SpinDoctor

there.... I told you there were others (regs) in there. thanks ----------------------- Connextion: British 8 Way Team www.bodyflight.co.uk -----------------------

if you have insomniacal (sp?) tendencies - read the ops manual, it's all in there. ----------------------- Connextion: British 8 Way Team www.bodyflight.co.uk -----------------------

What was that post again about crazy Europeans? ----------------------- Connextion: British 8 Way Team www.bodyflight.co.uk -----------------------

This started off as a 'reasonable' thread (until chuteless piped up - WTF was all that about? Dude - check the map out - the one that includes places east of Maine and west of Hawaii) (ok - my bad, make that Yukon Territory and Newfoundland and Labrador) Interestingly - I see the US as a more risky place to skydive (than the UK) I think generally - as long as you have a rig on there - then it's all good. There seems no requirement for: - helmets - altis - flight line checks - exit order - spotting (using the Eyeball version 1.0) - minimum competence before jumping with others - minimum competence before freeflying - probably some other stuff in here We even turned up to a US DZ and all they wanted was an in date reserve card. No mention of documentation, USPA membership, insurance, logbooks, kit checks etc etc!!! I s'pose it's what you get used to - but I actually don't mind the regs that the BPA put on us. It's not just like "Let's have a laugh today and think of something else they have to do" More often than not - you read the profiles of folks in the US and they have 80 jumps and they list their 'Disciplines of choice' as Freeflying and Swooping. These are the guys that are jumping 135's after 150 jumps - How funny is that!!!! Man - it makes me laugh. But then again - I love that old style RW / FS / flat / belly call it what you like. And i'm not even 40 yet. OK - I think you're referring to continental Europe. On the continent (mainland europe) their rules are more relaxed than the UK - but i think they are very similar to the US. Having said that - they're French too It's Friday and i wanted to rant ----------------------- Connextion: British 8 Way Team www.bodyflight.co.uk -----------------------

i think there's enough to rememeber doing AFF (or any other first time jumps) as it is. I certainly would have like to be introduced to these sort of things between, say, 50 and 100 jumps. Sometime where you have some idea of what you're doing and can understand some of the basic concepts - but hopfully will not have that mentality that you're invincible and start doing really stupid things. ----------------------- Connextion: British 8 Way Team www.bodyflight.co.uk -----------------------

Consider these, with coaching and video debrief: - Straight in approach - Flare point , stall point (general canopy familliarisation up high) - Flat turn techniques (half brakes raising one toggle / quarter brakes pulling on one toggle / mixture of the two) - Landing in half brakes (excellent practice for potential collision avoidance manouevre (sp?) esp. after flat turn - toggle stalls (beware on eliptical canopies) - rear riser stalls - deep spots and glide techniques ( 1/4 1/2 3/4 brakes / rear riser) - plus some other stuff here too: basic aerodynamics, flight plans etc. ** disclaimer - I am not an instructor - these are the drills that were briefed and practiced on the Scott Miller Essential Canopy Skills course ** ----------------------- Connextion: British 8 Way Team www.bodyflight.co.uk -----------------------

Seems that one of the canopies (BR FLiK 266) is for sale on eBay Clicky ----------------------- Connextion: British 8 Way Team www.bodyflight.co.uk -----------------------

Amazingly... I emailed the order to my dealer at the end of November. I did expect it to be at least April. Having said that, it's not yet March, and I still don;t yet have it Please do bring it down... I'h love to see it ----------------------- Connextion: British 8 Way Team www.bodyflight.co.uk -----------------------

You may want to see a doctor with that mate. yeah - Crossfire II 119, new jav etc, should be ready by the end March ----------------------- Connextion: British 8 Way Team www.bodyflight.co.uk -----------------------

dood - you nicked my colours Icarus sig, neon orange with purple ribs? That's what I ordered too ----------------------- Connextion: British 8 Way Team www.bodyflight.co.uk -----------------------

I am just shooting off thoughts here - no particular order or response. No one was born in free fall with a rig on their back... NO-ONE There are a few things to overcome, and as a student, one seemingly have to do them all at the same time in the early stages. ...OH MY GOD! - I am about to jump out of a 'plane ...Will this damn thing open (repeat as necessary) ...Then there is the pressure of learning very new and necessary skills and being scrutinised by the intstuctors as to the ability of that individual to have picked those skills up successfully. ...Probably some more stuff in here too Some people fair better than others. I did AFF nearly 3 years ago - and failed some levels and had to repeat. Some people fly through all 8 (whatever) levels. Some don't. I ended up spinning like a mutha on one jump. Over time you will learn to trust your kit, training, ability - it just takes time for all of these things to line up all at the same time. Even when you think you have them (which you never should) something new comes along - and pushes your boundaries again - freeflying, wingsuit, even a different pair of gloves or jumping a different aircraft for the first time. Or maybe I'm just scared I think that is the crux - 'fear' of the first time (I think it has much to do with an inbuilt dread of buying beer

I would disagree or at least rationalise it depending what you are doing. As an FS / RW coach - I would suggest to a potential RW student, saving up time and money to jump lots over a weekend, rather than once a weekend for months. Each time they get back in the air (RW skills wise) they would have to 're-learn' what they would have already covered. Better to do many jumps in a weekend and progress further towards your goal. However, I can also see the benefit of jumping with regularity as a new student - to get used to the actual 'jumping' from a 'plane. Depends where you're at and what you are doing. ----------------------- Connextion: British 8 Way Team www.bodyflight.co.uk -----------------------

Isn't that like 750*750=562500:1 chance of failure? * disclaimer - I am no mathematician / statistician* ----------------------- Connextion: British 8 Way Team www.bodyflight.co.uk -----------------------

I had an ZP.EXE 155 and after 250 jumps on it (when I had about 440 in total) I changed to a Hurricane 150. Same manufacturer - same size - same material - but elliptical. I found the turns slightly faster - but everything else seemed pretty much the same. Recovered quickly from riser turns and landed much the same as the EXE. I recently did some canopy coaching too before I take delivery of a new Crossfire II - 119. I now have about 75 jumps on the Hurricane (515 total) and thought I was ready for the Crossfire. I have been doing front riser approaches 90's 180's - but find that I am consistently a little too high when the canopy planes out. Then, on the last jump I did, the turn was a little lower that I am used to and a slight downwinder too. Scared the living be-jeezus out of me! (Actually - I think it was a spot on swoop - but the speed and extra lift took me very much by surprise) It shows that I have not yet gotten everything out of this canopy... consistently! I am a very conservative pilot and reasonably experienced jumper, and I know that everyone learns at different rates and takes their own (hopefully) calculated risks... So not wanting to be a c**t either - stick with the EXE155 until you have wrung the bollocks out of it... With the greatest of respect - there is no way that this can be the case currently - especially with the number of jumps you have and the unpredictable weather in the UK and especially the North East. Just my thoughts Cheers EDIT TO ADD: p.s. Why have you changed your moniker from WayneRATS? ----------------------- Connextion: British 8 Way Team www.bodyflight.co.uk -----------------------

Thanks Gary I maybe should have been a bit more specific... I did the Scott Miller Essentials course whilst in Florida (5 jumps - with drills: flat turns / rear riser and toggle stalls / braked approach and landing / flat glides etc ) I was wonderering if / how Chris' differs and where I might slot in to the 'wingtips' to get some swooping coaching, rather than possibly repeat the basics that i have already done Cheers ----------------------- Connextion: British 8 Way Team www.bodyflight.co.uk -----------------------

Chris Lynch runs the 'Wingtips' seminars (primarily in the UK I believe) and Scott Miller runs the 'The Freedom of Flight' Essential Skills Course Is there anyone who has attended both courses / seminars? Would anyone like to comment on any similarities / differences? ----------------------- Connextion: British 8 Way Team www.bodyflight.co.uk -----------------------

Not actually seen that 'grip' for FS / RW - although I have wondered if it should be included. I have seen it on freefly exits and horny gorillas ----------------------- Connextion: British 8 Way Team www.bodyflight.co.uk -----------------------

well..... it does for me try www.divemaker.com and follow the link on the left hand side: "Formations for Dummies" ----------------------- Connextion: British 8 Way Team www.bodyflight.co.uk -----------------------

Check out this: http://divemaker.com/lessons/index.html ----------------------- Connextion: British 8 Way Team www.bodyflight.co.uk -----------------------

Fellow bird men (and ladies) I have tried to get hold a GTi - and they are as rare as hen's teeth. I have posted on the classifieds here. I have posted on the WRECK and uk.rec I have tried calling all the people I know with wingsuits. All to no avail. As a last ditched, desperate attempt to try and get hold of a wing suit - I am appealing here to see if someone can lend me a wingsuit over the Christmas and New Year break. I am planning to be at Lake Wales from Dec 27th 'til Jan 7th. I would rather buy a GTi - but to borrow a Classic would be pretty cool instead. I am sure Andy Ford and Craig Poxon who both post regularly here would vouch for me... hopfully So if you're not planning on jumping over Xmas and have a suit i could borrow - I would be forever grateful Kind Regards --------------------------------- UPDATE --------------------------------- I HAVE MANAGED TO SECURE A GTI - MANY THANKS TO THE INDIVIDUAL CONCERNED. I INTEND TO HAVE A FLOCKING GREAT CHRISTMAS. HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY --------------------------------- ----------------------- Connextion: British 8 Way Team www.bodyflight.co.uk -----------------------

Maybe he want to tell us that he's off on holiday soon... Oh - so am i Seriously - checkout the TSA www site for info www.tsatraveltips.us or this one www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_1147.xml I know it's not attractive - but i couldn't be arsed to make it nice and clicky ----------------------- Connextion: British 8 Way Team www.bodyflight.co.uk -----------------------

Oh yeah: Scotland, London-England. It's hyphenated - so say it fast ----------------------- Connextion: British 8 Way Team www.bodyflight.co.uk -----------------------

***The article said NOTHING about Liverpool. BTW...there is a Leeds St in London. I just looked it up. Runs near Pymmes Park. Where ever that is!*** so the bit that said "Police are hunting for a mystery skydiver who landed in the centre of Liverpool..." must have passed you by. Maybe he jumped off an object in London and landed in Liverpool - seeing as how they're so close an' all ----------------------- Connextion: British 8 Way Team www.bodyflight.co.uk -----------------------

No - you mean Birmingham isn't in London either? Good god - get a phreakin' map ----------------------- Connextion: British 8 Way Team www.bodyflight.co.uk -----------------------

Yeah - this is what happens to me - so i said to my family... "dont bother about me - just get some stuff for the kids" Both my brother and sister have kids. I bugger off the Florida every Xmas to jump anyway. The sorts of things I get: - Leatherette pouch of shoe shine stuff (like I've had dirty shoes for 30+ years) - Another pouch of car cleaning equipment. - Socks (I have enough socks) - Undergrundies (I buy my own underwear - what Mom and Dad get you just doesn't seem right) - Smellies - I but my own and have loads - I don't need the 'Xmas Presentation box' of some cheap sh!te - Tie Rack - WTF? Love my family - but unless you want to buy me that new (rig / canopy / jump suit / jump tickets / insert skydive item here) give it to the kids edit: smelling pisstakes ----------------------- Connextion: British 8 Way Team www.bodyflight.co.uk -----------------------