Finally, after 18 years, a round jump again.

[councilman24 37]

Started on C-9's and T-10's, first rig was a Para Commander, last reserve ride that got all the way to the ground was a Phantom 24. After I busted up my ankle in 1987 and put on 40 pounds I didn't have a round that I wanted to jump. Had a 26' lopo on three rig risers that a few others jumped but too small for me. Was looking for a Phantom 28 but not willing to pay $200 for one. Finally found one on ebay and got it for $60.

Well, the forecast was for light and variable Saturday so loading up the car I grabbing the Phantom, an old d bag, PC, and some risers. While I was between loads put it together, packed it up, and tried to decide if I was nuts enough to do this. Every year or two I have to do something crazy. This wouldn't of worried me so much except for having an exit weight of about 245lb. I really didn't want to be busted up at the start of the season. Oh well..........

Threw a wind drift at 3000', climbed out at 5000', geeked the camera, and deployed at 4000'. VERY fast opening but no spike in force so no pain. No shit there I was, I thought I was going to die! Nope, all my round skills came back, and I started my landing approach, at 3800!

Okay, okay, crusin' in, driftin' with the wind, no noise, pretty kewl again.

Feet together, knees bent, hands up, eyes up ..... into the peas!!! Had them dialed in all the way.

Hmmm, think I would have walked away from a grass landing but my PLF would have had to be pretty good. But, don't think I'll try it again ... for a few weeks. Need to loose a few pounds or wait for cooler, denser air.

I've been jealous watching other jump a round from time to time. Finally got one in. Loose a little more weight and I'd jump it anytime. Anytime I'm spotting!

I'm old for my age.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE

[mr2mk1g 10]

Cool, I'd like to jump a round some time. DZ's should have "wayback camps" and give us newbies a history lesson or two.

You said in the first line:

Quote

last reserve ride that got all the way to the ground was a Phantom 24

Just curious... what kind of reserve ride ends half way down?

[councilman24 37]

One that's still opening as your going into the tree. That's how I busted up my leg. Ended up hanging 40' up a tree, half way up a ski sloop.

I'm old for my age.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE

[Amazon 7]

Way kewl I got to jump a T-10 at Seattle Skydivers annual GREEN MEET last May.. this year the festivities have been moved to August when we celebrate our 50th anniversay of the club. We plan on breaking the old rounds out again.. and I will be jumping the Papillion I got from Viking while I was down in Perris.. I need to practice packing it so I do not get another reserve ride due to my packing excellence on Paps... ( A French Pap was the very first sport rig I bought back in the early 1970's)

I have been collecting up some old gear so we can do some water jumps into the lake at Lost Prairie this summer.. so far I have a couple StratoClouds and a Stratostar in Booth Wonderhogs from the late 70's.. yup water jumps.... big splash expected
All of the rigs have rounds for reserves so if need be landing a 26' lopo into the water wont hurt quite as bad. I also have a couple C-9's and a T-10 with various 5 TU or 7 TU and some old military surplus rigs to stuff them into. ITs gonna be a fun summer.

[steve1 5]

Now you have me jealous. I haven't jumped anything round in over 25 years. But when it comes right down to it, I think I still have more round jumps than square ones.

Jeane, I might have to try out one of your old 28 ft. round or a t-10. I'm about 35 lbs. heavier now, but I still remember how to PLF. I don't know anything about strato-clouds. I guess I quit before they came out. I still plan on bringing my boat to Lost Prairie. I have it at Stevensville right now. So you can plan on me being part of the pick-up crew on the lake......Steve1

[Amazon 7]

Hey wanna take one into McGregor Lake????

The C-9 or T-10 would be just fine for your old bones..I mean I dont EVEN want to think how much heavier I am now as compared to the last (26' Lopo) round reserve ride I had back in the late 70's. We are planning some water training at the boat ramp.. I have a couple sets of USAF LPU's... but if anyone has some more water gear bring it...If I can teach Air Force Officers that have never made a jump at all and never want to, to get out from under their rounds.. I bet we can make sure everyone is safe making the water jumps

The extra boat will help lots.. with low gunnels on it, getting the parachute out of the water will be really easy. If I can concentrate on getting the people out of the water quickly the reserves will stay dryer and ready for another load. I am packing up one belly wart for the Papillion and it will be available for the mil surplus harness with the T-10.

I have to inspect all of the stuff really closely with Charlie Markins help.. but if all this stuff is good enuff for my big wide butt to jump.. then it should be just fine for all the wee folk out there.

What better way to use all this old gear that is perfectly servicible....just outdated.

[councilman24 37]

Of course their's the Twin Beech lake load we had in the 80's, with 550 cord tie downs ont he belly warts, old strato stars, PC, rags with swim suits and bare feet .......... and 80% of the load missed the lake!!! I don't know how big a target your talking about but I learned long ago with some of the lake jumps we used to do not to jump anything I didn't want to land on the ground. Of course we usually picked the worst spotter for these loads.

Nobody these days wants to jump newer gear into the water, and none of the newbies want to jump gear old enough that we want to get it wet.

Anyway, my water rig actually is a swift plus reserve, choice of F-111 mains and 1982 Northern lite harness. All stuff basically given to me.

Or the round.

Sound like fun if I was out that way. BTW the cheapest new water gear I've found is at http://www.chiefaircraft.com/cgi-bin/air/hazel.cgi?action=serve&item=/Aircraft/Aircraft.html

But I got mine before the DOT shipping charge of $20 Still only $55 plus shipping, same as ParaGear before extra charges.

I'm old for my age.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE

[Amazon 7]

I think I will spot this one.. I spotted the T-10 jump I did last year and landed only 25' from dead center.. I am a firm believer in landing where I want to. Its a big lake and should be reallly easy to hit


I have a few people who want to join me.. and I think all of them will be jumping the Stratoclouds.. me.. I want to jump the StratoStar into the lake..I have not been under one of those REALLLLY square canopies since 1976..I am wondering how big a splash I can make.... but its all good as long as no one tries to roll me back in the water.

I will have 3 round rigs with me... so if Steve wants to get wet... he can jump one of those...tee hee.

[steve1 5]

Jeane,
I wouldn't mind making a land jump on one of your rigs. I'll bring my Frenchies. If you need help repacking some of your mains, I'd love to pack a round again. I still have my chest pack rating, but it's been a long time since I've packed one of them.

One time, in the 70's, we were making water jumps into Flathead lake. This is a huge lake, and you'd wonder how anyone could miss hitting it. At anyrate one load spotted too close to the shore and the wind came up. All four jumpers landed quite a ways from the lake in bare feet. One guy had fins on. Those kind of water jumps weren't much fun....

I am trying hard to get current again. After a long winter lay-off I finally got a couple jumps in earlier in the week. Then the weather turned to crap. The airport board is still trying to shut down Hod's drop-zone at Stevensville, so they may be moving to a different locale. The D.Z. in Billings is shut down entirely, so I may have to do some traveling to get current. Otherwise Mad John may not want me messing up his loads....Steve1

[Amazon 7]

Quote

Otherwise Mad John may not want me messing up his loads

Hey the first few dives of the day are kinda ZOO loads anyway.. full on combat RW.. woo hoo...let em just bounce off me.. being in the base is fun stuff on Mad John Almost Sober Loads

When we do the water jumps I have a rigger or two who are willing to help out to keep the expenses down and I too know how to pack a chest mount.. as long as its under supervision.....I just take forever.. all that ironing out wrinkles on every fold used to really slow me down

I am bringing the rigs.. I dam well know I can spot for a hop and pop into the lake... and the boat will have a nice big wind blade and wind flag on it too. It will be up high on the antenna. it will ALSO make a real good reference point for when to flare over the water.. some people cant figure out how high they are over water.. depth perception is really bad for some people over it.