What is this canopy? #6

[kkeenan 14]

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...the equipment 35-odd years ago was extremely basic and actually lent itself to home-made modifications...

When I was in Thailand with the USAF, we jumped with a nearby Army sport club. They trained a lot of Thai nationals in sport jumping, and you should have seen the wild-ass modifications some of those folks came up with. Some of those canopies looked like they had been run over by a lawnmower, they had so many holes and slots in them. Of course, the average Thai jumper weighed about 95 lbs., so they could get away with just about anything.

One day, an Army Jumpmaster was checking gear of Thai jumpers as they stood in line for the next load, I heard a lot of yelling. One of the Thais, knowing that a reserve was required on the front of the harness, had attached his D-rings to the harness with several turns of tacking cord, and the Jumpmaster was giving him Hell about it. We thought that was pretty funny. Then a little while later, more yelling. The same guy, knowing that the Jumpmaster aparently didn't like that tacking cord, had added some duct tape over it and got back in line again.

Kevin K.

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Dude, you are so awesome...
Can I be on your ash jump ?

[RogerRamjet 0]

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Regarding 4-line release, Phil 'Crusty' McLean used used one at Z'hills, as did (I think) Roger 'Ramjet' Clark for a while.

Hoop

Hi Hoop,

Never tried the 4 line release though I saw it. I did shortline my C9 and also used a pull down center line (idea taken from Dan Steiger). When I got it, it had a long sleeve with it. Later I made a short sleeve and then finally a bag. Actually several different bags, the last one being made of cotton. When I had my line over on it, I got a Strato Star from Booth who had gotten it in for someone else who didn't have the money to pick it up. I believe it was one of the first in Florida. Never jumped a round again (though I would for fun).

I see all the current guys and gals cringing about round jumps while we didn't think twice about it and in fact cringed about square jumps. In those days, it was the squares that opened hard or not at all and the PC was king. Those without funds jumped the cheapos. I was told when I wanted to jump the squares that were around Z-Hills then that I'd be cutting away very soon. I also had to wait until I had 100 jumps. Funny thing is that I jumped every square on the DZ at least once (Sled, Foil, Para Plane, Cloud, and one other I can't remember the name of) and never had a mal. Never had one in the 650 jumps I put on my Strato Star either. I always believed that a properly tuned, properly packed, slider equipped Strato Star would open every time (and mine did too). That canopy altered the state of skydiving in my opinion. It made squares on RW jumps the norm.

I never saw your highly modifed 26' Navy, but I sure would have liked to try it!

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Roger "Ramjet" Clark
FB# 271, SCR 3245, SCS 1519

[mccurley 1]

this is very much the same, but made of plastic!!

Watch my video Fat Women
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRWkEky8GoI

[JumpUpMyAss 0]

I see your point.
Parachute jumping is still an activity that requires more than the average person is willing to risk. That in itself attracts a common personality trait that all jumpers, old and new share.
From a 52 year old perspective: As far as your generation compared to the 'new' generation? Jumpers then defined the sport, now the sport defines the jumpers.

Hey man, that was HEAVY!
I need to go lay down now.

[airtwardo 7]

As far as your generation compared to the 'new' generation? Jumpers then defined the sport, now the sport defines the jumpers.

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That WAS heavy, and dead on point!

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~