galispo

That's a wonderful list! I also have this goal of trying as many different aircraft as I can, but my experience is just a fraction of yours so far. I'm curious, where and when was your jump from the Super Constellation? Any pictures to show us? Rob Gallo "To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield."

I did my AFF in Italy (meters), now I live and jump in the UK (feet). Sold my first altimeter and bought one in feet. Not a big deal to do this conversion. It's like developing the concept of distance using Km. Once you learn that 100Km is roughly an hour drive on the motorway, it gets easier. Don't keep trying to calculate the conversion, but create a new concept. If you deploy at 4000 feet, you will also deploy at 1200 meters. To the OP: Can't you just do a check jump to get a FAI A licence? You shouldn't have problems in jumping in France or Switzerland. If the Swiss just asked for a check jump, that's fair, but if you've got your FAI licence, they can't deny you're a A licence jumper. Both Italy and UK are under FAI regulations, hence my licence was recognised in UK without a problem. The only thing is, in the UK there is a very systematic control of progression for beginners (FS1, FF1, etc), but the FAI licence is the same. Rob Gallo "To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield."

I hate this kind of people. I've been fooled by an asshole as well. It seems that he had plenty opportunities to pay you or to explain himself. Try to make contact with every DZ in California, present yourself and tell your story. If this post made him pay you $150 more, let's keep this post going until he pays it all. But personally, I would 'out' his name. just because If he ever puts an add on here, I wouldn't want to make deal with him. You will be doing a favour to us all. Rob Gallo "To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield."

Netheravon DZ in the UK did an "open doors" day for their neighbours in order to improve their relationship with the local village. They sent invitations to the locals and prepared a fun day for all, kids and adults. They prepared a quick talk about the sport and aircraft operation, a couple of activities for kids, videos, etc. Finally, they ended with a small demo. I wasn't there, but I heard it was a huge success and now the local village is, not only much more friendly towards the operation, but quite proud they have it around their homes. They did in on a quiet day for DZ operation, and if you consider doing it, make sure you select well the skydivers which will interact with the guests, so your guests can se we are "normal" men and women with regular lives, kids and jobs, just like them. Rob Gallo "To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield."

Hi there, I don't know about Lucca, but I know that in Arezzo there are staff who speak English. Check their website, the DZ is about 1.30 hour from Pisa. http://www.paracadutismoetruria.it/ If you want, pm me and I'll put you in contact with an AFFI that can help you out. Rob Gallo "To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield."

Static line. It was the only option in the DZ where I started, and I'm proud to have started that way. Did a tandem years later for a friend that was qualifying as a TI. Rob Gallo "To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield."

Hi Marios, I've jumped in Brazil for a few years but don't know a lot of DZs. Not many turbine dzs, unfortunately. In Rio you should try skydive resende and skydive rio, but I would drop them an email first to confirm their operational days. http://www.skydiveresende.com.br/ http://www.skydiverio.com.br/ Enjoy yourself and don't get shot in Rio. Rob Rob Gallo "To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield."

I've read every possible thread on sabre/pilot/safire comparison only to get to the conclusion that opinions on those canopies are far too personal to be considered for purchase decision. I've put about 25 jumps on a pilot and about 20 on sabre2, both at 1.0 wing loading. Pilot is way more fun to fly, sabre2 is easier to land. Pilot has a much better opening characteristics than sabre. But this is what I've got from my very short experience. Haven't jumped the safire2 yet, but I plan to demo one soon. Only then I'll decide on my new canopy. Next guy here will tell you something completely different, just like in the other dozen of threads on this matter. - "To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield" Rob Gallo "To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield."

I think it is just to give your location, and not where you are from. I'm not british, but I am in England. Rob Gallo "To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield."

http://www.skydiveitaparica.com.br/[url] I haven't jumped there, but I know people who have and they reported good experience and a great view. You'll have to take the ferry from Salvador, since it's an island. Blue skies! Rob Gallo "To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield."

At the DZ I jumped for years (2000ft elevation) they used to have a 182 with a IO-470 (260hp). I don't remember the climb rate precisely, but It climbed ok up to 10k AGL. After that it was a real journey of patience and long sleeps up to 12k AGL With 5 jumpers onboard it was a solid 45 minute climb on a hot day (around 83 degrees). The pilot was also a glider instructor, so he managed to take advantage of some thermals during the climb, which helped a lot. Things got much better with a C180 with a 285hp engine. The 180 has a narrower body and with much less drag than the 182, climb rates improved a lot. The down side is that the C180 is really uncomfortable for tandems and students with big rigs. And in my very personal opinion, you need a better pilot than you usually need for a 182. Not to mention the constant phone calls from local people annoyed by the noise (to me, music) of that huge double-blade propeller they put on that engine. With your DZ elevation and average temperature, I'd say a 182 even with a 300hp conversion with a tri-blade prop you're gonna have extremely long flights to 10k AGL burning a lot of avgas, and on a hot summer day is gonna be really hard to get there. But I'm not a pilot. I suggest you talk to a C182 pilot - not owner, pilot. Good luck! Rob Gallo "To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield."

It was amazing we could watch it live! But I don't understand oen thing: why Felix said at the press conference that he deployed at 5200ft when during live transmission it was clear he deployed at circa 7000? Cheers Rob Gallo "To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield."

Poor weather forecast for a night jump! Around my 60th jump, recent B licensed, I was invited to my first night jump. I was jumping 190 canopies but on that night I decided to go with an old Raider 220, just because I've seen more experienced jumpers have very bad landings on night jumps before. During the climb inside that 182 with my newbies best buddies I was very, very nervous and one of my friends said: "why am I doing this again?" So I got a bit better knowing I wasn't the only one scared up there. The instructor gave us a great spot and we got out at 7000ft. That small freefall was a blast. The city looked amazing and dark sky was incredible. It paid out! I deployed at 4000. Then... winds had picked up a lot and that huge 220 (my wingload was 0.9 on a 190) had literally stopped in the air. I was right on top of the DZ, but at 2000ft winds got really strong and I started to fly backwards, and fast! I was about to get out of the DZ (with a runway of 4000ft) when I grabbed the front risers and started to pitch down the canopy, alternating right and left inputs in order to "cut" the wind and get to the ground ASAP. I manage to land just inside the airfield and the canopy dragged me on my back for about 20 feet until it got entangled on something. That was the second and last load at that evening. More experienced jumpers came to congratulate me for my attitude in preventing an off site landing. For those who didn't do a night jump yet, DO IT. It's incredibly amazing, just check the details of the forecast in advance and get a very experienced instructor. Rob Gallo "To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield."