neilmck

I wanted to be a parachutist since the age of 7 when I saw a parachute movie at school (early 1970s). Got the chance when I was 19 and jumped at it . I did plenty of jumping in the 80s and early 90s and then had a pause for 25 years after getting married, but started again last year after my daughter wanted to do a tandem. I quickly got my C license back in time to be allowed to follow my daughter and her tandem instructor out of the door!

Ten "Our Father"s and half a dozen "Hail Mary"s in the aeroplane on the way up always did the trick for me. Over time you get more confident in yourself and with the equipment and the fear reduces to a respectable apprehension.

The modern toilet. Invented by Thomas Crapper, a London plumber.

From 3 to 4 hours each way depending on traffic.. I live near Paris France. The international airports have sucked up the airspace over the last 20 years.

A link with some answers about retrials in the UK: http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/p_to_r/retrials/

Congratulations, welcome back! I started again at the beginning of this year after a 25-year break (250 jumps). After all the young parachutists (including the DZO) looking shocked at my old kit, the DZO gave me the address of a museum to donate it to It was then decided that I'd best have a chat for an hour with the old-timer who could tell me what had changed. And then I was put on the next load! First few jumps were solo and I'm back like the old times

I was born in the 60s so as a boy I dreamed about being either an astronaut or one of these guys who climb onto the outside and ride aircraft like you see in the SkiesCall books. Started jumping at 18 years old and never looked back.... until I got married. Gave up parachuting but kept my kit for the day I would start again. 23 years and two grown-up children later I started jumping again this March