chuteless

N/A

FYI: I have been told by my doctor, that I have a situation that needs further investigation regarding my prostate. I have an appointment with a specialist on October 1st, and he will let me know if, and how bad the situation may be, and if there is any cancer. On top of that, the hospital recently did some stress tests on my heart, and I was told yesterday, that I have two arteries or valves that are getting well blocked by Cholesteral ( I think thats how its spelt). If these two arteries are not opened SOON, I will simply drop dead as my heart will simply stop beating...when I least expect it. The blood cannot flow through the arteries, and that will stop me in my tracks.....literally. Right now, I am so absolutely tired, I can hardly move. I am, walking and doing anything else in super slow motion. If I try walking fast, the heart causes extreme pain in the center of my chest, right next to the two arteries location, so I do not ( Cannot) walk fast. They are planning to put a stent in the two arteries, and that should help. I have an appointment with the cardiac unit at the local hospital on October 5th, but I believe that is for more tests. Anyhow, I will be getting additional tests, but they didnt say what for......just more tests. Meanwhile, I will be visiting a DZ this weekend, ( a POPS gathering) but I certainly wont ever be jumping again....its hard enough to walk and keep upright. Occassionally, I bounce off the wall. I have had a very exciting and interesting life, and will be 78 on Oct 31st this year. I know where I am going when I leave here, and am certainly not afraid of my future. Bill Cole D-41 Canada aka Chuteless # 2 and # 3.

However, you still get the full pressure from a bailout bottle, which is 2000psi, but it drops off rapidly. The original blast is noticable, but there is nothing to fear from it. I have used many bailout bottles, and never encountered a problem. The supply of oxygen from the main bottle ( 3 ft long) is reduced and then further reduced to what you require through a demand regulator.

I read your posting, and I think the guy who gave you the PM advice is right on. Think things through, and you will maybe try something a couple of times before you master it, but he is right....you will be led around the bush a hundred times by guys who think they are God's gift to skydiving, and no one else knows anything. Do what the guy suggested...go for it, and dont let anyone tell you that you cannot do it. It may take some time to become proficient, but you will get the hang if it. It really isnt rocket science. I jumped wingsuits with no " instruction" from anyone except watching Burt Lancaster in the Gypsy Moths film, and although I didnt really enjoy the wingsuit back in 1965, I made flights which were stable, interesting, and something altogether NEW. Go for it, and do what he says with USPA rules and regulations. Rules were made to be bent like hell, but not necessarily broken. Bill Cole D-41 Canada aka Chuteless #2 and #3

Billvon: [ in the equipment I was using ] The Oxygen in the master supply ( a three foot long bottle) is pressured at 2000 psi + or -, and it is then reduced to about 500 psi + or -. From that reduction regulator, it is then fed to the demand regulator, which breaks it down even further to ambient or normal breathing. There is no way that the extremely high pressure can blow back into your face after having been twice reduced from high pressure, to the demand regulator. It is true, as I indicated before, that when you disconnect the hose from the demand regulator, and activate your bailout system, there is a blast of high pressure from the small bailout bottle which is almost 2000 psi, [ there is no way that high pressure blast kills you instantly ]and it is at that time you are required to forcibly exhale, while inhaling is done under the pressure of the bottle. There is NO regulator on the bailout bottle. That high pressure will slowly reduce as the oxygen is used up during the freefall, and it is advisable to keep the mask on tight until the chute is opened. I am not disagreeing with what you posted, because I believe we are on the same page. I do not agree that 500 psi pressure will kill you instantly, because the bailout bottle is 4 times that pressure, and although it is easy to breathe and hard to exhale, I have used it many times, and I am still alive. Just stating the case for the record. Bill Cole

FYI: I had a high performance regulator on the main supply, and it monitored the full tank pressure, and then dispatched it into a much lower ( about 500psi) to the demand regulators in the display, from which we had our hoses connencetd tio the demand regulators. Both the main supply and what was going to our demand regulators were both on separate gauges, and easily monitored. There is no back pressure when using the demand regulators, as we are breathing only 500 psi, and breathing is normal. As we disconnect from those regulators, we activate our bailout bottles and the main supply is off. Try it sometime, and while I agree someone could be killed or mentally injured from poor equipment, I had exceptional equipment, and advice from people much smarter than you will ever be, Canadian military personnel.

I certainly did not do anything on the " cheap". The console wasnt the only thing I made and it was well made, and was used several times. I also made my own refilling device for bailout bottles. I had about 20 of them, and kept them filled. I had the experience to do what was required, and had access to a great deal of military advice and equipment. I agree it should not be done on the cheap, and your cheap shot about what was made by me, is just that...a cheap shot. I could refill the bailout bottles, and did it many times, and " NOT on the cheap.", and I made my own refilling device. I can tell you that on one occassion, a jumper from western Canada wrote to the military people I was dealing with, and they showed me his letter. In it, he said he wanted to make a HALO jump, and had managed to scrounge some stuff that he would put to use. That immediately cut him off from any military assistance, even though they likel;y wouldnt have given him any . It just wasnt given to the public. I had cultivated a relationship with this particular military establishment over many years, and was accepted by everyone from the Generals on down the line. Since you never even saw my equipment, it is rather rude to make such a dumb comment about it implying it was cheaply done.

Reading the posts on this, I am amazed at how many differences there are. It seems like everyone has their own thoughts, and few appear to be based on actual HALO jumps. I have done 7 or 8 Halo jumps from 22,120 up to 36,916 ft, and only had to abort one jump at 21,500 for oxygen equipment failure. On that jump, my brother was aboard and he was facing slightly away from me. He turned towards me to speak, and both his eyes were blood red...absolutely NO whites. I told another jumper behind me to tell the pilot we have an emergenecy an to take it down immediately. On several jumps over 30,000 ft ( one at night) I had built an inexpensicve but with all the funtionality I required, a console with multiple hose attachments. There was only two of us jumping, and we both had Canadian Air Force oxygen masks, and the Pate suspension system to hold the mask to our helmets.( a great system to be sure) When we reached altitude, I told the other jumper to disconnect his console hose and activate the bailout bottle. We opened the door, and left the pilot alone for the ride down. He dropped the retractable landing gear so we could launch off it. Our helmets were Jet jockey helmets, and I fell about half way down before pulling the visor down in front of my face. I wasn't wearing goggles. The runways at Pearson Intnl Airport at Toronto were seen as a light grey color, and the whole airport was lit up. The Control Tower held a 747 off until we got down and then it came in. We landed beside the runways. Rick lost his contact lenses, and had to guess when to pull. I wore a sensitive altimeter and a non sensitive one as well., and carried a barograph under my front mounted reserve. In fact, all out equipment was donated by a friend in the military who ran the shool of aviation medicine for the military. For the console in the aircraft, all one needs is a large tank of oxygen, with a reducer regulator to break down the pressure from 2000 psi to about 600 psi, which can then be directed to your mask and you can breath the power pressure. The bailout bottles are 2000 psi, and it is necessary to forcibly exhale against that pressure, while taking in the oxygen is under pressure and no problem. I had a box of brass nipples that are broken to reklease the oxygen, and I made a system whereby I could reload a bailout bottle in about 10 minutes. For all of my HALO jumps I opened at about 2000 ft agl. I never had to pay a dime for any of the jumps with one exception, that was the night jump 30,571 Ft...it cost me $75.00 for two jumpers. Anyone interested in doing HALO should take a High Altitude Indoctrination course before making such a jump. You will be taken to simulated altitude and your mask removed to show you the dangers of hypoxia. I have taken that course about 7 times over the years, and although mine were free, it is a good investment for such a jump. Best of luck to anyone who makes a HALO, its a good log book entry after all those 7500 - 12000 foot jumps. Bill Cole D-41 Canada

I dropped a young boy who made three jumps when he was 12 yrs old. Bill Cole

Steven Hawking is anover rated physicist, who really doesnt have a clue about anything. What a first class jerk !!! How he bluffed his way into making people everywhere think he is some kind of know it all, is the stuff hollywood films are made of. He can'd really do anything, so he likes to stir the pot.

Re your question: It wasn't Roy Johnson: He was the style and accuracy champion for the USA;, the other guy was Bud Johnson, who with Larry Hartman, went to a higher altitude on Aug 27th 67. There was a magazine article about 1969 which had me on the cover, stating I would jump of the ( then ) tallest building in Toronto for a large sum. I was later suspended the second time for LIFE, for talking about the "possibility" of jumping from a cliff like the Grand Canyon. It never came t pass, but I was asked to jump from the CN Tower, first time, on the third anniversary of its opening when the winds were about 40 MPH and it had to be cancelled;, and the next time, for a movie. A very greedy lawyer told the producer of the film, he was starting to negotiate at a 6 figure amount. The producer then got Dar Robinson to make te jump, and after he did, I spoke to Dar, and suggested that kind of jump was worth a lot more than he got (25K).He agreed, but said he wanted the publicity. Dar is gone now, an I am still here...perhaps for not too much longer though. Nice to hear from you Dan. Take care. Bill Cole

I don't know if you've ever seen a " no pull ". I have seen two, and I hope your wanting to talk about that subject is respectful. There are many other things more important, although I suppose you will argue that you want to instill something in the newbies on DZ.com Bill Cole

Nice to hear from you. I remember Dan and the " Red Eagles". I jumped with your Dad at Wakeman, Ohio, when Bob Karns and Dean Ortner put on a show. Dan spotted one load on the DC 3, and I spotted the second load. I hope you are well. Bery best to you Bill Cole

Osama bin Laden....former construction boss.

A word of advice, to a jumper friend. The fear should not be there....its a waste of energy that can be put to a greater use. Stop and think about it, my friend. You've jumped before....youve proved you are capable....likely the same rig, the same plane, the same sky, everything the same....so what is to fear? You've proved you could do it, and everything worked fine.....just as it will this time, the next time, the next time and forever...the next time. Now, if you should do something dumb, like pack your rig without care and caution, you THEN may expect....MAYBE something will be different....but not really something to fear. However, chutes are made to open...and likely always will open as long as you are careful....so why are you fearing something that should have no fear...but only everlasting enjoyment. Don't fret over the things that somehow " MIGHT" happen....sit back, enjoy the ride to the top floor, and then think too, of how much you are going to enjoy the fall to the earth, and a good landing. Nothing to fear...don't waste the energy....look forward to the thrill, to the flying, to seeing your friends in the blue. Look forward to fun, to enjoyment...to the best sport in the world. DO NOT waste time fearing or wqorrying over something that you have already proved you are good at, and can accomplish. Look forward to the great sport you are in , the sport many wish they could get into, but lack what you have...the guts....the nerve to actually do it. You have already proved yourself worthy of the title " SKYDIVER" Now stop this unrequired fear of nothing and enjoy yourself. There is nothing to fear....Ive been there and I know. Have a great jump, and leave a good mark in the sky Bill Cole D-41.

Do you know just how much of your precious economy is owneed by China and japan. Take a good look around as you go down the toilet. BC

My very best wishes and congratulations. I hope the sky holds as much fun for you as it has held for me. Go fo it. Bill Cole D-41

I am not sure about sitting on planks, because Bob Karns, the pilot told me when the tower at Oberlin gave him the okay to drop the guys, he turned and waved to one of the jumpers ( Jimmy Simmons )who was standing beside the bomb bay doors on the airframe, and he just stepped to the side and was gone. the rest followed. As for the two others, they were Larry Hartman and Al Olmstead, who had oxygen equipment suitable to go higher. They exited over Wakeman (Ortner Field) and while in freefall spotted a small hole in the cloud and pointed to it for Al, and they tracked over that direction. They did ask "where are all the others" when they landed, and were told they had been dropped inthe lake. Bob Karns was giving them a free jump in payment for jumping at an airshow, for which he got paid.Karns had chicken dinners for all the jumpers laid out in the hangar....in appreciation for their air show jump. Karns later died in a crash at Detroit, and Larry Hartman later died by being drunk and falling out of a boat .....in lake Erie. Some people think he was pushed...but no proof. Larry and Bob were extremely great guys, some of the best. Bill Cole D-41 Canada

This is similar to the Jews allowing the building of the Nazi headquarters in Jerusalem, and saying, " Oh, they really mean no harm ....lwhy can't we all be friends "?

I am fully aware of that, but its still a fabulous fun jump if you get away with it. Once the pilot signalled that he was directly overhead, it was a go jump....and we got away with it, like many other things we shouldnt have done. I must also confess, I saw two jumpers miss very closely the wing of a DC-3 , but they missed it, and everyone kept moving on. They could have spit on his wing as they went past it. I just realized that today is the 41st anniversary of my 1st chuteless jump.........no obituary yet for me. Bill Cole

I realize punching a cloud CAN dangerous, but it isnt always. We often did it at Parkman DZ in Ohio, where I jumped with many of those who dropwn in lake Erie Aug 27th 67. We often would climb to altitude, and someone on ground would radio the pilot, who would then rev his engine up and down to indicate it was his aircraft that was directly overhead of the Dz. Everyone would jump, and land right on the target at the DZ. I have jumped through many clouds, and wouldnt hesitate to do iot again, because faklling at that speed toward something stationary is a great thrill. Bill Cole

It will be 43 years since the Lake Erie tragedy. Just think of all those 16 people whose lives ended on that jump, August 27th 1967. They would be like me...getting old and grey....not many would still be jumping by now, but they were a historic tragedy on that day. I for one, won;t forget any of them. Bill Cole D-41 Canada.

What a disgustingly stupid letter to Dr Laura. You couldnt own a Canadian anyhow....they are too smart for you.

Yes I do recall that jump. After Tyler made his second chuteless jump, I telephoned his usual DZ to congratulate him, only to be told he had died jumping off Half Dome two weeks earlier. He and I would have been the only members of the twice chuteless club. Too bad...I would like to have met him. Bill Cole D-41

I made my 1st jump 48 years ago tomorrow ( Aug 5th 1962) I am glad you are still young. Old age creeps up when you least expect it. I thought I would be 40 yrs old forever. Bones break easier, heal slower, but best of everything to you, young man. Stay well. Bill Cole D-41 Canada