skydog

Fergs, That would be great. A scan of the article would be excellent. When I am back in NZ will send a beer across........ Cheers Bryn Journey not destination.....

*BUMP* I know the magazine is out (or it could be the Skydiving Paper!!??), so if anyone can help out would be much appreciated. Bryn Journey not destination.....

From a TI's point of view regarding requests for specific instructors. Here we work a rota system that tries to ensure each Tandem Instructor does the same number of jumps. If that fits in with the students requests then fine, but otherwise I am sorry. (otherwise I would be doing all the tandems at our DZ) As for the weather.......welcome to skydiving.... Bryn Journey not destination.....

Today I took an 86 year lady. She arrived at the head of a 60 strong cavalcade of Harley bikers. She was great, even calling me a "nice young man". (she obviously doesnt know me that well ) The local news picked up the story and it was broadcast this evening. She plans to make a skydive every year on her birthday......what a woman, a true inspiration. Bryn Journey not destination.....

I was told there maybe an article on "Skydive the Sounds" in New Zealand. If there is can anyone send me a scan of the article? Its just that they may have used some of my pictures........... ......and if they have then I do owe BEER, which will be repayed. Cheers Bryn Journey not destination.....

I also go with the "hang as far out on the strut as possible". I do it with my feet on the wheel, but others I have seen hang from the strut. Have your right arm around the strut and left arm low down (about chest height). This stops your arm being in frame. As the tandem pair leave you can come off with them no matter which way they exit. A by product is that you get a whole shot of the door and the tandem student as they go to exit. Bryn Journey not destination.....

Alan was either nervous or he had sat on Chris' mobile phone.........hang on he didnt have his phone.... Lizzie, I would be worried.....Chris never knows the difference between his Viagra and Prozac. But I will keep him in check as I am doing the video...... Journey not destination.....

You would be nervous if Chris was your TI. It was a great jump, and shows what we all think of Alan.......... Bryn Journey not destination.....

Why not name names? I take it you wont be going back there.....so whats the problem? The more DZ's we know to avoid, the less money they make. Maybe this will make them change their attitudes..... Bryn Journey not destination.....

Today took and 80yr old guy. He was sprightlier than some of the twenty somethings I took. He was an teacher and could proudly boast his own hair and teeth. He arched fantastically and everything went well. He was an absolute pleasure to take. Bryn Journey not destination.....

They are on the site, check them out here. http://www.zct.co.uk/bpa/diary.asp Bryn Journey not destination.....

I move the slider on our 384 and our Sigma 370s to quickly check the canopy for more light coming through then usual after opening on every jump. I will probably give that a go from now on. Depending on what system I am jumping, sometimes I cant reach the slider. Damn my short monkey arms...... Bryn Journey not destination.....

Good question. My usual control checks are: Release brakes. Pull down to about 3/4 (usually to get slider all the way down) Let back up onto full drive. Left turn (not 360, but enough to feel how the canopy reacts...if that makes sense?) Right turn. Deep brakes (to simulate flare) Back onto full drive. (then monitor the canopy during the flight) During all these the canopy showed no signs of any problems. I know this is hard for some to believe. I have had two tandem malfunctions and have not hesitated to deal with them. If I suspected there was a problem, which could be very serious, I would have got off it. The spot on this jump was deep, so spent most of the time in brakes. So to answer the question. I had released the brakes but was flying a long spot. As for being able to see the problem, the answer is no. The slider (non collasible) obscured my view of the actual damage. All I could see was the distortion in the front and back of the centre cells. I have no problem answering questions like these, as the answers may help others to make better or more informed decisions if something like this happens to them. Bryn Journey not destination.....

Well you can see where your post gets lost in translation..... I am chilled about it knowing that it was dealt with without complacency....... Anyways, its all good. Bryn Journey not destination.....

If you had read my post PROPERLY you would see I had done my control checks. I did them EXACTLY as you have described. And I can tell you categorically that the canopy did not behave like that during the checks. If it had do you think I would have rode it down???? I really dont care if you believe me or not. All I can say is that during the flight the canopy DID get worse. How do you explain that? The first time there was a "bow" in the front. The second time the end cells started to move frontwards around the centre. The last time the canopy end cells came right round facing each other. Just because something has not happened to you doesn't mean it cant happen at all. Read the rest of this post and you can see conflicting ideas of what can and cant happen with canopies. As for being complacent.........what can I say. I really hate it when people make assumptions on what someone has or hasn't done. Especially without them being there or having experienced the situation or know the person. I can assure you I wasn't complacent and "nothing appeared" to be wrong. Unless I got a pair of X-ray glasses, that I keep in my jumpsuit for these occasions, I couldn't see the damage. Given the position of the slider, and the location off the tear, it would have been very very difficult to see. I now understand why people hesitate to post anything here, because of people like you calling others complacent.......whatever. Take care. Bryn Journey not destination.....

Just a quick update. Have taken some frame grabs from the landing video. I didnt realise how bad it looked from the ground..... I think my face tells the story..... To all those people who have sent messages....Thanks, they mean a lot. Bryn Journey not destination.....

The passenger didnt know about how serious it could have been. Told him there was a bit of a problem and that I wouldn't be talking much until we got back down....After everything had quietened down he did ask and I told him what happened, but didnt really go into massive detail. He was happy with the explanantion and thanked me for bringing him back safe. As for jumping again I dont think so, he was there to get over his fear of heights.........go figure. Bryn Journey not destination.....

First tandem of the day. Jumping an EZ384 main. Normal skydive followed by a normal opening, not hard or spanky. Took control and did my usual control checks. Nothing appeared to wrong at all. Spent the majority of the canopy ride on half(ish) brakes as the spot was a trifle deep. At about 1500(ish)ft I went back up onto full drive. I noticed something wrong immediately. The end cells seemed to surge forward a little and there was a noticeable distortion in the centre cells. This was corrected by going back to brakes. There were no broken lines nor was the drogue under the centre cells pulling it back. I could see no obvious reason to cause this problem. I let up slowly again and this time the end cells immediately bow-tied frontwards into the centre cells. Back onto brakes again held the canopy stable. Check of altimeter and we were at 1000ft. I thought about cutting away but didnt as the canopy was stable in half brakes, and I was concerned that if I let up prior to doing my EP's the canopy would collapse in on itself, losing valuable altitude. The last 1000ft seemed to take forever. I had control so long as it was held in brakes. I told my student that we were going to land hard, and I opted to land in the long grass just off the circle. We landed in half brakes, although hard, no injuries were sustained. The pictures reveal the cause of the problem. I can only summise that an initial tear in the top skin was caused on opening, but not enough to show up during my control checks. Then progressively as the canopy ride went on tore more and more. Especially when I went back onto full drive, but thats only a guess. So what did I learn? Expect the unexpected. Keep trying till the end. Stay calm. It wasn't my day to go.... All in all it was a learning experience, and one which I can say "No shit there I was, thought I was gonna die..." Bryn ps I have been through the "what ifs" and the "why didnt yous" and have decided that given the circumstances, the fact I was the only one there and the outcome, I did the right thing. So please no "you should of......" This post is to inform of what can happen and to expect the unexpected at any time during a skydive......thanks Journey not destination.....

Just tell him that Chris will be the TI.... that would scare the shit out of anyone....... See ya at the weekend. Bryn Journey not destination.....

Why? Because you don't care about the safety of the tandem pair or you're bored or both? Tandems aren't about you being entertained, they're about the student and the safety of the student. Ever seen a sidespin? That TI ever been in a sidespin? What makes me laugh is that no-one batted an eyelid when the video of the Golden Knights tandem team was posted. It shows linked exits from an otter. The camera guy then lets go and redocks underneath with his feet. So whats the beef now? As long as its safe and controlled whats the problem? Bryn Journey not destination.....

Two screws tib 9 inch plate and 9 screws fib bugger Journey not destination.....

Matt, You know I taught you better than that. It is not strap, rather "mount" your camera. You'll either have to get the remote for it and connect to a bite/tongue switch or get hold of the guys at conceptus and see if they are doing a standard connection for the 20D. Where did you get the money for the camera???? Do I really want to know??? Bryn Journey not destination.....

I do most of those things. I watched a friend take a nervous passenger and just before the door went up he put his hands on their shoulders and said quietly "I am going to be with you all the way".... Was powerful to watch. I also find loads of chat takes some of the nervousness away. A pet peeve is the amount of TI's I have encountered who dont speak to their students at all. They are the one who seem to have more "problem" passengers........go figure... Bryn Journey not destination.....

If you wiggle fast enough the nipple comes off God I am bored..... Journey not destination.....

Had expectations it would be rubbish, BUT really enjoyed it. Whole lot better than that idiot Sylvester McCoy. Bryn Journey not destination.....