samyueru

Thanks for all the great advice. Ended up jumping again this weekend at skydive queensland for the first time (which is an AWESOME DZ!!!) I was more nervous today than ever before - no idea why, felt confident but knees were shaking. Probably combo of new DZ and not jumping for 2 weeks. Weird. I tracked alone for some jumps, keeping my eye on the ground this time, and _definately_ improved. I was able to track all the way from one end of the really long runway to the other. Awesome! Tried leg turns for a couple of seconds, got one down, but then I was too low to continue...next time. -Alex

Yea, I saw on the discovery channel once about this kid who was playing on a field by some mountains. Like 10 miles away, on the OTHER side of the mountain an electric storm was around and the kid got hit and died....messed up!! As far as a skydiver getting hot by lighting while in the air... I'm not an expert of any sort, but maybe because a plane has enough metal to attract lightning and a skydiver doesn't, they may be safe? Who knows. -Alex

LOL

Jumptown and Pepperell probably, since those are the two closest. Got any feedback about some of the places around MA?

-You have an excellent suit for RW. I'd wear something completely different for FF. (I hated saying that, btw. Seems I remember from another thread that your suit's a recent purchase) I'm going to be getting a seperate suit for FF once I get better at belly skills. I know I'll pretty much end up wearing two, so I bought the RW one first - since it's what I'll start out doing most, I'm sure. FF is just my favorite discipline - I know I'm nowhere close to being ready for it yet. btw, what ARE the chatacteristics of a a FF suit that set it apart, besides no grips?

Didn't you do the night jump in airborne school? -Alex, MI HOOAH

Anything going on for New Years or Christmas in New England? I know it'll be cold.....but c'mon!!!!

Haha - 10 jumps in a weekend. I wish I could afford that. Friday's my last day of jumping in Australia (good deal for the US dollar) and back to Massachusetts weather. Definately going to try some of the tips you guys have given me. About putting my feet up on my ass a bit - one of the guys at the DZ said it might help if I bring my knees up towards my chest a bit when I pull though...seems like that may exacerbate the problem though. I think what it was on that jump was that I took too long to pull. I'll practice as much as I can on friday - aiming to do around four jumps. However, I'm going to try and do my conversion to BOC, so I'm not sure if I'll have time. Depends how smoothly it goes. I didn't try toe taps - I thought about that after the dive - grrr! Andy - Yea, freeflying is my discipline of choice from what I've seen so far, but I'm still largely in the dark. What exactly entails a tracking dive? Obviously tracking, but what're the specifics? What type of stuff do you really gain from them? Cool, thanks a lot! -Alex

Booties. Place I jump at calls them boosters. Same with the people who made my suit. (airsuits)

Hey everyone - So last weekend I got to test out my new jumpsuit. On my first jump, I went up with my boosters. I found it really hard to control versus without them. Obviously, everything is so much more sensitive. I had trouble keeping a straight heading - I'd keep either turning left or right, even if I went into a Delta. And when I went for my pull, my body position made me facing almost head down when I deployed - which was very scary. Any suggestions? Or should I hold off on using the boosters until I'm a little more experienced with FF? My next two jumps that day I tucked in my boosters and had great jumps. Everyone loved the new Jumpsuit! haha. Thanks -Alex

Excuses? I already FINISHED my APF license. Regardless, I called both the USPA and APF and got a good answer. Apply for the Australian A license without continuing my membership (on a 3 month temporary one) and join the USPA back home. Then I'll get to use my A license without having to go through all the crap of going through the steps listed in the USPA A license with an instructor.

Yea, I'm in the Army. Used to be MI. Now I'm a soon to be O1E. (hopefully branching MI or Aviation) -Alex

I've aske da similar question before, but this is more relevant to my current situation..if anyone can help, that'd be awesome. I currently have 20 jumps and completed my static line progression. My Australian DZ gave me the purple card and everything to get my Australian A license. Problem is, with that and the membership fee, it's about $100+ and I'm leaving Australia to go back home in TWO weeks. Is it worth even getting the license? Would it make it easier to get my US A license? Since supposedly it's an "international" license, I would be able to jump in the US with it, right? Would I have to join the USPA if I was a member of the APF (I'm assuming I would) Or should I wait until I get back to the US and go to a dropzone there, show them my logbook, and get them to sign me off? And, btw, what would that invove? I might get up to 25 jumps while here, but I may not - it all depends on the weekend weather. I guess it'd be easier if I had 25, since that's the magic number for the A license back home. A lot of questions, I know! Help a wuffo out! Thanks!! -Alex

Yea, I'm going to have to get a freefly suit once I get good.... Ordered the good stuff DVD, so that's going to make me drooooool.. haha -Alex

Yea - I picked the colors because they are the official army colors, so I guess no coincidence. Plus, I gotta pay homage to the Golden Knights; they were the first skydivers I ever saw (airshow when I was about 12) HOOAH. -Alex Engelson, MI

My new jumpsuit just got here!! Yay! I can't wait to jump with it on saturday.. Check it out! now....for a gold and black alti...hehe.

Hmmm...no oral test for me. I took a written test before... APA licensing requirements are probably different.. I gotta get more jumps in so it won't be a problem converting when I go back to the US.

Since I don't have a car here in AU.... 10 minute taxi drive to rail station (plus 30 min WAITING for the damn taxi) 1 hour train ride to city (may have to wait for train to arrive) 1 hour bus ride to DZ if I can't arrange a pick up(also waiting for bus) Once, because the taxi didn't arrive and a massive 3 car pile up, it took SIX hours....then I got there and it was overcast and I only got one hop 'n pop fun jump....and this is on my BIRTHDAY! -Alex

YAY! Just completed my grad jump (despite an incident only an hour before; read about it in the incidents forum), got it on video and EVERYTHING! Getting my Ozzie A-license now!! Going to have it sent home, since I go back to the US in a few weeks. Then I guess I gotta convert it to a USPA one. CARTON!! -Alex

Cool, thanks for all the good input. I'll stick with my tennis shoes. -Alex

Being in the army, I own a pair of jungle boots (essentially combat boots) Is it an ok idea to jump with them vs. sneakers? Not sure if it would protect my ankle or endanger it...... -Alex

Cool. Thanks for all the help!

Do you usually have to pay extra for these conversion jumps? (i.e., for someone important to watch you) Or is it laregly just a matter of doing some tame jumps to get experience doing practice emergency procedures? Cheers, Alex

What do you mean by conversions? -Alex

We just an SOS system at my drop zone for student gear, too. From talking to my JM's, it seems pretty common. Actually..I've never even seen another system. My ripcord is on the right side of my stomach, and my reserve rip is on the left side of my chest. I've seen throwouts before, of course - but, for rental in the US is it mostly ripcords or throw-outs? How are the cut away and reserve handles positioned? Thanks. -Alex