fergs

Bobby, CONGRATS. Now lets get that new toy into the air this weekend at Nagambie!!! Have you finally arranged a lift there? fergs

Mark, Well I've jumped in 35 or 40 countries over the years in various continents. My licence is Australian Parachute Federation (APF). I've never had a problem with being able to jump in any new country. Sometimes I've had to take out temporary membership of the local parachute organisation. A few times I've had to become a full member (which is how I became the first, and possible the only ever foreign member of the Indian Parachute Association, but that's another story). Make sure your log book is up to date. The more jumps you have when you go travelling, the better. Take your own gear. Always smile when you arrive at a new place. Always drink beer with them after. So have fun skydiving all over Europe. Blue Skies, fergs

Can't help - just cannot seem to organise a malfunction. My last was in 1982 at around jump number 1000. Before that was 1978, probably had 300 to 400 jumps total at that time. Have been flyimg wingsuit now for around 150 flights and have had a single twist twice. So what am I doing wrong? Why can't I get me fair share of malfunctions? I've owned 6 or 7 rservers over the last 30 years and have only deployed 2 of them - and that's only one time on each. Maybe I should start packing my main neatly and per the manuals .... that's sure to cause a malfunction. Blue Skies, fergs

Bobby, Nice meeting you today. I've pm'd you regarding your S-3 order. fergs

You may indeed be correct - but knowing the DZ, my suspicion is that it is a Russian set of gear. I'll make some calls. Blue Skies, fergs

Hey Bill, What a nice way to amble across the country - visiting DZ's. Together with my wife, I made a 20,000 mile, 6 month DZ-Crawl in the US some years ago. We bought a van on the west coast and zig-zagged our way across the south to the east coast and then up the east coast to NY City, where we flew out of. Funny, less than 20% of the nights we were in the US were actually sleeping in the van. The rest were in the houses of jumpers who'd haul us home from the van. "You ain't sleeping in that van here in my town." was the usual comment. Then they'd call their parents / brothers / uncles / etc ahead of us and tell them to make up the spare room, because "two aussies will be staying with you when they pass through...". And like you, we soon worked out what makes a good DZ and what makes a bad DZ. No, it wasn't the aircraft size or the quality of the facilities. It was the quality of the skydivers there. Good people make a good DZ. And the reverse is true too. What a great sport we all do - a big international family. Blue Skies, fergs

Wendy, yeah, the strato flyer was fast to land in it's day. Hmmm, now delving deeply into my memory banks ... I am thinking the Strato Flyer was Para Flite having all we jumpers put thousands of jumps on their design that then became the Safety Flyer. The Safety Flyer enjoyed the reputation of being the first commercially available square reserve complete with that revolutionary free-bag. What a change that brought about in the sport. Of course it had a pretty good acceptance - maybe one reason being that many tens of thousands of jumps that had gone into the design courtesy of all the Stato Flyers in the field. But I preferred my Strato Stars - although higher bulk (way higher was my ring and rope reefed version) they were very well behaved and landed well. Not a bad accuracy canopy for its' time too. Aaaah, those good old days .... fergs

Whichever you choose, keep in mind that the ocean is very close. So have flotation gear on you and always check the spot as you get out, do not blindly trust whoever spots the load. I had an unintentional water landing out past the reef years ago - it was a 4way load and should have become more suspicious when the guy who had spotted pulled at 4500'. Then I compounded the problem by turning 180 and tracking away from the land. The wind was such that I had no way of making it back to land. I ended up just outside the reef. In fact, the only one to make the land was the guy who pulled high... Lessons: 1. If you are going to land in water, be prepared to lose everything. After landing, cutaway your main - disconnect RSL first. 2. Reserve stats bouyant for quite a while - so I found that I was Ok leaving it on for ages (5 minutes at least) but be prepared to get it off as soon as it loses bouyancy. 3. If you want to hold onto your main, swim around above it and hold by the pilot chute. 4. When it starts to sink, it WILL SINK RAPIDLY and whatever or whoever is attached to it WILL GO DOWN WITH IT. If that it you, YOU WILL DROWN. But don't worry about it sinking and being lost forever - your next canopy will be much nicer than this one. The canopy I lost was less that 24 hours old and it was its' third jump. 5. I did not have flotation gear. You should get/have/use some - not because you'll necessarily need it (because you will always watch the shoreline and spot on exit). But you'll feel a whole lot more comfortable having it. 6. Other than losing a new canopy, I loved my sydiving vacation in Hawaii. The scenery is stunning and the weather is great. Blue Skies, fergs

I did 20 on the 20h anniversary of my first jump (that was 10 years ago). It was easy and i would have had time for 40 - and all were without a packer to help, I self packed all myself. Basically I had 3 rigs and a Cessna 206 which I hired for my own use at the DZ on an Aircraft-Time basis. I'd lay 2 rigs next to the runway, half way down. I'd take off with the 3 rd rig, exit at 2000', race the cessna down, land next to the 2 rigs, throw the used rig off, pick up the next one, the cessna would taxi by me as I cinched up straps, take off, and prepeat. Then every 3 jumps would be 3 pack jobs, a coke, a sandwich, back to put 2 rigs next to the runway, etc. It was all too eary. So much so that I'll do 40 on the 40th anniversary. Good Luck!! fergs

Matthew, email me: info@wingsuitsoz.com I'll then send you much info re wingsuit flying in Australia / APF recommendations on same / etc. fergbird

Hey Skoty!!!! I have a demo GTi your size - so come fly with me when you are in Australia later in the year!!! Is your brother coming too? Blue Skies, fergs

Well you must always realise that there a times where a go-around is a safety issue – and so the pilot must be prepared to follow a go-around request. Years ago I had a cavalier attitude – “who cares about a bad spot”, I thought, “worst thing that can happen is a walk”. True sometimes, but I soon learned not all the time. It was a 182 load in Hawaii. The guy spotting the load did the same run in and cut that he’d last done 4 hours ago. Unfortunately the wind has swung 180 degrees during those 4 hours. He called cut and we climbed out and turned some 4-way points. I must say, I became a little suspicious when the guy who had spotted pulled out of the formation at 5 grand. But I hadn’t checked the ground, either during climb-out or in free fall. Nor had the other two. The other 3 of us didn’t break off until 3500. All three of us landed in the ocean. The spotter was the only one to make it back past the shore-line. By virtue of the fact that I’d tracked away from the formation, yet out-to-sea, I landed farthest out – unfortunately way out. The result was that I lost my new main canopy (it was its’ 3rd jump as it was brand-new that day), trashed my alti and dytter and came a little too close to drowning for comfort. Couple of morals came out of that jump: 1. Always check the spot. 2. Never be afraid to ask for a go-around 3. If the pilot refuses a go-around and exiting would risk a landing hazard, and then be prepared to land with the aircraft. 4. Do not be embarrassed to land with the aircraft – but do be embarrassed if you break an ankle due to landing in the jungle when a go-around could have been requested. 5. If you land in water – cut your main away as soon as you are floating. Disconnect your RSL first (if you have one). 6. If you want to hold on to your main, swim around and hold it by the pilot chute. 7. Do not under any circumstances remain connected to your main after a water landing. When it gets waterlogged it WILL sink. When it sinks it will do so very fast and it WILL go down with all that is attached to. If you are still attached when that happens YOU WILL drown. Sorry, I got a little off the go-around subject – but it’s a relevant. Stay safe and tell all your whuffo friends why you are always grinning. Blue skies, fergs

Bad luck in Hong Kong. In fact there used to be a DZ there - at Sek Kong in the New Territories. It was, of course before HK reverted back to China. I made some nice jumps there in 1987. The jumpers were a nice mix of nationalities, although I guess more Brits than others, as it was a British Military establishment. The DZ was BPA affiliated. One memorable experience was on a ferry load, taking off from HK International to fly to the DZ. A long lineup of 747's taxiing for take off and there we were, a tiny little 182 (open door) in the line. A very visual memory. Can you imagine all the passengers looking down on us - we must have appeared like a little insect compared with all the 74's. Pity Sek Kong is no longer a DZ. Ahhhhhh, memories .... Blue Skies, fergs

Jason, Well I have to say that I've never had any problems with my BASE pouch. I really love it and it has simply become second nature to use. As for why yours flutters, cannot come up with any suggestions apart from the fact that it's snaking out a little during flight and so flaps in the breeze. Here's a link for a discussion on packing the BASE pouch PC (sorry, don't know how to make it a clicky. Since starting this way, I've substituted the penny whistle for a 12" wooden ruler that I found in one of my kid's school pencil case. So try it and let me know how you get on. fergbird http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=778621;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread

Steve, I had an arm zipper blow on my GTi last year - simply bought a heavier duty metal zipper from the local sewing-stuff-store and replaced it. If you cannot sew or do not have access to a machine, there must be someone in your local yellow pages who can do the job. As long as they can do a good job with heavier than normal thread, there's no need to send the suit back to Birdman for repair. All of which means you'll be good-to-go for the balloon jump. I jumped wingsuit balloon last year - it was a blast!! Blue Skies, fergs

We lost Darryl last month. He’d been in a coma for the past 16 years and despite his body fighting off all adversaries over the years, a sudden cold quickly developed into pneumonia and he slipped away overnight. Darryl had been a keen and talented skydiver before the motorcycle accident that caused his coma. In fact I guess it was myself who'd had the privilege of instructing his first jump course and seeing him develop into a safe experienced jumper. He also became a very good friend. I could write for ages on Darryl and events that took place before and during his coma – but really prefer to focus on the reason for this post. Darryl’s family has asked me to scatter his ashes. In fact, his mother passed away a few months back – and I’ve been asked to take them skydiving together. Darryl’s son wants to be a part of the jump, but as a non-skydiver, his only way to be in the air with Darryl is as a tandem passenger. I really want to take Darryl on his first (and last) wingsuit skydive. So the plan at this stage is to mix Darryl and his mum’s ashes together and split them – some for his son to release in tandem free-fall and the rest for me to release in a wingsuit flight on the same load. So here’s the question. I am trying to work out the safest way to take and release ashes during wingsuit flight (the tandem ash release will be a more conventional procedure). I’ve discounted having anything attached to or held by hand – due to the potential hazards that would be created. So I think that only leaves three possibilities. The first is to design a canister and foot-mount, not unlike a free-fall smoke setup. The canister may need only to have a number of holes that are covered by tape in the aircraft – tape ripped off prior to exit and then ashes are blown out during my flight. Second thought is to unpick part of the trailing edge seams of middle two back deflector cells (S3) and put the ashes inside the two cells. Then the ashes would be progressively blown out in flight. Third thought is to fill each cell of the arm deflector with as much ash as possible. Hold all in with gaffer tape – tape off prior to exit and have it simply blow out in flight. So what great minds out there can come up with a solution / design for Darryl and his mum? Remember, the solution can work for all of us at some time in the future when we are making our own final flight compliments of one of our wingsuiting friends. At the end of the day, Darryl will have a wingsuit flight. He’ll also have his last skydive. Please help me design the best and safest method of helping Darryl. Thanks, Blue Skies, fergbird

Here’s some that may qualify as expensive: 1973, lost Altimeter on opening – cost around $75 (may not sound much, but jump costs were only around $3 in those days. 1976, on vacation in the US, broke femur after a gust induced / turbulence stall on my original long-lined ring-and-rope Strato Star – hospital bill was around $4,000 (this represented around 50% of my annual salary so think of the amount in those terms) 1980, broke wrist, pelvis at bottom of a CRW jump in Australia – cost 3 months lost wages 1983, broke ankle in Jamaica – cost in dollar terms not too much – but my wife was particularly unimpressed, as we were flying to Britain the next day and it meant she’d have to carry all the bags. I was “paying back” that cost for years 1985, third jump on brand new canopy, in Hawaii – load mis-spotted – landed in ocean – new main canopy sank and was lost – that was around $1,000 at the time. My Dytter was also ruined at the same time. 1998 – vacation in Japan – made 8 or 10 skydives there, each at around $100 a pop. But the high cost (relative to other countries) was well worth it. 2002 bought first BirdMan suit – which caused me to become a wingsuit addict – now own 3 wingsuits – cost must approach $3,000. 2003 Balloon wingsuit jump - $160 1973 to 2004 – have gained 3 or 4 lifetimes of great experiences and friends due to skydiving, at no cost to me other than being a part of the sport. So how does that American Express go? …..Memories, priceless!!! fergs

Steve, If someone came to me and asked about using oversize bands on the locking stows, my reply would be: 1. Get rid of them and change to regular sized bands or tube stows 2. If deployment bag is too small, then learn to psycho pack to get the canopy in there easier. 3. If Psycho packing doesn't fix the problem, get a slghtly bigger deployment bag. There's enough evidence on too large locking stow bands to have us all get the hell rid of them. Your problem of deployment bag size may indeed be cured with a nice tightly rolled psycho pack job coupled with standard size bands / tubies. Blue Skies, fergs

Steve, very cool vid. Was he low and in a base rig or high and in a skydiving rig? fergs

I'd have to say that the most enjoyable boogie I've been to was the Kenya Beach Boogie. Unfortunately, I've only been to one. Over the week, I made 54 fun skydives, had a relaxing afternoon sailing on an old dhouh, swam, ate and drank the odd beer. The relaxed atmosphere and quality accommodation added to the experience. So if anyone is contemplating attending this boogie - I'd say that you definately should make the effort and spend the bucks - you won't regret it. Blue Skies, fergs

QuoteTo make something clicky, put {url} before it and {/url} after it. But replace the "{" with "[" and "}" with "]". Tom, you are definately THE MAN - shall we call you the CLICKY-KING?!!!!! Anyhow, thanks for doing your stuff and fixing the link. That's a 6 pack you have in credit when next you are in Autralia. Blue Skies, fergs

Scott, The Base PC Pouch is a pleasure to use. The PC handle is so easy to get a hold of and extract. Here's a link from late last year with some packing hints. Sorry, don't know how to make the clicky thing, so cut and paste it (unless someone can convert it into a clicky): http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=778621;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread Enjoy, fergbird

Jari, We have been calling her "J-bird" since her maiden flight last year. Blue Skies, fergbird

... and here's mine, fergbird

Yes, I have a 9" bridle extension. Makes rolling the psycho pack easier -mind you, my spectre is a large one - 190. Blue Skies, fergs