steve1

Zolton, I know for accuracy competition most experts landed a paracommander down wind. If you missed the peas, it was no fun. I was no expert so I knew better than try accuracy down wind. I had some friends who tried down wind landings on para-commanders. I remember watching some terrible wrecks when they missed the peas. A paracommander did have a fair amount of forward speed and if you took this plus the wind speed it meant for a very hard landing on bare ground. Pea gravel helped a lot. I think the forward speed on a para-comander was rated at around 15 MPH. Putting on the brakes helped some, but there was still a lot of speed if you were going with the wind. (not to mention your vertical descent rate). When I first started jumping you had to have around 25 jumps on a 28 foot round or t-10 before you could even jump a para-commander at our club. I know this seems ridiculous because they aren't very high performance by today's standards. I think a 28 foot canopy with a 7-TU mod. had around 7 or 8 MPH forward speed. I know the really hot canopy in the 70's was the para-plane. It was one of the first square canopies. I jumped it a couple times back then. The scary part was hoping it would open. The one we jumped would malfunction on a regular basis. Steve1

I used to have a Super Pro harness and container in the 70's. It was three pin and Navy Blue. I had a solid red para-commander in it. It was a bitch to pack, because it was so tight. But it looked really cool for that time period. I went down to 500 ft. once with this rig before opening. Noone in the star was watching their altimeter and I was the last one in. I sold it and bought a bareback rigging, spurs, and chaps (to rodeo with). Was I stupid or what! I sold it cheap. I'd love to have it back. Steve1

Jaymundo. My paracommander also had rip stop tape over ten or fifteen holes. The old f1-11 material often would burn and melt into a hole on opening. I most always packed neatly but still ended up with some burn marks and holes. I'm sure this fabric was a lot different than the material everyone calls f1-11 today. Steve1

Howard, I think it was a Crossbow. That name really rings a bell. We didn't have it long. Everyone told us to get rid of it and that we had just been took for buying it, so we never even jumped it. Maybe it would have been okay, but we took for granted that it wasn't a very good canopy. Have you ever jumped one? Steve1

I remember shooting some accuracy in competition with a para-commander. I know the best accuracy jumpers did accurracy with down wind landings. I never had guts enough to try it though. Landings were hard enough against the wind. I always tried to come into the wind and even hooked it in at times to try to hit the peas. Needless to say I didn't do well at this event and limped away from a few landings. I do remember the Russian Para-Comanders but most everyone I knew were buying the Mark-1's. When I was a newbie to the sport a friend and I bought an early version of the para-commander. It looked very similiar and we thought we had just bought a para-commander. I can't remember what it was called but it was a piece of crap and we unloaded it in a hurry. I think it was manufactured in the 60's. I still marvel at how much better square canopies are. What an improvement! But I'd still like to jump a round again. Some of my fondest memories are of back in the days of gutter gear. Steve1

Howard, I also remember stories of a lot of people who died there. We had one member of our club who was a former Vietnam helicopter pilot. Without saying he had a different attitude about life. He was part of a group in Casa Grande who drove around in a hearse. They jokingly talked about skydiving as "Sport Death". I know this sounds crazy, but he was actually a good jumper and a cool guy. He was once credited with helping out a girl in our club who had a line over malfunction. Supposedly he landed on top of her canopy (a thunderbow) and walked off the top with the line. Thus fixing her malfunction. This may be BS, but that is how the story was told to me. B. J. Worth and Gary Sanders were other members of our club who moved to Casa Grande. They later started the team Mirror Image. Steve1

In the old days everyone wanted to go to Casa Grande or Elsinore to jump. I had a lot of friends who headed to Casa Grande. I'm just wondering what happened to that jump center. Today Eloy is the hot spot, but I was just wondering if anyone remembers the history of what happened to Casa Grande. Steve1

Jtval, Sounds like a cool place to live, especially in the winter. The past two years we've driven to Palm Springs where my brother lives (over Christmas). We usually stop for a day in Vegas. What a place! When we left Montana one year it was 20 below with the wind howling. The snow was flying so thick you could hardly see. A couple days later we rolled into Las Vegas. First of all we were struck by the climate change. It was just like a Montana Summer. Then we were overwhelmed by all the neat buildings and sights to see. It was almost like landing on a different planet. I'm sure everyone could tell we were hicks, by the way we walked around with big eyes taking everything in. At any rate I'll bet it would also be a great place to jump. Steve1

Fudd, My new container is a javelin J2. The manufacturers specs. say that up to a 150 OP will fit into it. Yet my Hornet 170 fits in it nice. Snug yes, but I like it. Steve1

Hornets do pack up smaller than most other OP canopies and the material is really nice to work with, but if you have been packing F1-11 material in the past, it will take a while to get used to. My guess would be that a Hornet will probably fit into your present container but it will be tighter, harder to get in the bag, and you'll probably have to let your closing loop out. I had a talon container that was made for 150 OP canopy. My 195 Falcon was snug, but still fit nice in it. My 170 hornet also fit well. It was almost the same pack volume as the 195 Falcon. I hope this helps. Steve1

I'm not familiar with the paradactyl (probably because I didn't jump from about 76 to 98), but I knew a girl in our club (in the 70's)who jumped a thunderbow canopy. It was triangular and seemed to open well. It had about the same forward speed as a paracommander. Steve1

I've bought several items of gear from the classified adds. Usually they won't send the gear unless you send them a money order, a check (that clears), or in some cases a credit card number. I usually get a verbal agreement that I can send the gear back if I don't like it. I really doubt if this means much though. So far I have dealt with really honest people and haven't got burned. On every transaction I feel like I'm taking a big risk, so if there is a better way to go (such as Clay suggests) you would be smart to follow that route. Maybe some others have some ideas on this also? Steve1

I know a lot of really good skydivers who are jumping an old protec helmet. They may not be stylish but they offer a lot of protection. Mad John wears one. Mike Muscat (from Perris) also jumps one. Maybe they don't look cool, but you might be smart to jump with one. Steve1

Howard, You're right on that one. I believe flare is a modern term. If I remember right paracommanders were supposed to have around 15 MPH forward speed. But this was probably under ideal conditions. Most of them seemed to fly slower than that. If you timed it right, when you put the brakes on, you could swing out for a fairly soft landing. French jump boots really helped me to stand up a lot of landings when I should have done a PLF.

Sebazz, Good idea. I'm going to quit counting too. Steve1

I'm 52, but hey I look like I'm 51. Mentaly about 16. Physically (check with me in a couple months, I just started working out again). Steve1

I used to land my Paracommander with rear risers, way back when. It seemed like I could get softer landings than using toggles, but most folks I knew would flare using toggles. I would suggest flaring lower than 20 feet though. If I remember right, on most jumps I'd flare around ten or twelve feet for landing. I'd reach up as high as I could on the rear risers and then do a chin up. Steve1

Bill, Can you tell us more about surfing the wake. This is another thing I'm not familiar with. In an earlier post you mentioned when you break into your slot you need to keep your momentum going to get in and break through the turbulence and then stop to take grips. Does this wake lie on the very edge of the formation when you are at their level and I assume it is out from the formation up higher. To tell you the truth I've never noticed much of a wake from a formation, but I would like to know more about the wake if it can affect they way you fly. This is another thing that was unheard of back in the 70's. Thanks, Steve1

I bought both my Pit Special and Tony Suit used from E-bay and the DZ.com classified adds. The price was very low on both of them, but I also had to do some additional sewing to get them to fit right. I really like both jumpsuits. Steve1

Kallend, Thanks for the info. This is fascinating stuff. I've made lot's of jumps with B.J. Worth back in the 70's but noone knew much about RW back then. I really appreciate all the knowlege that is being passed down to us now. Thanks, Steve1

I was on a load recently where there was also a near collision. We broke off a formation and one guy was tracking directly over the top of another jumper. It sounds like the bottom guy didn't wave off much and tried to open. The top jumper went through the side of the deploying canopy and brushed against the bottom guy. Both were very sore and quit jumping for the day. Since then I have made it a point not to jump with either of these guys. They're both lucky to be alive and I don't want to be taken out by either one of them in future jumps. Steve1

JumperPaula and Kallend, I'm still trying to fly with what I learned back in the 70's when it comes to RW, but I think I am beginning to grasp what you mean by the ability of air to fly through a formation. On several jumps we have tried to get the base to fall faster by pulling ourselves closer together and arching harder. It sounds like it would be better to keep our arms extended, so the air flow is greater between us, rather than pulling our heads closer together. Is my perception correct on this one? Thanks for your input, I'm learning a lot. Steve1

I waited a few days since my last stupid question. So here goes: I know this isn't the best video camera for skydiving but I'm just wondering: #1. how it would work, #2. if a wide angle lense will fit on it, and #3. any problems that might happen using this camera. (I'm just wondering if it would work for a starter type camera.) I plan to buy a better set up later when I come into more cash. I know little about camera flying. P.S. This is the families video camera and the wife may deneuter me if I mess it up. Steve1 (the cheap bastard)

Jimmytavino, It sounds like you haven't even turned 50 yet, so I guess you aren't truly an old fart yet. You sound more like a young pup. I too started Sport jumping in 72, but I quit for over 20 years. I must say it is great to be back. The advances in equipment technology make it all the better. I know for sure most of us wouldn't still be jumping if we had to do it on round canopies. Steve1

Bill, I'm a fat old belly flyer who only does RW, and I don't even own a Frap hat. (Actually I'm pleasingly plump and quite good looking!) The more I hear about frap hats the less I want one. I still have my old motorcycle helmet though. Steve1