vt1977

Looks way cool. I’ve booked the time off work and I can’t wait! Vicki

I jumped it at Quincy in 2000 – did a few early bird loads in his plane and also a jump from 23,000 feet which was pretty cool! Vicki

Summer - skydiving without a doubt. Winter - sex!!!!! Vicki

It’s not just you – my Pro Track will go *at least* 50 jumps after the (really annoying!) low battery warning starts. I am very lazy about getting round to changing the batteries, so I usually wait 50 jumps or until the low battery warning starts to piss me off! Vicki

Woo hoo! Congratulations!!! This can only mean one thing… twice the pies for your 200th!!! Vicki

I’ve also had that flu that’s going around in the UK atm- and it really isn’t nice at all. All I can suggest is what worked for me – lots of rest, lots of orange juice and paracodol for the headaches. Good luck! Vicki

I have seen and packed a couple of TSE rigs made of the "Alien skin" - it is very similar, in fact almost identical, to the same type of material that Sunpath use. (Do they call theirs diamond back? Not sure on that one) Can't comment on its durability but it looks and feels nice enough - certainly doesn't feel as though it might tear. Vicki

Nope – my only Cessna jumps are from a Grand Caravan (quite a few), one from a 207 and two from a 206! I’ve been spoilt! (Or maybe I've missed out?!) Vicki

Congrats to both teams (and not forgetting VNE who put in a great performance too!) - awesome performances. A special well done to VMax for bringing home the gold again! Vicki

I know the DZ you jump at well and used to jump there and give packing lessons there regularly. I can only suggest that you try to make it down there sometime on a bad weather day and practise, practise, practise – if people are not busy jumping they will be more than happy to help. It does get easier with practise! Another possibility could be to get a couple of others who also want to learn to pack and arrange a packing lesson with one of the instructors or packers there. I hope that helps, Vicki

I always hate this question… None so far (knock on wood!) in 870ish jumps. Vicki

I’ve been vegetarian for nearly 8 years now. The only thing I really miss is roast lamb but I’m still not tempted to revert to eating meat – I feel much healthier being veggie and get far fewer colds and general ailments than I ever did when I was eating meat. Vicki

I have a Z1 and I love it. I love the fact that it feels totally secure in freefall and that I am able to open the visor once I am under canopy. I see that you are in Germany, therefore I guess you have some pretty cold winter days as we do in England. I have known people with factory divers to have problems with their visors misting/icing up in very cold weather – this has only ever happened to me once with my Z1. It was on a night jump and I am told that the temperature at altitude was minus 36 degrees C!!! I find that if I leave the visor open just a crack and only click it closed just before exit I have no problems with it misting/icing up whatsoever. Another point worth considering is that wearing a full face may well restrict your peripheral vision to a minor extent – try different models on and see if you can still see your cutaway and reserve handles. A further option of course is the new Freezer from Paratec – I saw one for the first time this weekend. It also has a flip up helmet and looks a lot like a motorcycle helmet. Apparently it is great for bigger heads and easily fits glasses underneath. In short, try on as many as you can, do a jump or two in them if possible and decide what you like best! Vicki

I’d agree with that! I normally jump a Sabre 135 and before that a Sabre 150 and jumped a Spectre 135 for the first time yesterday. It felt very different to my Sabre 135 – heavier toggle pressure (probably closer to that on my Sabre 150), pretty comparable riser pressure (possibly slightly lighter front riser pressure?) but definitely faster turns. Beautiful openings and lovely flare and landings – but again the landing/flare felt slightly different to my Sabre. I think I liked it! Definitely confirmed my thought that my next canopy will be a Spectre 120! Vicki

I’ve just had a good look at the boogie website, but can’t find any info about how to get there! Can anyone tell me which is the nearest airport/s that I can fly into (ideally cheaply!) from the UK? Time off work is already booked and I want to start working on getting a cheap flight! Many thanks, Vicki

Just wait until you see the snowcapped mountains around Empuria this Christmas - it looks truly stunning from the air! Vicki

The most important thing is that if you are in any way confused or unsure about ANY aspect of your emergency drills then you should discuss them with you instructor before your next jump. Vicki

I live about half an hour out of London, but actually very rarely go there, but here are a few websites to get you started: www.touristinformation.co.uk www.visitbritain.com www.londontouristboard.co.uk http://www.londontown.com/ As for car hire in London, try www.easycar.com and if you do decide to go and visit Stonehenge make sure you bring your rig as Netheravon is only a couple of miles away! (www.netheravon.com) hth! Vicki

Here is a much better answer than my earlier one... read this: http://www.dropzone.com/gear/articles/FactsaboutthequotReserve.shtml Hope this is useful! Vicki

Cat 10 as such no longer exists. It is the old term for what is now called BPA FS1 - Formation Skydiving Grade 1. Basically, you learn the basic skills required to jump safely with other people culminating in a 4 point 4way (4 different formations with 3 other people). This is something that should have been explained to you on your first jump course... Basically, when you cut away the main canopy, RSL causes the reserve pin to be pulled. I suspect I haven't explained that too well - but I am sure someone else will help. Any questions about this ask your instructor! Or (I see you jump at Headcorn) re-read your AFF course book, there should be something explaining the RSL in the equipment section. WARP stands for Worldwide Approved Relative-work Progression System. This is the system that is widely used in the UK to get you from Cat 8 (whcih you will be once you have completed you 10 consolidation jumps) to FS1. The original WARP system is pretty dated these days, and very few people still teach it in its original format but it consists of 10 levels. 7 one on one dives, 2 three ways and finally the four way. In prtactise though, WARP often takes more than 10 jumsp to complete and there is no requirement to use the WARP system to get your FS1, you simply need to learn the appropriate skills and complete a 4+ point 4way. WARP coaches are the people who hold a rating to coach you in air to get you from Cat 8 to FS1. I hope that helps! Vicki

That's a cute dog you've got there!

Nice one Ivan - cool result! Vicki

If it's the DZ I'm thinking it probably is then I doubt it somehow!!! Go on, name and shame! Vicki

Go on... give us a clue...! Vicki

Yeah, go on... name and shame! Bet I can take a good guess at the DZ you're talking about but woudl eb interested to hear. PM it to me if you like. Vicki