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Thread: Skydiving

  1. #1
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    Skydiving

    So, I've finally decided to skydive. Actually, I've decided that some time ago, but it took time to gather the collect information, and figure out when I actually have the time. I would like some opinion/feedback on some of the decisions I've made.

    1. RAPS vs AFF
    I've decided to go with the AFF route, simply because it is supposed to be faster. And to be honest, I can't find anyone else willing to join, meaning that there is no group discount benefit.

    2. Drop Zone
    This turned out to be more of a pain than I expected. For a start, drop zones are, understandably, some distance away from the nearest city/town. And as I do not drive, I have to go with one that is at least somewhat accessible from the nearest bus/train station either by taxi or a couple miles walk.

    Originally, my favoured option is http://www.skydivelondon.co.uk

    That's mainly because a friend of a friend did a RAPS jump there, and at a glance, it is logistically convenient. There is a direct train from London to Swindon (£20-25 for a return), taxi would cost £10-15. The problem is that the DZ doesn't offer any accommodation nor could they suggest a B&B nearby, and if I need to take a taxi back to Swindon every night over a week-end (plus an accommodation), the costs will quickly pile up. Additionally, the airfield is only open during the week-end (at least for that purpose), so it will mean that I'll need at least a couple of returns train tickets.

    So now I am considering http://www.skydiving.co.uk/

    I didn't pay notice to that DZ at first because it is pretty far from London, and *getting to* the site looks like a bit of an adventure. National Rail won't tell me how to get to the nearest station (Scunthorpe), but at least Megabus will take me there for a fiver each way. Though from Scunthorpe, it's yet another 8 miles or so to the airfield, and I've not idea if taxis will take me there or if I'll have to walk it.

    There are however a couple of advantages: the airfield, from my understanding, is open 7 days a week and they have on-site, sensibly priced accommodation which means that I can really learn intensively in one go. And the fact that it's 15,000ft is another plus

    But there is yet another option I did not consider fully: Skydiving in Spain. I am not sure if it's really going to be much cheaper once you add the price of the flight/accommodation, and the weather isn't too bad for the time being. But the biggest issue is that I am not sure which ones are good.

    So yeah, I'll certainly take feedbacks from any Hexite who've skydived in the UK/Spain, and heck, if by chance any of you fancies a go in the coming month (I am trying to do it before September as as I am not sure how the weather will change after that).

  2. #2
    Moderator chuckskull's Avatar
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    Re: Skydiving

    Always wanted to try this myself, not had the money yet, so best of luck. I'd say for certain a taxi will take you 8 miles he might want the money up front, but that's about it.

    Skydiving in Spain sound like a great hol, but personally I wouldn't want to risk any language barriers during the explanation of how not to hit the ground at 200mph Stick to where you know the system, accreditations etc and speak the language would be my advice when learning. Then abroad once you're confident.

  3. #3
    Senior Member Lanky123's Avatar
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    Re: Skydiving

    I did my AFF in Spain a year or so ago at Skydive Spain (Seville) on a BCPA trip (British Collegiate Parachute Association). There was no language barrier, in fact I barely heard any Spanish spoken there, but that may have been due to the fact that a group of about 80 students had invaded the dropzone for a week. Seville is run by the same company as Hibaldstow (your second choice, the one near Scunthorpe), so should you go to Spain and not complete the course due to weather there should be no problem in completing the jumps back at Hib.

    Having said all that I probably wouldn't recommend going to Spain; a few years ago it might have been cheaper but with the euro rate where it is now it might be more expensive even without flights. The other reason for doing it in the UK is that if you're going to continue skydiving after your course it will help if you know people around the dropzone. While you're learning the instructors will tell you where to be and when but afterwards it's pretty much up to you to sort yourself out. I'm sure you would anyway but make as many friends on the dropzone as you can if you're planning on jumping there in future.

    I can vouch for Hib being a nice dropzone, their on site accommodation is the best you'll find at a dropzone (that really isn't saying much though) and there's also a free campsite. The planes there are nice and quick to altitude and you actually get a bench to sit on in some of them rather than the floor.

    The other dropzone I can vouch for is Netheravon; the kit there very good and well looked after since they just borrow what the military use during the week, but as it's a weekends only place it might not be quite as suitable for you.

    Here is a map of all the dropzones in the UK, even if you do the AFF course at Hib you might want a dropzone closer to home for some casual weekend jumping afterwards.

    Lastly there is a forum for skydivers in the UK, http://www.ukskydiver.co.uk/cms/, some of the discussions in the general chat might be useful to you at the moment. They also have subforums for every dropzone in the UK, so if you're ever visiting a new DZ after AFF if you stick a post in there someone should be able to tell you who to ask for and what sort of jumping is available before you turn up.

    Enjoy your jumping.

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    Re: Skydiving

    Damn meatbombers dropping from the sky and getting in the way of my plane

  5. #5
    Senior Member Lanky123's Avatar
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    Re: Skydiving

    Just repeated what the guy said after him (Bad enough being nervous for the first jumps lol).
    It looks like I won't be jumping for till early September (there is a national tourney during week-end for the next two weeks so no intensive course). Hopefully the weather will still be okay then

  7. #7
    Does he need a reason? Funkstar's Avatar
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    Re: Skydiving


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  9. #8
    Senior Member Lanky123's Avatar
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    Re: Skydiving

    Haha sorry maybe that wasn't the best video to post before you do your AFF. Here are a couple of less scary ones:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74zhNxgFkTQ
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDds3i8MKMY

    Hopefully the weather will be fine in September, but even if it's a bit patchy Hibaldstow are quite good at rushing planes up through any gaps in the cloud that appear for half an hour or so.

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    Re: Skydiving

    Haha, that looks like a blast Oh and thanks for the longer post earlier, I've been to the BPA site before, and it was one of the reason I decided to stay in the UK. I'll most likely check out other more accessible week-end DZ after the AFF

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    Re: Skydiving

    My mate got his license abroad, the advantages are the fact that it's quicker its intensive as you do it everyday and more importantly somewhere like Spain the weather is more guaranteed.

    I jumped at Hibaldstow once while at Uni, the bar there was wicked stayed open till the last person left (before 24hr drinking); fun times.

  12. #11
    I R Toff Pandi! TAKTAK's Avatar
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    Re: Skydiving

    Hibaldstow is easy

    Train-wise, from London go to Donny or Sheffield and then hop on the Manc airport - Cleethorpes line (train every hour)

    The bus station is ~5 mins walk from the train station, then hop on Stagecoach 94

    Or Megabus, and then No94

    http://www.northlincs.gov.uk/NorthLi...Scunthorpe.htm


    If you get stuck i can give you a lift to the airfield and back to Scunny station

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