Pendragon

I'm on for anything deeply emotional. What seems to be unfortunately is that many people I know do like certain pieces of music, but can never remember what they are! Here are some of my favorities: wonder what others think? Saint-Saens: 3rd Symphony ("The Organ") Saint-Saens: Introduction et Rondo Capricioso (stunning violin piece) Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto #2 (I think it was his 2nd ) Rachmaninov: Prelude in C# minor (very dramatic piano piece) Rachmaninov: Variations on a theme by Paganini Vaughan-Williams: Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis (reminds me on hang gliding... ) Ravel: Piano Concerto in the left hand (and other piano concertos by Ravel - all good) Dvorak: 9th Symphony ("From the New World" - but I *hate* the 2nd movement because it's so overplayed...) Elgar: Cello Concerto Elgar: Enigma variations Issac Albeniz: Asturias (played by John Williams) Other bits: Dukas: Sorcerer's Apprentice Greig: In the hall of the Mountain King (from Peer Gynt Suite #2) Guitar music by Rodrigo Beethoven's 3rd, 5th and 9th Symphonies (obviously) ...and loads more that I can't think of at the moment. Enjoy listening!

You'll see it. Actually, you'll see a lot of things you probably thought you wouldn't. (My 2 night jumps so far have been hop 'n' pops because cloudbase was about 4,000ft, so no moonligt nor stars... ) You might get a bit disorientated; as already mentioned before, opening slightly higher might be worthwhile as it will take you longer to get your bearings... We all attached glowsticks (which we activated just before jumping out) onto our chest straps; the idea being that you should never see another one (and if you were to, take immediate collision avoidance action!) I never saw my shadow (no moonlight!) so cannot comment on it, although I was told similar. Oh, might be useful to have a mobile telephone with you (switched off) just in case you land off and don't know where you are... We had a rule whereby all jumpers must be accounted for before the plane could land. So even if you're not hurt, and just can't find your way back (this is probably unlikely, but it's good to be prepared!) a quick call makes you popular again! Have a good one! They're great!

In the UK, for FS coaching: - 300 jumps and 3hrs freefall - 2+ years in the sport - One of the following should also apply: (i) Is Category System Basic Instructor, or (ii) Has attended an NCF Key Course on `Delivering the Goods`, or (iii) Has specific teaching or coaching qualifications, or (iv) Has attended a Methods of Instruction lecture, given by a BPA Advanced Instructor, or (v) Has attended a Military Methods of Instruction Course So, fairly comprehensive I guess.

Also consider the Sabre2 170 and Aerodyne's Pilot 170; test jump if you can! As said earlier, you will get more lift on a ZP canopy than F-111, especially when the F-111 is gettting on a bit! (My PD 170 is getting a little old and doesn't flare too well either). If you downsize, everything will happen faster. Don't do anything radical (like front riser landings) on something new and speak to an instructor before you buy/test jump anything. BTW - if you choose to downsize, are you happy to land off? Are you happy to land off on your current canopy? -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

So I'm Spiderman. It didn't surprise me, whatever that means... Where does this club meet, anyway? -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

You're right - you can't in the UK, if only because it is compulsory to use a reserve that is current (the packing cycle of the country where it was packed being respected). If not, it's the pilot that gets into trouble with the CAA (who is technically responsible for the drop) and not the jumper. But there's nowt wrong in putting a large F-111 7 cell into a skydiving rig! -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

The ops manual refers to having a stable, open canopy at 2k. There may of course be exceptions to this; having to cut-away, "losing altitude awareness"... -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Marvellous!

I can hear it all now... "Left, left.... NO THE OTHER LEFT!" (hey, I once suprised a cow with my hang glider, that was funny! ) -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

But that's what this is all about, isn't it? The fact that they chose to do this in a congested area was daft! Other crazy stuff that has been pulled (pushing the boundaries if you like), such as pushing a car out of the rear of the plane, was done in the middle of the desert and without on-lookers to get hurt (potentially). I get the impression that people are only bothered/offended if they feel their own safety levels have been compromised by someone else, and outside their own remit of control. Certainly I do. -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

My real 100th was actually a 4-way speed star, which was entertaining , but this was followed by a tracking dive (15 way and my 1st!) from >13,500 ft on the sunset load in my honour! Something else I've done which is kinda cool is doing a 4-way tube exit, followed by all letting go with the right hand simultaneously (but keeping legs extended!) It turns into a pretty wild spinning donut! Didn't quite work out, but I was offered a wingsuit rodeo (which I have yet to do) and I bet that's a blast! -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Or more specifically, a "death spiral", the kind of which paraglider pilots have been doing for a while... but they can get much more lift. The acro is always impressive though.

IMHO, one of the funniest "coups" is that the poor French have to disembark at London Waterloo when they arrive on the Eurostar. You bet that that's caused some friction between us and them at the highest levels. -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Try to keep eye contact for as long as possible. I bet you "fell out" of the formation on your outward facing move? I got my FS1 (WARP 10) recently on this dive: Meeker exit - open accordian - phalyanx - star. So my "outward" facing move was the open accordian to phalyanx; the advantage of this is that if the 2 making the transition rotate in opposite directions, then you effectively have 2 people you can look at, making it easier to keep on the same level without sideslipping/backsliding away... Don't get depressed about it; you're only on jump 60something. Secondly, I've been informed (and have personally seen evidence for!) that on a scrambles meet (so 4-way teams of mixed ability just thrown together for the benefit of a fun competition) the average # points turned is 2. Kinda puts it into perspective? -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Just roll the booties up and tuck them in (but not into your socks). I doubt whether your instructor will allow you to use them anyway! Besides, when you come to do your backflips (and your first track) etc, you won't want booties on! (anyway, have you considered why freefliers don't use booties? ) It's good you've got the suit; it'll stop other things flapping about in freefall. Wait until you've started doing RW before using booties...

...and from the tube, if one breaks their grips, it flattens out nicely into a caterpillar. Go into a track then, if the front person does a front-loop, it should catapult the rear person across the sky... -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

For some good pics - and a feel of what you could do, check out: http://www.bhpa.co.uk/bhpa/skywings/backissues/oct01/speedrun.pdf It's from the British Hang gliding and Paragliding Association website; they've got other interesting stuff, covering the UK and parts of Europe. Go for it!

"Ritchie Rich" ...because shortly after I got my 'A' licence, I was having dinner in the pub with fellow DZ bums - and I dared to have a starter AND a main course! So I must be rich, then? (and yes, my first name is Richard) -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Hearing anyone mutter "Redline" Seeing a ridiculously bright jumpsuit ... I think I might be very drunk within the first 15 minutes at this rate -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Nice meeting y'all! The reserve pin necklaces and Go Fast t-shirts certainly helped in finding everyone Caz - when are you organising the next one? I might then get to talk to you! Thanks for arranging it. -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

This was pretty much how it worked for me. I manged to screw almost everything up that was possible during my AFF, yet still manage (somehow) to sort things out eventually. After about a 10 jump nasty patch, I somehow began to feel that there wasn't anything that could happen that I hadn't already experienced or could not handle. Then I began to relax more and things started to happen! As an aside: also around that time, stresses I had at work subsided (change of project) which made me less "edgy". Just a thought - are there any non-skydiving related issues which are compounding the problem for you? I have been amazed at how my own performance suffers in a variety of "risk" sports when I'm freaked out at work! -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

The Z1 EVO (made by Parasport Italia) is pretty popular here in the UK; lots of people at Headcorn wear one. The full face (for when you're "B" licence) appears to be very popular for FS! There are pockets inside for an audible (by both ears); flat sides (on the open face) which I've seen many mount cameras to (when they're allowed to jump camera!) Try wearing a few different types - it will depend on the shape of your head to a certain extent as to what feels comfortable. As for safety, I bumped into someone who had a collision in freefall, got knocked out and landed (after a CYPRESS fire) on the tarmac still unconcious. His Z1 full face was in a bit of a state, but it protected him well (so he said). You can get them mail order (The Kit Store in Headcorn sell a lot). Also, don't knock the Pro-Tec. It's a very good helmet, and not very expensive. -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

It's quite simple - the CAA dictate that you can only drop fine sand or water from any flying craft, be it a jet or a balloon... -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

I'm similar: I self-check just before exit by feeling whether the flap protecting the pin has opened or not; if so, then I'd get someone to check it. Also check that my hackey hasn't got pushed in either. Always struck me as being a good idea... -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

How different are these suits when it comes to flocking, i.e. is a wearer of one of the following likely to get left behind? - S3 - GTI - Matter - S-Fly Or is the difference easily overcome by individuals controlling forward speed/fall rate etc.? I understand the theories but just curious to know how it works in practice! -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13