Going in Europe

[mww115 0]

SO the Army has seen fit to ship me to the otherside of the pond this spring. I'll be stationed in Germany (Kaiserslautern) between Stuttgart and Frankfurt. It's by the French and Luxenburg border. I know USPA has a sister organization I can contact to find places to jump, but my questions are more of:
What kind of customs/ curtosies are common over there?
Do most DZ's speak English?
Is there a particular DZ (yes I've heard of Gap) I should pay attention to?
I'm hoping a skydiver is a skydiver anywhere in the world. Does anyone who's jumped there have a story or two to share?

Thanks,

Bronc

Until you've stepped out at 800' in the dead of night with 100 lbs of chute and equipment.. you haven't jumped. AIRBORNE !

[winsor 236]

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SO the Army has seen fit to ship me to the otherside of the pond this spring. I'll be stationed in Germany (Kaiserslautern) between Stuttgart and Frankfurt. It's by the French and Luxenburg border. I know USPA has a sister organization I can contact to find places to jump, but my questions are more of:
What kind of customs/ curtosies are common over there?
Do most DZ's speak English?
Is there a particular DZ (yes I've heard of Gap) I should pay attention to?
I'm hoping a skydiver is a skydiver anywhere in the world. Does anyone who's jumped there have a story or two to share?

I haven't had any problems jumping in Europe, but I believe you have to have an AAD to jump in France these days. As long as you don't play the Ugly American, you'll be fine with just English.

Gap is outstanding, as is Lapalisse. Skydiving is close to a national sport in France, and it's a great place to jump.

My home DZ in Germany is in the Black Forest, so I doubt that would be of much use. I don't have the link for German DZs handy, but I'm sure someone will post it.

The Euro is doing extremely well these days, so brace yourself for sticker shock. The overhead is serious for a DZ in Europe, so the prices are accordingly steep.

When you have time free, Empuribrava (sp?) in Spain sounds like a great deal, and Texcel in Holland was a happening place. lf you're stuck there at the appropriate time, the Hercules Boogie in Sweden and the Espace Boogie in France get high marks. Espace was in Vichy when I was there, but had moved to Lapalisse from what I heard.

The Army-sponsored parachute club in Bad Tolz has been closed for over 10 years, but there may be one still in existence. People like the Golden Knights tend to be a good resource for finding military-sponsored clubs; if you contact them, they can point you in the right direction.

In any event, you should have fun with the parachuting part.


All the way,

Winsor

[chaoskitty 0]

Hey Mike.. I have a friend who was stationed in Germany and he jumped quite a bit over there. I'll see if hes cool with me giving you his email address.

Kristi

[mww115 0]

Thanks Kristi. That would be a help.

And Winsor, I'll follow up on Lapalilse. Knowing that fuel is about $8 a liter I can only imagine what it costs to get to 13.5.

Mike

Until you've stepped out at 800' in the dead of night with 100 lbs of chute and equipment.. you haven't jumped. AIRBORNE !

[Remster 30]

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Espace was in Vichy when I was there, but had moved to Lapalisse from what I heard.

Winsor: for 2004 (and probably 2005 according to the success 2003 was) Espace should be at Vichy with the AN72 (2004 confirmed).

If you have a few hundred jumps, well worth attending if you're in the area!

Remster

[mischo 0]

Hello,
I am shamelessly pimping Skydive Saulgau again because they are so cool and such a nice place to jump. I get stationed out of Stuttgart once in a while and I jump there. To answer your question. Yes a skydiver is a skydiver wherever you go. This place accepted my uspa membership and almost everyone speaks english. They have everything you need to jump there.
Mish

[Dazzle 0]

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Knowing that fuel is about $8 a liter I can only imagine what it costs to get to 13.5.

Although petrol (gas) is expensive that is only because of the tax. I believe kerosene is relatively untaxed so prices for turbines are more reasonable.

eg in UK at Langar 6000' in 206 = £12 but 13500 in Let or Caravan = £18

[freekflyguy 0]

Mike

The Rhine Army Parachute Association, is a British Military DZ.

We provide parachuting facilities for British Service personel in Germany. We have 2 Turbine Islanders and go to 13k+, being a Serviceman yourself you will be eligable for NATO rates which is apporx 15 Euros (prices will change in the new year).

We are situated 2 1/2 hours north of Frankfurt at Paderborne, al instructors are British Military. We have accomodation, bar, canteen showers etc.

One of our Geramn jumpers has put up this site http://www.jspc.de/
It is in German but it shows the facilities and location.

If I can offer any more help drop me a line.

Buzz

It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.

[riggerrob 643]

Enjoy skydiving while stationed in Germany.
I did while stationed at Canadian Forces Base Baden-Solingen in 1995-97. I enjoyed it so much that I flew, rigged and instructed for the Black Forest Parachute Club on the base. Too bad that base closed a few years ago.
Fortunately there are plenty of civilian DZs in that part of Germany.
The Karlsruhe Parachute Club used to jump from a turbine 206 at Schweighoffen. Did I tell you about the time I missed the country? ... landed in a French swamp.
.. heard about a civilian DZ near Rotweil. ... tried visiting the home town of the big dogs, but it rained too heavily that day.
There are civilian skydiving clubs or centers near every major German city, and there even used to be a quasi-US military jump club near Stuttgart.
... attended some great boogies near Leutkirch ., Ampfing ...

The key to enjoying European skydiving is recognising differences and ACCEPTING them. Sure European jump tickets are more expensive than North American jump tickets, but let's face it: North American up-jumpers have not paid fair market value for decades.
It is equally important to learn some of the local language, first as a mark of respect for locals and secondly to fit in. The ultimate revenge is telling a French border guard - in French - how his own bureaucracy works! Hah! Hah!
When I first arrived in Germany, I signed up for a night school class to learn German. Less than a year later I Skydive Kangaroo offered me a job dealing with German-speaking tandem students.
European weather may not be perfect for skydiving, but fortunately there is always some sort of castle or museum or beer garden or volks march nearby to fill in the rainy days.

[FrancoR 0]

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The key to enjoying European skydiving is recognising differences and ACCEPTING them.

What do you think are the differences between European and US skydiving? Besides the language?

If it does not cost anything you are the product.

[beej 0]

more strict on regs and gear checks..

----------------------------------------------------
If the shit fits - wear it (blues brothers)--

[vonSanta 0]

Well, here you don't get pied on gettingf your cert or after your x00th jump.

You get thrown into a really really disgusting duck pond kinda thing. If there's ice on it, we'll simply make a hole for ya.

In some countries in Europe the DZ's are mostly club-oriented. I gather that gives off a different vibe than a commercial DZ.

Santa Von GrossenArsch
I only come in one flavour
ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst