chuteless

Yes I most certainly do believe it. It is written in the WORD of God, and that is one book that tells no lies. The downfall of America is written 3 or 4 times in Daniel, and once in Revelation. All great empires that developed total arrogance and immorality, failed. The Roman Empire, the Nazi Empire ( last 1000 years?) the Egyptians, the Greek empire, the Japanese Empire, and the list is endless, going back many thousands of years. God destroyed the world in Noah's time with a great flood because "all the world is filled with violence". He said He would never bring another flood, but look at the violence in the world today.....God sure can't be pleased with what He sees. America leads the pack. They start wars, eradicate civilian populations, and think only of getting someone else's land---and oil.The American dream is built solely on greed. You can believe America's payback ison the way. Two bombs on Japan ( that is known as he TYPE ) and two bombs on the USA ( that is known as the anti-type).

RE:Your bit about the two eagles commenting on man in flight: My dad tied a pair of chicken wings onto his arms when he was about 10 years old (1896) and jumped from a fence. He landed in a pile of horse manure, and decided flying wasn't for him. I guess it is in my genes.

No, I wish it wouldn't happen, but it most certainly will. It cannot be avoided. but I wish it could be avoided Bill

There has been numerous documentaries that stated that the USA wanted to "test" the bomb on humans, so they coukld be ready if someone used such a device on the USA. I believe it. It was an immoral act, and since then, the USA has been committing many other immoral acts as well. Bush said last week, Hell, Yes, if we know sopmeone has information that would save American lives, we would resort to any means to get that info. That is exactly what Hitler said of his Gestapo, and their torture was well known. It was to give the Germans a preparedness...so torture was okay with Hitler....just as it is with Bush and Cheney. The USA will get their payback ....two cities....two bombs in the hands of Al Qaeda.

One thing I would like to say about doing a chuteless jump, and I have given this many times as a main reason for doing my 1st one . If one stops to consider that since man first walked on this earth, they have always had a strong desire to fly as they saw the birds doing it. In the late 1700s, man built a balloon and the they said: "Now men are flying like the birds" Not until 1903, did the Wright Bros build an airplane with a motor to get them up in the air,and then they said: Now we are able to fly like the birds. Then they built a glider, and left the engine off, rising on thermals and then they said: "Now we are flying like birds....soaring like an eagle" Then they started to jump from airplanes with a parachute on their back, and they flew to another jumper and said : "Now we are flying like the birds" Well, in doing a chuteless jump, man has been able to fly a directional flight, without plane, without wings, without a motor, and then they said, NOW a man has flown like the birds, in a directional flight, albeit, to pick up some landing gear, but it was just a man, using his arms and legs, and flying like the birds, without any other device. That, to me, is the act of flight...which is what man has always wanted to do since day one. The thrill of life is taking part in the ultimate thrills life can offer. Bill Cole

If a guy has 200 - 250 jumps and can't do a plain old hook-up with another jumper he should take up another sport. I think I had 430+ when I did my first chuteless,(in 1969) and I can't recall how many in 1972 when I made my 2nd. The most interesting thing about making the 1st chuteless jump ( for me) was the reaction of people who knew me...either in jump circles, or even when I was going to school ( which I left in 1948) People had a wide range of reaction to doing the jump, an some where downright hostile, and others were extremely far out, like the woman who said I was "daring God". (figure that one out). The hostility came mostly from CSPA types. As in Travis' case, there is a wide range of reaction, from those who might like to do a chuteless jump...but won't, and those who wouldnt under any circumstances. That is what makes the world go around. As for breaking rules, FAR, etc....I consider it "bending them" a bit...nothing more, and if there was any consequences, I accepted that possibility. The chuteless jump is a psychological jump...and nothing but a two man hookup. Bill Cole I checked the numbers: #1 was 436, and #2 was 551.

Let me give you a Canadian perspective on the USA and all the tirades, home grown animosity etc. I agree with Pete Stark, and the thing I like about it, is that George Bush must be doing a war dance in the Oval Office. He has few who criticize him, and fewer that do so with harsh words. He usually lets anyone's soft comments roll right of his lame duck back. He and Cheney cannot stand anyone who shows a harshness towards them. The next step is for Cheney to take Stark Quail hunting. This has to be the most immorral administration the USA has ever had. The whole country is mad a bush, but although they talk a lot about impeachment and ( in Spitzer's case...recall) no one has the guts to do it. Its all talk, beginning with Pelosi and her uncle Harry in Congress. The whole congress is made up of wimps, and no one will ever really take any action against Bush....He has them shaking in their shoes with his vetoes, and so the game goes around in circles. Peter Stark just got tired of all the rhetoric, and took three steps instead of two. Its okay to be nice and civil, but sooner or later, a gasket blows in some congressman or Senator, and they jump ahead of the line. The attitude of Americans is they are fighting for Freedom and all that baloney, when in fact they are fighting to maintain American hands on Iraqi oil. It has nothing to do with freedom. The USA has turnmed the whole world against their country, and China is taking it all in, and taking over everything they can, while Bush puts American border guards in prison. The USA priorities are ALL mixed up, and its just another sign of the nations impending doom. Good for Pete Stark. I am sure he is a civil man, but he just blew his stack because nothing ever changes for the better...it just keeps getting worse. I see on TV the other day, four American servicemen raped a 14 year old girl on their military island in the south Pacific. Just because you won the war with Japan, that should not give anyone licence to do such things, and I am confident all Americans would agree ( except the four who got caught). The massacre of old people and children ( some babies) in Vietnam by Lt Calley and his troops, also didnt do anything to help America's image. Calley is now a pharacist in the good ole USA, and those women and children are still very much dead. Where is the justice???? When the soldiers raped and killed a 13 yr old and her family in Iraq, they got off from the charges. When Americans dropped bombs on Canadian troops, and the pilot said "he was tired", he too, got off. American justice doesnt count for much....neither does the little value Americans put on the lives of Iraqis, or people from other middle east / far east nations. Pete Stark is only one of many who think such as he expressedhimself. The others will soon do the same thing. Americans are getting tired of Bush and Cheney and their self styled image of the good guys. Either get realistic and impeach them or put up with someone blowing up over their antics. Bill Cole

Rather than make two posts, I tried to merge them into one. Sorry for the confusion. Bill

I knew a guy in Ohio once that took a cat into freefall. It scratched him badly, and the cat went to the ground on its own, trying hard to keep a spreadeagle position all the way. No one had taught it how to do a cat proper PLF, but I think it had a PLF ( possible leg fractures) anyhow. Bill Cole D-41 edit for spelling.

I do not agree it was for greed. I made my living doing what I had to do to get the job done. If I had to go beyonf what the MOT would allow, I wouldn't hesitate, because it paid my bills and fed my kids. Not once did I ever receive fallout from anything I did....unless you want to call CSPA's dumb reaction "fallout". If they had any smarts, they could have milked what I did to their own favour, but being a vindictive organization, they handled everything badly. The Media recognized what they were trying to doing to me, and often members of the Press called me to feed the fued CSPA started. It was all publicity, and it brought me and the Descenders Parateam into the forefront of the general public, and that meant more shows, and more bills paid. Regards Bill Cole

Evel Knievel's jumps(?) were really a side effect on the sport of motorcycling, just as my jumps were a side effect of skydiving. I never bothered worrying about what anyone ( MOT or FAA or ANYONE ) would say, think, or react. I did what I wanted, and if someone was paying me for it, so much the better. I did both chuteless jumps on my own, with no sales planned. If we made some money on it, GREAT, but we didnt make much ....so far, and I don't really see a change in that coming in the future. However, if someone offered to pay me...before doing a stunt ( like the 9 jumps for a Molson Beer Commercial I did ), then I would bend/break/totally disregard any and all rules to get the job done. The things I did were certainly noticed by the public, and air show organizers, and they reacted by hiring me and the Descenders Parateam for their shows and other special events.. I was paid $1500.00 for a 15 minute TV show interview, and we talked about what was soon to become "BASE Jumping", and CSPA went nuts. However, at their next AGM, they showed the first film on base jumping after throwing me out of their club for only hypothetically talking about it. They even refuse to recognize my HALO record, which the FAI has certified as the Canadian record even though I was a member in good standing when I made it. .They went to the bother of writing up a set of "new" records to reflect jumps that aren't really near the height of mine. I agree with the posting, that said your ability to develop the sport is only limited by your imagination. That is well put, and stunts or any other type of jumping, for money, or for free, is all a part of skydiving...like it or not. Use your imagination and fly your best. I wasn't referring to anyone in particular when I said some jumpers should "get a life" I was thinking of those who complain for the sake of complaining, and who knock someone for doing something because "THEY" wouldn't do it. Its a matter of choice, but if you havent tried it...don't knock it. Whats wrong with the Hell's angels? you ask. Well, they will find out when they get to the real HELL !!

Motorcycling has been a valid sport much longer than skydiving. They speed race, have obstacle courses, and much more, some including sidecars on their bikes. Now the Hell's Angels is a somewhat different sport....one to stay away from. Knevel didnt do anything to harm motorcycle sales....and I didnt do anything to harm parachute sales....or anytghing else. It did however, bring the sport, and what we were capable of doing into the public spotlight. When Rod Pack did his chuteless jump in 1965, the headline of the Toronto Newspaper read " The greatest Stunt In History". Rod didnt make much money (if any) but he made skydiving get noticed. Bill Cole D-41

I didnt break the rules....but I think I bent the Hell out of them. Isn't that what rules are for???? One official from Transport Canada in Ottawa, asked a second official in Toronto " What are you going to do about Cole's jump?" The answer he got was " NOTHING....he made not have had a chute when he left the aircraft, but he did go and get one, and he landed with one, so as far as I', concerned, he made a parachute jump. End of story" I should point out here, that the Official in Toronto was a fantastic supported of anything I did, so he was really ignoring the illegality of the jump. If anyone can "bend the rules and make some good money" go for it. Bill Cole D-41

Did you ever wonder how badly the motorcycle stunts of Evil Knievel hurt the motorcycle sport? Skydivers are the biggest whiners in the sporting world. Back in 1964, I provided some photos of guys in freefall to accompany a National magazine article, and almost everyone at the dropzone was cryiong because I made a few hundred dollars "on the back of the sport". No other sport has such a gathering of , " Oh Woe is me...he made money on my sport, that bad man.....What should we do about it.? Maybe whine a bit.... I had to pacify the whiners, but giving a free jump from 7500 ft, to all whose photos had been used, even though they allowed the pix to be taken without complaint, Ot appears if someone makes money from this sport, and someone doesnt, there is a flood of whiners until the money is shared with those who don't even take part in the stunt. Andi Dachtler's chuteless jump of August 2006 didnt hurt the sport in Germany. Neither of my chuteless jumps did any harm to skydiving in Canada or anywhere else, and I suggest it helped bring the sport, and what is capable of being done in the sport, to the attention of the public. CSPA always cried when I made money from jumping...because they couldn't raise a dime for their National Team. They cried when I managed to get my team to perform at the airshows that were held right near the backyard of the CSPA clubs. The public liked the stunts, and that is why the air shows wanted our team. They never knew until the last minute what I would do....(like 25 ft risors on a PC ---OOOOOps) or dumping out of an upside down biplane at 1200 feet, and opening very low. The air show organizers and the public loved it....and so did I. Its time some people in this sport grew up, and got a life. If you wouldnt do a chuteless jump, thats fine, but good for those that will.More power and credit to them. Bill Cole D-41

I am very sorry to hear about Chuck. I jumped with him back in the 1960s, and he was a regular fixture at the many DZs around Ontario. He then moved to Orange Mass, and it wasnt long after that he had his accident. I thought about him just two days ago, and wondered how he was. He was a great guy.

Thanks much for the data. I think its a great jump, and he deserves to be congratulated. Bill Cole I will have to email Andi Dachtler in Germany now and make sure he knows of it. Andi did a chuteless jump in August 2006.

Absolutely awesome pictures and an awesome jump. I congratulate him, and I think it is a fabulous accomplishment. I wish I could have been there. Bill Cole D-41 I agree.....he sure must have had "something" under his shorts.

does anyone know who did this stunt Tdog is referring to. Was it another chuteless jump? is there any material on the stunt published. Who was the sponsor?? Just curious Bill Cole

I always carry a supply of Percodan and Morphine. Ive been using Percs for about 35 years. I don't get a "high" from it now, but did when I first started using it. I also use Meloxicam for the massive arthritis through my legs, ankles and feet. (corrected for a spelling mistake)

LOL LOL LOL LOL

Jim: Thanks much for the post. I had a great tinme at the Stienbach DZ, and it was nice to fly my old Para-Sled as my last jump, 45 years and 1 day after my 1st. Thankjs much for your great hospitality. I posted that poem on a previous poetry thread started by CASCH....on Bonfire, on October 12th, along with another one that tells about skydiving as it really is. That thread was started a very long time ago, and I just added the two poems on the end of it. Perhaps I should have put them on TRIVIA. Bill Cole D-41

Here is a couple of poems for those who want to know what skydiving isreally like; 2004 Punching A Hole In The Sky What a wonderful sport I find myself in, It takes place where the thunderbolts fly, Where rainbows are bent after summer's rain And to do good, you just have to try. Looking down on the earth and the fields of green There's no need to be wimpish or shy, Its a place you can go, and fly without wings, As you just punch a hole in the sky. It must seem so strange as you look up above And behold what is seen with the eye, The clear blue of heaven that's over your head As the fluffy white clouds go by. And soon you are flying like a bird on the wing And you plummet toward earth from on high, Your parachute opens and you realize That you've just punched a hole in the sky. In all of the things you are able to do There is no greater thrill you can buy, So wonderful, and so exciting it is, It can bring tears of joy to your eye. With other skydivers the pleasures you share, For each of you learned how to fly, A wonderful landing, you're back on the earth, But you just punched a hole in the sky. There are many who cling to the earth like a claw, They're the people who never ask why, They'll never know that the reason birds sing Is because they are able to fly. They could not understand how a skydiver feels If you told them till rivers run dry, And the greatest of pleasures a skydiver knows, Is punching a hole in the sky. The day is soon over, you stare at the fire, But memories linger and sigh, The crimson red sunset that hovers above Casts a glow on companions nearby. You fill out your logbook with each thrilling move As the shadows of dark seem to tie Themselves to each other, and you smile as you know That you just punched a hole in the sky. -------------------------------------------------- On August 6th 2007, I made my final jump at the dropzone in Steinbach, Manitoba, , exactly 45 years and 1 day after making my first jump. I jumped a Para-Sled canopy that I bought new in 1972, but is now owned by a jumper in Winnipeg, Manitoba. ------------------------------------------------------ My Jumping Is Over My jumping is over, satisfaction is mine There's been many a flight in the blue. My body is sore from the great crash and burns And I sure wouldn't wish that on you. With bones slowly healing, I reach for the pills That will help take the pain for awhile. It sure has been great, but the memories I have, Will cause me to flinch and to smile. The times when I dove from the aircraft above Are the times that I miss most of all, The flight of a friend as he thrusts like a jet And careens to my beckoning call. Our hands touch together, the contact is made There is no place on earth quite the same, No place for malfunctions, no place for regrets Cause this sport is the world's greatest game. This sport is the reason, it makes me alive In a world that can sometimes bring pain, And I fondly look back at my days in the sky And I'd do it all over again. The shadows are longer as I think of those days When I owned the whole sky up above, When I flew like an eagle, far above fields of green And performed in the sport that I love. Like a bird without feathers, and fear wasn't there, Cause flying was a thing that I owned. Ability grew and it didn't take long, Like and edge it was soon finely honed. When your airplane takes off in the soft morning mist As it cuts through the sweet smelling clover, You can know I've been there, I was part of the sky But my skydiving career is now over. Bill Cole D-41 Canada

Sir: You are wrong about his heart rate not getting to 230. I used to mount a heart rate recording device built by the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children....... on first jump students, and on leaving the aircraft I often got a heart rate of 225. The rate would then subside somewhat, and then climb again ( to about 175-180 )before they hit the ground, ( anticipation of a hard landing.) Bill Cole D-41

Thanks so much for your kindness....all of you. Its been a very hard last 3 days, and to make matters worse, I found out he had been cremated shortly after passing away. I have never had a close relative cremated before, and it hit me hard, because now there isnt a grave, or anything to show Bob was ever here. There seems to me to be an empty hole where his body should be, and there is nothing. His wife has a small pile of ashes, about the amount one would get from a fireplace log....and I have found this quite disturbing...but nothing can change it now. I have decided to plant a maple tree on his birthday ( May 22 2008) on the banks of the Etobicoke River where we used to hunt, and shoot everything up. At least that will serve in place of a headstone, and be a reminder of Bob's presence on the river years ago. It so happened that I was hiking up that river with my 7 yr old grandaughter at the time Bob died, and perhaps he might have left earth when I was telling Renee about how in 1947 he and Gerry were walking the very same path we were on through giant pine trees. Once again, thanks to all for your kindness.. I will tell you about some of the things that could easily have taken our lives many years ago, except for the grace of God. In a few days, I will put something on the TRIVIA thread. Bill Cole

My brother Bob died last Wednesday, Oct 3rd of a heart attack. He and I had a great sibling rivalry for many years, and one day in the Spring of 1962, he told me he had made 3 parachute jumps. OOOps...he did something I hadn't done. I got busy, and a couple of months later, I phoned him and asked him how many jumps he had. THREE, he told me, just Three. Well, I have 12, I said. . I managed to get ahead of him. He was my closest partner in every mischief and danger we could devise as kids, and its a wonder we lived as long as we did. He was 73 in May....I am 75 in October. Sad to lose a brother....my inspiration to take up jumping.