Pendragon

Headcorn have done, but it was >2 years ago now. There is a problem with calculating exactly where the balloon needs to take off from in order for all jumpers to land on the LZ. Naturally, the powers that be in this country don't make things easy. Go to Eloy - you could do 2 in 1 day!

I think I agree with this. I've put ~330 jumps on my Pilot and never considered the controls nor flare "mushy" as some have. Again, having recently moved onto a Safire2 129, I did notice how much higher the flare point was on the toggle stroke of my Safire2, beyond what I would have been expecting from just a downsize. What I would say is that the flare point doesn't "bite" as much on the Pilot, and is smoother. If that is what you consider mushy, then I think it's a preference thing, and what you're used to. Neither are necessarily bad. Just ask Tony Hathaway! He swoops his Spectre very well. -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Yeah, guys have done d-bag type deployments out of helicopters, balloons - even off another paraglider I think. Good DVD I caught once - Acro-BASE, which had all that stuff in it. Problem with deploying high-aspect ratio wings is that they have a greater tendancy to cravat, which is obviously bad. Haven't seen the slider deployment you mention; sounds great!

Depends on what you want to do. Eloy has more reliable weather, although it can (and certainly did last December) get quite windy - and cold at night. They also have the planes. So if you fancy jumping a Skyvan, DC-3, Beech, a biplane (probably) or a balloon (definitely), then Eloy is the place to be... Airfares might be a little expensive now, however, so you'd have to pick your dates well... Richard -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Love that parrot. Really cute!

Aw, go on. Just a few... but only if you do the "peck peck peck... peck peck peck... flappy flappy flappy" BM handshake with me But I guess Vampires don't do that? Right, freeflying anyone? -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

I'd agree with all that you said on the Pilot. I put ~330 jumps on mine at WL 1.35 (Pilot 150) before downsizing to a Safire2 129. Certainly, the openings are great. Doesn't flutter around and is very reliable in terms of alititude loss and heading. I also found it very stable in line twists - never dived at the ground, which was perfect for my first few wingsuit flights! You'll find that the Pilot dives the least of the Pilot/Safire2/Sabre2 bunch, although from experience the Safire2 is fairly similar. From conversations with people (and with my own, albeit so far limited, experience with the Safire2) the Pilot is certainly the most docile. Again, the Safire2 compares well (on-heading openings etc) to the Pilot. Front riser pressure is heavy - I was in the habit of depressurising my 150 before making a 135 degree approach; certainly I don't think I would have had the strength to commit to anything over 180. However, advanced swooping is not what this canopy is for. To be honest, for a lot of recreational jumpers, a Pilot would be the only canopy one would ever need. Richard -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

About 100... -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Your interpretation doesn't really make sense to me. What I think is being said is that the point at which you set up ought to be the same: you should always be initiating your landing approach at the same altitude (which may not involve front riser input straight away). That's my take on it anyway... Richard -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Have a plan... and stick to it. -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Actually, I started skydiving so I could wingsuit (preferably from a ballon ) ... but then again, I came up with the idea at a hang glider festival -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

For the UK, go to: http://www.bpa.org.uk/forms.htm Scroll down and click on F188 (Guidelines for FF1 & FF2) FF1 relates to head-up; FF2 related to HD. Essentially, you are unable to do any head-up flying with anyone else (apart from a recognised coach, i.e. someone the CCI recognises as being capable) until you have FF1. Same is true for HD and FF2, although in reality, this can get abused. In Germany, there are no formal requirements; no rules in place to stop you freeflying straight after qualifying. Richard -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

I've heard that this practice has led to "interesting" openings, certainly on a Vengenace. What is possibly a good idea, however, is once the tail has been flaked, grab the triangular bit, fold and push into the centre (on both sides). It's not easy to explain exactly what is being done in a post (so go and ask!) The idea is to keep the brake lines from being pulled around when you wrap the canopy in the tail. I would also recommend: - Pulling the tail around your knee as you do this (so you don't inadvertantly pull everything around with it), - Not throwing the packjob down when you're done, but placing it carefully, and - Ensuring that the line groups are level when you go to put it in the bag (sure way of getting thrown around, or at least inducing an off-heading) Good luck! -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Cool - didn't remember that from last year. However, I'm looking for a "partner" as I'll improve more as a freeflier jumping with the same person/people (if at all possible...) -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Am considering going out to Eloy for the boogie, but am looking to get lots for freefly jumps in; head-up and working on my head-down. Thinking about 8-10 jumps a day, if possible. Might even get the new wingsuit out too! Since I may well be travelling over alone, is there anyone else planning similar and would like to hook up over the period for lots of jumping together? I'd be arriving on the 16th December and leaving on the 2nd Jan. Drop me a PM if you're interested. FYI, my profile is up-to-date, and yes, I did somehow manage nearly 350 skydives in the last 12 months, even though I'm from the UK Edit to add: Am also open to other locations! -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Not in the middle of winter -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Great place with nice people. Not speaking a word of German, the staff worked around me. I was approached by someone within 15 minutes of being there who offered to jump with me. Altogether a great place!

Kris isn't living in th US anymore; Northamptonshire more like Anyway, by some stroke of luck (and minus a stupid fuel blockade by truckers ) I'll be there too... -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Headcorn is a very busy dropzone, and by that I mean with other air traffic (Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton and Stanstead airports are all close and National Air Traffic Services control airspace above 3,500 ft). Jumping wingsuit in such a place without demonstrating the ability to both plan and adopt a suitable pattern is not an option, and you may need to work on that. Awareness will be the issue the CCI picks you up on. -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Hinton have a 500 jump rule, period. Weston won't have any problems I doubt. ...Hinton are running a PAC 750 XL though http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_view_flat;post=1233494;page=1;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;mh=25; -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

I presume Duncan is mad at you for taking the coveted "007" BMI number? Congrats guys! -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

...or if you can already demonstrate proficiency at wingsuit jumping from having learnt abroad (e.g. sufficient log-book entries, video etc) you many continue. Again, that too is subjet to CCI permission. The more jumps you come back with, the better though. If you've got

Well I might be there... Gotta do another wingsuit balloon jump ...but there's also Z-Hills -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Well, that's 2 guys now posted that say Katanas open great. Typical. Actually may well consider one after I get some more jumps in... I'll line it up against the Xfire2 and see what I think, sometime in the future. Not sure if I'd ever want to wingsuit with one though

I asked this of a coach whilst learning the techniques. His response was that daffy is used more when you need to fall straight down the tube, with very little movement e.g. big-ways I guess. -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13