A nice way to spend a Monday...

[BiggestNizzy]

Starting to get a little nervous about this now


Hint for anyone wanting to jump - Stay away from youtube

Don't be a ghey my old dear did it at 60

Although the guy with the paper shop round the corner's shute failed to inflate and his reserve got caught in it and he plunged to the ground.

He is ok well a couple of scrapes and bruises* etc he even had an "I am still alive party" a year later.

* what I really mean is smashed almost every bone in his body.

[mckeann]

Jon/Mark whats the script with the jumping thing?? Who are you booked with and where can i get details for it?

[ryallm]

Jon is booked in to do a tandem at http://www.bkpc.co.uk/ . Bit of a trek down the M6 but it has become my regular drop zone - very friendly place and they have a super fast turbine plane that goes to a hooooge 14 grand on every lift (as opposed to 10k in Scotland if you are lucky in a clapped out Cessna). Hopefully I'll be on the same lift and will lob out at the same time Jon is booked in tomorrow, but not sure about the weather. Will decide tonight if I am going down.

Mark

[vx220]

I would LOVE to do this and hav always said that I will, so whats the craik, where, when, how much etc?

I did the full parachute training in the Ukraine but never jumped, would defo love to do it.

Whats the options, I know I defo dont want a round chute though, I have heard the horror stories with them!

Cheers
Kevin

[ryallm]

If you are serious about learning to skydive the only way is AFF, preferably abroad. Spain has got some great dropzones and the weather and is just a cheap flight away so is the best bet. If you just want to experience freefall a tandem is a good introduction. Jon did a tandem at recently at BKPC, accompanied by me in freefall. Great fun. Just ask if you need more info.

Mark

[vx220]

Hi Mark

Thanks for the info, are any of the centres in Scotland any good, why do you use the one down south?

Spain is out really, want to do it over here. I was looking at the 6 jump course, AFF looks the way to do it but I think the money will go into the Exige fund!!

Dont want to do a tandem as I think there is more achievement in doing it yourself, although its defo the way to do a quick freefall.

I have convinced the wife too and even she is thinking of doing a tandem now!!

[vx220]

Just seen the video posted, v.v. funny, makes me want to do it eve more

[ryallm]

There are 2 DZs in Scotland. I choose not to go to either any more, the deciding factor being the aircraft. Serious skydiving requires fast turbine planes. 30 minutes to 10,000 ft in a wee piston engined Cessna 206 in Scotland, or 14,00ft in 11 minutes at Black Knights in a super fast turbine PC6. No contest. Sadly I found skydiving in Scotland to be a huge disappointment so now I only jump in England or on holiday in Spain and France (and I jump with a sizeable number of Scots who do the same).

Puzzled why you say Spain is out. You can fly to Madrid or Gerona direct from Edinburgh or Glasgow really cheaply and both have great DZs neaby (Lillo and Empuriabrava respectively). It is far and the best way to learn and will probably save money in the long run as you won't waste time and money driving to wet and windy DZs in the UK only to find you can't jump. I have tried both, and trust me, trying to learn by a static line course in the UK is a frustrating waste of time. AFF abroad on the other hand will be a truly mind blowing experience.

The other thing I would add is go into it with your eyes open on cost. In 2 1/2 years i have done 340 jumps - that is well over 7 grand on jump ticket alone. Add to that AFF, FS coaching, buying kit etc, wind tunnel training, trips to Europe and the US it must be more like 15k. Genuinely worth every penny though and way ahead of any car ownership in excitement and fun per pound spent

Mark