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.

Can someone post a link to the anouncement (if an official announcement has been published) Thanks, Paul.

I have a Samsung SV-5000W Multisystem Converter VHS 4 Head Hi-Fi Stereo VCR which is a great machine for converting. Cost $330 from B&H Photo Video. You can input virtually any system and output likewise. I worked at a DZ that attracted a lot of tourists from all over the world, for a small additional fee I would produce their tape in the system of their home country. I also used it in the US recording all footage on my PAL camera and turning out NTSC VHS tapes for the customers. Now, as for converting VHS to VHS, if you got two of these machines I recon that you could do it, but you might want to ask for adsise from the people at B&H.

I agree, everyone should 'double' check their gear and adjustment up before boarding. Having said that, working on multiple DZ's around the world it is amazing how many times I (or other jumpers) have seen people miss things, some minor, and some, downright deadly (cheststraps). I make it a habit of scanning over everyones gear that are within sight. It gives me a warm feeling of 'togetherness' when ever I see people cross checking other people on the load. It reinforces the idea that we are one big family and 'family look out for each other', right?

I used to work at Skydive Cape Town and as far as remember, I am pretty sure that they 'prefer' you to have either a tandem or a static line before doing AFF. Having said that they will include the static line 'jump' in the cost of the AFF 1st jump class as a lot of the ground school (canopy control, reserve drills, landings etc) is the same as. I believe they do this to give you the oppertunity to see if this is really for you before you shell out the big bucks. I stand to be corrected, perhaps they have changed their policy a little in the 2 1/2 years since I was there. Have you're friend contact the DZ'S directly for exact policies. You will find links to all SA DZ's at www.para.co.za, the official Parachute Association of South Africa website. Blue Skies! Paul.

Perhaps a little. However since they are in the 'custom' business, I'm going to see if they can make small adjustments to the machining. I propose to suggest leaving metal beveled at 45 degrees either side of the 'shoes' instead of milling it to 90 degrees as they have done. That should drasticly reduce the 'snagability'. I'll let you all know how I get on. Blue Skies! Paul.

Base 428, Thanks for your input. I found a supplier of custom L-Brackets after I posted my message. Check out www.kirkphoto.com (don't know how to do the clicky thing), expensive, but very sweet! Just perfect for the discerning camera flyer. Blue Skies Paul.

I would like to mount my stills camera on an L bracket that can be quickly inter-changeable from landscape to portrait. At the moment the camera is mounted with a Manfrotto quick release. I was thinking about using a standard L shaped section of aluminum and permanently fixing a base plate to both faces by drilling and tapping through the plate and base plate. The trouble with this, is that the screw in the base plate that normally goes in the base of the body is not long enough to accommodate the thickness of the bracket plate. Anyone got any good ideas on a home built bracket or commercially available one that would work? Blue Skies!

Thanks to all of you for you're advise. By '2 for 1 special' I was just talking about getting the two jobs done at once, not trying to save a buck. The money is not the issue, the down time is! Based upon the replies above I'll get the knee done first, and then, if need be, the shoulder. Blue Skies.

After being a professional skydiver (only source of income) for a while I got poached back to company that I 'cutaway from' 2 1/2 years ago. Financialy it was a great move, but soul destroying as going from 5-7 days a week at the DZ to 2-3 days every 3 months is indescribeable. Just after rejoing the company I got transfered to the Middle East for a couple months where thankfully, I was able to jump at weekends. Whilst there, I suffered a dislocated shoulder as a result of mid air colision, (I was hit by someone who couldn't stop) during a 16 way. I managed to get it back 'in' and landed without incident. So I took a few months off and continued jumping, no problem. I kept current by jumping (fun jumps and tandems) every 3 months for 2 years. 6 months ago I was out Power Kiting and managed to discolate my right knee, tearing all the Ligaments. Wearing a brace permanantly and no jumping since. Now to the point, I am going to get the knee opperated on in about 3 weeks and was figuring about asking the Surgeon for a 2 for 1 special! "Whilst I am out for the knee you might as well go ahead and fix the shoulder too." As I have said, I have been jumping throughout (between the two injuries) with no problems from the shoulder. The last couple weeks I have been getting some muscular pain in the shoulder and am thinking "a sign"? I know that it is just a matter of time before the shoulder gives up again under a stressful situation. Has any one else had double 'voluntary' surgery like this, at once? How mobile were you after surgery and what sort of recovery time (back to the Sky) did it take? I am prepared to work hard at rehabilitation. Would it be better to take things slower, and get the knee done, and then the shoulder (when or if it becomes a problem)? After 2 years of relative abstinance and earning good money, I am so ready to get up again, and when I do, I want to be able make up for lost time. The sooner, the better. Blue Skies. P.S. I'll welcome coments on recoveries from either type of injury as well, and just combne / overlap the advise.