R00tj00se

I'm getting a camera helmet and have the option of getting a chin cup (I'm only jumping a pc-9 with no stills camera) and wanted to know if the chin cups had any advantages/dis-advantages? Do they take a while to get used to? I've only tried one on on the ground and it felt strange - almost as if the strap could slip off my chin - but when I pulled it it was fine. It's amazing how indecisive I can be over gear - but then again I don't want to see all my money slip off my head. Oh, by the way, did I mention that I'm off work at Christmas - skydiving for a whole month in Elsinore

Pammi Don't know why you think the riser covers are a problem on the odyssey - mine are solid as a rock and never come undone - this was a problem on the original javelin though.

Jo That sucks big time - however, I do have to say that you should have bought an Odyssey. If it makes you feel any better I should have a pc-9 for when we go away so I'll come and jump with ya and you can put some cool vids on the web site. cya in Elsinore

Lisa What you've said makes sense and got me thinking! Each time someone has a different camera they have to change the design of the helmet - because it is a molded design where as with other helmets they just change the bracket that is attached to the helmet. This second opton works out cheaper. So why doesn't someone design a moulded helmet like the sidewinder but instead of changing the helmet each time just have different types of bracket that fit inside the molded case. That way you would be producing one helmet which would always stay the same with one component that would need to be different (I've probably just given away the one idea that might make me some money). After saying all that maybe the Sidewinder just wasn't selling anymore...

Does anyone know why Sky Systems have stopped their Sidewinder/Sidewinder2 range of helmets. I always thought it was a pretty good helmet for a flat, casual camera flyer. Is there anything out there of a similair design or am I going to have go for an open face helmet and risk elbows and knees in the face?

Bricki You might want to condsider a Springo as mentioned previously - these are elliptical canopies sometimes put in the same bracket as the Stiletto but slightly less radical. I jump a 140, have sweet openings and don't have the worry of having to chop due to a couple of twists like Stilleto jumpers may have to. I've only experienced twists once on this canopy and the canopy stayed on heading while I kicked them both out. I have a friend who had about 8 or 9 twists (due to new packer) and he was able to kick them all out (all be it he did lose a fair bit of altitude). And if you're worried about going too small they also make it in the 160 size. I must add a disclaimer saying I don't know who you are, what jump numbers you have or anything else about you, but if you are thinking of going elliptical then the Springo is another option.

Posted this in the camera forum but as it refers to a helmet too I'll post it here also: I'm about to go for a sony pc-9 because I can get one relatively cheaply however I'd like to hear what people out there who jump them think. They get good reviews on the net but how are they for skydiving. I'll only be using it for fun and for producing videos and pics to go on a web site. Also: (i) what type of lens do I need to order for it if I'm just videoing 4-way from inside the formation and videoing freefly too. (ii) How big a memory stick should I go for - as big as I can get? (iii) I'm looking for an open face helmet to put the thing on/in but I want it to have internal audible ports (not the flimsy external ones). Anyone know of a good helmet. (3flier - who makes the helmet you jump?) Would ask at the DZ but I'm not gonna be there for a couple of weeks. Cheers

I'm about to go for a sony pc-9 because I can get one relatively cheaply however I'd like to hear what people out there who jump them think. They get good reviews on the net but how are they for skydiving. I'll only be using it for fun and for producing videos and pics to go on a web site. Also: (i) what type of lens do I need to order for it if I'm just videoing 4-way from inside the formation and videoing freefly too. (ii) How big a memory stick should I go for - as big as I can get? (iii) I'm looking for an open face helmet to put the thing on/in but I want it to have internal audible ports (not the flimsy external ones). Anyone know of a good helmet. Would ask at the DZ but I'm not gonna be there for a couple of weeks. Cheers

It's too late 3flier, the power of the Internet strikes again. Not only is it the cause of all your depravity but now, thanks to skreamer, the whole world is intrigued by your Saturday night porn session. Man, I got home yesterday and my eyes were killing me becasue I was crying from laughing so much yesterday at the Saturday night story. I still need you to point her out to me - I bet the image I have of her is nothing likewhat she is really like. And on top of that we get to take the piss out of you 'cos of your grounding. Then, while we are busy doing that Skreamer takes it down low and gets put in front of a Kangaroo court to stand trial with the penalty being a one beer fine, 2 beer fine or a 6 month ban. Yep, Sunday was one of my best non jumping days in a long while.

To the person who asked about tracking, that is just common sense...jesus h.! That was a joke between me and 3flier before you start thinking I am in favour of circular tracking. My earlier comment was also a bit of femur extending.

Or would it be the restriction which says you have to track in a straight line (horizontally, not vertically).

You wouldn't be refering to opening heights, would you??

Thanks for the advice - I actually received an e-mail from Sunpath this morning and they confirmed what you guy's have told me. They said a Cobalt 105 packs slightly larger than a Stilleto 107 and as long as I shorten the closing loop I should be ok.

I've e-mailed Sun Path with this but so far not had a reply. Question: I've got a Javelin Odyssey TJN with a 140 main in it at present and it should take a 120 ok also. However I'd like to test jump a Cobalt 105 and I'm wondering if a TJN will take it on safely. Does anyone know if the Cobalt packs up big or is just the same as any other ZP elliptical main. If it's around the same pack volume as other elliptical 9-cells then I'll just have to demo the 120 and if I like it think about the 105. Any help appreciated.

Little something to beat the Monday blues: A frog goes into a bank and approaches the teller. He can see from her > >nameplate that her name is Patricia Whack. "Miss > >Whack, I'd like to get a $30,000 loan to take a holiday." Pattie Looks >at > >the frog in disbelief and asks his name. The frog says his name is >Kermit > >Jagger, his dad is Mick Jagger,and that it's okay, he knows the bank > >manager. Pattie explains that he will need to secure the loan with some > >collateral. The frog says "Sure. I have this," and produces a tiny > >porcelain elephant, about half an inch tall - bright pink and perfectly > >formed. Very confused, Pattie explains that she'll have to consult with > >the bank manager and disappears into a back office. She finds the >manager > >and says, "There's a frog called Kermit Jagger out there who claims to >know > >you > >and wants to borrow $30,000, and he wants to use this as collateral." >She > >holds up the tiny pink elephant. "I mean, what in the world is this?" > > > > > > > > > >(you're gonna love this) > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >(its a real treat) > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >(masterpiece) > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >(wait for it) > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >The bank manager looks back at her and says... > >"It's a knick-knack, Pattie Whack. Give the frog a loan. His old man's >a > >Rolling Stone."

****WARNING - The following is a joke. If you take offense at the following then you have a serious problem. Warning over*** > Womens Guinness Book of Records > > Car Parking > > The smallest kerbside space successfully reversed into by a woman was > one of 63ft 2ins, equivalent to three standard parking spaces, by Mrs > Elizabeth Simpkins, driving an unmodified Vauxhall Nova Swing on > October 12, 1993. She started the manoeuvre at 11.15am in Ropergate, > Pontefract, > and successfully parked within three feet of the pavement in 8 hours > 14 minutes later. There was slight damage to the bumpers and wings of her > own and two adjoining cars, as well as a shop frontage and two > lampposts. > > Film Confusion > > The greatest length of time a woman has watched a film with her > husband without asking a stupid plot related question was achieved on 28 > October 1990, when Mrs Ethel Brunswick sat down with her husband to watch > the > Ipcress File. > > She watched in silence for a breath taking 2 mins 40 secs before > asking "Is he a goodie or a baddie then, him in the glasses?", revealing a > staggering level of ignorance. This broke her own record set in 1962 > when she sat through 2mins 38secs of 633 Squadron before asking, "Is this > a > war film". > > Shop Dithering > > The longest time spent dithering in a shop was 12 days between August 21 > and September 2 1995 by Mrs Sandra Wilks in the Birmingham branch of > Dorothy Perkins. > Entering the shop on a Saturday morning, Mrs Wilks could not chose > between > two near identical dresses which were both in a sale. After one hour, > her husband sitting on a chair in the changing room with his head in his > hands, told her to buy both. Mrs Wilks eventually bought one for £12.99, > only to return the following day and exchange it for the other one. To > date, > she has yet to wear it. > Mrs Wilks also holds the record for window-shopping longevity, when > starting in September 12 1995; she stood motionless gazing as > pair of shoes in Clinkard's window in Kidderminster for three weeks and > two > days before eventually going home. > > Talking About Nothing > > Mrs Mary Caterham and Mrs Marjorie Steele sat in a kitchen in > Blackburn, Lancashire, and talked about nothing whatsoever for four and a > half > months from May 1 to August 7 1978, pausing only for coffee, cakes and > toilet > visits. Throughout the whole time, no information was exchanged and > neither woman > gained any new knowledge whatsoever. > > The outdoor record for talking about nothing is held by Mrs Vera > Etherington and her neighbour Mrs Dolly Booth, of Ipswich, who between > November 11, 1983 and January 12, 1984 chuntered on over their fence > in an unenlightening dialogue lasting almost 62 days until Mrs Booth > remembered she'd left the bath running. > > > Group Toilet Visit > > The record for the largest group of women to visit a toilet > simultaneously is held by 147 workers at the Department of Social > Security, > Longbenton. > At their annual Christmas celebration at a nightclub in Newcastle upon > Tyne on October 12 1994, Mrs Beryl Crabtree got up to go to the toilet > and was immediately followed by 146 other members of the party. > Moving as a mass, the group entered the toilet at 9.52pm and, after > waiting for everyone to finish, emerged 2hrs 37mins later. > > > Incorrect Driving > > The longest journey completed with the handbrake on was one of 313 > miles from Stranraer to Hollyhead by Dr Julie Thorn at the wheel of a > Saab 900 on April 2, 1987. > Dr Thorn actually smelled burning two miles into the journey at Aird > but pressed on to Hollyhead with smoke billowing from the rear wheels. > This journey also holds the record for the longest completed journey > with the choke fully out and the indicator flashing. > > > Jumble Sale Massacre > > The greatest number of old ladies to perish while fighting at a jumble > sale is 98, at a Methodist Church Hall in Castleford, West Yorkshire > on February 12, 1991. > When the doors opened at 10am, the initial scramble to get in cost 16 > lives, a further 25 being killed in a crush at the first table. A > seven-way skirmish then broke out over a pinafore dress costing 10p, > which escalated into a full-scale melee resulting in another 18 lives > being > lost. > A pitched battle over a headscarf then ensued and quickly spread > throughout the hall, claiming 39 old women. > The jumble sale raised £5.28 for the local Boy Scouts. > > > Gossiping > > > On February 18 1992, Joyce Blatherwick, a close friend of Agnes > Banbury, popped round for a cup of tea and a chat, during the course of > which > she told Mrs Banbury, in the strictest confidence, that she was having an > affair with the local butcher. After Mrs Blatherwick left at 2.10pm, Mrs > Banbury immediately began to tell everyone, swearing them all to secrecy. > By 2.30pm, she had told > 128 people the news. > BY 2.50pm it had risen to 372 and by 4pm that afternoon, 2,774 knew of > the affair, including the local amateur dramatic society, several knitting > circles, a coach load of American tourists, which she flagged down, > and the butchers wife. > When a tired Mrs Banbury went to bed at 11.55pm that night, Mrs > Blatherwicks affair was common knowledge to a staggering 75,338 > people, enough to fill Wembley Stadium. >

I'm interested in knowing how other skydivers plan for the rest of their lives? Let me explain what I mean by giving you an example. I work 5 days a week (like a lot of people) and I earn ok money which enables me to have a house and go skydiving at weekends. Also like a lot of people, I have dreams of giving up the 9-5 job and becoming a world 4-way champion etc etc. The question is how? Even for you people out there who are instructors where did u get the money from to give up normal life and become instructors/world champs? Or have I answered my own question here - you are instructors with no money who make do with very little material things in life? Or do you have second incomes from somewhere? Basically, I'm just trying to get ideas of what people sacrifice or how they survive when they commit most of their lives to skydiving - which is not very lucrative. Time for bed - I'll look forward to your answers when I get to work tomorrow!!

Been looking at tunnelcamp.com and wondered if anyone here has ever been on an Airspeed tunnel camp. Let me know if so and whether you think you benefitted from it at your experience level. Cheers

You're a brave guy favaks - watch out for those bolts of lightening as they come streaking down from Heaven looking for you!!

Wow - I posted this at the end of a long shitty day at work because a friend sent it to me and I thought it was hilarious, I never thought it would produce this kind of response. Why did I think that - because it takes a pop at lots of nationalities including my own. Also, for your info - I'm British but I'm seriously thinking of moving to California so I can Skydive more (did u think there would be another reason?). I spent last Christmas out at Elsinore and met some great Yanks (one of them even owned a gun but I won't start that thread again) and I'll be going out there again this year. Lighten up people - life's too short to take yourself seriously.

TOP 10 REASONS FOR ENJOYING BEING AUSTRALIAN: > ------------------------------------------------------------------ > 1. Know your great-grand-dad was a murdering bastard that no civilised > nation on earth wanted. > 2. Fosters Lager > 3. Dispossess Aborigines who have lived in your country for 40,000 years > because you think it belongs to you. > 4. Cricket captain not afraid to cry live on TV. > 5. Tact and sensitivity. > 6. Bondi Beach. > 7. Other beaches. > 8. Liberated attitude to homosexuals > 9. Drinking cold lager on the beach > 10. Being part of the commonwealth, and having the Queen as your > figurehead. > > > TOP 10 REASONS FOR ENJOYING BEING A NEW ZEALANDER: > ------------------------------------------------------------------ > 1. Being very fond of your sheep > 2. Being very fond of everybody else's sheep > 3. Free access to Australian social security > 4. The ability to run a civilised society without the need for electricity > 5. The Americas Cup > 6. You can stick your tongue out at the Queen and not be beheaded > 7. Everybody looks good in black > 8. The haaka > 9. The hungi > 10. Get to annoy the English-speaking world just by saying a few > well-chosen words like "sux" (six), "emejun" (imagine), and "fush and > chups" (fish and chips) > > > TOP 10 REASONS FOR ENJOYING BEING FRENCH : > ------------------------------------------------------------------ > 1. When speaking fast you can make yourself sound gay > 2. Experience the joy of winning the world cup for the first time. > 3. You get to eat insect food like snails and frog's legs > 4. If there's a war you can surrender really early > 5. You don't have to read the subtitles on those late night films on > Channel 4 . > 7. You can be ugly and still become a famous film star > 8. Allow Germans to march up and down your most famous street humiliating > your sense of national pride > 9. You don't have to bother with toilets, just shit in the street . > 10. People think you're a great lover even when you're not > > > TOP 10 REASONS FOR ENJOYING BEING AMERICAN : > ------------------------------------------------------------------ > 1. You can have a woman president without electing her > 2. You can spell colour wrong and get away with it > 3. You can call Budweiser beer > 4. You can be a crook and still be president > 5. If you've got enough money you can get elected to do anything > 6. If you can breathe you can get a gun > 7. You get to be really obese > 8. You can play golf in the most hideous clothes ever made and nobody seems > to care. > 9. You get to call everyone you've never met "buddy" > 10. You can think you're the greatest nation on earth. > 10a. When you're not. > 10b. At all. > > > TOP 10 REASONS FOR ENJOYING BEING ENGLISH > ------------------------------------------------------------------ > 1. Two World Wars and One World Cup doo-dah doo-dah > 2. Proper beer > 3. You get to confuse everyone with the rules of cricket > 4. You get to accept defeat graciously in major sporting events > 5. Union jack underpants > 6. Water shortages guaranteed every single summer > 7. You can live in the past and imagine you are still a world power. > 8. Late night drinking (is it 11 already??) > 9. Johnny Foreigner doesn't invade beaches in summer > 10. Beats being Welsh. > 10a. Or Scottish > > > TOP 10 REASONS FOR ENJOYING BEING ITALIAN > ------------------------------------------------------------------ > 1. In-depth knowledge of bizarre pasta shapes > 2. Unembarrassed to wear fur. > 3. No need to worry about tax returns > 4. Glorious military history prior to 400 a.d. > 5. Can wear sunglasses inside > 6. Political stability > 7. Flexible working hours > 8. Live near the Pope > 9. Can spend hours braiding girlfriend's armpit hair > 10. Country run by Sicilian murderers > > > TOP 10 REASONS FOR ENJOYING BEING SPANISH : > ------------------------------------------------------------------ > 1. Glorious history of killing South American tribes > 2. The rest of Europe thinks Africa begins at the Pyrenees > 3. You get your beaches invaded by Germans, Danes, Brits etc > 4. The rest of your country is already invaded by Moroccans > 5. Everybody else makes crap paella and claims it's the real thing > 6. Honesty > 7. Only sure way of bedding a woman is to dress up in stupid, tight clothes > and risk your life in front of bulls > 8. You get to eat bulls' testicles > 9. Gibraltar > 10. Supported Argentina in Falklands War. > > > TOP 10 REASONS FOR ENJOYING BEING GERMAN : > ------------------------------------------------------------------ > 1. > 2. > 3. > 4. > 5. > 6. > 7. > 8. > 9. > 10. > > > TOP 10 REASONS FOR ENJOYING BEING INDIAN : > ------------------------------------------------------------------ > 1. Chicken Madras > 2. Lamb Passanda > 3. Onion Bhaji > 4. Bombay Potato > 5. Chicken Tikka Masala > 6. Rogan Josh > 7. Popadoms > 8. Chicken Dopiaza > 9. Meat Boona > 10. Kingfisher lager > > > TOP 10 REASONS FOR ENJOYING BEING WELSH: > ------------------------------------------------------------------ > 1. You've got to be having a laugh, haven't you? > > > TOP 10 REASONS FOR ENJOYING BEING IRISH : > ------------------------------------------------------------------ > 1. Guinness > 2. 18 children because you can't use contraceptives > 3. You can get into a fight just by marching down someone's road > 4. Pubs never close > 5. Can use Papal edicts on contraception passed in the second Vatican > Council of 1968 to persuade your girlfriend that you can't have sex with a > condom on. > 6. No one can ever remember the night before > 7. Kill people you don't agree with > 8. Stew > 9. More Guinness > 10. Eating stew and drinking Guinness in an Irish pub at 3 in the morning > after a bout of sectarian violence. > > > TOP 10 REASONS FOR ENJOYING BEING CANADIAN > ------------------------------------------------------------------ > 1. It beats being an American. > 2. Only country to successfully invade the US and burn its capital to the > ground. > 3. You can play hockey 12 months a year, outdoors. > 4. Only country to successfully invade the US and burn its capital to the > ground. > 5. Where else can you travel 1000 miles over fresh water in a canoe? > 6. A political leader can admit to smoking pot and his/her popularity > ratings will rise. > 7. Only country to successfully invade the US and burn its capital to the > ground. > 8. Kill Grizzly bears with huge fuckoff shotguns and cover your house in > their skins. > 9. Own-an-Eskimo scheme. > 10. Only country to successfully invade the US and burn its capital to the > ground.

No one has mentioned the fact that the Odyssey has relocated lateral straps - IMHO I think this makes the Javelin far more comfortable than any other rig I have ever jumped. Add to this the extra's that you can get with the Odyssey and you have a fantastic rig. Whether I'm doing RW or sit the Javelin does not move around on my back or catch air under it like other rigs do.

We should really take pity on fat skydivers though - no matter how much some of these lard-asses de-arch they are never going to get as much free fall time as floaty people. And most of them will never be able to have a nice small good looking rig because the smallest they can have is a pd190 loaded at 5.7. Disclaimer: My sarcasm aimed at fat people is purely as a result of Monday morning boredom and is not intended to harm (much).

Emma You weren't the only one who had the best weekend ever. Seeing you girls running around in your fluffy bra's with all that flesh showing - man, it's the stuff dreams are made of and believe me I had sweet dreams last night (yes I am a perv - I admit it). I did wake up screaming in a hot sweat at one point though as I had a flash back to Gus landing in the square with his tackle flapping about - tell him to keep out of my head when I'm dreaming of skydiving chicks with hardly any clothes on. On a serious note I think all you guys were really brave and congrats on raising sooooo much money. Adam

Go on, you know you want to!! The weather is pretty pants in the UK at the moment however the forecast for Thursday is sunny with some clouds so I'm pulling a sickie and I'm going jumping. Any one who wants to join me at Hinton for a 2-way, 3-way or any-way feel free. Even if the weather is pants at least you won't be at work! - and you can always get a cloud base lob in from the AN-2.