Pendragon

I just think it's great that two teams who were going nowhere not that long ago have made it to the Stanley cup final!

Replying to an ancient post... If you do, then I'd assume the drag is ALSO greater... You're probably thinking of the relative air densities: when the air is more dense, the lift generated is greater for a given airspeed (and so is the induced drag - think about stirring a cup of water vs treacle.) The stall speed will be lower as well. You'll probably notice the effect with altitude more (faster canopy landings etc)

Just make sure that if it comes into contact with salt water it gets rinsed out before it dries out! Salt crystals form inside the lines (even material) as it dries out: these have sharp edges which are very abrasive, causing damage even as they form. AFAIK from my paragliding buddies, performance isn't really affected: it's just a wear and tear issue. -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

For anyone that's interested, take a look at: http://www.flywight.co.uk/flight.pdf (it's on the Isle of Wight Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club website) It gives a good basis for flight theory, more from the perspective of paraglider pilots but is still relevant to skydiving canopies. Section 5 on page 11 gives an explanation of glide angle. I would guess that tall/skinny people are better able to de-arch, effectively reducing the undersurface of the "wing" relative to the top surface, generating more lift.

Weren't these kinds of activities once called "Adventure sports"? Ice climbing, mountaineering, kayaking, cave diving, hang and paragliding, BASE, skiing in La Grave...

Absolutely! By contrast, it took me nearly 2 years to learn to hang glide: sitting on hills, waiting for the right weather/wind conditions, pushing a glider up the hill, rigging, de-rigging... It certainly separated those who really wanted to do it from the rest. Let's not make learning to skydive even easier... From the perspective of someone who qualified only last October, I still think tandems have their place - for those who just want to "dip their toe" or maybe really want to do it but find the first few steps a little daunting (with the tandem giving them sufficient confidence to start training proper)...but this is still up to the individual. -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

In a word: No. Where's the freedom of choice in that? Aren't AFF and Tandems directed at completely different markets? As we all know, your average tandem student never makes another jump. But I suppose that was the point really; a way (for them) of getting to experience free-fall without having to undertake all the ground training and, in some cases especially, accept responsibility. I did AFF straight off as I'd already decided that I wanted to be a skydiver. I also wanted to be in control, which may sound a little strange to some, but it was important to me. I don't remember the 1st 5 secs or so (sensory overload I'm sure), but still made my DPs and got the pull (after a little fumble). As for progression, sure I got stuck around levels 4 & 5, although once I'd found the magic "balance point" I was fine...

I take your point: we'll keep it to Great Britain then, as that excludes Belfast which is an oddity for well known reasons... I still think it's ridiculous to think that you can curb gun crime by having more guns. Similarly, if police carry guns then criminals are also more likely to carry and use them. I'm sure you can make interesting comparisons between Belfast and Great Britain to see how different things can be. The problem for the US appears to be that it has already gone too far down one line: US police officers probably do need guns now because they don't know what they'll meet up with. Fortunately we haven't got to that situation in Great Britain, and hopefully we never will. Edit: It's probably safer 'cause "big brother" is watching over here and, curiously enough, people don't care because they know that they can walk around without having to worry about a gun being thrust in their face nor have to carry a gun to combat a potential threat. Similarly, freedom is always within certain constraints; where these lie is often cultural, but they are there. To me, being "free" doesn't mean, for example, we have a God-given right to display racist material just because we feel like it. Actions always have consequences, and freedom must be constrained as not to interfere with others' rights and feelings. I feel I have a right to walk down a street late at night without fear of being mugged at gunpoint. Besides, CCTV watchers have better things to do than pick up on every minor infraction. -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Now that's a strange way of looking at it. Charlton Heston was laughed out of the Oxford Union a few years back advocating thinking like that. Let's think of an optimum: No concealed hand-guns (legal or otherwise) = no shootings So why do you want to increase the number of guns in circulation??? Let's face it, armed robberies in the UK aren't that common; wish the same could be said in the US Murder rates are a lot lower here as well. Our police aren't armed (except for specialist units) - and they don't need to be. Crime may have been coming down in the US because of that action, but it's still damn serious when it happens. Sure I might get mugged in London (although that's unlikely), but I'll be alive afterwards... Maybe, one day, I'll understand why an American would cherish the right to be able to own an automatic assult weapon? I doubt it: it's hardly for competing at Bisley, is it? -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

In the UK, you're not allowed to jump with a pull-out until you've got 200 jumps. I don't know what the rules are elsewhere, but just bear in mind that it's possible that you wouldn't be able to jump your own equipment in some places with a PUD if you're inexperienced. I suppose the problems with PUD systems are potential hesistations (if the PC gets caught in the burble - hence the system cannot be used by wingsuit jumpers), or if the handle dislodges itself before deployment, leading to a "floating handle" and requiring the user to first search for the bridle line and pull that instead, or go for a reserve ride. Anyone got anything to add to that? I haven't used one myself... I've never had any problems with my BOC (fingers crossed!)

Try to understand why something is being done, don't just accept it: you'll remember it that way. Also, you'll develop a feel for what matters and what doesn't so you can relax about jumping your own pack jobs and not panic when you see someone do it differently. If you don't know anything for sure, then ask! People will only bite your head off if you don't... -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

The problem is skydiving isn't really an arena spectator sport (for obvious reasons!) By way of example, even in FMX, you can stuff a few big jumps in a stadium, get the general public to pay for expensive tickets - and sell loads of hot dogs, beer, general merchandise as well. Supercross also has that advantage, possibly why it's "richer" than it's MX stablemate. No arena = no money = little sponsorship = little event coverage As for showing films, we've still got a problem in that it's a fairly inaccessible sport - let's face it, you've really got to want to do it. There are lots more people out there with skateboards, simply because that's all you need... So Tony Hawk is always going to be more famous than say Patrick Passe. -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Erm, I asked why during my flight-line checking brief. I'd almost guessed as much, but I regularly see people getting checked out with no idea why they need it (except because it's mandatory). I guess many people are happy to take a lot for granted. -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

For some fowl reason... Maybe it was dinner time! Oh that was terrible... -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Bit gusty then? Good piloting there though! -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

With all this talk about protection, I'm curious: what would you guys use for a helmet? Full-face hang/paraglider, DH MTB (with visor removed), rock climbing, regular skydiving helmet? What are the (dis)advantages of the preference? -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Atomic decay follows a logarithmic curve, because the rate of decay (e.g. you're measuring the rate at which alpha particles are emitted) is proportional to the amount of material (left). As the atom decays, it changes into something else (won't get too bogged down here). This gives rise to the concept of a half life: the constant time it takes for half of the material (at any given point) to decay... Edit: The random bit comes in because it is impossible to tell which of the particles will decay, only that half of them will in this given time. -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

>The only thing I can think of is a random number generator for a computer, and I honestly don't know precisely how those work... They use a chaotic function, which is seeded. The answer is then plugged into the formula to get the next, and so on. The curious thing about these functions is that, whilst you know how you got from A to B (through the formula), it is impossible to back-calculate from B to A: you cannot analyse the results and get any sort of correlation. As for the part earlier in this thread about religion, and maybe the answer lies in some constant: maybe the Pythagoreans knew something after all! Seems kinda funny worshipping root 2 though... BTW - it's obvious (when you think about it) why the exclusion principle always holds true: you cannot know precisely a particle's momentum and position because you have to time it's movement (so it's moved!) to know it's speed! Ever puzzled over a "spot the ball" competition? Oh, and lastly, order doesn't spontaneously form out of chaos as entropy must always increase (nth law of thermodynamics, I cannot remember which one..) Think of it this way: since when did a cup of cold coffee spontaneously re-heat itself sitting on your desk, taking it's heat from it's surroundings? That would be sooo cool though

...and whether the dropzone has a runway that can take the weight! Grass runways = more room in the plane! -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Dunno about you guys/gals, but I thought the above was about right.

Yup, I'm with you there! I became a licenced packer before I could jump out of a plane on my own (between AFF levels 3 and 4). Maybe I'm just like that, but certainly when I was starting out, knowing I'd packed it right gave me less to be worried about: it would open! I understand people using packers, but not to know how to pack and be so reliant? -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

The internet makes everything potentially very easy; I'm not sure that having a forum here makes it easier still. Anyway, as far as taking BASE to skydivers, I think a lot of the skydiving related DVDs do that very well! As for posting here and getting info, a number of newbies/wannabies (like me) have posted and, maybe because of their differing attitude/way of posting, had varying levels of success. So I think it's self regulating to a degree - if someone is perceived to have the wrong attitude, no-one is going to help them willingly. General chit-chat will always be in the public domain anyway. Well, that's the way I see it anyway... -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Referring to your 3rd photo: are all AFF level 1 students so shocked by their exit that they keep their mouths open until they realise their mouth is rather dry? I did as well... Sure made for a funny photo... -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Hajo has a good point - I guess I was also trying to ask you (the original poster) whether you'd convinced yourself enough that this was what you really wanted. If it is, then good luck! Hajo has already emphasised the learning as much as possible argument. -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Hey fellow climber! I'm probably a bit like you; started climbing first but then got into skydiving for a particular reason... What I would ask is whether you've been paragliding? It's a different canopy (high aspect ratio and soars, elliptical and "twitchy" by comparison to skydiving canopies) BUT you rack up tonnes of canopy experience very quickly, fly close(ish) to objects and develop the mind of a pilot. I'm sure all these things will help, even if it's just an environmental familiarity thing. Anyway, it's enjoyable in it's own right and you can combine it with climbing soon after you get qualified (depending on site and conditions). You'll also learn about valley winds, thermic activity etc, which will also be handy. It may also help in truly deciding whether you wanted to jump. Most people on this forum (there are exceptions but...) seem to be in agreement that you will need to skydive first, even if it's just to get used to exits (balloon jumps are good I guess) and to learn stability in freefall (Tom's previous post). Good luck! -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13