Pendragon

I'm not sure why, but after my AFF 1 I could barely hear the radio because my ears were so gunged up; the next few I got into the habit of partially clearing them (by holding my nose, closing my mouth and blowing hard). At some point, maybe after 10-15 jumps, I stopped having the problem, so maybe your body just adjusts to it. I don't know what other's experiences have been though. Does anyone know if there's a risk of developing Tinitis due to the air noise? Should we all be wearing ear-plugs? -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

I don't think I've ever met an "intellectually challenged" BASE'r. Not always academic, but definitely bright...

It was the Observer: http://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/story/0,6903,1053330,00.html I thought it was pretty good too - I suppose it was written by a fellow skydiver though! Worth a read by anyone that hasn't already... -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Just like Billvon said, commonly used for paragliders (and hangies ) These guys ALWAYS use a weak link though. Some systems are just like 3 ring cutaways. Can't see why it couldn't be done if you got the angle of attack right... and had some suitable training (tow endorsed PG licence, maybe? ) beforehand. -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Suddenly, I don't feel like I'm the only one anymore. Anyone come up with a universal solution for mothers? -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

I've heard that before - but I think it depends on the helmet. I jump with an open face Z1; tried on the full face Z1 but felt I couldn't see a thing (never mind handles!) On the other hand, I had a great field of vision out of an Oxygen A3.

Yeah, that's right. You've got to have a suitable hard open face helmet until "B" licence, then you can have an hard full-face. Once you've got a "C" licence, a frappe hat is permitted. But you've always got to have some protection on your head! Whilst the hard helmet requirement is a good idea (IMHO), anyone else think that limiting the use of full-face helmets to "B" licence and above is daft? -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

I'm still a newbie to skydiving, but I've seen it doing other stuff... I think the most important bad attributes are in both lists: - Impulsiveness - Humility Ultimately, I think they both boil down to attitude. It's strange, but there are times - it happened to me recently ice climbing - that you sense it's not a good day. Whatever others might think, to me that's just being in the wrong state of mind. I've been quite surprised by just how much my mental state at the time has affected my performance in recent months. Maybe it's just because I've been thinking about it that I've suddenly noticed. Anyway, if I don't feel right, I might try warming up on something easy (equivalent to just turning up at the DZ to reassess) or just staying away. I've found that there are those people who can bow out gracefully, and those that are so carried away they cannot - too impulsive? Whilst we all make mistakes from time to time, surely those with a "good attitude" strive not to! Occasionally sports like this bite back - hard. Is this where humility comes in - taking time out to give a decision the respect it truly deserves? I've met a few people that I've felt might not make it to old age; they just appear reckless. I actually spent several months checking out my (now) home DZ before ever making a jump - taking a look around, seeing what was going on, who was there, what they were like etc. because I felt I was about to entrust someone with my life and I wanted to be sure about it. Maybe that's overkill/melodramatic, but I'd been burnt before in climbing whilst I still wasn't able to take care of myself. Now I don't take that chance. I would like to do some crazy stuff - but I'd also like to think I'll make old bones! Oh heaven, I've rambled again... -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

All made interesting reading. I'm still quite low on the jump #s but have begun to approach people to teach me CReW, hence my interest. Putting the wing loading question aside, I impose a rule on myself to have decided where I'm going to land (not necessarily the exact spot, but at least the general area/field etc.) by ~1,000ft to give myself sufficient time to think about and set up the approach. That might be a bit of overkill, but I'm curious to know what people think of the idea... I'm jumping a 170 @ ~1.0-1.1 all up atm, although will probably use soming closer to 220 for CReW. -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Sounds like a good idea. I'd recommend considering the following: Don't buy a new one yet (not worth it!) Not until you're on you're second canopy. Spend a bit more time on rental equipment. Looking at your wingloading on a 190 reserve, you should probably be jumping a 170 to start (like me!) I was lucky - got a whole rig 2nd hand for a reasonable price which fitted me (and came with a PD170 main). Whilst this is possibly not the finest canopy out there (v basic), it works... Anyway, you'll probably begin to downsize from your student main v quickly - 10 jumps - to about 170/190 (wherever you feel comfortable) then you will want your own. If you go for a ZP semi-elliptical, err on the side of caution when it comes from wing loadings! BTW - I suppose you appreciate that 170s and 220s at the same wing loadings handle differently? (Control lines are longer in the latter!) Lighter pilots will experience a twitchier canopy at the same wing loading as a heavier one... -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

I'm still jumping at the DZ where I did my AFF last summer. Actually, I spend quite a while just checking it out before even embarking on the course, just checking whether I would feel comfortable and could trust the people there. Maybe that's the reason - and people just stick with the place where they started? (provided it's local, of course!) It's still true, so whilst I may moan about the ticket prices, etc etc (we're far too close to Heathrow, Gatwick; SE England = Expensive ), it's still my DZ. -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Interesting question - I've heard myself a lot of low conversion rates being quoted I suppose it just goes to show how many people are excited enough by the thought to try it, but lack the commitment to follow through.. I'd actually be more interested to know what proportion of skydivers never did a tandem (except of course as the TM!) Y'know, the "I really want to do it" mentality, or maybe just prefer to be in control. -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Try swimming or cycling whenever you can, but don't push yourself too fast too quickly. Oh, and stretch before and after any exercise or you'll remember it well... -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Nope. Some dropzones it's a requirement (Netheravon, Dunkeswell and maybe some others), but not country wide. It's about to become a requirement everywhere in the UK for anyone without a "B" licence or higher. I always use an AAD, but I can understand those who prefer not to jump with one as they keep control of the reserve deployment. Making it compulsory for everyone is a bit of an overkill; making it compulsory for the inexperienced is probably about right I'd guess. -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Quite a long list, eh? As a "wannabe" - yes, I know (but I've already embarked on a route that may take a couple of years or more) - this is how I see it: BASE requires a lot of thought and commitment before embarking on a route to doing it. Everyone is different. I think the "anti-skydiving" sentiment comes from skydivers' sentiments/approach - consider their starting point! The advantage anyone with skydiving experience has is a certain familiarity to jumping that you can't get elsewhere. Sure, someone who has 150 and lots of CReW jumps is going to be better prepared than someone who has 700 skydives of which the majority have been head-down and piloting a heavily loaded swooping canopy.

Not sure what any of this has got to do with the spot - spotting is an art and can always be a bit off, although ususally it isn't. If you're not prepared to land off each time you jump, then you shouldn't be jumping. BTW, I mean "prepared" (it shouldn't be a regularity) If you hurt yourself landing off, it's probably because: - You're flying a canopy too small for you to land safely in a tight area (i.e. your own fault) - You're trying too hard to make it back to the landing field and don't have enough time to set up correctly for landing (i.e. your own fault) - You pulled far too low, so it possibly wasn't a bad spot, but assumed you would be blown further under canopy so you end up a bit short (i.e. your own fault). Is there a common theme developing here? Ahh, well, I'm British so I don't believe in the litigation culture anyway....

Might be a bit UK-specific for you, but the principles probably apply: DZs over here don't let anyone freefly (technically even sols) until they've either got WARP 7 (launch 2-way, 2xside-ins, back-in, return to f2f, wave off, turn, track) or WARP 10 (Cat 10/FS1) which goes through 3-ways to a 4 point 4-way. The reason for this was explained to me by my coaches: it teaches basic survival skills flying, especially relative to others. Let's face it, freeflying with others (including a coach!) is potentially more dangerous! You will want to do it; it's good to be able to at least do that flat-flying first! Besides, to get our FF1 qualification, you need the equivalent of at least WARP 7 to fulfil all the requirements! That's not to say that you cannot practice free-flying when solo: I'd suggest that you keep changing your heading; you won't be as aware on your first few freefly jumps and if you do start backsliding under people, at least you'll backslide back away from them later! Well, that was the advice given to me - and it's what I'm planning to do! Just wish I could get my 4-ways together - I promised myself that I'd get that sorted before I "crossed over"... However, I know nothing... -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

He was in the "Something about McConkey" video... -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Are we a dying breed? I'll probably be around sometime over the weekend - send me a private message if you're going to be around... -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

I was implicitly including helicoper/balloon jumps, but I take your point. I'm looking forward to doing some of those! But I'm also curious as to awareness: if you haven't been around long enough, you don't know what questions to ask, how to react etc? Isn't this in part why it is suggested that an aspirant groundcrews first? Views anyone? Having read Tom's latest post, I believe we're thinking along similar lines... -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

OK, quick qualification - I'm not a BASE jumper (although it was one of the reasons I began to skydive and when I feel ready, I probably will) - but I was wondering: To me, the potential enjoyment from a BASE jump would come from: - being able to do something few people could - being in control, kinda like doing something you know you shouldn't, but surviving - intense feelings The trade-off is that the act of doing it is in some ways incredibly stressful - the consequences of something going wrong are serious, hence the bigger payback "buzz"

Think of it like this: imagine swiping a tennis racket through the air, one with the strings and one without (the latter moves through the air much easier). People seem to forget that wires/strings/ropes etc create a lot of drag due to the turbulence that sets up behind the object. Because the strings in the tennis racket example are close, the turbulence "interferes" with itself (a bit like a diffraction grating, if you can remember one of those...), heightening the effect. The same equally applies to skydivers in a formation. The effect only works when the "strings" are close enough, so the incremental effect diminishes the more you add (thus impossible to "land" a big way). BTW - the above is intended to demonstrate the principle, not offer a rigorous explanation! I'll finish my ex-scientist mode now... -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Headcorn is £20 for "A" licence holders; £18 for "B" and above (concession as you can be the jumpmaster). If you buy 10, it's £19 and £17 each respectively. I suppose this is the South East though... Works out at £10 for a low alitude lob, if the cloudbase is low and you're desperate... The DZ bar is fairly cheap though! -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

So you're going to stuff it away in a drawer somewhere for the next 2 years?? The fact that you're asking and making these points just demonstrates that you're not even in the right mindset, let alone have the technical competency to fly something like that. That might sound a little harsh, but it's how you're coming over. Care to prove that wrong? Enthusiasm is great, but don't get carried away!

So he think's he'll look cool? He won't when he mucks up the landing... He shouldn't push so hard; he'll actually end up getting where he wants to be more slowly - and certainly more uncomfortably - than by being more sensible. Also, if he's having to justify himself in this way, he's certainly not ready for it! -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13