fergs

Here's my old Pap. These pics taken around 1974 in Papua New Guinea. The Pap was far superior to the PC, IMHO. Had more drive, crisp turns, a nice sink for accuracy and soft landings. Mine was EFA, French built. From memory, main difference between the French and American Pap was the condom. This was a little soft fabric sleeve that pulled up over the apex portion of the canopy during packing - the portion that was inverted after opening by the center-lines and held in shape by the crown lines. Blue Skies, fergs

DO NOT attach rope to a skydiving harness. We had a specialised parascending canopy on a specialised parascending harness. The harness had a yoke from the shoulders to a quick release. The quick release was a specialised one build for parascending. The tow rope was "approved" for parascending. At the vehicle end it was attached to a tensiometer to ensure the tension did not exceed limits. In other words, 100% or our equipment was built for one purpose, parascending. Do not try parascending with skydiving equipment - skydiving harnesses and canopies are not built for the stresses imposed upon them when ascending. There are dangers of which will inevitably show themselves - causing serious injury or death. If you want to do this activity, do as we did - and buy specialist parascending equipment. Get trained in it's use. Have all support people doing the various jobs necessary to be able to enjoy it safely. fergs

Brenan, It took only a couple of minutes to get to altitude. The process was: -driver in the 4x4 -"spotter" in the 4x4 watching the flyer for signals (drive a bit faster, drive a bit slower, stop as I'll release from the tow, etc) as well as keeping an eye on the tensiometer and telling the driver to slow or speed up. - the guy who was in the ascending canopy - Two wingmen holding the canopy so it would be inflated evenly -an additional person to oversee the takeoff and communicate with the tow vehicle Take offs were especially easy when there was some wind, enabling the canopy to be inflated and under control prior to the 4x4 starting to move. Also with a bit of wind, the tow speed was pretty slow, maybe 10 to 15 mph only. It would climb rapidly when the correct balance between tow speed and tension on the tow rope was achieved. After rope release, the little in line drogue chute would inflate and travel down wind. This meant tht the released rope would not "spagetti up" into an unruly pile as it landed. When there was a bit of wind, it would land in a nice straigt line. The tow vehicle would release the tow end, and drive to the drogue end, hook it up and drag the line back to the take off point - often arriving before the canopy landed. Then it would race back to the tow end and hook up. The canopy would land by the drogue and a helper would hook it straight up for an almost immediate take off. For practicing accuracy, or just for the fun of flying a canopy, we could make multiple fligts in a short space of time. fergs

We had a parascending club in Saudi Arabia back in the mid 80’s, towing a 290 sq ft 7 cell canopy behind a 4x4. It was set up specifically for ascending canopies with a tensiometer (monitoring lbs/sq ft) on the tow rope, an in-line drag canopy at the ascending canopy. This brought the tow line down in an orderly fashion when we’d release from the tow. Finally, an ascending harness with a special yoke and quick release was important. With 500m of 10mm tow rope, we’d get to 1400 ft or so, allowing pretty cheap and easy accuracy “jumps”. Getting higher was not simply a matter of adding more tow line for a corresponding climb in altitude. After 500m, the weight of any additional line made it all less efficient as far as extra altitude was concerned. But two of us were determined to make a free fall from the ascending canopy, so we could put Saudi in our skydiving log books. So we ended up with 1000m of tow rope getting us close to 2000’. Wearing a skydiving rig over top of the ascending harness, we would take off, climb to max, signal the tow vehicle to stop, tow rope tension lowered, release, turn away from descending tow rope, throw yoke over riser connector (to get it above and out of the way), cutaway, 5 or 6 second freefall, deploy normal skydive canopy for a fun jump. In our log book, aircraft type was “Chevrolet Blazer”. Of course, with a base rig, the 1000m tow rope could be drastically shortened. Blue Skies, fergs

Hi Mikel, I was an avid user of the base pouch on my S3 and S3-s for a few hundred jumps. I found the position of the hackey to be very natural and the pull sequence to be trouble free. There were one or two things to keep tidy, however. Firstly, the Velcro had to be watched. I replaced the “sleeve’ after each 100 jumps. Also, the pilot chute was always rolled long and slender, to enable it to occupy the longer pouch of the S-3. My S3-s pouch was a lot wider than the S-3. So I started to make a shorter and much wider pilot chute bundle for it. All was well until I had a premature deployment at 14,000 one day. It was a 6 way flock exit from a Skyvan. There was no violence in the exit – but the guy beside me simply brushed against me as we exited – and out came the pilot chute. Being under canopy at 14,000 means for a long ride down – further complicated when lots of cloud about. So when that happened I retired the base pouch and have gone back to BOC ever since. I do not plan to return to the base pouch at this stage. That’s my 2 cents. Blue Skies, Fergs BMCI

Hi Husam, How's things at Thumama? I had a similar malfunction a few years back - and simply sent the canopy to PD for repair. They did a good job. PM sent to you. Blue Skies, fergs

Bobby, G'day.

DO NOT make any illegal jumps in Dubai or any other Arab state. You will likely end up in jail or worse. Their law enforcers can make up the rules as they go along. Many police and security ppl carry fully automatic weapons and could get very nervous at the sight of you coming down under canopy. Picture THAT in your mind. Their jails are no picnic - crowded open cells with no heat or airconditioning - no washing facilities apart from a couple fawcets - open squat toilets. You do not want to go there!! Do you get the picture? DO NOT even contemplate a base jump off those amazing buildings!If you must get air time, go to the DZ up the road at Umm Al Quwayn. If you are lucky, they will be operating at present. PM me if you want some contacts there. Sorry if I sound harsh - I just would hate to hear of you coming to harm after a base jump, the possible consequences of which aren't fully understood. Cheers, fergs

James old chap, Great vid, dude. Now I'm doubly sorry that I couldn't make it there to Stupino. Ah well - maybe next time. Congratulations to you and all involved. It looks like it was a MIGHTY meet. I look forward to seeing more pics and vids as they come through. Blue Skies, fergs

Jason (Scotty), I'll email you a copy of the doc - as it's too large to attach to this post. The APF sent a copy to all Aussie CI's a year or two back. They do not want to "regulate" wingsuit jumping per se. Rather, they want it to be much like free-flying, where precedures are in place to ensure all participants stay safe - and have fun as well. Contact me when you are ready to do a FFC. I'm at Picton (with demo suits) reasonably often. Or can you make Equinox Boogie up at ramblers? Blue Skies, fergs BMCI

George, Firstly, congratulations on handling your malfunction correctly and professionally. I'm delighted to hear that you now have that first hand experience of losing vital bits and pieces after a malfunction. That's why I preach so loudly to always travel with spares. Thanks again for your comments, fergs

Well, this also should include spare risers, toggles, d-bag and pilot chute, and a spare main canopy of course - in case you cannot recover it :) George - some day you'll be lucky enough to save your life after having a malfunction. If you manage to hold onto your cutaway and reserve handles, then all you'll have to look for is your main and reserve freebag. Main is usually easiest to find, as it's big and easy to find. Freebag usually easy to find also. But not always. If you lose just one thing after the malfunction, then you're grounded until every necessary piece is found or purchased. If this happens to you, I hope for your sake you are simply out for a day at your local drop zone. But... if you have spent thousands to travel to a boogie (picture it - you've probably dreamed of the boogie for months and saved hard earned money to attend as well) and you have a malfunction first day - loose your freebag (which is easy - picture a boogie by the ocean - enough said?) - local rigger does not have in stock the brand and size of your rig. Guess what, NOW you're grounded for the whole boogie. So when this happens to you, just remember back to June 2006 and your sarcastic remarks against someone who has seen exactly that scenario keep a fellow jumper grounded at an exhotic overseas boogie. Or maybe I misinterpreted your remarks - and if indeed I did, let me first apologise and then tell you that you are somewhat correct. Which means that whenever possible when travelling to boogies, I try to take even a spare main. For exactly the same reasons. Usually this is only possible for ones I drive to. And I can tell you first hand - that I was at a boogie one year in Kenya (that's a few states to the west of you). On day two, my main blew up. It was not able to be repaired by anyone there. Luckily, a local Kenyan jumper had a second rig, which was the only thing that enabled me to jumop for the next 6 days. So George, learn from others. Blue Skies, fergs

Koppel old chap!!! I sold mine to Brett in 1976, in Papua New Guinea. Not sure what he did with it, as he gave up jumping shortly thereafter. But I've recently spoken with him on the phoe - he now is in Mt Isa. Pm me if you want his number so you can get on the trail of the old T-bow. Blue Skies, fergs

You've left THE most important items - a spare of every skydiving item you can loose, that will ground you if lost. That's spare reserve ripcord, spare reserve bag and P/C, spare cutaway cable, spare cypres cutter. I've seen too many people at boogies have a malfunction early. They land, expecting the DZ to have a spare of every item of every brand, shape, size rig in the world - and then are bitterly disappointed that that one piece of equipment that has just been lost now grounds them. Yes, sometimes the freebag cannot be found - yes, sometimes you drop ypur reserve ripcord and it is lost, yes not all riggers carry spare cypress cutters to replace the one you just had fire. So buy and always carry spares. You won't regret it!! Blue Skies, fergs

I had a T-bow back in the 70's. Bought it second hand and it never had packing instructuons. I'd just side-flake it and sleeve it like a cheapo or PC - although the sleeve wasn't neartly as long due to size and length of the flaked canopy. You still have to stow the crown lines in the linestow area at top end (closest Pilot Chure) of the sleeve. Only difference from memory was I had to set the brakes - pull the brake line over the doubled line which was on the main brake line from the toggle end. Sounds weird and hard to describe - but look for a doubled 3 or 4 inch line sewn onto the brake line. Go further up and see the lines that end at a little grommit type thingy. The grommit has to slide down and pop over the doubled yellow lines. You'll see what I mean when you go look. Enjoy, fergs

There's a good picture of a Thunderbow in the original "Skies Call" by Andy Keech, the first of the three books he published. This book came out around 1974 and has lots of great shots of Paracommanders, Paraplanes, and some great early RW with lots of gut gear, big boots & small suits. Here's my old Thunderbow from back in the 70's. It was fun. Full drive required both toggles down far enough to "inflate" the nose. Down close to stall, it would fly really stable in reverse. Oh, and you never got lost - just follow the arrow, ha. fergs

I too had a very good experience there some years back - bunkhouse was fine, especially after a night with the jumpers at local restaurants and saki establishments. Jumps were certainly on the high side of prices, but as the other poster says - so is everything else in japan. I spent 2 weekends there whilst on vacation in Japan - one day was spectacularly clear and views from the Caravan to Mt Fuji were very special. The jumpers are extremely friendly and most have good knowlege of English, in case your japanese is lacking. Be prepared to buy a case of beer after your first day - celebrating your first skydive in Japan. But don't worry, all others with a reason to buy a case will be doing the same. I phoned ahead and was picked up at the train station. A nice friendly touch. Blue Skies, fergs

Jen, I'm in the south of the country, in Canberra. You should come to Toogoolawa in October for the Equinox Boogie - then dive the GB Reef. It'll be the most fun you'll have this year and next. Do the boogie for a week, then dive the GB reef for a second week, then go back home to recover. Believe me, it'll be well worth the bucks and minor hassles of arranging stuff at home. blue Skies, fergs BMCI

Hector, thanks for posting the movie. I for one, see many lessons to be learned - perhaps the three most important are: 1. Use a cypress - and make sure it is turned on 100% of the time. 2. Wear a helmet if anyone else is in the air with you. 3. Wingsuits can create very fast closing speeds - so be aware all the time of where all others are. At least this accident has a happy ending - and even with injuries, he must be thanking his lucky stars for surviving. fergs

Ok, let the debate begin. USPA long ago chose to have licences go only to D. That was in the days when 200 jumps and a D was an impossible goal for most. So qualifying for a D was a huge thing. But over past 10 years or so, it's become less of a big deal and these days everyone who has even half a motivation to continue the sport can expect to qualify for a D. Australia's APF (Aus Parachute Federation) has always gone two steps further - with an E and F. Qualification for E: to qualify for a D (similar quals as USPA), have 500 freefall jumps, have 20 jumps landing within 1m. F is: to qualify for an E, 1000 freefall jumps, 20 landings within 0.5 m, 20 consecutive nominated (to the CI) landings within 5m, a night jump. It's the 20 consecutive jumps that are difficult for many people. I blew it twice - first time on the 17th and second time on the 18th. Talk about frustrating!!!! Yes, that means you go back to number one. This meant I did not get an F until 7 or 8 years after I had made my thousandth jump. I believe this is similar for many other F licence qualifyers. But at least here in Oz, anyone with either an E of F is known to have gone through a much more stringent and difficult process than a D. My personal opinion is that an E and F license, similar to what the APF has, is a very good system. Blue Skies, fergs

Hector, well I hope you get it all edited - let me know how you get on. Have a great time in Norway ... I'll stay here and soldier on. f

Hey jennifer, Yep - I got biiiig wings! Better, I guess, to be up there playing with the eagles than down at ground level squabbling with all the turkeys, hahahah. Blue Skies, fergs

Yep, I've psycho packed 100% of my pack jobs for past 1000 jumps or so. Latest gear is Icon with a Pilot main. It always opens soft and on-heading. I especially love psycho for new canopies as it goes into the bag so nicely. Remember that most manufacturers do not recommend psycho, so if you choose to use it, consider yourself a guinea pig (whilst enjoying the ease of packing and nice openings, ha). Blue Skies, fergs

Hector, are you volunteering to come over and mow my lawn? Oh no, I've read your post again - seems not. Well, I'll have to come over west and we can fly ... Blue Skies, fergs

1. Umm Al Quwayn, north of Dubai - often suffer from problems with aircraft - so best to be sure jumping is happenng the dates you go. 2. Thummama, near Riyadh, Saudi. It's only recently opened so not sure of how often they operate. Sauid visa may be a problem. 3. Amman, Jordan has on and off jumping. 4. Pretty sure no civilian jumping in Qatar Blue Skies, fergs