pauld767

6 years ago today, and do you know what, still there is not a day that goes by without me thinking about the good times. Egon, you took a part of me with you when you left us. I look forward to getting it back again. Someday - way in the future, I hope. Cheers Choms. I'll raise a a cold green onE for all of you tonight.

A good friend of mine used to always say, "That went down like Mom's panties on Fathers day"! Like the first beer after the light comes on. I miss hearing it.

.......and that website is.....www.crouks.co.za sorry for the omission on my previous post

I just got the book yesterday and started reading it imediately. I have just found out today that Dennis has a Website relating to his book. All his contact details are there if anyone is looking to get back in touch with him. Paul.

Jim, PM to follow.

I know a fellow that used to be active in Rhodesia and (last I knew) is still currently jumping in South Africa, his name is Dennis Croukamp. I don't have any email address for him I'm afraid but, if he is still jumping, he'll be active at Skydive Cape Town, and or Skydive Robertson. You may be able to get in touch with him through people there. If I recall correctly, he was also writing a book about his experiences there. I do have a cell number for him, but can not be sure if it is still current (in case anyone is interested).

Check you dropzone.com mail.

.......and again...but I think I got it this time

Whoops, I'll try again..........

An amazing view of one of Dubai 's city skylines. This picture was not taken from an aircraft, but from the top of the Burj Dubai (world's tallest building: currently @ 2 , 620 ft / 801m!!!). PD

As previously said their are TM/Passenger combinations that will be way out of your range. However, in the past when faced with similar situations (where the pairs are just over my normal limit of range), I have borrowed a very tight RW suit and put an empty plastic bottle (1 to 1.5 Litre) inside the suit, on my belly, in line with the zipper. This has the effect of creating a kind of 'fin' at the lowest point of my arch and helps me go a little faster. Yes the tight suit helps, and you have to try to put your feet over your back onto your shoulders as well (HARD arch), but the bottle helps. Give it a go on a non paying camera jump and see how (IF) it works for you. Paul.

Peej, I have no idea what the error code would mean or how serious it is. However, you can not afford to have camera busts at nationals. The timing sucks, I know, but if I were you, I'd see if I could borrow another camera and take yours in. If you are REALLY nice to the person on the desk and explain the situation they MAY put it to the front of the line for you, possibly getting it done before the competition. Blue Skies Paul.

I also have a schumacher articulated bracket on my helmet. These sights and brackets are made to sell to all camera persons with a multitude of helmet configurations, and have to be able to fit all those configurations. It is up to the end user to customize the fittings to their own set up perhaps this should be made clearer on the instructions supplied. When I got it, I fitted it up to the helmet the same as you and imediately got the impression that there was no way the designer intended for the whole assembly to stick out so far. So I lossened up the knuckle clamp, put on the helmet and slid the ringsight and clamp back into position, screwed it up tight, checked out the 'out of the way setting' and when I was happy, took off the helmet. The result was that there was and inch to 2 1/2 of posts protruding forward and upward of the clamp. I marked the edges of the clamp on the posts and took them down to a machine shop and had a guy cut off the excess on the lathe and polish up the cuts. Result, a ringsight that hugs my face as close as is possible and presents minimum snag potential. When I see setups with similar apendages, I can't help but to offer advise (take it or leave it) and wonder why no one has beaten me to it. It is scary. It's your neck!! PD.

"CAS Camera(s)" are the SA Agents for Pelicases. I know that they are in Cape Town in the Table View area because I have bought replacement liners from them for my cases, but they may have a branch in Johannesburg. You'll have to get the number from enquiries because I lost it, but that's how I got in touch with them.

19 in in 9 hours out of a 182 and 206 back to back all the way. Ate lunch on the go. Even had a total container lock (neither drouge release would work) on the 18th jump (reserve ride), got down, switched rigs and went up again. Yeah I was tired once we had stopped, but whilst we were going it was fine. I guess we were just running on adreniline. If I remember correctly we had 6 or 7 TI's on duty, another TI (Egon Sussmann of RWS) tied with me and the record for the day was 21. We had enough light for at least 3 more loads but ran out of passengers. A day I'll never forget. By the way, after we were done I checked out the rig from jump 18. Both drouge releases pulled easily. We suspect that during drouge fall the strop at the BOC was twisted 180 degrees and forced up against the main creating too much friction. Blue Skies, Paul.