vt1977

The AGM is now very nearly upon us! So… tell us your plans! I’ll be there Friday night and am looking forward to meeting friends and new!

I have ALWAYS wanted to exit a tailgate on a space hopper!!! Vicki

First off, how much do you weigh and what have you been jumping up until now? I assume from your profile that this will be your first rig in which case you really ought to try to keep your wing loading at or below 1:1. Either canopy would be fine for a first main canopy at this wingloading. Secondly, I’m assuming we’re talking about an original Sabre rather than a Sabre 2. I jumped (original) Sabres of various sizes for the past few years, and although they fly and land nicely enough the openings are horrible! By that I mean they tend to generally be on the quick side with occasional slammers. As has been said, the Sabre is a 9 cell and the Spectre a 7 cell. There is a very slight loss of glide on the Spectre, but it really isn’t much and certainly nothing to worry about. I recently replaced my Sabre 135 with a Spectre 135 and the openings on the Spectre are beautiful – with a nice long snivel and they generally remain on heading. The Spectre is just as easy to land as the Sabre (IMHO) and is much, much nicer in turbulence. The Spectre feels very “solid” to me compared with the Sabre. I like this, but I fully accept that not everybody will. Going from a Sabre to a Spectre of the same size, I have found the riser pressure lighter on the Spectre but the toggle pressure possibly slightly heavier. Having said that, once the turn starts is feels much smoother than the turns on a Sabre. I feel that my Spectre 135 “feels” slightly bigger than my Sabre 135 but not as big as the Sabre 150 I had before that did. Basically, if your wingloading on the Spectre is sensible and your instructors feel that you can handle it (they know you and your abilities after all!), then that would be my first choice. But don’t take my word for it, demo both and decide from there! Good luck! Vicki

And how about joining me (and anyone else who wants to come along) one evening next week for dinner at my very favourite Italian?! I'm afraid tonight is a non-starter for me as I'm gonna be working late. Vicki

This probably won’t be particularly helpful but there was something along those lines (run in New Zealand) advertised in the last BPA Skydive Mag. I don’t have mine with me at work. Does anyone have their copy to hand? Vicki

Done it a few times and it always makes me

How many jumps do you have on the 150 and are you getting the most out of it yet? Serious questions! If you really feel you are ready to downsize, then demo both types and see what you feel most comfortable with. Vicki

I can only speak from personal experience but having done 600+ jumps on Sabre (1)s that used to occasionally really slam, I am now on a Spectre which has a lovely long snivel and I love it! I also demo-ed a Pilot recently and that opened really nice and soft too. Demo canopies that have a reputation for soft openings and decide what suits you best - good luck! Vicki

I jumped the Pilot 140 and 132. My usual canopy is a Spectre 135 (only 30ish jumps on that) and before that a Sabre (1) 135 (300ish jumps on that). I found that the Pilot opening was softer and smoother than the Spectre (no, I didn’t believe it was possible either) but took less altitude to open if that makes sense. The landings were really, really easy – much nicer feel to them than my Sabre or Spectre. I can’t remember which was round it was, but I jumped one of them in nil winds which at Eloy (bear in mind I am used to jumping at sea level) and that felt fast but the flare was beautiful and I didn’t have to run it out as much as I thought I would. I jumped the other in fairly strong winds and the landing was equally easy – lovely and smooth. I liked the Pilot a lot and I will be very seriously considering one when I choose a new main!

Relative Workshop had one at Eloy for the boogie if that helps… Vicki

I currently jump a Spectre and I demoed the Pilot at Eloy which I loved! Definitely one to try. Bottom line is - demo everything you think you might be interested in and seek advice from your instructors with regard to what size to buy. Have fun with the demos! Vicki

:1:0 One hop and pop from 2,500' which was very nice on an otherwise cloudy and windy weekend. Still, better than nothing and how nice to be landing at sea level again after Eloy!

He doesn't need any help at all with ideas like that!

Alana, I have no idea what I’m up to yet this weekend – I have your number tho so will text you if I’m free and maybe we can make a plan! Vicki

Can you eat a kebab when you're sober? Vicki

Faber – you like kebabs more than curry? It works like this… you drink beer, get mildly pissed, you go for curry and drink lots more. Childish, pissed skydiver behaviour is generally fairly well tolerated in curry houses. You emerge into the fresh air completely plastered and are then well fed, pissed, already feeling quite silly and ready to party and keep drinking for the rest of the evening. Curry is an essential part of that process! When you are so drunk that you are close to a “stomach lining outing” at the end of the evening that is when you go in search of a kebab! A kebab is not generally an evening meal! Vicki

But will the stomach lining outing be distinguishable from the dinner in any significant way? Multiple meanings fully intended! Vicki

that aint food Go and wash your mouth out! Curry rocks! Vicki

... disconnect phone before going to bed! Vicki

But wouldn’t it be worth it for the laugh?! Hell yeah! Although I may see if I can get away with having a pint glass at dinner... for my wine! Vicki

I meant unable to walk due to quantity of wine consumed, most definitely not due to quantity of food consumed! It would be nothing short of a miracle if you could stomach any significant quantity of what we’re gonna be fed! Vicki

Shhhhhhh! Don't mention the lobby! It only encourages Quickdraw! Vicki

And I'd be amazed if you're able to walk afterwards! Would the hotel really get the arse if we orderd takeaways to be delivered?! Vicki

Hehehe! Have we tempted you to give up your KFC in favour of curry?! It would be fun, but I'm sitting with a great crowd at the dinner and the quality of the company and the quantity of the wine is more important than the food! Vicki

Have a great flight sweetie (don't drink too much of the free booze... ) - we'll see you soon! Vicki