skySue

Check out this story from NZ. Excuse the format, I just copied it off my email from a friend: > > Skydivers' weightbelts cause airport explosions > > 30.04.2001 4.00 pm > > Two objects that exploded on a road outside Rotorua airport yesterday, > injuring a woman, have been identified as skydivers' weight belts, > police said today. > > It was first thought the wallet-sized objects were home-made bombs > filled with lead shot which blew up > when cars ran over them about 4pm yesterday. > > But Rotorua police said today the objects had been identified as weight > bags filled with lead shot. > > They appeared to have come loose during a skydive over the airport and > exploded when they hit the ground, peppering people outside the > terminal, Detective Sergeant Mark Loper said. > > A woman who was hit suffered minor injuries. > > "Had these bags directly hit somebody, then the outcome of this outcome > may have been more tragic," > Mr Loper said in a statement. > > The incident had been referred to the Civil Aviation Authority for > investigation. > > - DAILY POST (ROTORUA) > ------------------------------------------------------------- > New Zealand News > > > Skydiver drops lead weights > > 01.05.2001 By ELEANOR BLACK > > Bystanders at Rotorua Airport were sprayed with lead shot after a pair > of 2.5kg skydiver's weights plummeted 762m, hitting the ground with such > force that witness thought they were exploding bombs. > > The weights, made from black fabric bags filled with lead, are used as > ballast to keep a falling skydiver stable. > > But during a routine jump on Sunday afternoon, skydiver Gregg Eagles > left his weights tucked into the pouch that held his parachute secure in > its backpack. > > When he released the ripcord, they fell to the ground, landing near the > airport entrance with such force that > police were called to investigate reports of homemade explosives being > detonated. > > Police thought they might have been dealing with explosives left by a > bomber and detonated when a car > drove over them. They began an investigation to see if similar > incidents had happened at other airports. > > Reports of the "bombs" were sent out on the news wires. > > One woman was slightly injured when she was peppered with lead pellets, > but Detective Sergeant Mark Loper said someone could have been killed if > the bags had scored a direct hit. > > Mr Eagles, a veteran of more than 500 jumps, had no idea he had lost the > weights until he got a phone call > yesterday morning. He said he did not see the weights because they > "blended in" and he usually used larger ones made from 4-litre oil cans. > > "I really don't know how it happened ... I won't be using those weights > again. > > "When I found out I thought, 'Oh no, what have I killed?' > Somebody could have been really badly hurt," said Mr Eagles. > > Dr Chris Tindle, a physicist at Auckland University, said it was > difficult to know the speed and force the weights would have reached > when they hit the ground. But they were probably falling at terminal > velocity. > > They would have had enough force to easily cave in a car roof and anyone > hit would certainly have been killed. "It would put a great big dent in > almost anything it hit." > > The Civil Aviation Authority is investigating. Go for it ALL Sue

Hang in there Emmie. There are so many instructors out there, all with different personalities and styles, and I reckon you just have to find a few who you click with, who will encourage you and bring out the best in you. I learnt at a dz that has heaps of instructors, but only a few who work every weekend. I took 46 jumps and a loooong time to get my A license (static line, should take about 22) and some of the instructors that tried to teach me only took me up once, and then gave up. At the time I didn't know they had given up on me, I just never had them again. But a few of the guys were really positive and supportive and they got me through, they perservered, understood, and admired my determination. After I finally got my license as some of the instructors congratulated me they admitted that they never thought I would do it. At least they were honest!!! If anyone looks at my logbook they can see that I 'had' every instructor on the dz........lol You can do it Emmie. Go for it ALL

Isn't it interesting that none of the "sympathisers" have replied. You made an open, 'safe' offer, and no takers! Anyway, I think the media are mostly to blame. They publish what sells papers/TV - controversy, amongst other crap. People believe what they read, and they believe TV. You can print anything and people will believe it is what MANY other people think, (not what one bored journalist thought up) and so they jump on the band-wagon. I hope you know that they are a minority and they can't think for themselves - but I know it hurts. The defence forces PR people need to get their act together also, and make the TRUTH general knowledge. How you do that I don't know, given that the media will always be against you, but they could make much more of an effort. BTW - I thank you and all the service men and women and their families for your dedication, committment, sacrifices whether you are at war or at home. If people thought about it they would realise that we need you for our very survival. (I mean that for those in my country and yours and our other allies)

I had always thought it would be amazing to do the "freefall formation stuff" but time went by (and I knew it would be totally irresponsible and selfish as a mother to take up such an expensive sport/hobby) and I never thought I would really do it. When a friend turned 40 she said she was going to jump so I did a tandem too. I felt horribly nauseous for the entire canopy ride but I went back for the freefall and now have my A license. Now I love it for the momentary solitude. When I leave that plane I am responsible for myself totally, no one else can touch me, I am totally alone and free. Freedom and no-one to answer to - I love it. After I had done a few jumps and decided to take it seriously I found I had the courage to leave a shitty marriage - coincidence? Go for it ALL

I go with the 'unique' line, and the tolerance. Even though we might be politically incorrect most of the time, from what I've seen everyone and anyone is accepted/tolerated at most dzs. I've met one openly gay person and a couple of people from about 6 different nationalities at the small dz I usually go to. Our common passion over-rides any differences and we just get on with jumping and laughing. Apart from the jumping, the things that I really appreciate about skydiving are the acceptance, no matter who/what you are, and the variety of people you meet. Go for it ALL

Is anyone else out there laughing their ass or boobies off reading all this???? Fair dinkum, some of you guys take life way way too seriously, and your despair at the degeneration of these threads is hilarious..... Thanks for the laughs, Go for it ALL

From what I know - the AFF 'rules' have not changed. I think what you are talking about is one of the proposals put forward by dzs that do heaps of tandems, and tandem jumpmasters. It's a great way to make money - make everyone do a tandem before they do anything else. I'm confused as to why, as a confused and nervous student, you landed without a TA. If it wasn't offered/insisted upon, why didn't you ask for TA? Landing without TA when you need it is one of the reasons our insurance costs are soon to be so damned high that it looks like the APF may soon not cover dzs for public liability insurance - and so many dzs in Australia look like closing. I did a tandem first-up, to see if I liked it. I didn't really like it, got sick under canopy, but persisted and did the static line course. Now I love it of course, but for me personally, the tandem was less than useless. Go for it ALL

"Yeah, that has to be invention of some pervert woman." You betcha, (or a damn good man)..........all praise and thanks to that 'pervert woman'...........It's sooooo hot here, I'm off to the shower, to cool down, just one more time.....lol Go for it ALL

Cheer up Emma, he's out there - handsome, some money, absolutely fantastic lover, cherishes his woman,,,,,,,,,,,,,hang on - - - that's MY man!!! - you keep looking, I'll never let him go! go for it ALL

I've been away from here for a while - I'm from Victoria, Australia, I jump at Bridgewater/Nagambie/Barwon Heads (look 'em up at APF website), I started jumping April 2000, 72 jumps, and I'm now 44 ............ and loving it, all of it go for it ALL,

Just to brag, just to let you all know that I can do it, because I didn't think I could!! I landed on the disc - right on it, centre of the pit, almost centre of the disc. So it's my shout next weekend.(It was the last load, no drinking time left on Sunday.) go for it ALL Sue

re: Excuse me, but are you addressing me in that post? OUCH! - no, she wasn't. Kylie was refering to herself, having posted her first reply before checking the end of the thread : note the heading for her second post which says (re: flyingKylie). Sue

I have to buy into this one: Cats I have had -Benny, Jack (my maiden name was Thompson for anyone who knows australian actors), Shae, Crystal, Snowflake, Trixie. Dogs - Spot (X2), Terror, Chloe, Fred Jack was my favourite - jet black Burmese cross, rode on the parcel shelf of my HR holden (I hope an Australian reads this), was with me through my worst times and some of the best (14 years) and my brother was terrified of him. I miss Jack. Spot 1 was my first dog as a child, always there for me when my world was disintegrating, the most faithful animal ever born. I miss him too. You can always trust an animal (and I wouldn't betray their trust by jumping with one) Go for it ALL, Sue

Thankyou thankyou thankyou one and all. (group hug please) Here I was feeling so sorry for my miserable, lonely little self, missing someone sooooo badly, and my shoulder is stuffed again so i can't jump (it's bloodywell raining anyway!), And now I am laughing my ass off. It is soo good to know so many of us are a little off-centre. Having survived a childhood from hell, violent marriage, suicide of a loved one, and other crap, some months ago I was told I was depressed (having ended my 2nd crappy marriage and met the most wonderful man on Earth) and given drugs that sent me off to loony-land. After 4 days I stopped the drugs (flavour-of-the-month happiness through chemistry stuff), talked to anyone who would listen, started seeing a psychologist, jumped a lot, skipped the country and family for a few weeks and now I'm fine (really I am, really really I am.....hee hee). As a teacher I find the whole ADD/ADHD debate fascinating. I could go on for ages about it - suffice to say I think most kids don't have it and there will be dire consequences in the future for most of the kids that are on speed now. I have always wanted the freedom that comes from jumping. I am responsible for me when I jump and when I jump alone I am ONLY responsible for me. In the sky I am not a mother, daughter, wife, teacher, sister - just ME, all alone, independent and self-sufficient. I know it's not that simple but that's how I feel. No one can get to me when I'm in the air by myself - and I love it! And yeah - I am gregarious, disorganised, intelligent (?) and so determined and persistent it drives my friends up the wall, slappie - I will jump with you anytime........just don't try and correct my english - that scares the shit outtta me! btw - SEX has everything to do with skydiving and hyperactivity. I think that most hyperactive/ADD/ADHD/thrillseeking/skydiving loonies like us have an addiction to sex also..............and loving it Go for it ALL Sue

WWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOO HHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOO congratulations MM doesn't it feel great!!! Go for it ALL, Sue