BenGriffiths

The Status in the UK is - We actually have a NGB (National Governing Body) for Collegiagte Parachuting called the BCPA (British Collegiate Parachuting Association) - which is affiliated to the BPA. There's about 30 college teams, out of about 120 Universities in this country. I'm not sure of the actual numbers which have competing teams though. As with most things the standard varies from top teams, which are well run are a regulars at their local DZ down to Clubs which only go once a month or so. And of course some DZ are very envouraging to Student jumpers, and often work along side uni clubs to promote parachuting. Useful Links: British Collegiate Parachute Association ---------- Ben G Still Sinking :-(

Perhaps you don't have a Word Document viewer. The forms I was refeering to are; F197 - Approved Packer Syllabus F169 - Advanced Packer Syllabus F199 - Basic Rigger Syllabus F200 - Parachute Rigger Syllabus Howver the Article on becoming a BPA Rigger - published in August 2002 Skydive @ http://www.bpa.org.uk/skydive/pages/articles/aug02/rigger.htm should work and is very worth reading. ---------- Ben G Still Sinking :-(

Wayne - best piece of adivece I can give you is ask you instructors. Ther're always willing to help you (usually). But as Luna and SkyMonkey say - Partice you flaring and turning up high. ALso try to learn about using your risers. You can have a lot of fun witgh your risers. ---------- Ben G Still Sinking :-(

Luna is that link right?? I've got my Cat 8 but I'm sure there's still stuff I can pratice while under canopy. ---------- Ben G Still Sinking :-(

Right - I'm not a Rigger but I do hold an interest in the topic. Here in the UK. I believe the method is: To pack reserves: Get your approved packer rating so you can pack mains and perform basic maintenance. After 6 or 12 Months (think its 12 but possibly longer) you need to go on an (and pass) an advanced packer course where you learn to pack round/square reserves and mains as appropriate. You are then allowed to pack any reserve you have been approved on. To become a Rigger: You must hold an advanced packer rating to pack reserves. You then need to become a Basic Rigger, you do this by attending a Basic Rigger's course. You then on probation/under supervision for 6 or 12 months. Then providing you have satisfied the necessary requirements you can attend a Rigger's course, to get your full rigging rating. The next step is Advanced Rigger these are the people who make and repair reserves, harness etc.. Useful Links Approved Packer Course Syllabus (MS Word Document) - Source BPA - http://www.bpa.org.uk Advanced Packer Course Syllabus (MS Word Document) - Source BPA - http://www.bpa.org.uk Basic Rigger Course Syllabus (MS Word Document) - Source BPA - http://www.bpa.org.uk Parachute Rigger Course Syllabus (MS Word Document) - Source BPA - http://www.bpa.org.uk Article on becoming a BPA Rigger - published in August 2002 Skydive Mag http://www.skydivemag.com/ ---------- Ben G Still Sinking :-(

Not heard that phrase used for a while but it's true - very true!!!!! ---------- Ben G Still Sinking :-(

What's it like - on your early jumps you have the feeling of falling in your stomach - but I reckon that is probably more shear fear than anything else. I recently went on a roller coaster for the first time since I started freefall. It's nothing like FF. When your stable in FF - it feels very peacful. At the time it seems noisy and windy - but when I recall any dive my mind shuts that out. The only time I have actually known I'm goign downwards is when i've passed the odd cloud. As everyone will say GO JUMP and ENJOY IT ---------- Ben G Still Sinking :-(

You can't like directly to pages on para gear - You need to go to the Para Gear homepage @www.para-gear.com and then click on Military/Tactical Systems/PARIS. With regards to the canopy/glider - It's basically a HAHO (High Altitude, High Opening) canopy - which the military would use to drop SF in. Perhaps dropping the jumpers on a commercial flight route. They could then go cross-country, usually by GPS to their landing area. (Look under Military/Navigation) ---------- Ben G Still Sinking :-(

Yes to Bandit Demos and out of Date - reserves. But fined for a Bum spot - it would have to be a pretty bad one!! ---------- Ben G Still Sinking :-(

No Problems there!!!!! Not enough jumps to have truly evaluated my talent Ahhh - Major sticking problem - Might have to drop the Pasta and start on Baked Beans (Hey at least it'll make the plane more spacious when no-one else will fly with me) Happily do that - but not married yet Never been a lucking sort of fellow. Although I did win £8 on the horses today

Now I've searched and Searched for information about Skydive U & WARP. Now I can only find out, either that WARP and the newer Skydive Uni after RW programs for after Student Status (Which I know) and loads of info on Mindwarp helmets (which I don't want to know about). What I'm looking for is information about the WARP and Skydive U programs. It seems that a lot of people feel that Skydive U is a lot better than WARP (and regard warp as a predecessor). Why is this? ---------- Ben G Still Sinking :-(

Kallend - that's a quality video!! ---------- Ben G Still Sinking :-(

One thing I find is that a lot of early AFF Students have problems breathing in FreeFall. I've never had any problems. I'd never really though of it until I focussed on my breathing. I had a slightly higher than normal breath rate - but I reckon this was just due to the altitude - negligible and my higher than normal tachycardia due to adrenaline etc.. ---------- Ben G Still Sinking :-(

Welcome to the weird and wonderful world of skydiving - enjoy your AFF. Blue Skies ---------- Ben G Still Sinking :-(

The Pro-Track does have a way of knowing exactly when you dump your PC. All it read is temp & air pressure i.e. so it can tell speed and altitude. When you speed drops to below a certain level at a certain rate (don't know what this is) the system detects and assumes you have openend - so the time between throwawy and reaching this activation level is likely to explain the difference. This question has been asked before so look back a few pages or use the search option and you will probably find a more detailed axplanation. ---------- Ben G Still Sinking :-(

Well I never all this time i've been calling them Automatic Activation Devices ---------- Ben G Still Sinking :-(

Your right that you shoudl wait a bit before actually making a final decision and buying a rig. Although its never to early to start asking questions. I'm coming up to 50 jumps - just got my 1/2 series to do (no luaghing - I couldn't do DP's) Soon I'm goign to be thinking about buying my own canopy. It's somehting I've only recently started thinking about. As a result my knowledge of what I want is limited to Canopy Size and that I want it to be ''freefly friendly''. So I've been looking the posts here trying to up my knowlegde about containers etc.. ---------- Ben G Still Sinking :-(

Wecome back - I assuming you injured yourself on landing. That's a tough break ;-) More serously when I did my ankle in I knew that if I left it a while I might lose confidence - so I was back in the air within a week - with a fair bit of strapping and painkillers - doesn't hurt much on landing but hurts like helling when I'm kneelign on the climb to altitude. ---------- Ben G Still Sinking :-(

Thanks Johnny - I'lllook into a skytronic ---------- Ben G Still Sinking :-(

Andy - i jumped with both Glasses and Contact lenses. Jumping with glasses is not problem. I have a pair of over glasses googles - These are exactly the same as normal googles just a bit larger to accomate your googles. My googles have vere come off in FF but my cousin (who also jumps with galsses) have and dispite a complete lack of tape/anything else they stayued firmly in place. With contact lenses there is always a possibility of a lense drying up - and falling out - this happened to me recently. Apart from having a bit more difficulty reading my alti I didn'yt have any problems. Although I did take my landing pattern very gentle as I wasn't sure how my perspictive of distance had been affected. ---------- Ben G Still Sinking :-(

I think the RAPS/SL progression system is very similar throught out the world. Here's what I did (and what the minimum was) SL - 9 (2) DRCP - 28 (3)yes - 28 Dp's!!!!! 3s - 1 (1) 5s - 1 (1) 10s - 2 (2) 15s - 2 (2) 20s - 1 (1) 30s+ - done 3 of 6 so far - (6 or 7) ---------- Ben G Still Sinking :-(

Yep - that's right - plus you need a breif from a camera flyer (fairly obviously) ---------- Ben G Still Sinking :-(

No jump is a waste of time S/L vs AFF is oneof the great Debates. Personally I went/am goign for S/L then FF. I got stuck of Dummy Pulls - did 28 of them. But this was a lot chepear than getting stuck on a certain AFF level ---------- Ben G Still Sinking :-(

Thanks for the advice/opinons for now I'm just gathering info etc.. ---------- Ben G Still Sinking :-(

Looks Nice!!! ---------- Ben G Still Sinking :-(