masher

I don't know about anywhere else... but here, you need your C licence before you can jump a camera (100 jumps). Also, to get to you B licence, you need to complete the B-rel table. Its about 9-10 two way jumps where you learn different manoevers required for RW jumps. The graduation jumps are 4 ways that the student organises. So by the time you get to your C licence, you should have a basic understanding of how to move your body in freefall, not that I'm saying you'd be an expert.... -- Arching is overrated - Marlies

In Oz, you'd need to get your Packer B rating. Then you can do student rigs and stuff like that. You have to do 10 supervised packs, and pass a test. (and pay money to the APF) -- Arching is overrated - Marlies

I wouldn't fly anything _but_ Qantas... -- Arching is overrated - Marlies

thats quite..... out there. :) -- Arching is overrated - Marlies

From my instructors: In a delta, your legs are a shoulder width apart and your hands are about a hands width away from your sides, and are in line with the front of your body. In a track, your feet are together, your arms are against your body, and slightly below it. Your shoulders are rolled forward. You are de-arched. . Not necessarily what I actually do, but thats how it was described to me. When I delta, I go around in circles. But then again, I only have 20 jumps.... -- Arching is overrated - Marlies

What do booties do? I take it they are the booosters that are referred to [url=http://www.tads.com.au/pdf/jumpsuitorder.pdf]here[/url]. While we're on the topic, what about the 'para-pac boosters'? The reason I ask is that I'm going to be buying my first suit and I would like to know about all the bits and bobs that can go on it. -- Arching is overrated - Marlies

mmm nascar Lets all drive around in circles.... Give me Bathurst anyday. -- Arching is overrated - Marlies

creeper . Don't worry. I'm 6' and 65 kgs ( hows that for mixing my metaphors...) (143lb) So far I've been using the jumpsuits at the DZ, but I just had a jump with our CI. Linked exit that sort of funnelled. Took about 1000' to get level. As soon as he released, he fell away (or I stayed up...) The first thing he did when I got back to the hanger was put me on a set of scales :) He then told me to seriously consider getting my own jumpsuit, which I am in the process of organising. -- Arching is overrated - Marlies

I've seen a couple of rigs at my DZ that have the rings under the risers, so to speak. I've been told that these are reversed risers. What are the pros and cons of this compared to 'normal' risers? -- Arching is overrated - Marlies

You have to go the whole 96..... Question: Where do you stash everything before you open the door? -- Arching is overrated - Marlies

I can play piano and side drum (pipe band, not that mil stuff). I also did french horn in high school -- Arching is overrated - Marlies

That one is pretty spinny TiLegs. -- Arching is overrated - Marlies

It would be interesting to see how you pack it to avoid the lanyard getting tagled during deployment -- Arching is overrated - Marlies

I had an interesting experience once. One of our briefs is if we get unstable and can't get stable then we pull. This resulted in a back-to-earth, head down deployment. I got to see my d bag go through my legs, and I thought 'whoops'. I got swung through my risers and managed to cut my chin open on something. After that it was fairly uneventful... -- Arching is overrated - Marlies

I'm on the S/L progression table. Currently I have about 20 jumps, and about 6 to go on the table if I pass everything first go. I think that its harder to learn freefall skills by SL, as you don't have anyone there to help you. On the up side, (as has already been mentioned) I've landed a canopy 20 times. An AFF person at the same stage in training would have only about 6 to their credit. I've geared up 20 times, go in and out of the plane 20 times. Some other practicalities, if the cloud base is at 4000, then an AFF student is grounded. An S/L student can go up and get some consolidation jumps in. Also, one thing that one of my instructors mentioned is that when AFF students do their last jump (hop'n'pop) they're usually really scared because they haven't been that close to the ground yet. S/L students love hop'n'pops 'cause they;re what we grew up on. Cost. Both tables probably end up costing the same, but static lines cost less, so you can do more jumps and stay current, rather than one a month (or so) by AFF. -- Arching is overrated - Marlies

I have my left foor on the wheel strut and I kneel on my right leg. Both hands on the door frame, in, out dive. Hands out stretched, legs back, and then fold your feet back to your butt. Aim straight out, not down, and about halfway between the trailing edge and the empanage. I say legs back and then feet, because on one of my dives, one of my legs was down, and I went unstable. -- Arching is overrated - Marlies

I had my pre-second sensory overload about 5 jumps ago. My instructors put me on a dive exit because I was (am) having trouble exiting stable. Dive exit out of the Islander at 6000. I can remember the count out, in, but not the dive bit. The next thing I know, I'm at 4500 in a box position, falling straight down, not spinning and watching my instructor going around me. Apparantly I did all the things I was supposed to do (dive, arch, delta, arch), I just can't remember it. -- Arching is overrated - Marlies

mmm Australia... 35deg today. A bit hot, but v nice :) -- Arching is overrated - Marlies

i got through the colour one until the last green. or was it blue... ;) Check out this site for some more.. http://members.lycos.nl/amazingart/E/42.html -- Arching is overrated - Marlies

Do you have to be able to pack your own main to get your A's? I've been (flat) packing my student rig since about my 7th jump (under supervision) and I can practically do all of it myself now. What packer ratings do you people have? Over here, once you've got your A licence, you're able to pack a main for yourself, or another licenced skydiver. You can get your Packer B rating which allows you to pack student rigs, Packer A is so you can pack reserves, and Rigger is a rigger. I don't know when you're allowed to teach people to pack, I'm guessing packer B. As for the full priveleges, I don't know off hand. All I know is that why should I pay someone to pack if I can do it myself. At least everything is your fault then... -- Arching is overrated - Marlies

I jump down at Busselton with Southern Skydiverswww.southernskydivers.com.au Its a small DZ, but its really good; everyone is willing to help you. They do both static line and AFF training. The scenery from altitude is quite nice, and there's all the wineries down south.... -- Arching is overrated - Marlies

How's this one? -- Arching is overrated - Marlies

Does anyone use Atom containers? what do you think of them? The reason I ask is that one of the local parachute suppliers is a PdF dealer. -- Arching is overrated - Marlies

Talking about bail out rigs... One story I've heard. At a drop zone, the skydivers like to get as many people on the plane as possible. This particular plane is rated for 10 jumpers an a pilot, but if you sqeeze up you can get 11 or 12 in. After being warned about this, the JM still got 11 jumpers in the plane. At about 4000', the pilot turned around and counted the people in the back. He proceeded to get out of his seat and clamber his way to the rear door, saying 'I've told you before, only 10 jumpers' and proceeded to jump out. Needless to say, there was a mad rush to get out the door. Unbeknowenst to everyone, the jumper behind the pilot was also a pilot and he was flying the plane. The last two jumps saw this and didn't exit. The (new) pilot setup for jump run at 10000, and they had a great jump. They only put 10 jumpers on that plane now. -- Arching is overrated - Marlies

I'm a student and I'm jumping a PD (PA??) 270, and I'm a lightweight. 65 kgs + gear. I've got about 20 jumps. Usually I'm pretty good with landings, its the falling bit thats hard ;)Out of every 5 jumps, I'd probably stand up on 2, fall over on 2 and PLF 1. That said, I had my first brain mal on landing this weekend. In about 5-10 kn winds, went to flare 1 (toggles down beside my head) too early. I recognised this and held it, but when it came to continue my flare, I let up and landed, or collapsed would be a better word for it. Nothing broken, but I still don't know why I did it... -- Arching is overrated - Marlies