No, not really. Some are mad.. others fall into the 'Don't know/Don't give a Sh*t' category
Jim..
I never actually jumped out of an aircraft with either female onboard. The Cessna we had available as a 'jump' platform was a 206 with no side door so there was room for the pilot.. 3 of us sitting on the deck facing aft plus the instructor who had 'Good' painted on the bottom of his left boot and 'Bye' painted on the bottom of his right boot. This was a reminder that if we saw 'Good Bye' disappearing out of the aircraft.. things were not going well! It was a lot funnier to be on the ground watching the girlies float to disaster (while I admit privately, the poor girl who landed on her butt twice was probably in a great deal of pain and one shouldn't snigger) On the other side of the coin, the pilot commented on numerous occassions that he could see no good reason why anyone would want to leave a perfectly serviceable aircraft :o I have to admit this thought rang in my ears a few times
I thought that you had to do seven from an acft one of which has to ba a night jump.
I went to a talk last year on the First Aid and Nursing Yeomany of 2007 (FANY) who today do there ground training at Brize and then because they are not part of the UK Forces,go to France and qualify with the French Legion Etrangere. To be awarded their French parachute wings they do six day, one reserve, one night and one with an 'underslung load' (Kitbag of kit attached to body and let out to hang below when chute has opened). They are then awarded their French wings which they are not allowed to wear on their uniform - nor are they allowed to wear British para wings. Today FANY form a very special signals/first aid/driver unit. Many are excellent shots.
By the way they undertake all their training and duties paying their own costs. They have an excellent website. Just 'google' FANY or Princess Royal's Volunteer Corps.
Alas.. no. As mentioned earlier, we suffered poor weather the first week and were unable to jump.. other than onto mats on the ground that is :roll: There were quite a few of us on the course and with only one small aircraft to jump from.. we knew at the end of week 1 that our ultimate goal (freefall) wouldn't be reached. In effect, the most we could hope for was 6 static-line jumps (which I and a handful of others achieved) and even that was pushing it. In theory, we should have been able to manage more but the stipulation that we had to jump with chutes we'd packed ourselves put the mockers on that :-(
By gum Dave, you live dangerously!! You would would never get me up in an aircraft only to jump out of it for one thing, (although I am ashamed to admit this), I am scared of heights though strangely it did not bother me when I flew gliders or light aircraft, think it must be to do with being enclosed and strapped in. :flying:
I once had an opportunity of going up in a balloon but not only the thought of a few bits of rope holding the basket and coupled with my fear of heights was enough for me to politely decline the offer!!
Regards
Nigel.
I used to be an optimist but with age I am now a grumpy old pessimist.
Sorry to hear that you never got your 'wings' Dave.
There was a report in the press today about French Paras dropping at night into the sea to capture a French yacht stolen by pirates off the the Somali coast. 1 pirate killed, rest captured, no other casualties reported, hostages released, yacht re-taken successfuly by paras.
Daring stuff but the present day level of piracy on th ehigh seas is astonishing.
I have 'Lived' dangerously is more accurate I'm rather more 'house trained' these days ;-)
Hobby..
Yes mate, that's true. Seems ridiculous to think we still have pirates in this day and age but it's a growing problem :o Re parachute jumps.. 6 static line decents were required before being able to go full freefall and this was the most annoying thing.. so close and yet so far :-( I must say that a night jump never filled me with much enthusiasm though I was always keen to do a water drop ;-)
On the other side of the coin, the pilot commented on numerous occassions that he could see no good reason why anyone would want to leave a perfectly serviceable aircraft :o I have to admit this thought rang in my ears a few times 
I'd have been up for that in my youth 
