jimp

Of course, I should have said "Certificate of fitness" instead of documents - that was what I was discussing at the time. In a few weeks my wife and I hope to leave for Europe - that is to say, we are booked on flights. First stops will be Romania and Bulgaria. If I find any unusual requirements for visiting skydivers I will post them for you here. It is as amazing to me, as it must be to you, how different from one dz to another the requirements for visiting jumpers can be. From Lodi California's "Your waiver is on the back of your ticket", to the marathon of signing reams of paper, induction and indoctrination sessions that seem to take up half a day at other places. Jim

Specifically I am thinking of Clinceni in Romania, and generally of other government sponsored aero clubs in the country. There may be others in Serbia, Bosnia-Herzigovina, Belarus and so on; your best bet would be to have your documents in order before you leave home. You could still be found "fit" by a doctor in-country, just learn the local word for "cough".

At some dropzones or aero clubs in Eastern Europe you will be asked to provide documentation of medical fitness to engage in sporting (parachuting) activities.

Old log books are wonderful. I don't have it right here, this is what I remember when I looked at it last week: 29 Dec. 1974, first jump of the day Cessna 182 ZS-CMY 8000 ft Peter Earle's first hook-up Second jump; 3- way with Peter Earle, Lipson 3rd We had a lot of fun on the coast that week, besides jumps at Port Alfred airfield, we landed on the beach at Kenton-on-Sea and on a sand bar in the Bushman River mouth at low tide. No squares yet, all PCs. Also met some lovely young women, one of whom I keep in contact with to this day. (not so young now though) Just can't imagine not keeping an accurate log of all my jumps. Thanks for posting here Peter.

Go for it! My first lesson was a couple of weeks ago at a small ski club in the Zagros mountains above the village of Fereydoun Shahr in Iran. A great experience, but harder than I expected (especially hiking up the bunny hill at 10,000 ft. asl.) Cheap too. Age? 63.

KAP 3 was the Czech designation where they were manufactured, the Sovs called them PPK 3. You can still see them on rigs in Russia and eastern non-EU Europe. Very reliable durable devices, don't "time expire" after a few years.

So what's happening at Pitt, Rob??

Wow! All those names from long ago. Richard Charter died in an unfortunate kayak accident 5 or 6 years ago, otherwise I know about only one other of those you've listed. Silvio Stefannini was running a restaurant in Jo'burg a couple of years ago, Tonto posted about meeting him then. Those were the days of Charter's "Chain Gang" and "Hellman's Heavies", also Rod Murphy's world cups at Wonderboom and Oudtshoorn, trips around the country with Henry Dutoit's Trek team out of Westonaria. You've started me on a real nostalgia trip!

First dozen from a pair of Augusta-Bell 212, A6-BBC and A6-BBY.

Brent McLarty also, as I remember. Antioch was their home dz.

I remember Dennis very well, and am certainly interested in his current whereabouts.

Valuable artifacts of your family's history should be treated with the greatest care and respect. This company offers products for archival storage of your documents and photographs: http://www.lightimpressionsdirect.com/index.action Don't you dare write on them with anything!!

He was a scrawny old fart, even in those days.

This was ours until we moved into town last year. Spectacularly beautiful area on one of the two routes to Alaska, quiet, remote, 14 inch thick log walls; you can carry on in the tradition of those who..... came before you www.eaglenesthouse.com

Guayaquil Ecuador. But who's the Gringo in the white jumpsuit? On second thought, maybe Quito, looking at the terrain behind the hangar.

http://www.cpvpara.com/inglese/centrale.html Unfortunately there's no jumping at Lido anymore.

Check this out: http://www.skydivecrete.gr/home.html It's a link from this site. Dropzones: Europe: Greece: Skydive Crete I'd love to be there right now, here it's minus 15 outside, light snow falling, and no sign of spring.

This looks hot: http://www.nikon.ca/en/Product.aspx?m=16681 Availability of a 0.76x aux. lens and geo-tagging capabilities. Maybe just the thing for flockers who want to log their distances. Edit to add: It's on sale here at $450. CAD

Are you a skydiver? Edit to add: Never mind, I've just PMd you.

Information in this article may give you some leads for a search: http://parachutehistory.com/skydive/rodpackjump.html

There's no money in slapping on a cast, handing you a pair of crutches and showing you the door.

Pick exactly the right conditions for your canopy - non-gusty, non-thermally, nice gentle breeze just perfect for your 370 sq. ft. monster. A nice easy flare and a one-foot stand up landing to follow. If not just right, a PLF (remember them?) to your good side. Don't push it. Check your horoscope, check your bio-rhythm charts, you will know when you're ready. Have a good one!

Canadian passports. Valid for 5 years, good for 4 1/2, since many countries won't issue visas unless there is at least 6 months validity left. So I'm on something like the ninth one now.

We've used this over the past 20 years: http://www.septicsystemhelp.com/?gclid=CNCF6sSu-JgCFRFWagodK1Amnw

Slovenia. Friendly honest people, beautiful unspoiled countryside.