building, with broad escape space on the other side of the runaway and only a few no-fly areas. Consider the DZ is within the city limits, surrounded by loads of buildings and natural obstacles with little landing alternatives outside the airport. Luckily the local weather tends to be mild and sunny all year long and our pilot was good at spotting: you must fail badly to miss the target. The dropzone was open on weekends and on some public holidays, but not in August. Better to call in advance as you need to be known to enter the airport with your ID (parking available) and to be sure to find your place in the loads. Only bad thing that may happen is if all loads are full (6 people + pilot in the plane we flew, that means two tandems with cameramen may fill a load): you have been warned. I liked a lot the friendly atmosphere though my papers were checked thoroughly and the FD knew what he was doing. Packers and all material I needed were available; jumping heights were 9000-10000ft. But what really makes this DZ a gem are the STUNNING views over the city center and bay of Palermo with all its surrounding mountains and landscapes. On a clear day (of which there's many in Sicily) one won't easily forget the views and wish to jump again! Please note I jumped here in July 2016: some info written in this review may be subject to change.