chuteless

I have always been involved in historical studies, since the early 1940s. When the Gulf War started after Iraq invaded Kuwait, the news accounts reported that the Americans and their allies were having difficulty with the sand storms in Iraq, as the powder like sand was clogging their rifles etc. The sand was so fine, it would blow into the breach of the guns, and the guns would not fire as automatics. I telephoned General Colin Powell's office, and eventaually spoke to one of his top aides. I told him I had a remedy that would solve this "sand problem". I suggested the Pentagon order a few million condoms, 36 inches long, which would fit over their weapons, and keep the sand out of the end of the barrel and the breach. Once the gun was needed, it would fire, the bullets tearing open the business end of the gun, and the elasticity of the condom would allow the automatic to keep firing. Most of the problem was during sand storms and not in battle, but the gun would always be ready to go. Powell's aide took my name and address and said the General would send me a letter of appreciation...but that never happened. I did hear a report that the US Government ordered several million such condoms...I wish they had paid me 1 cent per unit...that would have been nice. This idea was not originally mine. It came from Winston Churchill during World War II, when he was asked to allow the purchase of condoms 24 inches long to fit over the Sten guns. At that time it was ice and snow fouling the breach. Churchill approved the order on two conditions 1. that the condoms were stamped "size Medium" 2. that the Condoms were also stamped "Made In England" and both of these indications were to intimidate the germans who might find one. Bill Cole D-41

Some people would agree the space program is risky and unsafe. Commander James Lovell (Apollo 13) who had an explosion on board on his wayto the moon, told me " what you are doing (skydiving) is far more dangerous than what I do as an astronuat. If something happens when you are in freefall, its strictly up to you to get yopurself out of the problem and safely back to earth. If something happens to me in space (like on Apollo 13) I have millions of people around the earth who will assist me in solving my problem and getting me back safely" I believe it is all relative...you can be killed carelessly walking across the road....Although I havent always looked both ways, Ive made it across each time. Skydiving is the same....although I havent always jumped "safely" according to the BSRs, Ive been busted up many times, but I'm still here and willing to go again. Bill Cole D-41

I said it before...I will say it again: George W Bush WILL be re-elected Bill Cole D-41

Kerry has as much charisma as burnt toast

keep in mind, it is important NOT to deploy your chute while in a spin, or you'll have a line twist from bottom to the top of your lines, and you'll likely have to cutaway. It also could prevent the inflation of the canopy as well as the line twist. Pay attention to your body position....if flying stable, try a slow turn by dropping one arm, or bending one leg, and after a few seconds, return to the stable position and the spin will stop. Eventually you'll do turns without even thinking about it, it becomes a natural action/reaction and you dont even think about what to do...you are in total control. Of course Remster, its better to pull in a spin than bounce....but if one can learn what makes one spin, they can understand the aerodynamics of turns. I am only suggesting that if one deploys in a spin, no matter how fast or slow, they can expect some serious twists, and will likely end up with a cutaway. I agree, pull/deploy at altitude, and study your problem with the idea of correcting it. Bill Cole Bill Cole

see my posting on "How do you turn with your feet in freefall" A video would be a good idea. I had more than my share of flat spins when I started...I just kept working at it, and made myself aware where my feet and hands/arms were. Bill Cole

I just heard this morning that 3 more us soldiers were killed in a roadside bombing. Isnt it time Bus started using all out force to stop this? I feel so sorry for the guys who think going home is just a short time away...and then they are blown up. I would think the USA would either fiht the war and finish it, or get out and go home and leave the land to the screwball Iraqis Bill Cole

This is the election year isnt it? Get hold of the people who are running in that district, and subtly tellthem if they wany some viotes of the entire skydiving community for their party, they might like to help Skys the Limit. Its worth a try and better than sitting on your hands watching. Bill Cole D-41

can you tell me who is going to be her tandem master???? That would be some kind of punishment I think

I suppose you might compare it to the tractor idea, but a tractoro is mechanical...in freefall is is aerodynamics, action and reaction of the hands/legs and the deflective air. Not quite tractor like. When I began jumping in 1962, I had more than my share of flat spins, and it took some time before I managed to control them. Experimentation even long after being in control, showed that a stable fall can be altered into a slow spin simply by moving one arm OR leg. You must be fairly symmetrical when perfectly stable. Any alteration of an arm or leg will bring a re-action in falling. Hope it helps. Bill Cole

If you are falling nice and stable, and your legs are relatively straight behind you, the bending of one leg slightly will cause a turn. It can become a spin, even if two jumpers are hooked up, all one has to do is bend a leg, and the turn will begin. It can also be done by drawing one hand and arm back is you are alone, and a slow turn will begin I have seen jumpers with one leg bent slightly AND the arm drawn slightly back, and they couldnt figure out why they had a flat spin. Bill Cole D-41

I cant imagine anyone ( a big corporation) sponsoring someone with 50-1200 jumps, but heres an idea for you. I dont know the color your canopy if, but try to link it with a local to your area, business. For example, if a towing service has their trucks painted blue and yellow and thats your canopy, ask tghe guy if he would sponsor you to a "resonable sum" and try to get his company's name in the paper...no matter how as long as its decent. You might have to try several companies...dont be discouraged...it does work., but with only 100 jumps, it may be harder to bring it about. When you get more jumps, walk through the aupermarket, and list all the products with "you colors" and write to them. Make it a business letter, preferably on a nice letterhead(name of team or whatever)profesionally worded, no spelling mistakes, and hopefully it may click Good luck Bill Cole D-41

I jumped at an air show with a Delta II parawing, which is like to large scoops open at the back of a triangular canopy. The wind was blowing so hard, I had a very hard time turning the canopy as the wind blew in the scoops and kept it going straight. Only when I got low to the ground could I pull a fast turn to prevent a downwind landing..close call.

I used to buy Newton Ring sights for $2.50 each....about 10 at a time. It seems they have taken a jump in price. Bill Cole

Thanks for the update Pops. I still believe it was Daryl who wrote the article, because I seem to recall him talking to me about it later. L.D.Vinci ??? I once wrote an article and it appeared authored by P.C.Capewell. You shoukld maybe see if "Loop the Commander" can be republished. I recall it was quite good, and remember some jumpers who believed every word of it.... Bill Cole D-41 Canada

Ive had about 9 reserve openings, and only lost one Para Commander. Found it much later, after almost writing it off as lost. On one reserve opening, I lost a good hunting knife and one of the snaps of the reserve came off the D Ring, leaving me hangin on 1 snap only. I sure was glad that tiebar between the snaps was strong, or I wouldnt have had anything above me. never lost anything but a good knife. Bill Cole D-41

I would imagine a scientific institute of some kind, interested in physiology and its application in high risk sports. It might have to be coupled with several other risky sports, and I am sure the outcome would be a study worth reading. When I started jumping in 62, one of the guys who organized the "club" told me that skydivers are the kind of people that would go further than anyonme else in a crunch situation. I feel there may be something to it, but at the time I recorded the heartrate, was interested in the dramatic changes exiting an aircraft woukd have as compared to normal activity. ( You realize we're not normal). Who would fund such a study///I dont know, Bill Cole D-41

I certainly dont need any patron saint....not when I have Jesus Christ, the Lord of ALL ( including saints of any kind) Never go to the second in command when you can deal with the BOSS Bill Cole D-41

POP: Thats the article "Looping the Para Commander" that I referred to. I thought it was in CanPara, but you are probvably right, it was likely PARACHUTIST. It was written byDarrykl Henry, and was a well written piece. I wish someone would revive it....its certainly worth reading. Does anyone know where Darryl Henry is now??? Bill Cole D-41 Canada

I dont think there is such a thing as "vibes": (vibrations) that can have a significant influence on someone many miles away from a proposed sender, but to me its the thought and short time that it took to let someone know you cared enough to PM a remark. With my recent hospital stay, I sure was feeling low, and when I got home and found out that about 60 people in the skydiving family cared enough to send a get well wish I was truly uplifted, and it made me feel somewhat better. I was amazed, and it provided me with a "beginning" of getting better. It probably helped more than the anti-biotics.One person even offered me a "HUG". I didnt actually feel her arms around me, but I sure appreciate the suggestion. I havent had a hug like that since before my wife ran off with another guy more than 10 years ago. I dont feel it matters whether its referred to as "vibes" or "get well", its the thought and brief time it took to show concern, care, and that is important at a time like that. For those whohave a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, prayers can make a difference. For others, its nice that they show care..... I certainly appreciated both Bill Cole D-41

Sounds about right POP. But if you think like me, those were the real "GOOD" days. I recall smashing all the tendons in my left ankle on a jump at your dropzone, and then going back up and making another where I had to land on one foot. It was a cigarette commercial for Cameo cigs. I prayed for some rain and finished the commercial few days later with a "funjump" at 22150, with Darryl Henry and Marilou MacDonald. Loved those times, I'll tell ya. Good to know your still out there Pops. Bill Cole D-41 Canada

Maillin: I am glad your able to still be skydiving with all you've had to cope with. Good luck. The only reason I posted this topic was my recent health problems reminded me of when I did a bit of research about jumping and heart rates. I found it interesting, and took every opportunity to combine jumping with anything that would be enlightening, i.e. speeds in freefall and heart rates etc. I tried not to waste a jump without accomplishing something...no matter how small Bill Cole

GUS: That is very interesting. Too bad you didnt get the BPM at exit, but I imagine it was higher than 200. Its goood to see others are interested in finding out what happens when a jump is made. That way, everyone is a bit wiser. Imagine the impact of more than double the rate for someone with a heart problems when he/she jumps Bill Cole Thanks for showing me that thread.

no...didnt find too much unexpected...but since no one had ever checked out the heart rate it was a start. Maybe you can pick up from there and develop it further. Bill Cole more than double the normal rate was a surprise

Back in the 1970s, I was making my living jumping air shows and special events, and dropping a few students when there was no demos. My recent health problems, which may be heart related brought a topic to mind, and I'd like to share it withyou for whatever interest there may be in it. I had a nice relationship with the late Dr David Turner of the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children, who was a consultant for NASA and the space flights. Itwas Dr Turner who concluded that John Glenn was VitaminE deficient after his orbital flight, and made the necessary corrections for future flights. Dr Turner had a hospital technician build me a small cassette recorder which had electrodes to be installed on the body of a student jump to record his/her heart rate during exit and canopy decent and landing. I dont have any of the papers on our study nowm, but will try to relate (from memory) what we found. On exiting an aircraft, I would activatev the tape recorder attached to the student (full of apprehensions) and we found their heart rate jumped to about 240 beats per minute. This would be over a relatively short time, and once the canopy was opened, and they were aware they werent having a problem (malfunction) their heart rate would drop off to about200 BPM. This would remain the rate until the student realized he/she was approching the ground, and a landing impact was imminent. The heart rate would then jump again to a level of about 225 BPM. I managed to also record several examples of normal heart rate at a time when the student was relaxed and not under jump stress (around 90 BPM). Nothing that I know of ever became of the study, but many doctors and hospital staff were interested in it. As a person accumulated a larger number of jumps, it is supposed their stress level at exit and landing is reduced, in accordance with their ability and confidence. I hope this is of interest to some of you, and it would be nice to see a more extensive study done sometime. Bill Cole D-41