Packing instruction in London / SE this weekend?

[RandomLemming 0]

Hi all,

Is there anyone out there who would like to make some cash and kill themselves laughing as I try to learn to pack a Pilot 188 with 35 jumps on it?

I'm willing to pay for tuition (2/3 jump tickets or cash equivalent sound fair?)

Headcorn or Hinton would both be ideal dropzones if you are able to meet me at one?

If anyone has some time to help the hopeless, I'd really appreciate it!

Thanks in advance,

[wonder2006 0]

Sure my flatmate would love to make money out of you. But his packing credentials aren't great. Infact he's not packed before (he's open to trying tho if he's getting paid for it)

Maybe you should rather think about asking the instructors (a couple of whom are riggers too) at either of those dz's - I know at Headcorn, and I'm sure Hinton is probably the same, they teach you for free on a rainy day when there's no jumping going on. All you need to do is ask. I'm sure they'd be happy to accept jump tickets too - at least the teaching is going to be of a better quality than what other random's can offer.

Probably the better idea.

[RandomLemming 0]

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Sure my flatmate would love to make money out of you. But his packing credentials aren't great. Infact he's not packed before (he's open to trying tho if he's getting paid for it)

Please be sure to thank him kindly on my behalf, but I think I'll pass :) Your point is well made though :)

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Maybe you should rather think about asking the instructors (a couple of whom are riggers too) at either of those dz's - I know at Headcorn, and I'm sure Hinton is probably the same, they teach you for free on a rainy day when there's no jumping going on. All you need to do is ask. I'm sure they'd be happy to accept jump tickets too - at least the teaching is going to be of a better quality than what other random's can offer.

That is exactly what I keep trying to do, but I've had the worst luck so far this year. Every time I've had spare to go to the DZ, the sun has come out and the packers have all been busy so I've just jumped instead of learning. The only time I spent much time on the ground was in Spain, but that trip there were no instructors able to teach me. So I thought I'd just arrange to pay someone for their time rather than keep hoping to be in the right place at the right time.

Your advice makes sense and I'll see if I can get a day off work to go out there, or see what the weather on a weekend is like and phone someone to arrange things in advance

[BannanaGirl 0]

Hi Wayne,

You are fast approaching the season where you will have more time on your hands to learn to pack.

I have been packing for a few months now but have had serious issues getting it into the bag (do not ask!). However i have mastered that bit now!

Anyway I made it my sole mission this weekend just been to achieve my packing certificate as the weather was naff. Whilst the others were consuming a liquid lunch I stayed on the OJ and headed back to the DZ to pack some more, test myself on getting twists and tangles out etc and then I did my packing test via my CCI once he chopped it and gave me a nice mess to sort out.

Anyway don't panic so much. If it is jumpable, jump and get someone else to pack for now (but watch as they do it and ask questions) as you will have heaps of time this winter to do it. Packing is one of those arts that is not rocket science but just takes a bit of getting used to, the more you do it the better and quicker you will become.

Any instructor should be able to assist you and being able to pack is one of your B licence requirements, just like JM briefs, spotting briefs. Just keep on at the folks that do the briefs etc. You won't get unless you ask. As a good will gesture a beer or two later on I would say is more the appropriate fee for packing lessons.

Good luck Wayne and catch you soon buddy.

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[freekflyguy 0]

Hiya Di

Wise words there babe.

Just wondered why Geordie chose to chop away the canopy before he gave you a pack test, that seems a little excessive to me, its not as if that is a real world scenario.

BTW whats with the avatar? it makes you look pretty foxy

It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.

[BannanaGirl 0]

Hello there Buzz!

Yeah you may think it seems excessive chopping my canopy and giving it some shit for me to sort out but I certainly understand how it functions more by getting intimate with it now, getting a method in place to sort it and going through line checks whilst laid out on the ground etc, reassembling the 3 ring release system, even gave my cutaway cables a quick clean too. I am 100% more confident now as a packer. I guess that is why it is done the excessive way. Practice makes perfect and knowledege never killed anyone did it?

Either that or Geordie has it in for me.

As for the avatar, that is the idea to look foxy cause I don't the rest of the time!


xxxx

[RandomLemming 0]

Hi Di :)

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I have been packing for a few months now but have had serious issues getting it into the bag (do not ask!). However i have mastered that bit now!

I got a nasty suspicion I'm going to be in the same boat with that. I hear that canopies don't really lose their slippy aspect until about 50 jumps or so?

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Any instructor should be able to assist you and being able to pack is one of your B licence requirements, just like JM briefs, spotting briefs. Just keep on at the folks that do the briefs etc. You won't get unless you ask. As a good will gesture a beer or two later on I would say is more the appropriate fee for packing lessons.

Quick question - Do I have to know how to pack, or do I have to have my packing certificate signed off? Because from what I can tell, there is some difference between those two standards :)

I know how to disassemble and reassemble a three ring circus, and I'm ok with sorting out twists and tangles (did a bunch of that last trip to Spain ), but once the brakes are stowed, the PC is cocked and the lines are all straight, I'm not good for any more.

I'm not panicking yet because worst case, I can just pay to have my rig packed. But I really want to get my B because this business with the glasses and the goggles is pissing me off, and the sooner I can get into a full-face helmet, the sooner I can stop having a big bulge (glasses case, nothing dirty I promise ) under my suit just to the left of my reserve handle. So I have to learn at some point :)

[wonder2006 0]

In the UK, packing your own gear, you just have to know how to pack to get your B. If you've been continuously packing your own gear they'll sign that part off no problem.

There won't be any difference in the way they teach you however - which benefits you as they teach you all the checks you should be doing.

Packing certificate is only required if you are going to be packing club kit and allows you then to do so without getting your 4 checks done by someone with a packing certificate.

Just take a chance on a weekend - I wouldn't call it the worst luck for you to have jumpable weather during wet and muddy winter.

[BannanaGirl 0]

I used to view packing as a black art. Basically the more you watch and ask the better you will understand it.

Have a go yourself and get someone to watch you and talk you through it. Once you understand the basics just keep practising. You also have a few ways of choosing to pack, the most popular being the pro pack (where you pack with the canopy draped over your shoulder) or Flat pack (as it says it is).

As for the bag bit. I found a great method of getting it into the bag where I have control over the whole thing (Kneel on the slider end and s fold the arse end into the bag first) but again get an experienced packer or instructor to help you out first.

It will come with time and most of all a bit of patience.

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[BannanaGirl 0]

http://www.bpa.org.uk/forms/docs/Form%20247%20-%20JM1%20&%20CH2%20Record%20Sheet.doc

Number 6 on this document is what you have to be able to do in order to be signed off for packing on your B licence.

[RandomLemming 0]

Oooh nice - Thanks muchly!

[maxdog 0]

I’m often up at Hinton (but not this weekend), PM me and we’ll sort something out, and it’ll only cost you a beer.

PH36 Canopy Formation Team.
www.skydive99.com
www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/PH36-Canopy-Formati

[freekflyguy 0]

I dont believe that D you are very foxy.

It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.