meatbomb

Rubbish. I've done 1600 jumps in 8 years in Scotland. --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

This is quite simply due to the far superior weather we have in Scotland! Whilst lounging around in the gorgeous sunshine and 15-25kt winds last weekend at Strath, it became clear that because of the lovely cooling breeze, people didn't feel the intensity of the sun. This was made abundantly clear when the sun went down (at about 10pm), and we could still see by the light of people's faces! And as for God and Scotland...well, he had the last laugh, when he gave us the English as neighbours... --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

actually that's a common misconception. having the excess point to the outside will place it deeper into the crease between the reserve tray and the riser cover. Is that not what I said??? --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

Whistles Edit: Woohoo! 500th post! Should have some photos to go with that loading next week... --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

I (and everyone I teach) always put my toggle through the loop from the inside, to the outside, and have the excess on the outside...this means that the excess is deeper into the container, when you put the risers in. --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

Dude...I know where you're at...I, too, have never had any alcohol, but the closest I got was 12 hours staring at a bottle of vodka, after I walked in on my best friend, and the (first) love of my life... That was a long day...then I discovered Skydiving...I just can't get that pissed off anymore, cos all I need to do is get into the sky and remember how cool life is! I know what you're all thinking...A skydiver who doesn't drink???? Well try a Scottish Skydiver who doesn't drink! Hooyah! --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

Unfortunately, you need to pay an inordinate amount of money to see the full paper, but from what I've seen of the synopsis, there are major holes, not only in the cost of the jumps, and the amount raised for charity, but also whether they're all charity jumpers in the first place. The hospital the study was done at is the closest to my local DZ, so I'm curious as to the exact details...if whoever it is on the other forum can produce/get their hands on the actual paper, I'd be very interested...also bear in mind this was problably taken from 1993-1998, so it's already 8 years out of date... Abstract below: Parachuting for charity: is it worth the money? A 5-year audit of parachute injuries in Tayside and the cost to the NHS. Lee CT, Williams P, Hadden WA. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perth Royal Infirmary, Scotland, UK. All parachute injuries from two local parachute centres over a 5-year period were analysed. Of 174 patients with injuries of varying severity, 94% were first-time charity-parachutists. The injury rate in charity-parachutists was 11% at an average cost of 3751 Pounds per casualty. Sixty-three percent of casualties who were charity-parachutists required hospital admission, representing a serious injury rate of 7%, at an average cost of 5781 Pounds per patient. The amount raised per person for charity was 30 Pounds. Each pound raised for charity cost the NHS 13.75 Pounds in return. Parachuting for charity costs more money than it raises, carries a high risk of serious personal injury and places a significant burden on health resources. --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

Vis a vis these... Mines is the brand new orange Crossfire I'd just got it the weekend before and done a couple of jumps on it... Still kicked ass, but I don't think I'm ready to try this on my brand new VX yet! The last 2 pictures in the hangar were taken after we'd left Sam to it (He was taking too long!) --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

I'd disagree. I always tell my students that there's no such thing as an irrelevant or off-topic question... If the question's in their head, it's relevant. Answer it and move on...(My most common answer is: Good question, We'll cover that later) Mind you, my fastest first-time SL course took 6 hours...(indeed that's the minimum required in the UK) --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

Damn! Where were you/your money when I smoked everyone's ass in a blindfolded packing race at Netheravon for the BCPA Southerns a couple of years ago! (And I was only one of two who jumped them!) --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

As requested.... DO NOT READ BELOW IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE FILM AND WANT TO BE "SURPRISED" BY THE LAST SCENE!!!!!!! The final credits roll, then it cuts to the witch doctor painted as a skeleton on the "Lost" (Isla Cruces?) Island, dancing round the fire, then genuflecting in front of the throne that Jack was sitting in, but is now occupied by the dog, with a big bone in it's mouth....Yawn...Still can't believe that I wasted 5 minutes of my life over it (and have now used even more typing about it! ;P) --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

Yup...Maybe only a UK thing though...PM if you want to know it... --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

I went to see this last night, and was bitterly disappointed. I found the action vaguely entertaining, and there were some genuine moments of humour, but overall, it was a derivative pile of kak. I counted rip-offs from Lord of the Rings, Highlander, The Three Musketeers, Laurel & Hardy, and Lost, and that was just the blatant ones...and don't bother staying for the last scene...it's a complete waste of 5 minutes of your life, waiting during titles which include "Hair PA", for a rip-off of Ace Ventura. I mean come on! Save your money, and go see any of: Fearless, Thank you for Smoking, Hard Candy, or even The Lake House, all far superior films in every way. Guess I'm gonna pass on watching the first and third ones. --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

That manual needs a bit of work...I particularly like the closing sequence... (Is it left right, or right left? Where does the bridle come out, top right or bottom right? There are 3 different closing sequences in the pictures, and another in the words!) The Wings manual is the same, in that the pictures say one thing, and the words another...is it deliberate (to cover themselves) or just sloppy? --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

What about the Voodoo dude / Voodoo logo on the RI rigs? I think he's pretty cool... Also the Italicised neXt on the Paratec rigs looks nice... --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

Where is that?...looks like heaven for Icarus lovers! --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

It's not the clearing of cables, as such, but rather the changing of reserve drills that shouldn't be done with low experience. Bingo! --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

When is it? --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

I started jumping at Strath in 1998, and have averaged 200 jumps a year on weekends since then. Enough said about the weather! I have been to Empuria, Eloy, Perris, Z-Hills, Cark, Hib etc, all great DZs, but Strath will always be my favou+ rite. I was very disappointed to see the below review, as Strath always seemed very welcoming to me as a student, and when we became experienced, we have always tried to make students feel welcome, and a part of the club. Indeed, it is the standing rule at manifest that students get priority when the weather conditions are suitable. stirling44, come and speak to me, or any of the other instructors/committee members, one weekend, and we'll do whatever we can to make you happier!

Clickified :) --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

Mattjw916 wrote: He also wrote: The phrase that comes to mind has something to do with a pot, a kettle, and the shade black...or is it stones and glasshouses? --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

Hey all, Now that the BCPA Scots is only a month away, it's probably time to give you some details! Once again, we will be holding the Olympic event at Strathallan, over the May Bank Holiday weekend (Friday 26th May - Monday 29th May). This allows all the English Unis time to get up on the Friday, and back on the Bank Holiday, with plenty of partying/jumping time in between! Headlines for this event: Aircraft: Experienced: Turbine Islander Students: 3 x Cessna 206 Competitions: Handicapped 3-Way FS Pre FF1, Post FF1, Post FF2 Freefly competitions Student, Intermediate, Experienced Accuracy competitions Prices: Experienced: Turbine: tbc (likely to be same pricing structure as the Cessnas, i.e. 12.5k = £20) Cessnas: Altitude + £7. (

Any picture of a swoop taken looking downwards whilst standing, so you can see the topskin of a canopy, has gotta be pretty close to "The Edge" (TM)... --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

Really??? I want my $1500 back! They said I would never die! I can't imagine jumping without it now! --- Swoopert, CS-Aiiiiiii! Piccies

Rather than measure it, I leave enough for an extra stow, but less than enough for two extra stows...seems to work...