wonder2006

I didn't know the deceased personally, but knew who she was and know people who were her friends and loved her dearly. What I find so incredibly sad is that it is this case that most people in the community she was apart of and loved, and who loved her dearly, are going to associate her parting with. I hope throughout this, those in the community remember a lost friend to many, rather than "the one who's mother decided to sue companies close to all of us". Don't let these actions, whatever the outcome, taint memories of Brooke, I am sure she would not have chosen this course of action to be followed.

Saw a couple of the instructors getting training at Airkix a couple of months ago - from there they were moving on to iFLY sf bay I believe. According to them, the tunnel would be opening in August 2009?

There's an awesome DZ in Slovakia which offers glider jumps as a regular thing. Definitely one of the best jumps I've done!

I was at Airkix in Milton Keynes the past 2 Mondays and there were a bunch of instructors who are going to be working out in Singapore getting instructor training. (yes, even though it's 12 months away from completion!) Such quality entertainment watching some of the Airkix tunnel instructors behaving like the worst students ever doing everything wrong all in one session.

Tools already available to help you find your perfect partner too: http://www.adultsheepfinder.com/

I think the phrase "hunter" is being used very loosely here - I too saw the documentry - I live in the UK, but come from South Africa. I have no issue with hunting - with a couple of conditions thrown in such as if the meat is going to be eaten, I however have no interest in killing something myself. That said, in the program I saw very little hunting going on - canned trophy killing is what it should be called. These people couldn't have hunted down anything - they had no skills as hunters. They were hunting animals that were not afraid of humans having been brought up in cages and fed by humans. They were sitting in outposts at man made watering holes in enclosed areas. Whilst we breed cows and sheep for humans to eat, I do not know of farms that offer them up for the general public to come and shoot with rifles or bows simply for pleasure. The two are not the same!

Both the old and new websites appear to have been down for the last week or so since I started trying to access them. Anyone know if I've just got it wrong, or what the situation is? Want to look at getting a Micron These are the ones that I've been trying: www.unitedparachutetechnologies.com www.relativeworkshop.com Edit: Just tried www.uptvector.com and same thing... Thanks

Got one and love it! Means that you don't have to travel with 2 helmets if you don't want to fly camera on every jump. Very quick to attach and take off again. Customer service from Tonfly is also top notch, with a 4 week delivery time. Agree with previous poster who mentioned having to pad up for the camera - a wee bit annoying, and definitely a point for improvement from tonfly, but overall, very pleased.

Stefan Klaus who I believe is based in Spain (possibly Lillo but sometimes in Empuria??) instructs if you want a bit closer to home. Contact Skydive Lillo - they advertise it on their website and I think have a couple of instructors.

No snag points - they send you covers and there's nothing to get snagged on if you're not using the connector. Great having the option to jump without any box when you're not wanting to have camera. Really happy with mine. And the customer service from Giovanni is second to none!

Yes, it's brilliant! If you have a look at the first pic I attached - the top mount has the plastic stopper that you pop in when you take the box off - they send you one for each mounted area. And it takes a second to release the box, yet it is very secure and won't come off in freefall. Its a fantastic design. Well worth the money, especially when travelling, and if like me, you often don't want to fly camera! From seeing an earlier post of yours you've been out to Slovakia Boogie - Tonfly are based not too far away from the DZ.

Excellent helmets and brilliant customer service from Giovanni at Tonfly! I've attached pics of mine - I went for the converter pro, which means you have a quick release for the camera box, and can change the angle of your camera if you require. Difficult to see in the pic but you can get a better idea from their website. Very happy with it, and got it it custom in under 4 weeks. I've seen their suits too and they look great.

I had the same issue, so eventually decided just to buy it. I went with Cucusoft and think it's great. Have recommended it to others and they're all happy with it too.

Anyone from Argus with a response to this? Been a while now and still nothing?

Um, is your profile correct? Don't mean to hijack the thread, but hoping I am missing something - your profile says you've been in the sport for 1 year, have 215 jumps, and you're out filming AFF (must be level 1 to 3 if there are 2 instructors???), no alti, and a lurker....There are just too many things wrong with that if that is the case... Like I said, hopefully I'm missing something. Back to topic

Any official response yet from Argus to explain what happened and the results of the investigation??

It was a biplane - with main canopy in front and reserve behind, and then freebag and reserve pilot chute tangled up. I don't know for sure that he set it at the dz before jumping, but I have not heard anything to the contrary. The unit has been sent to Argus to investigate. I don't know if their report will be made public though??

From reports after he landed (and from people on the same jump as him), his Argus fired when he pulled his main. He pulled at between 3 and 3.5k (story was backed up by an instructor who was on the jump with him). 2 out with resereve freebag tangled up somewhere along the line - we thought it was a CRW jump at first as we could see what appeared to be 2 pilot chutes, but was in fact the freebag and reserve pilot chute trailing. Jumper did a good job flying them and landing them safely. I THINK he is sub 100 jumps. Note: I left shortly after the jumper landed and haven't heard what the riggers have had to say on the incident following inspecting gear, all this was the discussion just when the jumper landed. Hopefully someone with more info will post.

I was on the same doomed helicopter boogie as mentioned by the poster below. We really were lucky to find this place. Whilst it took a while to check docs and rigs of 50+ skydivers all arriving at the same time, the system was efficient, and the staff worked quickly to get us in the air. The aircraft are brilliant with chances to jump some unusual planes. All seem to be well maintained, and they definitely look well looked after. The landing area is good - and not a single off landing in 2 days. The facilities are great - decent food at the cafeteria, enough capacity to look after our large group, great shaded area for eating and drinking, another for packing. Showers and toilets were fantastic too. The staff were all helpful and very friendly - and a lot of them could speak reasonable english. Manifest was efficient, and the system they use is great. It definitely came across as a safe dz as well - not because they were shouting rules at you, but just because of the way things are run, and the attitude of their local jumpers. Can't wait to go back and visit again, it really did save our trip! Oh, and the jump prices are great too!!!

Post from a long time ago (yes, I did a search!) with no replies. I've got the same problem now - is there anyone who has needed to take out life and critical illness insurance since they started skydiving?? The 1 I've found excludes paying out on the critical illness cover for anything skydiving related, but will cover in the event of death. I've submitted more requests for quotes, but just wondered if anyone has first hand experience, and just a rough idea of how much people are paying additionally for the priviledge?

I've been having the same issue for the past 2 weeks (previously had checked a month or more ago and it all worked fine). And really eager to order that cam helmet!

I've just taken out the Extreme Plus insurance for travelling - covers world wide, and about £60 for the year if I remember correctly (do a search, as it's been discussed on here recently - as well as on UKSkydiver.co.uk). Before that I used Endsleigh for individual trips. User Harrison & Beaumont to cover all my gear - and just had to claim from them for the first time, which went through with minimal effort, which was a nice surprise as you never know how easy it is going to be!

Have a look at the thread on Google Earth: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=2363890;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread. The DZ's around you may not be on there yet, but you can just add them. Anyone know if you can just convert that to Google Maps?

Check out Tonfly too - do a search on the forums, they've come up a bit lately. They're pretty reasonable too (as far as cam helmets go!)

Woolworths - £3.59