fergs

Jeff, 1. Caravan, 2. 13 k to 14k 3. It's about an hour and a half to 2 hours drive south from brisbane. Best part of a full day drive north from Sydney. If you are planning to go to this boogie, fly in to Brisbane or Gold Coast. fergs

Kimbo, 1. Well regarded means it's has a very good reputation as a university. 2. Over the city jumping is tandem. 3. Canberra fun jumpers travel to either Picton (2 hours, multi turbine aircraft), Temora (2 and a bit hours smaller cessna DZ, but very friendly) or Nowra (2 and an half hours cessna DZ close to the coast). 4. We ocasionally do fun loads into the mint oval. Plus I sometimes go solo wingsuit after the tandems if I don't want to devote a whole day to Picton. Blue Skies, fergs

[ How close is Canberra to Skydive Picton. They have Australia National University which is in our program. If that's close to Skydive Picton and Australia National Univ I'd definately go there!! Kim, Canberra is a 2 hour easy drive to Picton - all freeway. Plus you may want do tandems over Canberra itself. There's 2 tandem operations operating in town. The DZ is right in middle of the city, using an oval in front of the Royal Australian Mint - absolutely stunning visuals as it's one of the world's prettiest cities (true!). I call Canberra the "2 hour city" - 2 hours to the surf in summer, 2 hours to the ski fields in winter, 2 hours to Picton - and surrounded by nice hills for bush walking etc. There's a big lake in middle of town for watersports too. The ANU is an extremely well regarded university - also smack in the middle of town. We have cycle paths all over the place making cycling a pleasure. Go to Google Earth and have a look. ANU is around 35 16' 44.56" S 149 07' 10.48 E The Mint DZ is 35 19' 00.24" S 149 05' 35.05" E Also check out how pretty this city is!!! So if I were you, I'd carefully check out ANU - and make Canberra your overseas study destination. Blue Skies, fergs BMCI

I believe that it's finally confirmed for 11 and 12 February. fergs

QuotePardon the tardy reply. Here's a photo (just refound) more like what I was used to . It's in Oz at Rutherford in the early 80's. This one started blowing smoke on the runway but it wasn't picked up till after TO. The load (55+stowaways) hopped and popped. From memory the brakes had gone as well and the pilot ground looped it to stop it . ....................................................................... Trae, Are you sure it was Rutherford in early 80's? My log has us all getting out of DC-3, VH-EWE, over Corowa after it blew a massive oil leak. That was 30 July 1977. But it then landed uneventfully. In those days, the Corowa weekends gave us Australia's biggest aircraft to jump and so jumpers would travel for whatever time it took to get there. And yes, I do recall packing on board. That was when the free pack was all the rage - side flake, roll both ends to center, pull up slider, coil lines in pack tray, s-fold canopy on top of lines, close container, stow P/C in belly bank pocket, jump. All took only cpl minutes so was easily done as DC-3 taxied. Blue Skies, fergs

Sheri, 1. Address: skydive@ramblers.com.au should work. 2. How much to save? JUST SAVE all the Rand you can - but don't worry, no matter how much you arrive here with, we'll do our best to ensure you return home dead broke - absolutely platsak. But you'll have a ball in the meantime. Blue Skies, fergs

Hey Squeak, Shall I bring a wingsuit to Nox for you? fergs

Sheri, My fault, as I don't know how to make these things clicky. But copy and paste to your internet browser address thingy and it'll work. Blue Skies, fergs

Hey Sheri, We'll be here to welcome you to 'nox. Here's a link: http://www.ramblers.com.au/whatson/equinox.aspx Are any of you wingsuit flyers? Blue Skies, fergs

James, Yes, a great time was had by all - and I hope the warm 46C on New Years Day didn't have too much of an impact on you and Tif. I just wanted to thank and congratulate you and Tif on a fantastic effort. Your endless enthusiasm and energy was infectious. Fanbloodytastic! It was a pity we lost the last two days to the weather. Otherwise, what a great boogie. Blue Skies, fergs BMCI

Hey Taya, Nice pics. Is that Wonderboom? Last time I jumped there was early / mid 80's. Anyone from RSA coming over to Australia for the Picton Christmas Boogie? There'll be a wingsuit boogie running parallel - with lots of fun and records planned. Plus, like you, we're in summer. Life is good - spread the love, fergs BMCI

... well hop on an aircraft and come to the Picton Christmas Boogie in Australia. 100 jumps over the boogie is achievable, as long as you learn to psycho pack fast and make 10 or 12 jumps a day. Then at the tail end of the boogie, I'll do your FFC - and BINGO, you'll finally know why the birds are always singing. It's the sheer love of pure flight!! Have you noticed, yet, that the birds all wear wingsuits? The boogie has a wingsuit event dove-tailed in on it, so lots of wingsuit happenings will be rolling. If you can make 15 or 20 wingsuit flights by the end of the boogie, I'll invite you to come on some flights over Canberra City - or DC equivalent. It's all good.Then you'll spread the love!! Blue Skies, fergs BMCI

Bobby, If you can come back - It'll be me to pick you up from the airport. But you must bring your S-3.Then we can do those flocks over parliament house in Canberra. Blue Skies, fergs

Actually, he would show up as a BMI. Matt's been a BMI since July Scott, That's great news - now I just need to convince him to make it to the boogie? Hmmmm, fergs

Hey Matt, Are you coming to the Summerfest Boogie at Byron Bay? Maybe we could put you on one of the BMI courses... you could leave as a BMI. Yes, the mal was under my Pilot. It was an entirely unexciting malfunction. I had twists that refused to unwind. I’d kick out two or three, relax for a few seconds and it’d wind in another couple. Did this a few times and got to 1800’. So it was simply time to get off it. Blue Skies, fergs BMCI

Hey Nick, Congrats on getting off that main with no hesitation and to a very successful outcome on that jump. Altitude to spare is a very good thing to have. I believe (and preach) that 3000 feet is a comfortable height to actually be fully deployed by on a wingsuit jump. I had a malfunction after a WS flight a few weeks back. It was my third mal in 32 years. In fact, my last reserve ride was 1981. So this mal was: • First square reserve ride • First WS mal • First cutaway using 3 ring system • 1981 was a total so no cutaway • 1977 mal was a cutaway using something called tapewells, which were based on the old capewell releases but with webbing and Velcro replacing some of the parts. • First mal this millennium Can anyone beat 24 years between malfunctions. Blue Skies, Fergs BMCI

Jumpers, Don't forget to get yourselves to the Summerfest Boogie at Byron Bay, Australia. It's between 26 and 30 November. There'll be heaps of fun skydiving and social activities. This is one of the prettiest drop zones on earth, with the glorious aussie coastline off the end of the runway. Byron Bay itself is a charming place with much to see and do. So this is a boogie to definately make. And if you are a wingsuiter with experience, I'll be conducting BMI courses - you can sit the course and pick up a BMI rating while there. Email me (email address in my profile) for more details. See you there!! fergs BMCI

I will be conducting BMI courses at the Summerfest Boogie at Byron Bay. It's between 26 and 30 November. This is one of the prettiest drop zones on earth, with the glorious aussie coastline off the end of the runway. Byron Bay itself is a charming place with much to see and do. So this is a boogie to definately make - and pick up a BMI rating while there. Email me (email address in my profile) for more details. See you there!! fergs BMCI

When will you arrive in Oz?

K, If you haven't already done so - buy the GTi asap. Jump it lots for a few months. Then buy whatever good deal is out there for a used S3 or similar. On-sell your GTi to the next chicklet needing to leave the nest. Forget scotchguard for keeping it clean - simply wash it occasionally. I have 4 wingsuits suits currently - and have owned 3 or 4 others. All get a bit smelly after each 20 or 30 jumps so regular trips to a gentle cycle in the machine or simply handwash in the bathtub are a good investment. My latest wingsuit is virtually all white and got a bit muddy after landing in mud following a heavy storm. A quick hand wash brought it back to new in no time. Oh yeah - if you really want lots of wingsuit jumps later this month, come down to Australia for the Byron Bay boogie. It's from November 26 to 30 at one of the most beautiful drop zones in the country, right on the spectacular coast in northern New South Wales. Then stay til christmas for the boogie at Picton, near sydney. We Aussies will be setting lots of records as we have lots of fun. Life is good. Blue Skies, fergs BMCI

Well I broke my femur in 1976 after my strato star collapsed in heavy turbulence. So I guess you could say it was the speed of the landing that caused the injury. After 2 months in traction and a cpl more months doing lots of walking and physical therapy, i started jumping again. Not long after, the sport discovered that gust induced stalls were somewhat avoidable and so femurs were safer after that. Blu Skies, fergs

Jimbo, you out there? Just saw this old post and thought it appropriate to revitalise f

Liz, Where's the problem? 1. Leave earlier. 2. Do KL on the way back. 3. Make the summerfest boogie. 4. Wingsuit yourself into oblivion over the beautiful coastline of Byron Bay 5. Recover cpl weeks with beach and booze/. 6. Repeat at the Xmas boogie at Picton 7. Go home happy and broke. Blue Skies, fergs

Liz, Well let's motivate you to make it to OZ by November 26. Take a look at the Byron Bay boogie forum-subject post (Wingsuit Boogie Australia end November 2005) for 26 to 30 November. It'll be another great Ozzie wingsuit event. So shall we see you at both events? fergs BMCI

Jumpers! There’s more Australian wingsuit fun coming up end November 2005 at the Summerfest Boogie. Dates are 26 to 30 November at Byron Bay, on the northern coast of New South Wales. A Caravan will provide the altitude. DZ has quality bunkhouse accommodation plus a nice camping area. More accommodation is available nearby in the town of Byron Bay. The DZ offers spectacular views of the coast. The boogie will feature live music and free beer (while stocks last). First Flight courses will be done daily and BMI courses will also be available. We’ll also do lots of fun flocking. Weather will be fantastic (nice and warm), so you can leave your winter woolies at home. This is one boogie you definitely should not miss. See you there. Fergs BMCI info@wingsuitsoz.com