Tilion

Now, if you were to use a normal knife, wouldn't that probably do more harm than good in a risky situation? Why would you put yourself in a situation like that? I reckon' a good hook-knife does what it's designed for? Then again, I have zero experience. Reading the above posts, I'm guessing one of those seatbelt knives are considered "crappy", or they may be totally unfit for the job because of differences in design? (please consider my newbness before trashing me, just trying to learn

I agree that it's good for students; it's yet another way to make it more likely they learn about not jumping when you have, like, a cold or several other situations (providing the doctor tells you what he's doing during the check), mine does a lot of them for sports people so it was fairly extensive I guess, but anyway, I hadn't been to the doctor for a while so for me it's good to know what I'm up to. Also TM's are put through a bit more strain I can imagine, staying stable, so yes a good physical would be in order. About accidents, disregarding the fact that it's common sense to get a checkup, are you obliged to so after an accident?

I had my physical a couple of hours ago and passed it. It's no biggie, just a routine sports test with some special attention to the things tombuch mentioned. At least that's the way my doctor did it, they may do it differently somewhere else. Here in the Netherlands we have to have a doctor fill out the medical declaration, that's specially designed for parachuting. It has 7 very obvious pointers, some he just asked (eyefocus, hearing, medication), while fitness, vital signs and things like reflexes, balance and ankles/legs were checked. Stamina (I think that's what you call it, keeping up strength for a longer period of time?) could be a bit better, but nothing to worry about. Maybe do some running once in a while . Good longues though. So... on to jumping (time goes sooo slow when you're waiting )!

My, you sure have a lot of questions (looking at some of the other topics now). But they are all very interesting questions. I don't think a skydiver has actually ever collided with an airplane, or am I wrong? I do remember seeing a movieclip of a skydiver being swept by a bomber. That must have been pretty scary. I don't think there's a whole lot you can do about an airplane coming at you, then again the odds are so minute. I'd say enjoy the ride and take into consideration your fellow skydivers. But that's more like kicking in an open door.

Well that would explain it, since you can much more easily break the sound barrier at such an altitude.

When I did my TJ, when under canopy my Tandem Master had me lift up one leg and slide the strap a little more towards the knee, then lift the other and do the same. This way I was sitting in the legstraps instead of hanging in them.

How exactly do you relieve the pressure? I could imagine pinching the nose and blowing becomes very difficult but can't you also make a chewing motion or swallow?

I didn't have a whole lot of flying dreams, especially of late because I just don't dream, or seem to dream as much as before, but in the ones I had I was usually being chased or showing off my wicked flying abilities and I had to flap my arms like mad to get some decent lift off. I usually landed on top of some building. Wonder if I'll have any more flying dreams once I really start skydiving in august (only did a tandem once).

You've been talking about average life expectancy due to accidents, which is a normal thing to do since accidents have a far greater effect, but what about the average life expactancy due to natural causes. Jumping on an average basis must have sóme effect on your physical state, but then again, it's hard to get figures like that. What I am trying to say; on average if you take someone that doesn't jump and dies of natural causes and one that dóes jump and dies of natural causes, who would live longer? P.s. This is my first post. Beer anyone? I was going to go to the introduction bit but maybe I'll do that later. Right now this was on my mind.