chuteless

the DZO, (enough said)

Best DZ by far is Skydive Green County at Xenia, Ohio. Worst by far is in Northern Ohio, Aerohio. Bill Cole D-41 (However, I havent been to all DZ's, but those two stand out as described.)

Steve: Yes that cross connector saved my day. It sure was odd hanging from one snap hook un an unsteerable 24 ft reserve . That PC was prone to have a mal now and again, but the camera in the apex probably helped. Bill Cole D-41

whoopps....I still have the jumpsuit, so any "short" jumpers (send measurements) , its still here...not going to Indiana Bill Cole

I had a couple of rigs with a velcro chest strap, which always came undone on opening. I never figured it to be a big deal, as long as both leg straps were done up. If one of those came undone....no big deal, the other wouldnt let you fall out. I had a mal on a Para Commander because I packed a 16mm movie camera into the apex, and when I cut away, one of the butterfly type snaps came undone on the reserve, leaving me hanging on one snap hook. It got me down, so I didnt view it as anything to be alarmed about. Bill Cole D-41

Jumpsuit is goig to Richmond, Indiana. Thanks for the enquiries. Bill Cole

Thanks very much Bill

How does one get to the droptoons site...Jerry King????? Bill Cole D-41

Enough to know that step in leg straps are a great thing if you are part of the Cirque de Soliel, but for jumping the B-12s are far superior in putting the rig on. I realize theyare adjustable, but that doesnt take away the stupidity of having to step through them when all one has to do is click the snap. So much easier. When I was jumping in Quito Ecuador with the Special Forces, it was even difficult to put on the B-12s because the DZ was 9500 feet above sea level. There is no way after being there without supplementary oxygen, that one could get through those step ins in less than an hour of contortions. Bill Cole D-41

Your inseam is 35 inches??????? That seems to be very long in the leg. This is made for a short person, about 5'-6", and the measured inseam of the leg (crotch to the top of the shoe) is less than 30 inches. I doubt it would fit you, my friend. Bill Cole D-41

I personally think the fixed straps are the worst invention or modification that has ever been dumped on skydivers. Absolutely the most stupid thing ever. The only people who like them are those who have never tried anything else. The adjustable leg straps with the quick ejector snaps are by far the best. I am 6'-2"as well, and 185 pds. Bill Cole D-41

I have one more thing that someone can have, if they want it. Its FREE., but you can pay the postage to receive it. It is a Stevens Custom jumpsuit. Yellow in color,(similar to those worn by the Golden Knights team) and it was given to me buy the guy who was my jumpmaster when I made my first jump in August 1962. He began jumping in 1960. He bought this suit about 1973, and its LIKE NEW. It has two full length zippers up the front, from ankle to neck. It has an elastic waist, and velcro cuffs. It may have about 3 or 4 jumps on it, but the only indication of use is a smudge on the right knee....probably from packing. The first person who provides me with his/her height, and the inseam (crotch to ankle at top of show) can have it. I know what size of person it will fit, and I would like to know it WILL fit you, and that you WILL use it. Bill Cole D-41

Maybe someone should suggest giving Cheney, Bush, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz and others a single shot rifle each, and turn them loose in Baghdad, and let all the great guys come home. Bill Cole

Thanks so much> Yes, I'm healing still, but healing slowly. 7 months and counting. I tried to run through the deep snow this morning, and found my ankle doesnt bend like it used to. I almost ended up head first in a drift. I guess I dont heal like I used to either. Im glad you got the rig together, and if I ever get down to Indiana again, maybe I can make one on it. A blessed Christmas to all at your DZ. Bill Cole D-41

Again, such a waste of good men isnt it? Thanks Bill Cole

Yes there is. I think it is the entire length of 42nd Street. Bill Cole

I know the photo you are referring to. Yes Oscar and one other survived the war, and that is Oscar's FW190 that they are standing in front of. I love him very much, a real true aviator, and the greatest gliderpilot Ive ever seen. He once flew from Toropnto to Montreal (350 miles) in his glider. There is an IMAX film called The Silent Sky, and much of it was filmed with a chase plane piloted by Frank Tallman, the greatest stunt pilot ever. Oscar told me he was flying the glider and Frank was chasing him, and when Oscar did a hammerhead, he came face to face with Frank, and shot right past the side of his aircraft. a close call. Yes war is HELL< and sometimes it is necessary, but still a waste of a lot of "good people". Bill Cole

War is such a waste of humans and their potential.

There used to be a young woman who we called "Downwind Lynn". She could never figure out which way to face when landing. I had taken her equipment off her unconsious body, and she was warned many times to get things right "before she jumps again" but shw would not listen. She finnaly killed herself with one of her amazing crash and burn landings....So Sad.!!!!! Bill Cole D-41

This is just a story which may or may not interest you. I turned 12 yrs old on Oct 31st 1944, and 2 months later, on Jan 1st 1945, my country's enemy was making its last big attempt to control the skies over Holland, France and Belgium. As this 12 yr old slept, in Holland Oscar Boesch was flying his FW 190 in a low level straffing attack on the airport at Eindhoven, in Holland. He shot up Spitfires and Typhoons, and the big gas trucks, which filled the sky with smoke and fire. The Canadian pilots couldnt get their Spitfires and Typhoons off the ground to battle in the air and everything was crazy. Oscar screamed across the airfield, and 1/2 second earlier, and he would have had a broadside collision with another FW 190 who crossed in front of him. Very close call. Later that afternoon, Oscar was flying back to his home base. His two wingmen had been killed, and he was alone, and coming right at him, were 7 Spitfires from another canadian Sqdn. One of the pilots was Joe Doak, from Toronto, who had shot a FW 190 down earlier that day. They opened up their guns at Oscar, and he back at them, but just before they passed each other, Joe Doak pulled up. Oscar knew that the Spitfire was going to come down froma loop to get his FW190 from behind, so Oscar swung off to the side and back at an angle, and he caught the Spitfire with cannon fire and spun it into the tall pine trees. Later that day, Oscar went back to the scene of the Spitfire impaled on the pine tree, and picked up a two foot piece of the propeller. A few years ago, I introduced Oscar to the nephew of that Spitfire, and after three hours of talking about the war, Oscar said to Grant Doak, a young lawyer from Toronto, "I have no words to say to your family, except I am deeply sorry....I sure wish Joe had managed to parchute from the Spitfire....I truly am sorry." He later took Grant Doak out to his car as we left, and showed Grant his uncle's propeller. I have known Oscar for about 35 years.He has performed with his sailplane at most airshows throughout Canada and the USA . We did the air show circuit together, and often had lunch, just as we did a few days ago. He always greets me the same way.""BEEELL....How good to see you" as he almost shakes my hand off. Oscar is 81 years old next April, and as we sat at the table in the restaurant, Oscar's hands were telling me about "he flew this way, I came in from behind,, etc etc" and people would have no problem knowing we were talking aviation. He had crash landed four times, and bailed out 4 times, once during the Battle of the bulge. He said he came through the trees and his chute got caught, and stopped him about 30 feet above the ground. He undid his harness and dropped to the ground. His last flight was a head on collision with a Russian Yak 19. The Rusky was killed and Oscar's chute opened seconds before he hit the ground and was taken prisoner. He truly is a great friend, and it saddens me to think of the incredibly high number of "real good men" that died on both sides. How many otherss could I have known like this, how many others could have share stories with me. War is such a shameful way for men to treat other men, isnt it? Bill Cole D-41

Highest jumped from 36,916 ft.........2 1/2 minute freefall..it was safe as long as oxygen was used, and other requirements met. What are you referring to as "safe to jump from"? Bill Cole D-41

I was just looking over the posts on my log books, and I thought for a minute about yours., and whether CSPA has archives. About three of four years ago, I sent a large pile of photographic negatives to CSPA, covering much jumping done in the 1960s-1970s. They never even acknowledged receiving them, and Ive often wondered who got them, were they accepted by CSPA or did some individual take them for their own private collection. Just thought you'd like to know. Incidentally, I think giving CSPA those negatives, would tell anyone tat I dont "hate" CSPA, but just their mismanagement of things, and that is only being done by those who are in charge. When my 2nd wife was still a girlfriend and going with me, there was such hatred by certain CSPA officials, that one of them, (a Mr. Big, in charge of SAFETY and such, writing all kinds of safety documents to be implemented) intentionally dropped Arlene about 500 yards past the spot, so she would have to walk back. That was done because she was with me...no other reason. At that time I was heavily sponsored and getting all the air shows, sometimes right in the back yards of CSPA clubs, and their "officials" didnt like it. I walked out to meet her, and she asked me not to make a scene over it, and I agreed, and everyone at the Coldwater Dropzone knew it was an intentional cut at ME, taking their venom out on my girlfriend Great organization, isnt it? regards Bill Cole D-41

Can anyone tell me how to take a message that is stored in my "message file" on DZ.com, and forward it to another email address? Bill Cole

Just to let everyone know, I got quite a few replies from jumpers wanting my log books. My first (as stated) was given to a wonderful person in Missouri last June. Another is gone to Jim Twardowski in Texas Another is gone to Murray Stevens in Saskatoon, Sask. Canada One was sent to Skypuppy, Rob price, ( the log for the HALO jump. I gave him the FAI certificate last year) The log for the two chuteless jumps I sent to Skydive Auckland, in New Zealand, and another log book went to a jumper in Scotland. I also sent copies of some log books, and other photos and papers to several other skydivers. I hope you enjoy having them as much as I had in making the jumps they have logged. Thanks to everyone for their interest. Bill Cole D-41

It wasnt a mal, but I was taking a TV personality into freefall and filming him for his show. I got him to do 2 static lines that morning, and then we went to 10,000 ft. For technical reasons, we got into a tumble, and he had inadvertantly grabbed my wrist. i told him if he got OUT of MY GRIP, he was to pull, but somehow he was now gripping me. we tumbled for an eternity, and I thought, heck, we must be getting low. I pulled my hand out of his grip, let go of him with my other hand, and I saw him dump his Para-Commander. I rolled over and knowing I needed 300 ft to open my Delta II Parawing, I realized I didnt have that much. Out came the reserve, a swing and a half and my feet hit the ground. We stood there and laughed like crazy, because he touched down right after me. Great jump ....one of the best Bill Cole D-41