steve1

Having a rip cord dangling like that might have been just another thing for your chest mounted reserve to snag on, if you had a malfunction. I made about three hundred jumps on three and four pin containers, and I'd usually slip the handle of my rip cord over my wrist after opening. I did lose a rip cord once though. I had a malfunction, and for whatever reason, I decided to toss it that day before going for my capewells and cutting away. I never jumped a pig rig, so I don't know much about Jesus cords. The cones and pins on the old rigs were sometimes known not to open when the rip cord was pulled. But actually I never experienced any problems with this. I do remember a few pilot chute hesitations though. Sometimes with a hesitation, I'd give things a good elbow to get things moving off my back. Steve1

AndyMan, I think you're right when you say the desire to jump in winds decreases with experience. At a recent jump meet, we had a lot of really gusty wind. One tent took off flying and several others were coming undone. It was next to impossible to pack unless you got behind a big wind break. And then it would calm down for a few minutes and even change direction. Not only that but there was a heavy cloud bank we were falling through for part of almost every jump. The jump plane was still flying, and I don't get to jump often, so I was getting on about every caravan load that I could get on. What I noticed though was the same group of crazy people on almost every load. Sure some of them had 5 to 8 hundred jumps, but the truly experienced jumpers were staying on the ground. One old guy who I've known forever was frowning at me and shaking his head as I geared up. I know now that these jumpers were staying on the ground for a good reason. So next time instead of looking at what the wind and clouds are doing, I'm going to look first at what the more experienced jumpers are doing, and take heed. I may be old, but I never said I was smart. Steve1

PhillyKev, That is a valid point. I can see the reasoning behind that, but I guess my biggest gripe (besides seeing someone get off "Scott free" because they are rich) is the fact that courts aren't tough enough. For example: I had one of my students go home for Christmas one year, and he never came back to school. His Dad was drunk and a little stressed out so he decides to beat the kid to death. A few years later this same guy is out walking the streets as free as a bird. This sort of thing happens a lot. At the risk of sounding like a wild eyed radical..... I'd like to see a tougher judicial system in place. My brother works in law enforcement in Oregon where prisons are real cushie and they let you out of the slammer over and over again after a short stay for major felonies. He showed me a rap sheet on one guy who committed like twenty felonies over the years, and he was recently set free again to rape and pillage innocent people. I know there is research out there that says that tougher penalties and death sentences don't work, but then again there's research out there to prove about anything and I disagree. And I guess I'm willing to risk the fact that the courts can make a wrong decision. Then there's the subject of lawyers getting rich off of other peoples misfortune. I guess this is a big can of worms. I was hoping someone a whole lot smarter than I would have opened it up though. I hope Bill Von doesn't jump in on this one. Last time I tried disagreeing with him I ended up sounding a lot like Forest Gump. (Mr. Know All...Steve1)

I know an airline pilot who lives in Bozeman, Montana. He's also been a skydiver for about 30 years. His name is Robby Buckles. He flies to Japan on a regular basis. Maybe he could help you out. Steve1

Waster, Hang in there. I remember trying to work my way through college and still jump. It was easier way back then. Someday you'll be able to afford more jumps and the things you need to buy. Make as many jumps as you can now and I'll bet the situation will get better in the future. I know when I was in your shoes, it used to really tick me off to see someone who was being bankrolled by their parents for college, jumping, etc. I used to jump with a guy who is now considered one of the guru's in the sport. What ticked me off was that he didn't even have to work. Mom and Dad sent him a big check each week to cover things. One of my big issues in life though is that things aren't always fair in life. And it doesn't do much good to dwell on these things. Just jump as often as you can, and if you have to work your ass off to get what you want, you'll be better off for it. Now how's that for a sermon! I should have been a preacher. Steve1

Scott, Yes, for example the O.J. Simpson trial. And I guess I am in favor of capital punishment, but it's too bad so much money is involved to finally put someone to death (such as this Westerfield). Steve1

I just remembered a couple more things about para-commanders. In the olden days, those who were serious about accuracy usually had their canopies short lined to reduce the pendulum affect when making turns. I think they even sold a shortlined version in the 70's, but I can't remember its name. I think the standard model, most people bought was a Mark 1. On packing most people I knew would flake and sleeve the canopy. This might also involve making a fold or two on the stabilizer panels. I was always kind of anal about packing, so I always factory packed. This involved flaking the canopy in the usual way and then laying it on the ground and making a few folds, and then sliding a sleeve over it. There were several varieties of packing even then. It also took two people to pack. You fastened the apex to a hook next to the floor and another person leaned back against your container to provide tension on the lines and canopy, while you flaked each panel. This was called asking someone "to lean" for you. I'm sure this brings back memories to a few old guys out there. Today I've got CRS real bad, but I still can recall a few things from back in the good old days. Steve1

Lisa, You have to admire parents like that. They have more strength than I'd have in a situation like that. Steve1

Rhino, I have a couple of daughters, and I doubt if I could keep myself from doing the same thing. I don't have a lot of faith in our justice system. Sometimes things have a way of working out though. Dahmer got what he deserved. Steve1

I may be politically incorrect in this, but don't you wish you could hook him up behind a truck and drag him around for just a little while. Or maybe put his head in a cage full of hungry rats or something. I'll tell you I know the guy is really sick, but I just can't find any simpathy or forgiveness for someone like that. Steve1 (the redneck has spoken)

Homer and Coho, Yes, his name is Lee. Seems like a nice guy and very good jumper. I landed on his back once as he was making his approach on a formation. He just shook it off and made it in without any problems. He had come over to jump a King Air. I also saw him at Lost Prairie. Maybe next summer when I come through the tri-cities, I'll stop and make some jumps with you. Steve1

Sebazz, I usually make my stories up as I go along. I'll think up some new ones for Lost Prairie next year. Hope you can make it. Steve1

Homer, I jumped with a couple of people from your DZ at our boogie in Stevensville, Mt. I'm terrible with names but maybe if I ramble on long enough you'll be able to figure out who they are. One guy is about 45. He's been jumping at least 20 years. He's tall and skinny. Has been on at least one world record RW attempt. He also does freeflying and has a son. He also has done quite a bit of rock climbing and some base jumping. That probably narrows it down to about 100 people. The other person I met was a girl, from I believe Walla Walla. She had a canopy collision after a RW load at our boogie. She is a super jumper and continued to jump after this. She was going on most of the bigger RW loads. She's about medium height with brown hair. She has a boyfriend from Boise. Does any of this sound familiar? Wouldn't it be simpler if I could just remember names?

I've jumped there a several times. My Mother lives in Salem. It was kind of comical the first time I showed up there to jump. I had just come back from about a twenty year lay-off and only had about 25 recent jumps. To compound problems I didn't have a license. I never took the time to get one and all I had to show were my old log books. In the olden days you really didn't need a license to jump most places as long as you had your log books. In some places you didn't even need log books. Blake Robinson decided that I couldn't jump because I didn't have a license, but I kept wining and wining and finally Blake grew tired of it and decided he'd take me up and check me out if I'd buy his jump. Lucky me, I got to jump. I really enjoy jumping there. I usually jump there a couple times a year now. It's professionally run, great aircraft, great facilities, and great people. Steve1

I've never had a rig that did this. I recently read an article where many people are putting their heads together to try to solve this problem. I always thought that if this did happen it was because the buckle is too large or worn out or the leg strap material is getting worn too thin. But there is more too it than that in some cases. Maybe someone will figure out an answer soon. I'd show your rig to a few different riggers and get their advice. Maybe someone needs to develop or invent a better buckle. Steve1

I know it it harder to get back up than come down, but there is also the importance of coming into your slot almost level when working on a bigger formation. I was having an awful time coming in too steeply, for fear of going low, and then catching someone else's burble or dropping down on a formation and hitting it too hard. So at any rate I am being much more careful now to come in at about the same level (slightly above). And approaching at the same level as the other jumpers. This works very well, but it seems to me it also increases the chances of going low, when dealing with a floaty formation. In the jump I mentioned earlier I was only about two feet out from closing grips, maybe a foot low. So being able to flare hard and get back up a hair is very necassary. And maybe the others in the base should have been working at falling faster. That is why I wonder about dive loops. They may give you that added edge. I think my fall rate matched the others well enough. But it didn't work well that time. Feel free to add to this, I appreciate your input. Steve1

You can probably get a good used rig with a cypress for a couple thousand(US), or even less if you shop around for used gear. Have someone more experienced help you. Be leary of buying it from one of the good old boys at your dropzone though. Some of his friends may advise you it's a great deal when it may be very outdated and over priced. Plan on selling whatever you buy though, because you will want to downsize again in the near future. For the price of rental gear it would be a good investment and it's a great feeling owning your own rig. You can always take the cypress off and put it on your next rig easily (when you do sell). Don't buy a new first rig though. You'll lose a lot of cash when you become disatisfied with it and sell it within the next year. Steve1

Clay, When I was about 12, I too was into leaving burning sacks of dog shit. It was great sport. I'm glad I got into skydiving or I might still be doing the same thing. Steve1

Pushing 500. It only took me thirty years to get that many. I had a loooong layoff. Steve1

I know. I had to be a real lowlife to do such a thing, and I'll probably never get into heaven. But I still have to laugh everytime I think of that day. You probably had to have been there to appreciate all the sick humor that was involved. Melvin still jumped the next day. I had to hand it to him. He had a lot of guts. Steve1

This is a story of one of the crueler things that I've done: I once had a friend named Melvin in the army who was scared to death of jumping. Yet I had to admire him because no matter how scared he was, he still jumped. But anyway I decided to poke some fun at him. I started telling him that I kept having this dream over and over again. It was about a jumper who jumped and kept falling and falling and finally he smacked into the earth. Then with a worried look on his face, Melvin would ask me to tell him more. So I said that in this dream I would run over there and turn the body over, "and it was you, Melvin." With a serious look on my own face, I would then say, "I wonder if this means anything?" I finally had to quit though because he was getting more and more frightened and I finally was able to show a little empathy and quit. Pretty cruel, huh? Aren't you glad you don't have friends like me? Steve1

I used to think the c-141 was the ultimate in large jump aircraft. Then I saw one parked next to a C-5. What a difference. The C-5 is enormous in comparison. They were just starting to jump para-troops out of it in the early 70's. I would imagine it is a rush to jump out of. Steve1

I used to climb some, but to tell you the truth I don't know a whole lot. Most of what I know I learned in the army and transferred that over to civilian climbing. Luckily none of us got killed at it. I also had a friend who fell 150 ft. straight down and survived. He wiped out the side of a tree and then hit some soft dirt out in the middle of a boulder field. He was unconscious for quite a while and still has a pin in his hip, but he still climbs. He'd make a great skydiver, but I haven't been able to talk him into it yet. Steve1

I know when I was just getting back into the sport after a twenty year lay off, I made a lot of jumps (often just two ways) with other low time jumpers. Some of these jumps were down right crappy because the other guy was sliding all over the place. But I wasn't sure. Was it him or me who was sliding. When I jumped with more experienced jumpers we turned points with no problem. So I figured out it wasn't me. Try jumping with someone who has more experience. That jumper can also watch you and explain to you what you did wrong if it is your fault. Steve1

Slot Perfect, My first one was out of a C-141 also at Benning. They took us up the afternoon before in a C-119 but we couldn't jump because of wind. I was plenty scared when I finally got to the door of the 141, following my stick out. My exit was weak and I felt like I was being shot from a cannon and then there was this silence after my chute opened. I could see for miles in all directions with green canopies floating down all around me. What an adrenaline rush. I was hooked from that moment. And then I slammed into the ground, spraining my ankle bad. Trying to walk without limping, hoping a black hat didn't notice. I didn't want to be recycled. Steve1