meatmissile

Bad idea. The most powerful countries would just end up controlling it to further their own interests, under the disguise of "it's for everyones good". -- ZZZzzzz....

At the last general election here in South Africa ('94 I think), I was sitting on the ramp of a C-130 Hercules over Pretoria (it is always a public holiday when elections take place). Well, I looked down at the long queue's outside the schools and town halls... Y'know, like Jethro Tull's minstrel in the gallery (although I didn't "meet the gazes or observe the faces") but you get the drift Priorities, priorities.... -- ZZZzzzz....

Not that many, about 200 I guess. But I'm planning to jump a lot more frequently in future. My Blade 150 is showing signs of wear and tear. The velcro on my harness and brake-stows seem to be eating the brakelines which look like theay are made out of some silk type of material I like those! Long live Conehead the barbituate ! -- ZZZzzzz....

I am thinking of making my own frappe - any idea where one could get a pattern for such a thing? I still jump with a modified cycling helmet. -- ZZZzzzz....

Thanks for spreading the word, Scratch! -- ZZZzzzz....

Maybe this is a well-covered topic, but it is one that has been with me since I started skydiving. I realise that there are no clear-cut answers here, just opinions. You get some extremes in this sport. A friend of mine did over 150 jumps on his first rig, which he bought in 1999 for $20 (yes, that is not a typing error. 200 SA rands ). It was a Wonderhog harness with a Safety Star reserve and a Cruislite main. It had a front-of-leg mounted pilot chute and two reserve closing pins. The intention was to hang the canopies on the roof of his pad, but when he asked some experts if he could still jump it, and received the answer: "In theory, yes" he thought, why not? Whenever we went to a new dropzone, the old hands would come up to him and shake his hand - and get all nostalgic about "the days". Then you get the guys who must always have the latest and greatest thing. My opinion: if you have the money, sure. My stuff was new in 1995. I don't have an AAD (but I'm thinking of getting one) I have a Naro harness, Tempo 150 reserve and Bladerunner 150 main. I love my stuff. But what if there is something out there that could make it more enjoyable and safer? Should I be saving by drinking less beer? -- ZZZzzzz....

Maybe this is old hat. I liked it. Off the Citrusdal forum, author unknown. This post should have a text attachment. -- ZZZzzzz.... Freefall.txt

Congrats! Whichever you choose, SL or AFF, just keep at it. With S/L there comes a time after your 15 sec alti awareness jump (Insert note here: I don't know what you'd call it in the States. Maybe the same) that takes a bit of determination to go through, but it's worth it. It changes your life forever. -- ZZZzzzz....

And amen to that. Having been a victim of "as the prop turns" in DZ dating three times already, I definitely prefer my other half to be a whuffo. -- ZZZzzzz....

I know a lot of guys like the ones you are looking for, trouble is they're quite fussy . What makes you special? Have you any special skills? What do you look like? Narrow it down a bit. -- ZZZzzzz....

I found it really stupid that the airport security personnel at Cape Town airport confiscated a two-inch pair of nail clippers from my wife the other day when we flew to Johannesburg, but the flight crew then proceeded to arm us both with a full-size metal knife and fork when it was mealtime aboard the flight. Man, if I was going to cause shite with that clipper, imagine what I could do with that gleaming cutlery! Not that I could really give a toss about the loss of the clippers, but I get worried about the level of insight on the part of these people who are responsible for our safety. -- ZZZzzzz....

Looks like the plane's right engine was shut down for the drop - or for some other reason. -- ZZZzzzz....

And make sure your goggles are secure! -- ZZZzzzz....

It's a her, a Witch from ancient times. She watches over us. We leave her small offerings of unleavened bread, salt nuts and fortified wine when the moon is small. If we don't, she will fiddle with our reserve pins -- ZZZzzzz....

You are lucky. The weather in Cape Town (where I am now) sucks. And will continue to do so for the weekend. 70 km/h winds, rain, low clouds, the works. Forget the WFFC. I'll be happy if I could just get one jump this weekend. Anywhere. F -- ZZZzzzz....

I've had a Fat Tire before, would you believe it! In La Medina, New Mexico. In a pub filled to the brim with Harley guys and girls. I'm sure I was the first South African to set foot in that pub. Excellent beer, I agree! F -- ZZZzzzz....

And you forgot these: Castle, Black Label, Hansa, Windhoek Lager, Windhoek Export, Amstel, Zambesi and Bavaria Brau to name but a few great Southern African beers. I am enjoying a Windhoek Lager (from Namibia) right now. Great stuff, but it looks as if the weather is determined to suck for skydiving in Cape Town and surrounds tomorrow. F -- ZZZzzzz....

I'm a whuffo trapped in a skydiver's body. After 300 odd jumps I'm still scared, and I don't have a clue why I do it, but I become very depressed if I go without jumping for more than three weeks. I guess it has something to do with the hipothalamus. -- ZZZzzzz....

Good point. Hahaha! Would be cool to have a DZ at 5k AGL though? Or even better, 16 or 18k? Imagine the savings on fuel and aircraft. -- ZZZzzzz....

That would definitely contribute, also a factor is that this particular DZ is about 5000 ft AGL already, so the aircraft is labouring right from the beginning. What is your DZ's elevation? -- ZZZzzzz....

I did about five jumps out of a Cessna 20something in Witbank in 1994 (ZS-DRP). The interesting thing about this particular Cessna was that it was not turbocharged as is common with Cessna's used in skydiving - meaning that it took about 50 minutes to get to 9500 feet AGL on a good day. It had no in-flight door fitted either. That experience taught me how to sleep under any circumstances, such as at my desk at work, in meetings, wherever. Handy life skills. Most of my jumps were logged out of a Porter - the nicest small jump plane ever! -- ZZZzzzz....

I think the SkyMedic is referring to the handles on an RW suit. -- ZZZzzzz....

As a non-DSTV subscriber in South Africa I have a choice between three channels - as operated by the SABC. I choose to sit in a pub and drink beer with my friends over TV any day of the week. I grew up without it anyway. But I like watching the Discovery channel when I am with Dish-People. -- ZZZzzzz....

....although I keep promising anne I will buy a suit with gripper thingy's.... *** I'm thinking of getting my wife one of those - and she doesn't even skydive...... -- ZZZzzzz....

Yes. The reason why I asked for left and right views is this: You're in a 4-way, turning points. Your chom who took a grip on you (wearing a black rig) is now faced with another "side" of you. The moment's hesitation - and then comes the frommel. Or is it just me that would be that slow? Actually I smaak (like) your rig stukkend (a lot). I'm just jealous because the last time I bought a new rig was in 1996 -- ZZZzzzz....