adamUK

You still have to pay the interest payments which come out of operating expenses so the million dollar cessna will still work out more expensive to run than the $20k cessna for a given interest rate. As will all businesses though cash flow is king.

In my ideal world jumps would be less than £20 from a turbine, 14k minimum with a wind tunnel just next door for less than £600/hr and warm enough to jump all year round. Thing is though the bit that makes a DZ great is often not just the facilites but who actually jumps there. I've been to fantastically equipped ones that are cliquey and really unfriendly and to small ones that are a hoot and this is so much more important IMHO than fast-climbing jumpships. Plus free cups of tea on demand.

That's inadvisable. A friend of mine suffered nerve damage from a pre-existing shoulder condition by repeated tunnel sessions. She got better but took 6+ months. I'd see a doctor first.

Have a chat with the suit manufacturers. Sonic, for example, do a cordura tunnel suit which has tons of drag. They will even put double layers of material in arms and/or legs for extra lift. Best thing is to figure out how fast you fall and go from there.

Couldn't you look at leasing a plane for a season? Tubines are much more expensive but you'll get the altitude you want and much more quickly. It depends on how many loads you're planning to turn - if you can drum up a lot of customers then that'll pay for the turbine. The DZ I jump at got a turbine a year ago after getting rid of the Gippsland Airvan and has just broken all its records for jumps done in 25 years operation. Best wishes and the very best of luck. Adam.

I don't know exactly how it works in the 'States but here in the EU the subsidies even apply to exported produce (as the payment is on a per hectare basis) so the taxpayer is paying for non-EU taxpayers to have cheaper food . EU farm subsidies accounts for roughly $80-$100 for each citizen in the EU. P.S. Food prices might go up but (in theory) taxes should go down.

..And no refund will be offered either. Private Eye have been referring him as Piers Moron for years.

I'll grow a brain one of these days and learn how to use this website.

Hi Nat. This has been on the 'net for a while but it might be handy.

Your own 16ft diameter wind tunnel? Gotta agree with everyone on the beer front. Miller lite. Ugh.

here

I had some old friends round last night and we all had dinner and got merrily drunk. Today's been one of getting rid of the hangover. So today and particularly yesterday's been very good. Thank you for asking! It's very nice of you.

When you fell out of the door at 2:08. Good work. 20 hours though . Did you sell a kidney?

Anyone tried the black hardware? Any good or does it scratch easily?

What O'leary is saying is another load off guff purely designed to get some free newspaper coverage. He says random inflammatory bollocks like this all the time just so people don't forget he exists. Unfortunately.

Shocking as it may seem. They also eat McDonalds too. . Kronenbourg's not to bad if it's really chilled.

I can understand why people would be confused! I've never really had bad vibes from the french police and politeness always helps. I remember havig a chat with some french friends (now living in the UK) over a few beers one night and they stated they'd never go up to a gendarme for directions like you do to a british copper.

Check the incidents forum first

Don't talk fluent french though. Speeka zee eenglish and the aforesaid gendarme will repeat himself but a little bit louder before eventually giving up muttering to himself. Looking blankly at him also helps. Sadly gone are the days when you could drive as fast as you like down the Péage and the Périphérique (sigh)

I'm not criticising your decision to live there.

The traffic, smog, roads, bureaucracy, polis, uang rokok (=cigarette money =bribes)... Have you had to submit your 21 passport sized photos yet to get your work visa? It is good fun. I had a great time there but living there is different to visiting for sure. Pajak bule is the albino tax. You will pay at least triple what the javanese pay. Interestingly indos who don't speak javanese also pay more. Have. fun!!

Jakarta is just insane. There's good surf down Cimaja way if you can escape the city. Which district of Jak you going to be located in? You do know about the pajak bule? You could always fly to singapore for tunnel time and a rest from the madness. Garuda's pretty cheap though if I were you I'd take my rig on board just in case

Maybe you're right. I'm trying to get some advice on the sly from her sewing group too. I'd hate to spoil the surprise. We've agreed a low budget this year for Christmas present (about $30) since times are tight (and she's just about to lose her job) but I thought I'd kinda lose a decimal point this year...

No, it had closed down. Probably didn't pay enough bribes to the local Polis.

Mrs AdamUK enjoys quilting, knitting and other sewing-related stuff that I can't even begin to understand. Other than that sewing machines appear to be an object to be coveted and hoarded It's coming to Christmastime once again and I'm considering getting her a sewing machine. The one my mother gave her is pretty much giving up the ghost. The problem is I know nowt about them. None of the things she does are too heavy duty (mainly quilts I would guess). I think embroidery might be a bonus too. I reckon I have a budget of $300-500 for one. Any suggestions? Many thanks all.