JerryBaumchen

Yup, Orange is the oldest commercial operation (but no longer the same operators so that begs the question). However, I think some club operations predate it. The oldest continuing club is the Seattle Skydivers; but they are no longer involved in any operation, training, etc. Just a social function these days. Jerry

My second worst travel day: 11:30 PM 9/10/01 departure out of Sao Paulo to LAX. All goes well until we are about 2 hrs hours out of LAX (it is now 9/11) when they announce we are being diverted due to security at LAX; so I'm thinking maybe a crash there and runways closed. We land in Tijauna and there it turns into the proverbial Chinese fire drill. After about 6 hrs sitting (with them twice telling us that they are going to take us back to Brazil) they say that anyone with papers to enter US can depart. Then they decide that since we are on Mexican soil, we must go through Mexican immigration (another Chinese fire drill). Then they announce that buses will pick us up for transport to LAX. Get to the border and see A LOT OF GUNS. This is not normal!!!! Finally get to LAX and into a hotel, flip on the tv and find out that the world has changed. Next morning I call my travel agent to get a rental car (the US air transport system is still down), get the rental car and drive 20+ hrs straight to PDX. An interesting event in my life, Jerry

Hi mktoson, This is nothing negative towards you, just a thought. Since the 'floating laterals' are a piece of webbing that are stitched into place at each end, at the container, while going around the hip ring; just what do they do? Both ends are fixed, I do not see what they accomplish. But I've had 'riggers blank' before (kind of like writer's blank but for us folks). Jerry

Hi agk23, Might I suggest that you contact Infinity (velocityrigs.com) and ask about the SkyHook. I know he is doing 'something' on it. You might inquire as to whether he could retro-fit one if you go with Infinity at this time. Also, why not contact Al MacDonald at Flying High about the Sidewinder. He is a countryman and builds a very nice rig. Lots of quality at a low price. Jerry

Hi Guys, My bad; I got 'Fitz' confused with 'Sully.' Jerry

Hi steve1, I always thought Sully went in in the Spokane area. As I recall it was with a chest mount reserve & a ripcord cable stop. He had a mal, cutaway and the reserve pilot chute entangled with the dangling ripcord. It caused the round reserve to horseshoe and he never cleared it. Around very late '60's or '70???? Does that sound about right? After that ripcord stops were banned at Spokane for all rigs. Jerry

Hey 'mom,' I think you should write this down, put on the fridge and wait. THE day will come. I was a boy & I raised a boy. Jerry

Hey p-head, Is that 68Charlie. If it is, I've got a lot of jumps out of that great ship. Too bad she got burned. I wouldn't want to be who did it if Ralph ever finds out. Jerry

Hi Pilot, I've 'never' forgotten them. Back about '67 I quit wearing them for about 5 years. It was not too uncommon then. At the end of the day, my eyes bothered me only slightly. One beer and all was well again. Jerry

Hi Terry, OK, I'll try: MARS Yes/no? Jerry

Hi wendy, I have a degree in Mech Engr. I spent 30 yrs in the same job. I loved the work I did & got to travel all over the USA and a very large chunk of the world; Asia, South America & Europe. 'Some' of us like the work that we do, Jerry PS) Now retired, the best job I've ever had.

When Jamie Woodward ran Snohomish he did it; he even got the tandem mfr (Strong) to go along with it. IRRC, the kid was about 14. Jerry

Hi Rob, Not a problem. We will have to disagree on this one. IMO, the mfr sets the standards for their equipment as they want. And that is how it should be. Jerry

Hi twardo, I worked in a non-aviation industry and oversaw testing of metal parts for 30 yrs. Anything that was tested to the design load limits NEVER went into service; it went into the scrap bins. Our normal Proof Load Test was to 40% of design load. I would think that a test of about 100 lbs would be sufficient for a ripcord. Remember, the pull forces cannot be more than 22 lbs. Just my thoughts, other's may vary, Jerry

Hi alexey, Send me an email with your personal email address (not thru dz.com) and I'll send you a photo of my ripcord tester. Jerry

Hi Phree, Got an address where I could send you some stuff that I doubt that I'll ever need again? Jerry

Feeling old are we, Wendy? Actually, I have had 'the talk' with my kids (they're now adults) about what I want done. It's kind of like 'the talk' that I had with my daughter just before she went off to college. Jerry

I believe that J.D. stands for Jurisprudence Doctorate; or something like that. Jerry

Hi chemokine, Try contacting Paragon Rigging at Z'hills for a reline. Jerry

Hi emerimsky, Are you looking for new or used? New, just start Googling. Try Consew for starters. Used, a Singer 269W comes to mind; that's what I have. I think Mark Lancaster (who posts here as masterrigger1) of SkyWorks Para Service (Google skyworks para service & you'll get something about Icarus canopies but that is him) has a number of them. You might get in touch with him. He can also rebuild the Singers. HTH, Jerry PS) Mark, just send the $$$ to my home.

Hi packertom, I attended their Q & A on Friday morning at the PIA. This is where they were packing a Jav w/SkyHook. Derek Thomas said that when their new rig comes out (Mar '07 as I recall), meaning the Jav w/SkyHook option, all rigs (with or without the SkyHook) will have an RSL but it will look like a SkyHook equipped rig, i.e., it will use the curved pin attached to the lanyard & the Marine Eye attached to the cable. This will then definitely not allow the RSL to be removed; disconnected yes, but not removed. I know this does not help with the arguement regarding the older/current Javs. Jerry

The first rig that I built for myself just as I was getting my TSO had the pilot chute stuck in between the backpad and the main container; very similar to a Handbury rig. As this was a pull-out P/C quite often it would come out of the 'pouch' and flop around. It wouldn't deploy because of the pull-out feature. It sure caused a lot of guys that I jumped with to nearly s&%t their pants. I was at a boogie down in SpaceLand and it came out and this other jumper would not come near me. After we landed he said he could not understand why I didn't just go zoom. It was a good idea that was not perfect. Oh well, on to the next great idea . . . Jerry

Hi Howard, The last that I heard J. Scott had taken an 'executive position' with the national Hq of the Civil Air Patrol located in Montgomery, AL. Jerry

Hi steve1, Back in the '60's is was 'normal' to have an alti & a stopwatch; which I did. Never even turned it on once (you're ahead of me, Steve). When I got a newer rig (they were all mil-surplus then) the stopwatch went away. Jerry

Hi Andy, Well, once having spent 11 straight months in your country, I saw it go from snow/hail/rain to an absolutely beautiful blue sky in less than 2 hours. It's England, Old Mate. Jerry