iThe BritisHJI ^Association www.skydivemag.com After considerable research, testing and quality control Katana is ready for flight. Now you can order the newest, most versatile 9 cell elliptical available. , ^ i ANCf You don't have to be a Brit c [ / \ / H i \ i n You don't have to be a skydivcr ^ "V jr You don't have to be a National Champion " The BPA Skydive Mag is a rare breed; informative, finger on the pulse and full of colour. I hope the BPA members are aware of what a great journal they have. "A tip for other foreign nationals... don't read our Mag or you may end up taking out a * ■ * subscription!” Pete Allum s c r H i i • Six issues a year Imaginative design ieture online substriptions • Vibrant, colourful Informative editorial now on our website • Stunning photos www.skydivemag. tom We have lots of overseas subscribers, non BPA members who get The Mag because they like it. If you're interested in skydiving, whatever nation you're from whether a first jump student, an adventure sports enthusiast, or you jump abroad, you'll enjoy The Mag. If you subsequently join the BPA as a full member (after six jumps or when you progress to freefall) your magazine subscription amount is deducted from your BPA membership fee so, in all, you don't pay any extra. U K £22ONE Y EA R : UK £22ONE O V ER S EA S : Europe€33 USA: $36 Other: £30 Please send me a copy of The Mag on each of the next six bimonthly publication dates: I enclose a cheque/PO to the value required (circled above) payable to ‘BPA Limited’ (UK subscriptions only) OR: please debit my Mastercard/Visa as follows: Card N o.______ I______ I______ I______ I Exp d a te :___/ ____Amount Name: .......................................................... D ate:................................ > Signature:................................................................................................................ Address:................................................................................................................... BPA, Wharf Way, Glen Parva, Leicester LE2 9TF, UK Tel: +44 116 278 5271 Fax: +44 116 247 7662 February 2004 The Control Tower, Langar Airfield, British Langar, Nottingham. IXIB13 9HY Telephone & Fax: 01949 BGOB7B Paradiute Email: [email protected] S c h o o ls Website: www.bpslangar.co.uk WE ARE A BUSY 7-DAY-A-WEEK CENTRE flying our turbine aircraft every jumping day! The BEST 1 - 9 M a y C oursesi - I i - 1 SKYVAN already booked! RAPS, Tandem Skydives, FLATFLY with our The Best AFF Deal in the UK well known organisers DM, Milko, Billy and Caroline. The BEST FREEFLY with Rob Silver W elcom e and Bullet Freefly School. Students, Flatflyers, Hybrid/Atmonauti with George Freeflyers, Skysurfers, CRW, Birdmen, Teams PRE-AFF COURSE and loads of Fun Jumpers Coaching 2 2 - 26 M a r c h Week Call for details! The BEST BPA AFF/TAIUDEM Progression 29 M a r c h Evaluation RAP5 Students lave jumping - 2 A p r il Course our Turbine Aircraft BPA The BEST GRAND PRIX 24 - 25 April Aircraft Line-u|i F5 8-way v " : > ■ J TWO Cessna Grand Caravans DON'T FORGET We're open all year with our very own heated Cessna Grand Caravans OQ Team Train Here - J h ii Special Rates Available THE B ES T INSTRUCTORS John, Janet and Phil Curtis - O R G A N ISER S Rigging, Kit Stare, Coaching,Canteen, Bar, Bunkhouse with Team Roams, COACHES, Showers, Large Camping Area, VIDEOIVIEN Creeper Pad, Unrestricted Altitude. AND PILO T5 Huge Landing Area, Large Packing Area. '-----------\ / r z O British , Parachute s k y d j Association * * v Patron: His Royal Highness The P rince o f W ales BPA, Wharf Way, Glen Parva, s f ff ld iw j Leicester LE2 9TF F e b r u a r y 2 0 0 4 T ' / f t * r Tel: 0116 278 5271 Fax: 0116 247 7662 K e l- [email protected] editorial www.bpa.org.uk BPA Staff The AGM was a little later than usual this year, Technical Officer Tony Butler being on 24 January. This combined with the National Safety Officer John Hitchen timing of the World Record attempt has meant we PA to above officers Trudy Kemp haven't had the time to bring you a full report Financial Administrator Jon Gretton with photos. It's always a mad rush putting the Secretary-General Martin Shuttleworth article to press in literally two or three days after Administration Secretary Suson Waterfield the AGM and this year just wasn't possible. Membership Services Karey Goodwin Membership Services Sue Allen EDITORIAL Stock Controller David Lucas The Mag, Station Road, Ailsworth, We do however have the news from the AGM. The Peterborough, PE5 7AH United Kingdom elected BPA Council members and officers are listed here and on BPA Matters (page 23) w ith BPA Council Tel/Fax: 01733 380 568 details of the new BPA subscription cost for 2004. BPA Chairman The bad news is that BPA membership has gone up Chris Allen [email protected] [email protected] www.skydivemag.com to £105 due to a huge increase in our insurance Vice Chairman & Competitions Chairman premium. Further details are contained within the John Smyth Chairman's Report, presented at the AGM and [email protected] SUBSCRIBE enclosed with this magazine. Your membership Development Chairman Page 1 renewal form is also enclosed. Remember to Kieran Brady complete and return it to the BPA Office in good [email protected] Communications Chairman CHANGED ADDRESS? time to be jumping in April. Eddie Jones Email: [email protected] [email protected] Call BPA: 0116 278 5271 That's the urgent and most important stuff disseminated, the next (April) Mag will bring you Council Members the BPA Annual Awards, AGM happenings, hot Paul Applegate [email protected] ADVERTISING gossip and of course the party photos. Dave Hickling [email protected] Ian Marshall [email protected] Jayne Notley Warners Group Publications Let's try and make this a safe year in British Weed Stoodley [email protected] West Street skydiving. If there's a New Year resolution worth Brian Vacher [email protected] Bourne, Lines PE10 9PH making, it's to reach the end of the year without Andy Scott [email protected] having a skydiving accident. No matter how big or Tony Goodman [email protected] [email protected] clever we are (or we think we are) it's a big wide Ian Midgley [email protected] Jim W hite [email protected] TELEPHONE world out there and anything can happen. Be careful and keep your wits about you. Nigel Holland [email protected] Ad Sales - Jayne Notley Calvin Blacker [email protected] 01778 391 189 Wishing you a safe and successful 2004. Ad Production - Jo Cooke BPA Officers 01778 391 164 & Representatives Fax: 01778 394 748 STC Chairman John Hitchen [email protected] Riggers Chairman Paul Applegate MANAGING EDITOR 01869 277 469 [email protected] Lesley Gale BPA V ice P resid ents Jim Crocker, John Lines [email protected] & Bob Card EDITORIAL & WEBSITE Treasu rer Debbie Carter CO-ORDINATOR P ilo ts Com m ittee Chairm an Tony Knight Colin Bridges Royal Aero Club Delegate John Smyth colin @ skydivemag.com CAA Liaison O fficer Tony Knight DESIGN BPA G asco R e p re se n ta tive Angela Hickling Andy Vernum Tel: 01733 380 809 IP C D elegate John Hitchen stylaprint @ btinternet.com skydive 3 February 2004 SUPPORTED BY OLYMPUS j k s o o r t Approved G A/101/96 © T h e M ag NOTE: Some of the photos in this magazine All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form; electronic, may show skydivers without helmets or mechanical, photocopying, recording, without prior permission of altimeters, or otherwise not obeying the BPA the Editor. The views expressed in The Mag are those of the contributors and Operations Manual, in which case they were not necessarily those of the BPA. Opinions in the editorial are taken abroad. In the UK it is mandatory to those of the Editor, not of the BPA. The Editor retains the right to withdraw any advertisement at her discretion and does not accept wear a helmet and alti for obvious safety liability for delay in publication or for errors, although every effort is reasons. Students within The Mag are taken to avoid mistakes. The information in this magazine was, to the best of our agility, complying with BPA regulations. correct at the time of gong to press. Reproduction, printing and mailing take a total of three weeks so some information may be out of date, or superseded sky civ FebruaryCohman/ 2004OI features FlyBoyz Film Festival 6 Eli Thompson’s phabulous photos Flight Test: Katana 20 Pete Allum checks out PD’s brand new release Videoing Tandems 26 Gary Wainwright’s step by step guide CF World Records 36 Norman Kent’s cacophony of colour For Starters: Turns 48 Steve H am ilton’s top tips James Alford 55 Rem em bered regulars Subscribe to The Mag 1 JMs Newsround 16 BPA Matters 22 Dive Doctor 33 Kit News 45 In Confidence 47 Puzzle 53 Letters 53 Club News 58 BPA Affiliated Drop Zones 70 BPA Associated Organisations 73 Classified Adverts 74 Diary TBC Advertisers Index TBC WWW.FLYBOYZ.COMWVIW.FLYBOYZ.COM 'Blown away', is my initial comment. Blown away by the centre, blown away by the preparation and blown away by the welcome we Film received. Even though we didn't get there until 1 1,30pm Halloween night, a large group of people had stayed back to welcome us.