The Old Skydive Spaceland

[INSANEDADDY 0]

I used to go out there and watch when I was young. I was to young to jump back then. What year did that place close? I know they were flying an Otter at one point. What happened to the plane? I was flying with a friend on Tuesday and we flew over Houston Gulf. Well what used to be. They tore the run way out and everything is gone. I was told that one of Osama Bin Laudins brothers owned Houston Gulf and that was the reason they closed it down. (the airport)....Any truth to this?

You dont't get to choose how you're going to die. Or when.......You can only decide how you're going to live........NOW.
-BASE 1605 Night BASE 227

[wmw999 2,597]

Spaceland Parachute Center was open from the mid-70's until 1993 or so (I was out of the sport a few years and missed that part). For a long time, it used planes that were owned by Houston Metro Airlines; we took the seats out at the beginning of the weekend, and put them back in at the end. The DZ owner was a pilot for the airline.

I don't know what happened to its Otter -- it might be the one at Waller now, since that's sort of where some of the old Spaceland ended (Anahuac in between).

The subdivision that was built off the end of the runway in the early 80's was part of the death knell; I'm sure there was pressure. The skydivers left long before the airport closed, a casualty of (I'm told) lack of relationship maintenance (e.g. bill-paying) on the part of the DZ. It was owned by a bin Laden brother when it closed, but that's not why it closed. It's being developed now; the area is growing, and land can be built on.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[INSANEDADDY 0]

I remember the metro airport on Hwy 3. After it closed, we would drag race on the air strip. I found a web site with a pic of a Metro Otter. The pic was taken in Dallas. It was white with a little bit of blue and red. I was curious if it was one of the Houston Metro planes.

I would go out there and lay in the grass and watch skydivers jump for hours. I was to young and to broke to make a jump. Back then you could have probably jumped under 18 years old. Thanks for the info. I normally jump at Spaceland, but I have found Waller a lot of fun. Plus its a lot cheaper.

You dont't get to choose how you're going to die. Or when.......You can only decide how you're going to live........NOW.
-BASE 1605 Night BASE 227

[flyingferret 0]

Wendy, did you jump with Doc Stewart in those days? I have heard many stories of converting the otter every weekend.

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All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.

[wmw999 2,597]

I really don't remember Don at Spaceland; on the other hand, I spent many a happy hour at Houston Parachute Service (his loft) listening to him.

I was more regular at a couple of more northern DZs until 1977 or 1978; I think he'd left Houston by then. I know I saw him in Massachusetts when I was there, too -- I'm hoping to make it up to North Texas to say hi, too.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[flyingferret 0]

Cool, well I am sure he says hello. He is flying at Eagle Flight in granbury and Skydive Aggieland, depending on the weekend. And yeah, he spent some time at Pepperrell when he was getting back into the sport after his kids. He has some great stories of Texas jumping in the 60s and 70s.

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All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.

[AggieDave 6]

You never met Kim Fuller, did you? He's a jumper from the late '60s that still jumps (some).

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[wmw999 2,597]

Late 60's is, um, before my time

The name sounds familiar, but that may simply be because someone else mentioned him all those years ago. I don't really remember meeting anyone of that name.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[AggieDave 6]

Yeah, I know that was before your time, but he jumped all throughout the '70s and such. Still jumps some (not a whole lot since he bounced...he lived, got a concussion, that's all...its a really interesting story, I'll have to tell you sometime).

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[juanesky 0]

Then go ahead and tell the story...

"According to some of the conservatives here, it sounds like it's fine to beat your wide - as long as she had it coming." -Billvon

[AggieDave 6]

Ok, FlyingFerret could probably do a better job then I could, but I'll try to tell it accurately.

Kimbo (Kim Fuller) loves his vintage gear. Well, its not vintage to him, its gear he's had since he started jumping and some stuff from the same era that he's purchased since then (some of it in MINT condition). Anyways, he goes out for a low jump with his clown PC, I can't remember which, he dumps at 2k and had a sleeve lock or a streamer (can't remember which). Anways, he moved FAST got those shot and a half capwells fired off, rolled over, pulled the silver on his belly mount and basically had the reserve at linestretch when he hit.

Everyone on the DZ thought he was dead. Called 911, one of the head staff guys cut his gear off him (which pisses him off still to this day) and he was airlifted off the DZ.

He came back that weekend. He had a concusion and was sore, that's it. He was REALLY sore that someone had cut his vintage gear off him.

All in all, it was basically his lucky day.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[flyingferret 0]

Yeah, that is pretty accurate. He was jumping a 1975 Mk.1 PC in 'clown colors'. Obviously he deployed by 2k, because the BSRs say so. However, historically speaking Kim is from an era where sometimes openings were at 1200+-. That being said, Kim had a sleeve lock, the bridal was in a knot around the sleeve, it never came off. Fuller worked the capewells, like an SOB, and pulled silver. He got line stretch and inflation just prior to hitting. He landed reclined in dirt that was just a bit more firm than mud. Fuller admits one more second and he would have been toast.

He was in the hospital for a few days for observation. He suffered some blurred vision and a concussion. I showed up from lunch just as CareFlite was loading up, and was pretty freaked out. As soon as I turned on the airport road I saw the blades spinning at the end of the field and got that sick feeling. Fuller is indeed still pissed that they cut off "the best fitting harness I ever had" I can however say the PC is alive and well, and have jumped it twice myself...oddly enough, now that I think about it, I think I was the first one to jump it after that day. Going through emergency training with capewells was fun

Anyway, the amazing Fuller lives, and is on a hardcore diet to los weight so he can jump "margaret" again. I would love to fly a hybrid, sitflying in a 4-pin container, and Fuller would be just the one to help.

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All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.

[INSANEDADDY 0]

I found the pic of the metro otter I was talking about earlier. I am not sure if it was the one from Houston metro or not. I dont know how to post a picture. Can some one help me post this pic?

You dont't get to choose how you're going to die. Or when.......You can only decide how you're going to live........NOW.
-BASE 1605 Night BASE 227

[flyingferret 0]

After hitting reply, use the browse button to locate the file, select it and hit okay. Then click Upload Attachment and complete the post.

See my attachment.

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All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.

[juanesky 0]

Thanks for the great story.....

"According to some of the conservatives here, it sounds like it's fine to beat your wide - as long as she had it coming." -Billvon

[annabates 0]

Wendy. Hmm. I don't remember you, but you remember a lot of the same people I used to skydive with. I'm currently going though a lot of old photos and memerobelia from my skydiving days. I jumped from 1973-1978 at various places around Houston, including Spaceland and a place in Hitchcock, which I barely remember. It's all so hard to piece together! I would appreciate if if you would e-mail me. I'm trying to identify the people in some old photos. I completely lost interest in skydiving and moved on to other places and things. The photos look like things that happened to somebody else, long ago and far away.

[wmw999 2,597]

I was a college student until mid 1977, so I wasn't jumping all that much; I started at Clover Field, and did some jumping up at Weiser, and a little at Spaceland, Hitchcock, and at Spring Creek (where the Weiser crew ended up after it got too crowded).

Once I fix it, you should be able to email me (or you can do it at wmw999@dropzone.com), if you wanted to send some pictures. There are some other oldies around; Bill Lee is rigging in San Leon, and Mike Smith is still around too.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[INSANEDADDY 0]

I tried to up load the pic of the Otter I was talking about. It would not let me due to the size. It said it was to big. Can I e-mail it to someone and they can post it?

You dont't get to choose how you're going to die. Or when.......You can only decide how you're going to live........NOW.
-BASE 1605 Night BASE 227

[AggieDave 6]

Send it to me, i'll square it away.

dlund@-dontspam-texoma.net take the -dontspam- out and that's the addy.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[AggieDave 6]

Here we go. The Original Spaceland's Otter.



(You're right, you should road trip up here some time. )

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[INSANEDADDY 0]

Not sure if it is. Just looking for some confirmation. Anyone? Bueler? Bueler?

You dont't get to choose how you're going to die. Or when.......You can only decide how you're going to live........NOW.
-BASE 1605 Night BASE 227

[wmw999 2,597]

Definitely an Otter, definitely Metro, but I can't tell about the door, if it could come off as a double cargo door or not. I don't remember ever jumping one with a skinny door.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[INSANEDADDY 0]

I though the door was kind of small also. What about the colors? Was there more than one Otter flying out of that little airport on Hwy 3?

You dont't get to choose how you're going to die. Or when.......You can only decide how you're going to live........NOW.
-BASE 1605 Night BASE 227

[Hooknswoop 19]

Quote

Definitely an Otter, definitely Metro, but I can't tell about the door, if it could come off as a double cargo door or not. I don't remember ever jumping one with a skinny door.

The open door is the cargo door. It is usually bolted shut on juDefinitely an Otter, definitely Metro, but I can't tell about the door, if it could come off as a double cargo door or not. I don't remember ever jumping one with a skinny door.
ships. The double door just forward of the open cargo door are removed for skydiving operations.

Derek

[Beerlight 0]

I pulled up the N# info for 929MA. Evidently, somewhere along the way it's been changed. Now it belongs to a Cessna 206. Hmmm........

Aircraft Data, N929MA
Serial Number: T20608107
Owner: PRIVATE JET AIRLINES INC
18342 ENTERPRISE LN
HUNTINGTON BEACH , CA 92648-1206
Aircraft Manufacturer: CESSNA
Aircraft Model: T206H
Number of Engines: 01
Number of Seats: 006
Average Cruise Speed: 0000
Aircraft Weight: CLASS 1
Year of Manufacture: 1999