Emma

....I didn't set you two up...he pounced from the dark like a stalker! Ew!

Btw - Lala - have you ever thought it's a bit of a conincidence with your job and you n Skreamer getting on so well? Maybe he sees you as kind of a pimp.... Bet he was looking for an animal handler girlfriend for aaaages.......

Aha but WHICH 'Emma', hey? See - as good as anonymous...

Hello again... I'm thinking of downsizing from a Sabre 135 to a Spectre 120. When I test jumped the Spectre I felt I got a better flare than I do on my Sabre. I assume this is because the wing-loading is greater? Any advice on recommended wing-loading and the difference in flying characteristics between the 2 canopies would be helpful...thanks :) I have about 430 jumps by the way...and without kit weigh around 115 lbs...With kit I guess around 140 - 150 depending on lead. I can't help but feel I would get on better with a slightly smaller canopy although I'm not a big swooper. Emma

Hello..... I think my brake lines might be slightly too short. The tail of the canopy is slightly distorted by the drag from the brakes even on supposedly 'full' drive. Could my brake lines have shrunk??? I've put about 350 jumps on this - it's a Sabre 135. - but I've only just noticed! :o And also - could this be affecting the way it flies significantly? Ie, if I'm not getting maximum speed on finals am I reducing the power of my flare by much? Any insights much appreciated :) Emma

I think not. I've already had 10 years of abuse for being the ladyfriend of an NZ sheep shagger. I've done my time....

Unfortunately you can kill youself on a supposedly 'docile' canopy if you hook it in low enough. The sentiments expressed on here are all sound. However rather than subscribe to the blame culture we need to take responsibility for ourselves. Each and every one of us. If your DZ doesn't offer canopy pilot courses, find someone who can help you. WE are the BPA/ USPA. Not some disembodied group out there. We choose to educate ourselves as individuals...or not. Legislation seems like a good idea but it's pointless unless people make a choice to become educated first. We have to create the attitudes at our respective dropzones that encourage people to learn about flying their canopies. Learning how to minimise risks and handle emergencies is as important under canopy as it is at any stage of a skydive. If the attitude is right then the rest will follow. I would like to see more emphasis on canopy control and progression as part of basic training courses - AFF and static line - and it should be ongoing. 'Feel the flare' and then get on with it yourself is not really enough. Hopefully as attitudes change then accidents under perfectly good canopies will decrease.

For Christssake Lala! Don't admit that to anyone! You'll be tarred with the same brush as all his other sheep and farmyard animals! :o

Bugger. Rumbled. But they are really nice people too! Not just total honeys! (How easy is it to get a Green card?) Have fun! E

Hi J, I did an Airspeed Basic Tunnel camp in June with a couple of friends from the UK. We flew over just for the 3 days, and despite the hassle and cost of getting there, I would still say it's more than worth every penny. There's something about the way they coach you...basically they have so much experience that they can suss out what you're doing wrong immediately and fix it. The tunnel lets you focus on specific issues and really drill them without worrying about the fact that you're plummeting towards the earth at 120mph as in a normal skydive. Also, you work in 2 minute 'flights' so you have longer to crack what you need to crack. I learnt so much, my skydiving has improved far more quickly than it could have done just through normal jumping. They have a great programme and really know how to get the best out of you. Be warned, the tunnel really pummels your body and if you can stretch daily before you go it will really help. I was knackered and sore after the first day so take some Deep Heat... Incidentally I'm probably going to book another one around October time so might see you there..:) Emma

'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance' - this is a fab book...I read it whilst in Asia and not entirely straight and it all made perfect sense at the time... Also - 'Of Mice and Men' - Steinbeck. Must have read it 300 times and when I taught it to my bottom set psycho class of 15 year old nutters one of them actually cried at the end. It was the proudest day of my teaching career. I made them CRY! (Okay, Steinbeck did, but I take some credit for using the special 'Lenny voice' throughout.) Forster's 'Passage to India' is pretty cool, you can read it over and over and it's always good. 'Le Grand Maulnes' - Alain Fournier. Beautiful French literature. And 'Chocolate'. Can't remember who that's by though...but it is a good 'un. Too many others to list. I am a book geek. Oh, one last one, this is really really good, I've only recently discovered it - it's called 'Mouthing the Words' and it's by Camilla Gibb - written in the first person about the experience of horrific child abuse. Sorry if that sounds heavy but the prose is stunning and she really takes the reader into the child's mind. It's quite shocking. That's me done for today, anyway....

Thongs forever

Ugh. John, don't do it. You will break all the laydees' hearts at Hinton...No one licks a naval that looks like a cartoon character's arse (not even Aladdin's, and he was fit, for a cartoon character).

Keith - the doctors always tell you the worst possible scenario as if it's fact. Hang in there, lots of good vibes coming from the Uk for you

Anyone know where they were stolen from? I think I missed any previous posts about it....I can't believe anyone would steal from Airspeed? I mean, if it's another skydiver, what a total c*nt! Those guys put so much back into the sport, how could anyone be such a twat? And if it's a whuffo...why would you want a canopy? For curtains? A friend of mine left his rig in the car in Empuriabrava, and when he came back, some tosser had cut all the lines on the main..I mean, why? Some people are just brain dead.

What a stupid thread. Just my *opinion*....

For the record...it's weird, not wierd. Sorry, I'm just a bored nitpicker sitting at work dreaming of skydiving...Sad huh?

I think you're asking the wrong questions. It doesn't matter whether you have 'cheated', or what your definition of that is: it matters whether you have done something you know would hurt the other person. That may be kissing someone else, shagging someone else, flirting outrageously with someone else, or, after the act, lying to your partner. And if you HAVE done something you know would hurt them, you have to ask yourself if you care about that. If you don't care that you could have hurt them if they knew, then you have to ask yourself why you're with that person and what you think it means to 'love' that person. And vice versa if you discover you've been 'wronged', if that is what you feel. Unfortunately, because we are using a collection of very hazy concepts identified by imprecise words such as 'love', 'cheating', 'betrayal' and so on, only you can decide if what you/ your partner has done is acceptible to you/ your partner - acceptible enough to continue with them, or a sign that there is something wrong between you that can't be rectified. There is no clear right or wrong, all you have is how you feel, and how your partner feels, and whether or not you can work it out. Personally, I think 'cheating' constitutes many things, from desire/ fantasy through to full sex. Which is not to say wild fantasies of shagging one or two members of Airspeed haven't crossed my mind, but I think one is allowed certain exceptions, in exceptional circumstances....

I used to think telling people in interviews that I skydived was a good thing. I told my boss at my current job, for instance. And then I realised I had made a grave, grave error. Now, every time the sky is blue and I'm out of the office ''sick'' or ''at a meeting'' my boss instantly disbelieves me and accuses me of disappearing off to the DZ! Of course this is an outrageous slurr and I would never DREAM of nipping off to squeeze in a couple of sly jumps on corporate time on a sunny day.... But nevertheless, that reputation as an alititude addicted work-shy skyslut has stuck, and caused me untold problems. If I change jobs, believe me, I'll try and keep it quiet for as long as possible.....

You should all just be bloody glad I don't go developing anorexia or summink! Misogynistic patriarchal oppressors! (Apart from John, what a handsome and pleasantly accented chap he is!)

ROFLMFAO!

I'm not pissed. I'm totally sober. But I expect I will be both pissed off and drunk again some time soon. Probably not at the same time though.

Sean Connery. The sexiest man ever. Probably. Apart from my packer.

Re. the panties (knickers, I should say. Good God, slipped into US lingo without even realising!) KNICKERS: Canopy analogy: The difference is, you can't jump without a canopy and survive...But I've often jumped without...well, you know where this one's going.... Thongs every day, a girls best friend. Apart from the rare but scary ''all men stay the fuck away from me!'' days when big ol' faithfuls come out....(just in case the no-knickers thing was a bit too..erm...saucy, bring it back down to reality now.) I used to hate thongs but I reckon your crack gets hardened to the string after a while which is why you don't notice it. Like the first time you put shoes on a kid. Not that we actually get CALLOUSES on our arse-cracks...the sensitivity just lessens. But have you ever seen people who wear them on the BEACH? Fookin' crazy. And inconsiderate. And usually German, with a mullet and moustache. Ew.

Shut UP, TURD-HEAD! Or I'll tell everyone that you're my bitch and you mow my lawns for me...Ooops, I just did..... Pie-schmie. The pie story is SO 2001. Everyone knows it's Cornish pasties now....