JerryBaumchen

Hi tbrown, Uh, wasn't a Katana a motorcycle before it was a parachute? Jerry

Hi jumpervint, Re: the Fairchild Jack's 'business' card has the famous picture of it; the one where Cameron is sitting on the fuse behind the wing and the other guys are all over the outside. Jack said it needs new fabric but with a 50 ft wingspan it is too much to do ($$$$). Jerry

Hi usetawuz, Actually I think a list of the first 1,543 D license holders should be listed. Jerry (D-1543)

Hi Sparky, Just got this back from Dr. Eco: "Great to get the status of the old jumpers in the Pacific Northwest. I will update the list of the first 400 D-License Holders with a columns that shows there status e.g., dead, almost dead, getting married for the 3rd time, running off with their grandson's baby sitter, etc. and maybe comments like yours on Jack Ady and Rick Johnston. We will have to play the comment stuff by ear in case keeping it updated get too intractable. Maybe we can get some of the skydiving websites, e.g., like Bill Newell's and/or others, to put the list on their web site. Website update and maintenance volunteers are welcome. People can them send in the status/comments of the old D-License jumpers like Jerry Baumchen did in his Email. Until that happens send any status updates on these old D-License jumpers to me DrEco@aol.com and I will try to keep the list updated. From time to time as I get more status data I will sent an update out to everyone on the list. Richard Economy D-115 DrEco@aol.com 386 672 1811 1309 Oak Forest Dr. Ormond Beach, Fl 32174" Maybe some other folks can chime in with info, Jerry

Hi kefran, One additional thing to consider is the weight of the Cordura. Most Vectors & Infinitys are made of 500 denier (unless it is a color that is only available in 1000 denier). The 1000 D is much more durable than the 500 D which (IMO) is only slightly more durable than ParaPak. HTH, Jerry PS) You might try to get a sample of both 500 D & 1000 D to compare. A good suggestion (I think) for others who want to know more about gear fabrics.

Hi Rob, Well, some are merely bent (most chest strap hardware). I know of none that are cast. The 'nodules' could be forged in, pressed in while hot, or could be machined in. I really do not know. Cast??? I'm with you; never seen any hardware for parachutes cast. I've seen lots for other industries, though. Jerry

Hi Sparky, I sent him this yesterday: "Hi Dr Eco, A little up date about some of them here in the Pacific Northwest: John Scott D-93 John died about 10 yrs ago from a sudden, massive heart attack. Jack Ady D-103 I was in the Snohomish area yesterday and decided to go to the airport for lunch and ran into Jack. He is retired, living right off of the airport and got married for the first time about 3 yrs ago; a real optimist. Rich Johnston D-134 Rich had a stroke just after the first of the year and is now slightly disabled. He lives near me and we used to get together every month or so for breakfast or lunch; I hate to visit now in his condition, but I do need to. Jens Jorgeson D-304 I haven't seen Jens in over 20 yrs but a mutual friend saw him last summer and said that he is in good health. Jim Wright D-364 Jim was killed on a jump about 15-18 yrs ago. Evan Hale D-365 I last saw Evan at the memorial for Jim Wright; nothing since. Ralph Hatley D-394 Ralph still runs a drop zone and is one of the biggest gear distributors in the world. Joe Brockway D-395 Joe retired from the gov't about 15 yrs ago; I last talked to him about 10 yrs ago. I need to call him, also. Dick Carlisle D-396 I understand he was killed in a plane crash many, many years ago. Bill Berg D-400 Bill was killed flying a forest fire fighting aircraft when she came apart in mid-air. Just in case anyone who knew them might be interested. It was fun going through all of the names; I started jumping in early '64 and a few months later joined PCA & subscribed to Skydiver Magazine. A lot of those names were in those mags many times. And I do remember your photos. Jerry Baumchen D-1543 (a newbie compared to this list)"

Hi Speed, Different state = different laws. In Oregon, you work = you do NOT drink. Jerry

Hi Bill, What's interesting is that some people call this (PDX) the micro-brew capital of the world; and my brother worked in the state's largest brewery for over 30 yrs. Me, I don't drink the stuff. Strange, huh???? Jerry

Hi Skyfish1, Bodysport USA still makes the old Crater 'computer controlled fall rate' jumpsuit complete with swoop cords. www.bodysportusa.com (I think) Jerry

Yup, the top flap had a little pud on the end of it mounted horizontally. You just pulled the pud towards your chin and VOILA. Jerry

A few years ago there was a survey taken, with many elements, about the Most Liveable City in the World. The winner: Melbourne It's up to you, Jerry

I just found an old receipt; 30 Sep 66 to 23,000 ft = $7.50. Not bad, even then. Jerry

Hi Roger RamJet If you were witnessing TSO testing in the late '70's it would have been under C23(b)/NAS 804. Under C23(b) one could test per the Standard Type or the Low Speed Type. When I did my TSO testing in '79 I elected to test per the Standard Type. There is a table in NAS 804 which is a sliding scale; the more weight you use then you get to use less speed. We chose to use 400 lbs at a speed of 200 MPH. As an example, in using the table we could have also chose 275 lbs at 250 MPH; there are 10 options (weight & speed chart) for the Standard Type Strength Test. Hi labrys I served on the TSO committee for nearly 20 yrs. My first submittal (15 items submitted) had a req'ment that the sample being subjected to testing(canopy/harness/whatever) had to be the exact same sample for all three Strength Tests. In C23(b) there is no req'ment that the same sample be tested more than once. My concern was, as I think is yours, that a canopy once subjected to severe loading (I will not define 'severe' but I would consider a terminal opening to be somewhat severe) might not be airworthy and riggers in the field may not have the ability to determine incremental damage. Sandy Reid once told me that when he was testing his Talon rig per C23(c) if he was using a C23(b) canopy for his Strength Tests he could almost predict that the canopy (which was not the test sample; the rig was the test sample) would be destroyed on the 2nd or 3rd test. Hope that this helps, Jerry (A Happily Retired Mechanical Engineer)

Hi Elisha, Are you sure about that. I understood that Ray bought the rights to the Reflex and that Bill Dause (of Lodi fame) bought the Stunts rig/rights (along with Rodriguez). Jerry

Hi adventurechick, If you are in Orlando you are only about an hour away from Sunpath. Take the to rig to them and see what they say; take $$$ with you. Jerry PS) You might get to see just what it takes to build a rig from scratch. That you should find educational.

Wow, Ed Dowdy huh? Would that be C-3781? I did a 4-way with him that ended up in a reserve fire. I won't be forgetting that jump. Jerry

In the 60's or so, Irwin Industries got TSO OK on a Rogallo wing. There was an article in both PARACHUTIST & SKYDIVER on it, as I recall (or do not recall). Jerry

Hi kelpdiver again, I forgot to mention that in TSO C23b the functional tests have a req'ment to be open within 3 seconds. The strength tests do not have any opening time req'ment. Sparky, Will you quit getting ahead of me when I am trying to post?

Hi kelpdiver, The various versions of the TSO req'ments vary somewhat in detail. But for the most part, the common two tests are what are called 'functional' and 'strength' (OK, some folks will argue with me on what is 'common'). Since I know TSO C23b the best; the functional test was to be performed with a 170 lb dummy and the strength test could vary (more weight & less speed; or less weight & more speed); we did ours with a 400 lb dummy at 200 MPH (BTW, we blew two harnesses apart until I redesigned things; out of necessity). The later versions of the TSO are very similar; but that is it in a nutshell. For more detail, go to the PIA website and look up Technical Standard 135; this is the standard that the PIA committee developed. Hope this helps, Jerry

Hi phoenixlpr, About 40 yrs or so ago when I was in Physics it was F=MA F= force M=mass A=acceleration A given mass at a certain acceleration equals the forces that will result. In engineering & physics there is no deceleration, we called it negative acceleration, it is just delta v. Now, of course, I might be wrong. Jerry

Hi Twardo, Now that was a 'different' reserve container. If some of you not so old' types want to see something strange, try to find one of those. I always wondered how it got through the TSO testing. Jerry

A little different thing on Houston jumpers. About '93 or so I attended the IEEE Convention (Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers) in Chicago. And like the Symposium, there are many vendors with booths. As I was going from booth to booth glad-handing people I knew in the industry I met a company from Houston that made nylon cargo-handling slings. We were looking for a new supplier, so the next time I was in Houston I went over to look over their operation. I walk into the VP's office, set my briefcase down (it had a round USPA membership decal on it) and he says that his dad was President of USPA. It turns out this guy was the stepson of Ed Fitch. As they say, a small world. Jerry

Hi Gary73, Cliff Schmucker put out a document on collapsible (sp?) pilot chutes that shows this method. It has been around for at least 10 yrs. Jerry PS) I have a copy somewhere.

While just cruising around this site I found this photo. Thoughts?? Jerry PS) I hope that I got this photo attached; I'm kinda poor with computers.