meatbomb

So let's see...a JVX with a wingloading of 2.5...gives me a sqftage of 115 or so...should I start looking into getting a Tandem rig next year? --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

:6:3 First jump this year... First jumps on my new VX123 (Because I could!) First weekend as (stand-in) CCI, and no-one got hurt! er --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

I had one of the first ones also, and found the openings awesome...

I didn't think I would either! (It was stock) But they grow on ya! Particularly cos the outside is the colours of my first canopy (a couple of greens), and the insides are both the colour of my two Crossfires (orange and purple!), and the new 123 that should be here soon! I'll no doubt be posting that one that as well! --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

Latest effort, taken by Sergei Rulikovskyy. Only two weeks til the 123 gets here! --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

Bundy ROCKS! I'm so psyched to see him ripping it up! Makes me wanna hop on a plane to CA right now! --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

Interestingly, I had the exact opposite impressions! I did 60 jumps on a Velo 120 loaded at 2.4, and handed it back, cos I didn't like the searching openings, and ridiculously steep trim. I've now done 150 on an Icarus VX 114 at 2.55, and love the openings, flight and landings so much that I'm getting a 123 (at 2.3 for distance) as well! I guess YMMV... So my advice would be to try a Velo, a VX, and a Xaos-27, see which one you like... One thing that no-one can deny is that both the VX and the Xaos-27 have a much flatter natural glide angle than the Velo...(I know the VX is the best cos it's what I've got! ) --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

Well I jump a VX-114, and my VX-123 (for distance) should be arriving in 6 weeks or so! I don't know of anyone who regularly jumps bigger... --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

His name's Andy Gibson...been jumping since '86... Guyronimo...Like the look of the shirts...my email is on it's way

I've only ever heard, and taught, to turn to the right (after looking to make sure there's no-one there! ) --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

I, for one, would not be jumping today if I had had to climb out before exit. Yes, I was a pussy when I was a student... (some may say I haven't changed much! ) I found it much easier on the head, as do my students now, to go from sitting "inside" the plane (I know that technically you're mostly outside) to exiting...I found it helped not having to look down... --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

I heard one for packing (the 8 Ps): Proper Prior Pullup Placement Prevents Piss Poor Packing --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

Of course...I meant men... But still no complaints! --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

Here's a diagram I made so my local rigger could copy the Icarus demo riser slocks, cos I love'em... --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

Damn! I wondered why I ended up training all the good looking women on my DZ! No complaints here! Seriously though, as others have suggested, if you throw them a few curveballs, and critique them honestly on that, most seem to respect the instructor / student divide. Failing that, you always have the option to ask other instructors to take over, and this often works well. --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

Anyone know why this happened? (I have started a separate thread in Incidents) --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

Hey Jim, Rupert here As Billy mentions, there are a few DZs in Scotland, you can see them at the BPA Website. You should try each of the three DZs, cos everyone has their own idea of what makes a good DZ...I have jumped at all three, and they all offer something different. I started, like you, at Strathallan, and I now instruct, pack, and am on the club committee there, so I'm a bit biased! We're a club, unlike any other DZ in the UK, and have an unique atmosphere / ethos because of that. If you fancy going abroad over Christmas, a bunch (10-20) of us will be going to Skydive Algarve. We have just bought a third Cessna 206, which should be appearing at the DZ this weekend. As far as your licence etc. is concerned, we would sit down with you and work out where you fit into the BPA system, and apply for the appropriate licences/stickers. PM me if you want to work out more details, or need a lift/help nearer the time --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

Nah, We can blame you for not using a better gun with a spellchecker! --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

No offense, mate, but bollocks! This is yet another example of why Scotland needs it's independence. The "UK" Government is making decisions based on the South-East of England. Scotland's working population is in serious decline, and we can use all the hard-working immigrants we can get, skilled or no! --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

It was done the week of March 20th, as Luigi showed me some pics the week after...he was still pysched about it Some get-up on the chase cam as well... --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

My DZ operates a kit and doc check procedure, and everyone must be on the completed list, before they are allowed to manifest. --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

I voted for 10% or less, although, in fact, I have an AAD in my rig. 90% of my jumps these days are from 5"000ft or less, on a very highly-loaded cross-braced canopy, that I swoop to land. I have assessed the risks of having two canopies out, either at pull-time, or at swoop time, to be greater than that of my losing consciousness, or altitude awareness. The only reason I have an AAD in my rig is for when I visit DZs that force me to wear one. For my other 10%, I also tend to leave the AAD off, unless I assess to risk to be such that it outweighs the other considerations. This means I am constantly having to assess each and every high lift that I do. I can think of 2 separate occasions (Collegiate big-ways, with me as the target, I mean base!) in the last 2 years where I have considered the risk to be worth turning on my AAD, and countless others where I have simply changed the plan, or not done the jump at all. I am 27 (just! ) and would rather jump without an AAD, doing well-planned, lower risk jumps, than do more dangerous jumps with one...(I may well be the antithesis of many of the posters above...I'm scared to jump with an AAD! ) --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

Didn't we just have a thread about this...oh wait... Over a longer period, with a shallower climb angle perhaps? Or just the perception thing causing different inputs? --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

I'll take two EFS XXXL (To much E&S, not enough F!) --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

I was so disappointed when I realised that this wasn't a tagline for a new Kurt "Snake Bliskin" Russell Escape From... movie! I'd read it as: "Snake's on a Plane!" --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies