DROP
ZONE & AIRCRAFT |
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The Royal
Thai Air Force, true to their amazing reputation,
will support Thai Sky Festival '08 in style! Situated
on a peninsula right on the Gulf of Thailand, the Royal
Thai Air Force Wing 5 Drop Zone is a large, open,
grassy airfield between Ao Prachuap
and Ao
Manao ('Ao'
is the Thai word for 'Bay').
A
professional and experienced team of
RTAF personnel
turn this area into a fully functional, well-equipped drop
zone on the idyllic Gulf of Thailand each year - for us! RTAF
riggers provide the packing service; RTAF drivers will transport
participants between the hotel and the DZ; RTAF land, water,
and air rescue personnel will stand by; and RTAF families
will prepare delicious Thai cuisine right on the DZ. |
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Willy
Boeykens |
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The
incomparable RTAF 601 Squadron pilots will fly the C-130
Hercules, which can carry 100 skydivers to 15,000 ft
(4500 m) AGL in less than 30 minutes. Pilots
from 461 Squadron fly the BT-67; this
highly-modified turbo-charged DC-3 can carry 40 skydivers and
climb to exit altitude in only 20 minutes. The RTAF will likely
provide a Bell HUEY helicopter for occasional
morning jumps, as
well! |
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Hercules
C-130
Willy Boeykens |
BT-67
Wendy Smith |
Huey
Helicopter
Andrey
Veselov |
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While
everyone is welcome to join us during Thai Sky Festival '08, skydivers
please note:
- Minimum
number of jumps required to jump from the Herc
C-130 is 200
- Minimum
formation size to jump from the Herc C-130 is an 8-way
- Minimum
skill requirement to jump from the Herc C-130
is the ability to safely and consistently dock on
an 8-way formation
- All
skydivers, regardless of the aircraft they jump from,
should possess the basic skills to skydive safely with
others in the air.
- Skydivers
will be expected to demonstrate the canopy control skills
necessary to safely make beach
jumps before manifesting on those loads.
- The
use of flotation gear, available for purchase at many
parachute
supply
stores,
is recommended for all skydivers
- Please
provide your National Parachute Association membership
and proficiency license during on-site
registration
- Please
come to Thai Sky Festival with your reserve in date, according
to the rules of your National Parachute Association,
and your reserve packing-data card. There is no guarantee
that
your reserve can be repacked on-site,
(unless you have a malfunction
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Gaby Meis |
Andrey
Veselov |
Bruno
Brokken |
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Head
down or belly down, big-ways or small
- the sky's the limit! By the time we reach the DZ in
Prachuap, our World Team / world-class load organizers have
your number. They will know what kind of skydives you
like to make, and will group you with skydivers of similar interests
and experience. You will have an opportunity to jump with
different load organizers, each and every one of whom is dedicated
to to maximizing your fun in the sky! Our World
Team / world class camera flyers will be there to
capture it all on video, which will be used for debrief after
every
jump. Check out the Organizing
Team page on this site to see who's who. |
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Not
a skydiver? Not a problem — you don't have to miss
the aerial fun! Tandem masters will be
on-site to take you on your first - or your 10th - adventure
into the clear blue skies over Prachuap.
Most
evenings, skydivers
will be invited to make sunset
jumps on the Ao Manao or Ao Prachuap beach.
Either way, cold beer will be waiting when you land! |
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Andrey Veselov |
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Willy Boeykens |
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