rickfri59

I'll send you a PM

I checked with my health insurer. AS long as I'm not participating in a riot, or other act of civil disobedience, I'm covered. I even specifically mentioned Skydiving, just to be sure.. Hell, you could argue that climbing a ladder is a risky activity.

Geeze, I would have expected a plane extraction to be somewhat more technical. It's good to know you can still rely on a bunch of friends, a utility trailer, a pick-um-up truck, and a case of beer to get you through moving day. I was expecting a crane, big flat bed, and lots of official looking officials to oversee.

My wife “put the crack pipe to my lips” (quote from another post), metaphorically speaking of course, last year when I got a tandem jump for a Fathers day gift. I signed up for AFF shortly after my feet hit the ground. Now I give ALL my extra money to the dealers (DZ owners) to maintain the high. Last summer I gave ($$) my two sons a puff on the pipe. One did AFF I & II, the other a tandem. They’re hooked, but also poor college students and dad doesn’t share jump money. However, It has been a great bonding experience. We spend lots of time talking about jumping, and they’ll hang with me at the DZ for an afternoon once in a while. Plus, they think I’m a cooool dad. They’ll have jobs this summer and be back at it. My youngest daughter can’t wait to turn 18 and give it a go. I don’t think jumping is any more dangerous than any other school sport (however, when things get fuc_ked, they get fuc_ked up really bad). DZ crudeness? My home DZ is probably less crude than the average high school. I would love for the four of us to be able to do a four way dive in a few years.

The other Australian company that sells suits for around $ 100 USD is Headfirst. They manufacture in quantity and sell from available stock. Mine was $180 USD plus $23USD for shipping.

This is a long post, given the relative value of the content, but I’m very bored @work today and a tad bit jump horny…... After lots of on-line research over the winter looking for a freefly jumpsuit I found what I felt was a bargain. I’m sure that experienced jumpers and newbies alike have gotten “sticker shock” after adding all the extras (styles, colors, pockets, etc.) to the base price to make the jumpsuit something of a personalized item. I took a chance ordering from overseas; an operation called RMW out of Australia. I was somewhat skeptical about the quality, given the price differential between RMW and numerous other manufactures. The suit price, including insured shipping was roughly equivalent to many other manufacture’s “base” suit price and included a fairly wide selection (but not too extensive) of patterns and colors, pockets, Velcro cuffs, cordura butt and knees, blah, blah, blah. So I played with the on-line color/pattern designer, plopped measurements and a few other things into the order form, included my charge card number and crossed my fingers (how successful was I going to be getting customer service when there’s a 14 hour time differential, no toll free number, and kangaroos hopping about?). Well, I received the suit yesterday, on schedule. I got a well made suit that doesn’t look as though there was any compromise between price & quality. I pulled and tugged on all seams, nothing gives. The fit is great, and the colors look just as they did in the on-line color picker thingy. Plus, the whole suit is lined with some sort of meshy real comfy stuff. Customer service?? I bugged them several times via. e-mail to make sure they were still in business. I always got an answer next day (the time zone thingy), and I got a personalized thank you card with the suit. And here’s the kicker… My charge card wasn’t whacked until they shipped

Please, please tell me there's a DVD full of this stuff.

In what area? The DZ or betwen the houses? Because I hauled ass out of the yard and jogged down the road before any pissed off home owner had a chance at me. Hmmm, first impressions are lasting impressions. Anyway, I plan on making Pepperell my weekday after work spot (no pun intended). It's only a 20min drive from work.

Oh, from first hand experience....., comfortable enough for me to still be be alive. On my AFF level 2 I was doing all the after opening canopy checks and enjoying the euphoria and the view, not realizing I was off the DZ and headed east with the wind. I didn't find any outs to the east, tried to make the paintball pit..... Not gonn'a make it. WTF am I doing up here. Picked a tree headed for the trunk.... The rest is ugly. But except for biting through my toungue(sp) and having sore shoulders for a few days, I was o.k. and back up in the air later in the week. But to your initial question, I really like the place and the people. I've only made 1 jump at another DZ, Pepperell, and I landed off. Spectacular landing between two houses. Amazed myself. Like I said, my experience is limited, but IMO, you'll like SDNE.

Yea, I'd hate my face and head to be as scratched up as my visor and the sides of my helmet. Done a couple of high speed PLF's (feet, face, head, and sllllide in). Fortunately vertical speed wasn't the issue. Ah well, I won't jump without.

Around 13 years ago a guy I worked with, who was in a wheel chair, did a tandem jump at the Lebanon, ME DZ. The DZ is under different ownership now, and it is 13 years later, but what the heck give them a call @ 1-800-ugojump.

Nice Job I'd want to sign-up for a Tandem or AFF if this were dangled in my face

... To your wallet.

I bought a “Skydiving” gear bag, size large, and regret it. All the neat stuff in the catalogue is so tempting for a newbie like me. I can’t fit everything in it and end up carrying another duffel bag for my helmet, additional clothing, and other “stuff”. The shoulder straps are in a weird position and it’s not comfortable to wear. I’ve seen people toting the rolling suitcases and if I had to do it again I’d go that route. Plus (IMO) a suitcase in your car is probably less interesting to a thief than a gear bag.

O.K. Guys & Gals…Someone out there has to have bought a Headfirst brand jump suit. Here goes again…… Has anyone bought, or know someone who has bought a Headfirst brand jump suit? There’s an Australian web site www.totalcontrol.com.au selling these jumpsuits. For about $120 US dollars it APPEARS you’d get a decent suit. And yes damn it, it did snow 7 inches last night and is forecast to snow again tonight . Oh the humanity

I just had mine assembled a few weeks ago and my Rigger said Wings was the best rig he's ever jumped. He went on to say that he's jumped everything (he's an AFF and Tandem Instructor) and his Wings is tops. He did have one hell of a time stuffing the reserve in though

Yea, me too when mine arrived a few weeks back. My wife drew the line when I wanted to wear it to bed. Now all I need is an open DZ and some good weather to find out if it really works.

You got it! I haven't jumped since November. I'm so jump horny it hurts (and I've barely indulged in this most seductive and sensual activity). Now that the snow is finally melting/melted and the two local DZ's are ready to spin-up with Safety Day (3/29 @ Peperell and 4/5 @ SDNE) this weekend seems like it's never going to get here. To further add to my agony, I found out earlier this week I've got to go to a funeral this Saturday. The weather is supposed to suck on Sunday (snow??). Now next weekend will neeeeeever get here. The more time I spend waiting the more money I spend on skydiving trinkets and videos.

Surely somebody out there has some experience with this company and/or their suits or they wouldn't be in business. Anybody??

You're a regular yuk yuk

O.K. I’m in acronym hell. I even clicked on your RTFM clicky . But the question stands, HOW THE HELL DO YOU DO IT? The clicky thing that is….

How do you do this "clicky" thing?

When I had my reserve packed I wrote my name, address, and phone number on my nice white wide reserve PC bridle. I’m confident that if I have cutaway and someone finds the PC & free bag assembly it will be obvious to them who to call (I even wrote the word “reward” on the bridle. Here’s my thousand dollar question…..what is an appropriate/best way to put identifying markings on the main?

***Noooooooooooooooooo, no no no no... Sorry, it's a minor peeve of mine, but WD-40 is a corrosive, not an anti corrosive. Try some food grade silicone.*** O.K., help me out here... Can you suggest a brand?

Has anyone bought, or know someone who has bought a Headfirst brand jump suit? There’s an Australian web site www.totalcontrol.com selling these jumpsuits. For about $120 US dollars it APPEARS you’d get a decent suit. Granted you pick from standard sizing ranging from small to X-large and about 13 different color patterns. They say the prices are low because the suits are not custom (measurements/colors/patterns), but rather mass-produced. They also claim to have a large stock inventory and quick order fulfillment time. Anybody have opinions or testimonials?