James.UWE

My neighbours house caught fire, and my old rig was exposed to smoke from it. After advice on here http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=3581017;#3581017 I claimed on our home contents insurance, and got a cheque for its brand new value. I now have a brand new vector/safire2/PDR (Cheers Karnage Krew!). Airtec said the cypres would be fine though.

Where's the UK store going to be Gary? Saw your adverts in the BPA mag/calendar, look great!

I'm probably wrong, but I think that you can fly jumpers on a PPL as long as you're not being paid. I think some people do it do build up hours? I'm sure there's more to it than that though.

Rude Tube rocks!

Nice mate. I got mine recently http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b349/jameshowland/DSCN0184.jpg

Who cares? It's just a term. It doesn't mean anything! I suppose it may come in handy when trying to pick up women, but other than that?

I've done 3 balloon jumps at Perris. Exit altitude depends on where you are in the exit order. I.e. The longer your in the basket, the higher you are when you jump. On my first one, the first person left at 3.5k, but by the time I jumped with my mate (last 2 people) we were at 7k. Without checking my log book, I think the other 2 were from 4k and 5k. As for pull time, I pulled higher than normal at about 4k on the first one as I needed time to set up for a relatively small landing area. Watch out for powerlines and other hazzards too, as the chances are you won't be landing on the DZ!

It may be worth getting the beer after you've jumped at the end of the day, that way it'll still be cold!

Haha 20 degrees is shorts and t-shirt weather! Only 6 weeks till I get to Australia to sample the 'very cold' temperature myself!

You guys need thermals/neck warmers when its 20 degrees?!?!?!?! That may as well be a good summers day in the UK! You should try jumping in the winter here, -10 at altitude isn't uncommon!

I did my AFF at Perris. I've been back twice since, and all my original instuctors remebered me and came over to say hi. Stewart is a cool bloke too.

Could he have not just said where the cash came from? If he wasn't breaking any law, what's the problem? Or was he just being an awkward tosser? What's the point in causing a scene when an honest answer would have prevented the TSA getting frustrated with him?

I tripped in a small drain that was missing its cover while running of a landing at Perris in April. I came down hard on my knee. The Doctor at the ER said I had fractured my patella. Once I was back in the UK (via first class flights and an ambulance waiting for me at Heathrow courtesy of the insurance company ) I had an MRI scan which showed 'query' slight ruptures in my medial and lateral collateral ligaments and some nasty bruising and tissue damage. They were unsure whether it was fractured or not, as it may have been a 'natural abnormality'. I was given Diclofenac to reduce the inflammation, along with a few different pain killers (tramadol was quite 'interesting') My knee was HUGE for around a month or so, but has slowly gone back to a more normal size. It's still the wrong shape, but the inflammation has gone down now. So, after 2 months, I'm off crutches and walking around ok now. It does however still ache a bit, and I can't run or anything yet. For me, I'd say at least 3 months, but I suppose it would depend on the severity of your injury. I asked the orthopedic consultant how long he estimated before I could jump and he said that would be up to my physio. Hope you heal quickly. :)

Billy Mays is much better: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOmvdeNa67E&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FY0tTewZYmY

What a stupid bitch. There is no way that you could fall asleep while have your face tattooed.

Fuck his daughter. It's a no brainer.

You mean, there's a world outside of the USA? Seriously? Wow.

I can't find the article your talking about? It's not on the world news page, nor the England news main page? Link?

Girls with Eastern European accents sound dirty. Dirty is good. When I've been in Perris before, I always have the people working on the tills in Walmart, Walgreaves etc comment on my accent. Two years running I've had yank girls going weak at the knees when asking them where beer is. Apperently I sound like Prince Harry. But then again, most Brits probably do to you lot!

I'm hoping to get a few jumps in if I can, problem is I fractured my kneecap and ruptured some ligaments while in Perris in April and I'm still not jumping. Hopefully the physio will pay off and I'll be ready in time!! If not, then I may pop in for a few beers after jumping?! How much is gear hire / jump tickets? I'm not going to bring a rig as we only have a 20kg luggage allowance!

home of the Wicked Weasel

Hi, I've just found out I'm getting a big tax refund as I was over paying last year, so I'm going to Australia for a month in August. We're flying into Sydney, picking up a rental camper van and driving to Brisbane to meet up with a friend. We're going to have the van for 6 days, and want to stop of at some cool places on the way to Brisbane. Where would you recommend going? The only 2 places we have planned already are Byron Bay and Surfers Paradise, which are both near Brisbane anyway! We're on tight budget so cheap or free is good! Thanks :)

I've just ordered through Karnage Krew. Without a doubt the best deal I could find.

Thanks to the people who sent me a PM advising me to check with the sunpath and PD too. I now have a cheque on it's way from the insurance company for a brand new rig

Got a response from Airtec: ***Hi James, Thank you for your e-mail. What a story. I hope that not too many things were damaged. The smoke will not have caused any damage to the CYPRES and there is no need to send it in for inspection. It is safe to use when you want it. Best regards, Sandra ***