TrickyDicky

I looked at an old magazine at a DZ a while back (in the UK), and it had some formations in it that included leg locks. How far back do these go? when did they stop using leg locks?

theres a scrambles in 2 weeks and I think it would be interesting if they put leg lock formations in the dive pool. Anyone know of anywhere I can get hold of the formations?

In the UK, its a requirement that AFF rigs be deployable from either side, for ripchord or thowaway.

Ive seen 2 systems for ripchord with spring pilot chute:
1: normal ripchord on primary side. On 2ndard side theres a big handle that is attached half way down the ripchord so it can be pulled out (this must be re-routed on every pack job).

2: The 2ndary side is a ripchord attached the base of the closing loop, so that when pulled there is nothing holding the closing loop in any more and the pilot chute can escape.

Best thing to do is always pay off debts before you save anything. If you have a credit card, pay it all off. The idea of "keeping money for a rainy day" when you have debts is a stupid one. You should pay off the debts then you have the credit card for emergencies, and not the other way round.

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At Netheravon its 92kg @ 6' 2" and about 4kg per inch so you could possibly get away with 108kg assuming that the equipment will hold that. Most UK dropzones have a weight limit based on height as well as a max for the equipt.

Not strictly true. There is an overall weight limit, but height is taken into account to calculate the BMI (body mass index). People who have a higher BMI are statistically more likely to injure themselves on landing, and this is made clear to the students. Some DZs do have BMI limits though.

In the uk I know some people put their rigs on their home contents insurance, and some will cover them while in use. Most contents insurance policies cover your stuff while its not actually in your house.

Another important fact to consider is the cost of rejumps. Most DZs Ive seen charge a fixed price, where I know at least 1 only charges for rejumps based at cost price (2/3 x slot + rig hire).which could save you something like £60+ for each rejump.

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I can't address your UK DZ questions but I can say that some DZs will require water training for certain jumps that you may want to do later in your career.

It would be a really good idea to learn to swim. It's really not all that difficult and it's a life-saving skill.

Good luck in your quest.

This is not an issue at UK DZs. there is no requirement for water landing training at any DZ, or for any issuing of licences. The only time you might need it is for a water jump, that generally only happen on displays anyway.

Afaik, the only DZs with water safety issues are Jersey (land on the beach) or Cornwall (as the DZ is on a cliff next to the sea) but neither of them train students other than tandems anyway.

As for friendlyness of DZs go, Ive been to a few and I think they have all had students come through fine. Its more down to how you get on with the people there. I think the Headcorn reviews are old, and I know someone that jumps there normaally and she said its not as bad as it used to be (or used to be perceived).

In Aus you can have a DZ cleared for jumping through cloud on a GPS spot.

In the UK, you can jump through as much cloud as you want, aslong as you have a clear line of sight from the intended opening point to the landing area... ie. theres a hole there when you get out.

But, at my old DZ we had a bad spot. Broken cloud over the DZ, but solid where we got out. Someone went in through a low turn ie, their own mistakes, as well as reserve being out of date (nothing to do with his death). The jump master got a severe bollocking aswell as prevented from being a JM for 6 months.

Shows what blame culture can do to you.

did the cypres not have similar problems in it's infancy?

Hibaldstow, lincolnshire, UK
£19.50 to 15000ft (£18 if you buy a block of 10)

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I got asked last week a good whuffo question.

"so i hear that in free fall your going so fast that you don't have to breath. Air is absorbed in through your skin"

ME: "Yea and when you fall though a cloud you could drown."

"really?"

ME: "No"

The problem is that fooled alot of skydivers too when it was origionally posted as a joke on a newsgroup FAQ.

I have a Z1, (bought 2nd hand for £50), that Ive put >200 jumps on and ~5hrs tunnel time. Still doing me good.

But if I was to buy a new one Id get an oxygn. Generally look more secure and just as confortable, though I dont like the visor as much.

My friend has a mamba and it looks good as it has a similar securing method to the Oxygn and a visor like the Z1.

I dont like the Freezr. Looks too much like a motorbike helmet, and I know people have had trouble with their visors in the wind tunnel.

I have to agree with the choice of SMG92 Turbo Finnest.
10 people are a little cramped, but not as bad as a porter. I think the engine on the one Ive been out of is a 750HP beast (Is it basically the same as a twin otter engine?)

Basically looks like a porter, with a larger left hand door, and an insanly large step (which apparently is part of the airframe, not a para-mod )

I do have fond memories of 182s and 206s as I did all my student jumps out of them, all the way up to about jump ~75. I will still happily jump em.
Ive only done a few from a porter, PAC750, beaver and G.Caravan but the Finnest still wins.

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I did it, I've argue it and argue it for ages but they kept telling the same thing, I broke the speed limit twice and they are two different offences in different parts of the road.
They know what they do mate, they reallly do. Now I have 9 points in my licence, the 6 points I've told you before and another 3 from 2003 that luckily are expiring next September. Rigth now I am in a complete strees every time I drive my car as I know that just for being over the limit for 2 miles I will loose my licence....

Blue ones

You have to seriously argue. Can they prove the devices were calibrated? can they provide you with the manual on how to operate such a device? They also have to send you a notice of intended prosecution within 14 days (often done on the day if its a police officer) Often if you start asking for stuff like this and promise to take it to court they will drop it, as it will cost them alot more than the money they will get back from the fine.

Alot of women find that exposing some cleavage and smiling at a man will make their canopy miraculously jump into the bag.

Get in contact with the DZ you are going to. I think if you get your AFF done under BPA or USPA rules, aslong as you've done all your consoles and a few more while out there, you should probably be ok as the syllabuses are pretty similar afaik.

If you dont complete your training, you may find it hard to jump at a DZ over here. So make sure you do all your levels + consoles there.

There are nornally plenty of rigs going in the UK. ring DZsports, target skyports and the kit store to see if they have any 2nd hand rigs going.

I have ~ 300 jumps on a sabre 1 170 (my first rig)
~5 jumps on a sabre 2 150
and ~20 jumps on a piot 150 (my new rig).

When test jumping the pilot vs sabre 2 I found, as has been said, the pilot has a flatter glide angle and so goes further. I mainly noticed this on my first jumps by overshooting where I intended to land by quite a bit.

Also, you cant "dig" a pilot out of a late flare as much as you can a sabre2 and so its less responsive to quick deep flares, which is what is often done on older student kit. You may find the sabre easier to land when you first start jumping it.

The dealer who I borrowed the pilot off to test jump said former sabre jumpers tend to flare late on their first few jumps on a pilot because of this (I even did it myself)

We had a similar thing, someone chopped, some whuffo reported that they'd seen someone go in and the police turned up.

They got a bit annoyed with the DZ and told the DZ to ring them every time someone had a mal!

A dytter or the like will not help you, you can only set them to nearest 500ft and are (mostly) designed for breakoff/opening/hard deck. The optima and neptune do have warnings for under canopy, but I think they're mostly aimed at swoopers.

As in the above post, if you're looking straight down, that will be a major problem as this causes ground rush where the ground appears not to move then come up very quickly. Best look about 45 degrees.

Also, you dont have many jumps. It should come over time, but its just about learning where to flare.

Id say the USPA 3rd party liability is probably not enough to jump in the US let alone abroad. at $50k coverage, its probably the weakest in the world.

Well, I missed it last night.
Did anyone record it, wanna send me a copy? too big for skydiving movies?

or does anyone know if its repeated anytime on another ITV channel?

Just wave at someone looking out the door as you go. It might help.

Agree, Sibson is a nice place.
UK Parachuting (nr Attleborough) may be closer.

Langar is a bit of a treck from south london (3-4 hours?)

Closer is sibson (nr peterborough) that is a great freindly place and runs a dornier (much faster than a caravan).
Theres headcorn down in kent (never been)
Weston nr oxford (run a dornier), but only open weekends.
Hinton, nr banbury, runs a PAC, but Can get pretty chocca with tandems in the summer (that has been my experience)
And if you're willing to go as far as langar, why not spend an extra hour going up to hibaldstow? great DZ, fast planes (they own the dorniers and SMGs), cheapest prices of any DZ Ive been to in the UK (£18/15000k) and always go to 15k.
I have no experience of UK Parachuting which is probably as close as sibson, but they have a nomad.
From what Ive heard, dont go to chattaris unless you like watching tandems all day.
London parachute school is just a piston operation in a field, with no buildings. Again, lots of tandems.