Alan Homstead

[deadwood 0]

Al passed away on Jan 8th 2019 at 4:01 AM at the age of 83
Al was one of the sport's pioneers and started jumping in the late 50's.
He was a fighter pilot in Vietnam with over 300 combat sorties in the F-4, 1000 hours aircraft commander in the C-130 and spent 16 years as a crop duster pilot. He was Chief Pilot at the National Parachuting Championships and started the jump school at the Air Force academy. He was also an aircraft mechanic and avid motorcyclist and we made several long-distance motorcycle trips together.

I'll miss you my friend. BSBD

He who hesitates shall inherit the earth.

Deadwood
Skydive New Mexico Motorcycle Club, Touring Division

[akarunway 1]

Bet he knew my dad. Same plane and amt. of sorties. Flew the "Run for the Roses" a pretty much suicide mission to bomb Hanoi. I'd ask him but he's gone also.

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

[deadwood 0]

Al was also one of the survivors of the Great Lake Erie Tragedy jump. He was onboard the plane but elected not to jump. Good decision Al!

 

[Erroll 80]

9 hours ago, deadwood said:

He was onboard the plane but elected not to jump

Probably the wrong place for this, but no account I have read anywhere mentioned someone who elected not to jump?

Three jumpers were pulled off the load because of weight issues.

[Oberlin 0]

Second pass or in the 180 I believe.  Al was a close neighbor and probably why I always had an interest in skydiving.  He sold me his original Stratostar, later was the first person to grab me in freefall.  I was the first to snag him under canopy.  Truly a great person. blue sky's friend!

[Erroll 80]

On 3/31/2019 at 2:55 AM, Oberlin said:

Second pass

Correct. He and another jumper  had originally planned to jump from much higher than the main load, and jumped 10-20 minutes after the main load.