Travman

Yay I got mine back in the bag. My recommendation is ask someone to teach you to psycho pack - I found it a lot easier than pro packing.

I tried packing my sabre for the first time on Wednesday... tried - still haven't gotten it into the dbag. I know I am missing a step between flaking the nose and wrapping the back around the canopy. Just haven't had time to have another look.

If you come in for a hard landing and screw up your PLF you may need a knee replacement. Every wondered what happens in a knee replacement? Me neither, but this website will let you perform a total knee replacement online! http://abum.com/?show_media=3492&file_type=Animations

I just stick mine in my pocket, I am waiting to get my helmet as well.

What type of aircraft are you going out of? I flip everytime out of the skyvan, but I am fine out of the otter. The important thing is you can get stable quickly. If there is someone on the load with a camera, ask them to film your exit, it may help.

I'm thinking a hydraulic pump, or maybe an oil pump. There are a lot of hoses coming off it.

I can't say I have used a neptune, or even seen one - but the protrack certainly isn't an intuitive device. If you buy a second hand one, make sure it comes with the manual!

Yeah infamous, haven't you seen the Three Amigos?

Ok, yeah it was about Skydive City in Barwon, they did mention the death of the lady last year, but it was mostly about how they are being investigated for jumping through cloud, I'm not sure why they didn't get the cloud exclusion from the APF, but they made out like is was russian roulette.

For those of us on the Australian East coast, I have heard that the channel 7 netowrk are doing a story on skydiving companies on Today Tonight tomorrow (Monday 17 Jan). I have no idea what its about but the person that told me about it said in the ad they referred to skydiving companies as "Rambo's risking lives" So it sounds like the usual quality programming we get from Today Tonight.

Mine was "Arch with your hips, not your stomach", helped my arch a lot

A guy on my DZ forgot to put his goggles on for a jump. He put them on in freefall, but his eyes were bright red when he got down.

I am the same as you. When I take an interest in something I research down to the last detail. By the time I did my first jump course I had read through all the training manuals and had an idea of what to expect. Also during my research I had read through many many incident reports. I found in most of them there are good lessons to be learned, and I felt better after reading them, learn from others mistakes. There is a risk in this sport, but hey you can't wrap yourself in cotton wool, you WILL die some day. You could decide not to jump, then get hit by a bus instead.

Wow that looks like a comfy plane, do you get an inflight moive and meals to?

I've heard that Phil has the most jumps out of any skydiver based in the southern hemisphere.

I'd jump on a creeper and go into your freefall position. Then have your AFF instructor put your legs in the right position, try to remember the position and jump off and on the creeper a few times until it becomes natural, maybe do it again in a few hours see if you get your legs in the right spot. However your legs may be fine on the creeper, but not in freefall - it is a different enviroment. But as other people have said, this is just an opinion and your instructors are who you should really listen to.

Longest I've driven is just over 2 hours. But the boogie was at my home dropzone, so it was the same drive I do every weekend. But a few people were driving to nationals, which at a guess was about 8 hours or so... Bob.dino would know exactly

Very true. I've just recently completed my AFF. I found everyone I asked a question to was always very happy to help, but sometimes they would completly contradict what the last person said. So you need to learn to determine what will work for you.

My mate did a tandem when he had is forearm in a cast for a broken wrist. Didn't cause him any troubles.

The problem with dropping parcels in a decentralised area is everyone will rush to get them, and once someone does they will fight to protect their "prize". Its an ok way to get supplies down, but they need someone to administer its distribution.

I saw a report on a drug treatment programme using skydiving. They found that people who wanted to get the sensation high from Ecstasy could get the same fulfilment from skydiving. The programme was very succesful - maybe its because they spend all their money on lift tickets they can't afford the drugs.

I was 7 years old, watching the old sitcom "Herman's Head". In one episode Herman goes skydivng, and I just said to myself "I'm going to do that!" I think my parent's hoped it'd pass, 7yr olds often come up with crazy ideas, but when I was 19 I did a tandem and loved it. Took me 18 months to finally getting around to doing my AFF, but I got there.

Mostly dance music. There seem to be a lot of dance songs relating to sky, flying, angels and clouds...

Anyone know what the rules are in Australia?

54%, 422 miles Well.. not bad for an Aussie.