Travman

The PAC 750 wasn't designed for skydiving, but you can buy a factory delivered model with the skydiving mods.. such as the jump lights and door. The advantage of the PAC 750 is its single engine design, making it cheaper to run than twin engine jump planes like the twin otter. But it certainly has its limitations. I was chatting to someone who said the Kodiak is gaining popularity and is better suited to skydiving than the PAC 750, but I have never seen or jumped one.

Its been attempted, but the GPS's froze so they didn't record anything. http://www.furthestflight.com/Furthest_Flight_Challenge.html

I heard someone said security made them check their weight belt. Security felt due to the weight someone could use it as a weapon by swinging it around. Perhaps see if your destination has lead for rent and just take the belt without lead.

I recently did some tunnel time in eloy with Airspeed coaches Todd Hawkins and Gary Beyer. They were great coaches, it was worth every penny.

If I recall correctly, Scott Miller taught us the same thing in his canopy course - full flight to pass through turbulence, brakes to help reinflate. Not surprising since he was (is?) one of PD's test pilots.

Check their website for contact details and send them an email. http://www.skydivetemora.com.au/

It *could* be useful for memory training - learning the divepool and remembering the points on the jump. But really its just a toy, at least it will give skydiving a bit more exposure to the general community.

I psycho pack my Samurai 150 and I get better openings than when I pay a packer. A mate psycho packs his Vengeance 135 and says its fine.

I have recently changed from a voodoo to a mirage. The voodoo seemed to be made with much stiffer fabric than the mirage, and although some what older than the mirage I bought the voodoo looked in great condition when I sold it. I preferred the toggles on my voodoo, but prefer the line stows on the mirage dbag. I found the mirage hugs my body a lot more, and the leg straps are more comfortable than the voodoo. I've found the riser covers to be more solid than the voodoo. I can't think of much else. I loved my voodoo and only changed due to downsizing. I am getting use to the mirage and it is also a very good container. But if I was buying a new container I'd get a vector. But thats just my opinion.

A sabre 170 was my first canopy. After hearing about hard openings I was worried for the first 50 jumps about getting smacked. But the only time in 250 jumps I got slammed was on a wingsuit jump with my legs still open. But I was always sure to treat it well in packing. Always made sure the slider was BIG!

I have very reluctantly sold my Voodoo that I had for 3 years.. but it was time to downsize. It was my first rig so until now I nothing to compare it with. The build quality is excellent. My 6 year old voodoo was in better condition than the 18 month old rig I bought! I found the main tray to be quite simple in design, no extra flaps or anything that wasn't needed. It closed up tight, but when it opened it opened wide and nothing would stop that d-bag coming out! The harness was mostly comfortable, particularly the location of the chest strap. I found sometimes the leg straps would become uncomfortable under canopy - but the rig wasn't built for me. The pin and bridle protection was terrific, I never had concerns about dislodging pins. It was a great rig and I will miss it. I will definitely consider a voodoo when I buy custom built gear.

Like others here, I had never met him, only talked through PM's. But he was always very helpful and offered great advice and support. Despite never had met him I was quite saddened to read about this as I was hoping to go flocking with him one day.

I wouldn't say the openings are soft, they are quick, but fine. You are probably right, its not just the bagging technique that would give me good openings, its the whole pack job. But I have heard a number of people say they'd never psycho pack a sabre because they believe they will get slammed. As I said, it works well for me.

I have a Sabre 170, a canopy well known for hard openings. I have always pyscho packed it and the openings have always treated me well. That said I have heard people say that psycho packing a sabre makes the openings harder... It works well for me.

I've survived nearly 300 falls from 13,000ft

Well then I stand corrected. I have seen in other industries where a different means to the same end is not certified by a manufacturer for this reason.

I would guess that it would come down to R&D. Icarus wouldn't want to spend X amount of R&D jumps just to see if a psycho packed canopy opens any different. So they say pro-pack it as that's how they would have tested and developed the canopy and then they don't get people complaining if they have problem with a psycho pack.

Did he get his trophy presented to him by a girl in a bikini again?

I know a wingsuiter who collided with an eagle. The skydiver sutained cuts to the fast and I believe the eagle was never seen again. If he sees this most he may be able to provide a more detailed account.

Why do we have laws making it compulsory for cyclists to wear helmets? We have these laws to protect us from ourselves. We have drink driving laws to prevent us from hurting ourselves and others. But have these stopped cyclists getting killed from not wearing helmets or kept people from drink driving? I think by far the best thing that can be done is education. I have done Brian Germain and Scott Miller's canopy courses and they were both terrific. I jump at the busiest dropzone in Australia. We have a swoop pond, some of Australia's best canopy pilots and many many swoopers not to mention, tandems, students, beginners, inters and the old guys doing big ways. Yet we don't get people pounding in or wrapping each other up in canopies. Our top swoopers are very approachable and provide great advice, they will pull up people that they see doing stupid stuff and sometimes hold canopy seminars reminding everyone to be safe. I believe education is the key, get Brian out to do a seminar.

I got a bit over it for a while. Then I got back into some competition 4-way, had a great team and did to-date my best jump, 14 pts on a competition jump, considering we were basically a scratch team we were all very pleased. After that I was hooked again, competition 4-way is certainly my favourite discipline and keeps me hooked.

Get a really experience guy with a full face helmet to do it. He lands, waves to the cowd, then walks out of sight. Then you trade places with him and emerge and wave again and take your helmet off.

Due out this month. http://www.oceanicworldwide.com/p_computers_iddm.html

Well I've recevied one stitch from skydiving and 10 stitches from horseriding...so I know what has been more dangerous for me.

I have a voodoo with a 170 in it. I believe the size is the V4.