Darwin: My question to Eric is "How many skydives did it take before he stopped being scared before each one?"

Eric Jones: Well, you don't really get rid of the fear. I still get the tightness in my stomach before I jump and I've done 492 jumps! Even though I don't have many skydiving skills, I think the fact that I spent many years solo climbing helped me control my fear.

Lewis: Eric Did you think you were going to hit the wall at the bottem of the jump?

Eric Jones: No, I realised I'd made a mistake when I was doing 'S Bends' to lose height. I went too far on one of them so I went more or less diagonally across the landing area...I could see I was going to overshoot the safe area, but I was going to land on a patch of bird 'guano' before the wall. That's where I landed!

Spoutnico: Thank you for that documentary, I am french living in Cardiff and I have done my first skydiving jump last December in South Africa, that was amazing. You are an example, thank you. I wanted to know where the best places are that you have jumped?

Eric Jones: Sky diving, I can recommend Perris in California. It's a big skydiving area with loads of big aircraft to jump from and the weather is very good too!

Herman: Do you carry on base jumping because you enjoy it regardless or because you get an extra buzz because you are the oldest man still base jumping?

Eric Jones: The simple answer is that I enjoy it. I certainly get a buzz from it but it's really nothing to do with the fact that I'm an old person doing it. I still skydive - I hope to go again this Friday. Whether I do any more base jumps, I don't know really. I'm aware of my limitations and also my age...

Spoutnico: Where can we jump in wales? Because now I would like to learn more and jump by my own 'cause my first jump was duo jump!!

Eric Jones: I believe there's somewhere down in the Cardiff area, a place that's opened recently. The nearest to me in North Wales is Whitchurch. But if they need further info, they can get it from the British Parachutes Association in Leicester.

bodypilot: Can you ask Eric to describe how it felt to stand on the exit point of Angel Falls?

Eric Jones: Quite cool, really. I was very focused on what I had to do: I had to start tracking - flying away from the rock face as soon as I'd fallen for three seconds. This is so that when the parachute opens, you're as far away from the rocks as possible. Of course, that wasn't possible in the cave in Mexico as you've got rock all around you there. I do get fairly nervous a few hours or the night before hand, but when you've actually committed yourself to do the jump I feel quite calm.

SkydiveSi: Hi Eric - I'm a skydiver who broke his femur, wrist, chin and some other things on his A license Qualification jump (25th). I desparatley want to do it again - if my fear will let me - any advice?

Eric Jones: Go for it! Life is adventure or nothing at all - That's my motto!

Gwyn: How do you mentally prepare yourself in the hours leading to the jump?

Eric Jones: Well, you go over and over it in your mind, and try and work out what you would do should anythign go wrong. The moment of greatest danger is when the parachute opens, when it can malfunction so you try and think before hand what might go wrong and how you'd deal with it.

Eryswyn: I am 55 and have no experience but am reasonably fit. Too old to undertake a parachute jump?

Eric Jones: There are restrictions I think, when you're over 50yrs old. You'd have to check with the British Parachute association - it all depends on your health and weight.

SkydiveSi: Eric - Weren't you concerned about hitting a Swallow in that cave?

Eric Jones: No... there's a warden making sure that the birds are out of the cave before you jump. Obviously, they're concerned the birds don't get disturbed. However, before I jumped, we had what they call a 'bird hold' - before they gave me the OK to jump. When my parachute opened, there were a lot of Swifts around as I came down. The people who organise these trips to the cave have been doing it for 6 or 7 years and I don't think they've ever had a bird collision.

Host: It must have been amazing to have discovered that cave for the first time!

Eric Jones: Yes! The first guy to jump down into that cave was a French guy called Patric De Gaurdon. He actually jumped from a helicopter. To make sure he was right over the hole, he dropped oranges from the helicopter into it. When the orange fell more or less dead centre, he just followed it!

darwin: Have you ever done a balloon jump? If yes how does it compare to a base jump?

Eric Jones: I guess I've done about 25 jumps from balloons. In fact, it's the best way to practise for a base jump. You're simulating jumping into still air, which is totally different from jumping from an aircraft. For instance, before I went to Angel falls I did a few balloon jumps to practice jumping from zero speed. You've got no air to work with in the cave.

base230: What will your next challenge be?

Eric Jones: I'm more or less coming to the end of the road now but I've really enjoyed the journey! I've had problems with my knee - I've just been told by a consultant I need a replacement knee. The landing wasn't too bad because I had it pretty well strapped up. But it's hard bending it, in the confined area of an aircraft for instance.

Host: Ever broken your legs?

Eric Jones: I did break both my legs paragliding, after I trained properly. The reason I broke them was complacency - not taking enough care.

darwin: Eric, have you ever tried jumping using a wingsuit?

Eric Jones: I worked with my friend Leo Dickinson, who's making a programme about flying these birdman suits with Peregrine Falcons. We were jumping off this cliff in Italy; Leo, in a birdman suit, with a piece of meat in his hand, would jump - and the Peregrine would take the meat out of his hand in mid flight! It nearly flipped him once as it caught his hand by mistake. I've never used the birdman suit myself. There are big areas between the arms and the legs, which inflate to create a much bigger wing area. With the bird man suit, you get about twice the amount of free fall time. I believe in the near future that someone's going to land one of those suits without even opening a parachute...

Host: don't try this at home folks :)

carterMD: Eric, I remember the guy that jumped from a helicopter into the hole had endured momentary blindness when entering the darkness of the cave...did you have any experience of this or wasnt the jump high enough?

Eric Jones: No, this was one of my initial fears when I first looked at the cave. It's very dark and you can't see the bottom. I was amazed how quickly your eyes get accustomed to the darkness. It never caused me any problems. I guess the reason was, that he jumped from higher up, from a helicopter, so he was travelling much faster than base jumpers jumping off the edge.

base230: Will you still be able to climb?

Eric Jones: I haven't done much climbing in the last few years; I'll have limitations with my knee. But I'll always have a love of the mountains. I'll still try to do something but within my limits.

Host: I hear free climbing was your main passion?

Eric Jones: Yes, my main interest was in Solo climbing, which I did to a high standard for about 18 years. I was nearly killed on my first big Alpine soar climb, near Chamonix. I was about 2,500 feet up this pillar, and I fell off and landed on a six inch wide edge and I over balanced... this little hook, tied on with a nylon bootlace, stayed in the piton. It was about one chance in a thousand. It nearly ended before it had begun.

Eryswyn: Do you think you're somebody who always wants to live on the edge?

Eric Jones: mmmmmm... I suppose so! I've always liked living life on the edge, but all my risks were calculated. People describe climbers and skydivers as crazy but most of the ones I've met are very safety conscious... or you don't live very long! There wouldn't be so much buzz if there were no risks in it but I've always tried to do it as safely as possible.

bodypilot: Do you think that BASE should be a legal sport in the UK?

Eric Jones: Well, you can't really say its illegal. It all depends on where you do it. It's not possible to do a basejump where I live - the cliffs aren't high enough - but if they were, it wouldn't be illegal. What IS illegal however is jumping off without permission from buildings, TV antennae and bridges etc. I know of one or two bridges in the US where they are legal.

SkydiveSi: Out of all the awesome achievements that you have done - what was the closest/scariest thing you almost backed out of?

Eric Jones: I've been on a few climbs where at the time you regret committing yourself... but very often it's too late and you've got to fight your way through it. I've always followed my instincts. When I look back on my climbing career, I've backed off some climbs when I've got down to the valley and thought why didn't I do it? If for instance the weather's been fine when I thought it might turn. But I've always just followed my instincts, for right or wrong...

Eryswyn: Do you find that yourself and skydiving friends tend to be methodical /meticulous people?

Eric Jones: The answer is yes. The experts, especially in skydiving - for instance - 'Moe Dilletto' is the most safety conscious and most methodical person I've ever met!

darwin: Eric Do you find it strange to think that seeing you on TV might inspire people to change their own lives?

Eric Jones: Yes... I don't know... I'm very flattered by it. I seem to have affected people; so if it enhances their life, I'm very proud.

Eric Jones: I've had a few responses like this. I'm surprised I get this response from skydivers; I'm not really an expert, as climbing was my expertise. Skydivers looking at the film can see I'm a very ordinary skydiver, really! Perhaps its my age that attracts all the attention?

SkydiveSi: If there was one challenge that you could do - no matter what expense etc... what would it be?

Eric Jones: What I'd like to do is to skydive on to the south pole. I've already jumped in the North Pole, and flown over Everest - known as the third pole. It would have been nice to reach the summit of Everest, too but it was no big deal for me really.

Host: Landing on ice sounds tricky?

Eric Jones: Landing on ice is a bit tricky; there were no problems at the north pole. I landed on the ice on a South american jump - slid a bit, but it was OK!

claire jones: Do you have any children/ grand children and what do they think of it all - do they base jump?

Eric Jones: I've got two daughters, 17 and 14. I've taken them both climbing, but never pushed them. At the moment they don't seem to have the intention. I'd like them to do things in the outdoors - to appreciate the beautiful country we live in...

maindy: How do you cope with everyday boredom? Does your cafe have any pics on the walls of your achievements?

Eric Jones: My cafe is just a small climbers cafe. I'm ashamed to say I do have a few pictures of me on the walls! :) It's in Tremadog in North Wales, near the coastal town of Porth Madog.

Gwyn: what do you do for relaxation?

Eric Jones: I ride my bicycle, and I've always been a motorcyclist - I've been keen on motorcycles since I was a child.

Eric: How did you manage to afford all your ealier adventures?

Eric Jones: Through a chance meeting with Leo Dickinson in 1969. He was an up and coming film maker, and through the backing of TV companies I was able to go all over the world doing these marvellous things. I owe it all to television - or I wouldn't be able to afford it!

Host: Final word from Eric:

Eric Jones: These adventure sports are very dangerous. Always get the proper training, and pay attention to the safety side. The whole idea is to stay safe. The primary consideration is not the summit, but to come back alive and safe and well! Host A text transcript of the chat will appear soon on the talkwales portal: http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/talkwales. Check out some of our other extreme sport chat's on skydiving, cave diving, paragliding.

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