fergs

Definately take the snowboard. It'll become a sandboard and is great fun on the huge dunes that you'll find in the desert. It's a blast. fergs

Well already I love my S-3 Base Pilot Chute pouch option. It places the hackey right behind my hip, easy reach at pull time. But initially getting the PC into the pouch without bunching up proved to be a frustration - mainly due to the fact that the PC has to travel a long ways into and inside the pouch - and it would simply bunch up three quarters of the way up, wasting the upper part of the pouch. But I've developed a method of doiing it that I'm sure someone will improve on - but in the meantime is proving a great system for me - one that is not only easy but also makes a great job of it. The end product is a long and thin PC package that easily slides up into the upper depths of the pouch. My packing tool is in fact a penny whistle - but could easily be a long piece of wooden dowling rod. The attached pictures are in order, starting with number 1. You fold the pilot chute as normal - but at the stage where it is rolled, the penny whistle is placed and the PC wrapped around it. The resultant long and rigid PC tube is then easily inserted right to the top of the pouch. Finally, the penny whistle is simply removed. What is left is a joy to behold. Try it - you'll love it. I welcome any improvements - lets share our knowlege and enhancements to life!! Blue Skies, fergbird

Ivan, I certainly agree that yours is an outstanding example, worthy of a prize. So by my reckoning, there's three of us up there occupying the first three places in the suit-off comp. Sadly none of us are the judge - nor do we know for how much longer the suit-off will run. But I am aware of other entries on their way - so I guess it's a waiting game. Blue Skies, fergbird

Ethan, Headcorn to Abu Dhabi will be fun – not the least for the temperature and humidity. But I won’t spoil the surprise for you. Some years ago I had 2 years working in UK and made Headcorn my home DZ – I guess I did a few hundred jumps there over the period. The Smarden Bell has a special place in my heart as does the memories of pints of Fremlins and Stilton Ploughman’s….. I just spent 10 years in the Middle East and jumped at various places. Your nearest DZ is an hour or so up the track to the north – a place called Um Alquwain (various similar spellings on the maps). It’s north of Dubai and right on the water. The DZ has a Grand Caravan and soon to (or just arrived) KingAir. There’s a core of expats who jump there on weekends. They have boogies every year – one in February run by Pete Marsden and then typically in the Ramadan Eid when most expats get some time off due to the end of Ramadan. That’s happening right now, in fact. The DZ has had its ups and downs, especially with aircraft hassles, as well as private aviation being shut down for various periods after 9/11. But I believe things are back on track at present. Cost for 11000’ is 75 dirhams last time I was there earlier in the year. That’s 12 sterling or so. PM me and I’ll give you some contact numbers, including a guy who lives in Abu Dhabi – I’m sure you’d be able to car-pool with him at least initially. So go out there and have a ball, I certainly used to. I have returned to Australia and miss those warm desert nights. Blue Skies, fergs

Cya. \ Well I think the minimum of 22 inches from the pin SHOULD account for this i may be incorrect though. I guess I should make it more clear where the 22 inches comes from. I installed my S3 shrivel a couple of days ago and yes, for me the 22 inches from pin to top of shrivel is more than enough slack. In fact, I also installed 2 inches of velcro to mate the bridle above the shrivel to my container bottom right corner just as extra assurance to keep the bridle seated as it goes up under the (Mirage G3) bottom corner protective flap and to it's old usual tucking away between corner and pin. I have also developed a method of getting the PC to go all the way to the far inside top of the pouch - and will take some pics and open a new subject on this later today. It means that I can have a nice thinly rolled PC fill 100% of the pouch, making it snug as well as no bunching anywhere. Blue Skies, fergs

Sorry Chuck - no matter how much you offer me - you cannot have it!!!!! Absolutely no way!!! Life is good. fergs

Adam, OK, here's my winning entry - you may say it's "gold and silver|" all in one!!! Julio - yours is great also - we'll have to see what the judge says, but I'd be happy to share gold with you - mind you, I'd also be happy for you to claim silver!! And there's always a possibility of more entries coming in at the last minute .... Blue Skies, fergbird

Kevin, I suspect I now recognise that it's you in that pic of S-3 flying by the open canopy with a green slider in the pic's foreground.... Blue Skies, fergs Not sure what picture but yeah that sounds like me :) Here it is You? Blue Skies, fergbird

I had same from my G3 since it was new. I never worried too much about it - but coincidentally, last night was replacing a jumpsuit zip as well as installing a velcro tab on bottom of the G3 for my Birdman suit base pouch set-up, so decided to replace the loop section of the reserve velcro. This half of the velcro has been sort of shredded since the rig was new - especially at the bottom. This is what has always allowed the bottom of the handle to creap out - just like yours. So, as suggested by others, just get it replaced when you can. Blue Skies, fergs

Kevin, I suspect I now recognise that it's you in that pic of S-3 flying by the open canopy with a green slider in the pic's foreground.... Blue Skies, fergs

post the pic!

No Tanzania DZ to my knowledge. Perhaps Harro Trempenau in Kenya has some local knowlege. He runs the Kenya Beach Boogie each year - one of the most relaxed and no hassles boogies you'd ever hope to go to. I'll pm you his email contact details. Blue Skies, fergs

Mark, well I was in UK for a cpl years some time ago and made Headcorn my "home DZ". So used to go there often. I remember many many times crap weather in London but it was jumpable down at Headcorn. I recall one day in winter - crap weather in London, took the train from Charing cross to Headcorn - managed 10 jumps on the day, including a reserve ride which cost over an hour between jumps finding my cutaway handle and repacking my reserve. So just go. Order the suit. If the weather is unjumpable, the Smarden Bell is a little haven. If you don't make the Bell, then try and do 11 skydives. Blue Skies, fergs

Do not wait until next time you are there - go now!! While you're there, do some skydives!! Then go back as soon as the new suit is ready - while you're there, do some more skydives. If in doubt, just go there and do lots of jumps while you sort out whatever it is you have in doubt... Get the idea? fergs

No winner yet!!!! Comp still running to allow some runners to the rear of the field. I checked with Mr Mandela as well as Comrade President Robert Mugabe and both confirm the comp still running. So you may indeed be a nose ahead of the next runner, but I see at least one competitor getting ready for the final sprint down the strait to the finish line!! Blue Skies, fergbird

Mike, I did my first jump in PNG in '73 and did my first few hundred jumps there over the next few years - mostly Moresby (Tanuabada DZ), but also Lae, Hagen, Goroka, and other exhotic spots for those magical displays into the shows. Other than ex-PNGites, no other jumpers con earth an appreciate the sight and sound of opening up over Goroka showground during a Highlands Show, looking down and seeing a small patch of green surrounded by 100,000 local natives, bushy afro hair, dressed in grass skirts with spears pointed skywards. It redefined the term "there's no outs"!! Or how the same cargo-cultist locals called a parachute an "umbrella bilong jesus christ". What an exciting country to jump in! I went from a club 7-TU to a PC to a Pappilon to a thunderbow to a strato star to a etc etc. My T-Bow was black with red arrow. Maybe you remember who owned it before me? Sadly it seems that skydiving there has all but stopped. My last visit was way back in 1987. There was zero jumping at all. Where do you live now? Still jumping? Blue skies, wantok, and supoz yu laik tokim long lik lik pisin, orait, youpela i ken wokim sumpela PM samtin i kamup long mipela. Or supoz yu lusim ting ting long tok pisin, yupela i ken tokim long english i orait tu. fergs

Hey Julio, I reckon you're out in front so far - very pretty S-3 you have there!!! But I suspect you'll have some real competition pretty soon. Blue Skies, fergbird

The Ozflock welcomes Jesse, who made his first Wingsuit jump this morning at Picton, near Sydney. Jesse enjoyed watching the SkyVan fly away from him - from above it. He rode the slipsteam like a master and popped above the aircraft immediately after exit. Well done Jessebird. fergbird

G’day J’bird, Much depends on my new S-3 arriving before Friday. It apparently left Slovenia last Friday. So should have been here by now. Hopefully the postie will drop it off to me by tomorrow evening. Then I’ll have the GTi available as a demo suit. My other new demo Classic is due to arrive at the end of the month. The GTi may be a tad too big, but lets see how it looks on you on Friday. Blue Skies, fergbird

Hey Tripitaka, I'll be at Picton Friday 14 Nov with a demo suit. PM me and we can hook up. fergs

G'day Kimmibird!!!! Yes, I'm happy to be back home too - especially after all the bombings of late. When are you coming our way for a visit? fergbird

Tripitaka, I'm a Birdman dealer with demo suits (and another due this month). Planning to be in Picton at least 3 or 4 days this month. Email me your contact numbers and we'll get together at the DZ. fergs

Andy, How about Canberra - over the National Capital? Email me. fergs

Quote I am going to get the 100" bridle from Birdman Int'l, but have a new Sabre2 135 and Javelin Odyssey on order, and so I think I will just request whatever size pilot chute I need from Sunpath (no need to have an unused pilot chute laying around). reply] G'day Adam, Ask Sunpath for a 100" bridle when you order your Odyssey. That should have you ready for your wingsuiting. How's your numbers look? Give me a buzz when you have a minute. Blue Skies, fergs

Leroy, Aaaagh, no video. No pictures. But it was so awesome it'll remain engraved in my memory forever. fergs