steve1

Jesse, I remember a couple of night jumps that I never did see the ground. It was that black out. I rode my equipment right into the ground. This is a little off the subject but I was wondering how you felt about the new dress code in the army. You are an airborne ranger (One of the most elite troops in the armed services) and you have earned the right to wear a black beret. I understand that anyone who joins up can wear one now. I was in the airport the other day and I thought I was looking at some really elite troops. Come to find out they were all legs. Years ago the only troops who wore a beret were either rangers or green berets. Now all you have to do to earn one is join the army. I was in S.F. in the early 70's and it felt good to know you earned the right to wear a beret. I don't know what politician decided to let everyone wear the beret, but I think it's wrong. I'll get off my soap box for now. Steve

Bad Dog, Thanks for taking the risers back. At least I think you were the one I sent them back to. I finally got some that would fit. Did you sell the Triathalon you had for sale? I think it was a 160 or 175? I may be in the market for one as soon as I sell my old rig. Steve

Clay, I guess C-119's do date a person. My wife does keep threatening to leave me at our local "home" if I don't start shaping up. She is also threatening to start nocking the hell out of me once I get a little weaker. And she says she will refuse to change my diapers once I can't control my bowels any more...... I just feel lucky there is a sport I can still do, and one that is as fun as sky diving. I went through jump school back in 1970 and C-119's were still in use then. They were fun to jump, but take-offs were a little scary.

I finally purchases a used Z-1. I would like to wear my glasses under the visor because I am now an old fart and have trouble seeing where I'm at, and where I'm going. At any rate my current glasses won't fit. I know that a smaller set of frames are needed. Any suggestions? I am considering buying a pair of smaller prescription goggles to wear under my plastic visor. But then I'm thinking that these may be more likely to fog up than standard glasses. I'd appreciate your input.

I was able to do some jumping at Perris over Christmas. There was a few times when I found myself too high and without a lot of horizontal room to get down. I tried the chicken dive position and I must be doing something wrong. I tucked my knees up and brought my arms way back into a delta position and arched my chest with my head back. But I didn't go head down. I was able to loose a lot of altituide fairly fast because of less surface area and I did make it into the formation each time, but I must not be following directions very well. I felt like I was in more of a style tuck position. Maybe I didn't arch hard enough. Chuck may be too busy to answer this. Can anyone else help?

Round canopies are much different than a square. They are very difficult to collapse. I've made several mass tactical jumps in the army. I've never had a collision but have talked to a lot of people who have. Sometimes you can actually walk off the top of another person's canopy and it's not unusual to bounce off another person's lines. It's usually not that dangerous because the canopies are moving so slowly. The object is not to become entangled with each other. Probably the most dangerous part of a mass tactical jump is walking off the dropzone. Sometimes gear can become unstowed and come whistling down on the people below. It's possible to jump with about everything but the kitchen sink tied onto you. I remember once jumping with a PAE bag with an ammo box inside filled with gravel. It was all I could do to walk to the door and fall out. Before any soldier jumps his equipment is checked by a jumpmaster but things sometimes happen. I once rigger checked a soldier whose rucksack came loose when his canopy openned. He was angry and blamed me. On further investigation we found that the quick release buckles were too large for that size of nylon straps. Paratroopers are also trained to wait at least one second before jumping after the jumper ahead of him leaves. This also helps to avoid collisions. We used to jump C-119's. The trouble with these is that the two side doors were very close together. This increased the likelyhood of being too close to another jumper. I also had a friend who was afraid to jump, but he had the guts to do it every time. I would go first and then he would have the courage to follow me out. The only trouble was that he would be right on my tail whether we were jumping planes or helicopters. As soon as I got canopy there would be Bruce almost entangled in my canopy.

I don't have the knowlege that many of the people that have answered your post, but my current rig will handle several sizes of canopies. I have a talon 2. It's made to ideally handle a 150 O.P. At present I have a falcon 195 in it. This is F-111 material and it is a little too large for the bag. I use longer rubber bands for the first two locking stows and it all goes together okay. It is tight, but not unreasonable. I plan to downsize to a triathalon 160 soon and I think it should be a lot easier to pack up. My other rig is an older Vector. I can cram a Falcon 235 into it. The falcon 195 fits about right. And I think a OP 170 would be ideal in it. This is what I am jumping with and I am able to downsize somewhat with the same container. I feel safe with this gear and have had a rigger approve my gear. I'd appreciate your input if any of this sounds unairworthy or dangerous. I have to admit it is a lot more work closing a tight container and getting things to fit. Practice packing does help and f-111 fabric is a dream to work with compared to O.P. Thanks, Steve

I just got back from Southern California. I had a super time at Perris. Last year I was a little disappointed because I was having a hard time finding someone to jump with. This year there were three load organizers that I jumped with. I have always been a belly flyer and most people at home were telling me that Perris was not the place to go for Relative work. Not True! The load organizers were very helpful and friendly. Even to green-horns like myself. We started out doing four ways and worked up to turning points on ten-ways. There were lot's of good people there from all over the World. Prices were $15. to 13,000, over Christmas. If you are looking for a great place to jump that is run by friendly professionals I would recommend Perris. Just ask for these load organizers......Mike, Melon Head, or Bill.

Dave, What's wrong with old fart jump stories. I happen to enjoy old fart jump stories. Some of my old fart little ways also set state and national records. Mr. Old Fart (Steve)

Jason, I don't know the prices on these. But I'll be there around the 27th & 28th. If you need someone to do relative work with I'm interested. I'll be the only one there with a skydive Montana hat on. I have to wear it to cover this huge bald spot that I have developed. You'll love California this time of year. It's a great change from where I live. Steve

Thanks Chuck and Dan, I'm anxious to try what you have told me. It seems like I'm not going steep enough and spending too much time getting down there. I've never been on a big way. 20 some years ago I used to go close to last out of a DC-3. It had a small door so our exits were always really strung out. It seemed like most all of the jump was spent tracking to get down and then often going beyond the formation and still being too high. Gary or (Hod) Sanders has been coaching me some. You may know him Chuck. He was on the Navy four way team at one time, and some other teams with BJ Worth. He still goes on most of the big-ways with B.J. At any rate he was showing me a similiar track (delta) position with a hard arch and arms way back. I'm also anxious to try the chicken hawk position out. I have a lot to learn and I sure appreciate the input. It sure is nice to be able to ask the experts dumb questions. Especially when they can't see you.

Emmie, I'd go with used stuff. I've found some great bargains on the internet. I know you may need some advice on this though. Beware of old friends trying to sell you old gear. I almost bought a rig with an older f-111 canopy for $4,000. I only could afford about $3,000 so I didn't buy it. Lucky thing. I almost got taken to the cleaners. This rig was only worth about $2000 and had over a thousand jumps on the canopy. On the net forums you could have bought a similiar rig with an older cypress and a better main, for around $1500. After scrolling through enough adds on the net, you can figure out how much a rig is worth. Whatever you buy though, it would be good to have a rigger check it out. Most people will accept the gear back if you ask. I've got most of my gear from dropzone.com (classifieds), and some from the enclave (classifieds). Hope this helps. Steve

Clay, I've only been there once, last summer. Lot's of fun. I used to jump with Fred back in the olden days. See you there next summer. Steve

Larry, If you ever get to the Lost Prairie boogie, look me up. Thanks again, Steve

Larry, Isn't it great to be back jumping. I didn't realize what I was missing. Our old jump club was having a reunion a couple years ago. After a crash training course I went up on a load with some of my old pals. It was my first square jump and we went up and did a 5-way. This probably wasn't the safest thing to do after a 20 year plus lay off, but everything worked out fine. You never forget how to fall stable, or track, etc. I did have some trouble remembering where to pull. On my first series of jumps I kept going in to pull my ripcord but nothing was there. At any rate I'm hooked all over again. I think I'll take your advice and go with the 160 triathalon. Thanks, Steve

Emmie, I admire your courage. Most people wouldn't have the grit to hang in there. I've never had a spinning problem but I knew several people who did. I often wondered what they could do to overcome this. Most people spin the same way each time. I wonder if someone could teach you how to do a turn in the apposite direction. (just a thought) The wind tunnel sounds like a safer way to overcome spinning problems. Best of luck. Steve

Maybe I should have worded my post better. The AAD activation that I mentioned was around 6 or 7 thousand feet. Long before it was supposed to fire. Opening a reserve at terminal back then was no fun. Especially if you were in the middle of a backloop. It would Jerk the heck out of you. The reserve canopy would inflate and you would fall to the end of your lines. I know that by todays standards, para-commanders are probably considered junk. Back then a P.C. packed into a B-12 container, a motorcycle helmet, french para-boots, baggy jump suit, and chest mounted reserve was all considered hot gear. A few people were trying para-planes. The one we were using would malfunction on a regular basis. They were wild and crazy times but I don't know of anyone who purposely went low. Our club had strict rules on this, just as today. Most all of us were members of USPA. Safety was a big concern with all the people I jumped with. In fact I think low pull contests were more a matter of fiction than reality. Undoubtedly it is much safer to jump now than back then. I knew of four or five people who went in. Almost noone ever was killed under a perfectly good canopy. They were just too slow. I'm getting my daughters into the sport now. I wouldn't have done that back in the 70's.

I pulled once at 700 or 800 ft. and got canopy at 500. I was the last one into a star and no one was watching their altimeters. I'd thrown my rig together to make the load and had joked that I didn't know if it would work. There was this huge number on the run way coming up to get me. Of course I went for my main. (muscle memory in action) Luckily I had a nice fast opening on my paracommander or I probably wouldn't be here. There were automatic openers back then but almost noone used them. I talked to one guy at Ft. Bragg who was using an automatic opener back in the 70's. He was in the middle of a back loop when it fired. When he got on the ground he ripped it off his rig and threw it as far as he could off in the bushes.

I have a Talon 2, T-5 container. I am considering purchasing a Triathalon 175 or 160. I'm just wondering how tight the 175 would be. I know that this is getting toward the upper end for container capacity. I know it will probably fit, but I don't want to struggle too much to close it, each time I pack. I am also considering buying a Triathalon 160 because I know it will pack up easier. The only problem is that I may be downsizing too quickly. I have about a 100 square jumps, about 300 para-commander jumps, about 50 t-10 army jumps. I know I should try one out before I buy. The smallest canopy I've jumped so far has been a Triathalon 190. It didn't seem much hotter than my falcon 195. So I think I could handle a triathalon 175, but going to a 160 may not be smart. I've read that Triathalons are fairly docile and forgiving. I weigh about 180 without gear. I'm just trying to add all this up in my relatively inexperienced mind and come up with the right canopy to buy. I would appreciate your input and ideas.

Quade. I know better than that. I was referring to just getting down to the same level quickly and then making an approach. I know that coming in too steep is also a good way to blow things up and ruin everyones skydive.

It's amazing how much I don't know about RW today. Twenty five years ago, when I quit I thought I knew it all. Now that I'm starting back I'm finding I know very little. I was just wondering about rapid altitude loss to get down to a formation. I used to spiral down when I was over a formation. It took quite a while. I was reading where some people are using head down to get down fast. I'm just wondering if this is a safe plan. I know a collision could be deadly and visibility could be a big factor. I appreciate your input.

Cobalt Dan, I think you are right on as to what happened. There was a wall of very high trees next to a football field and a strong gusty cross wind. And my canopy was lightly loaded with half brakes. I'll no better next time. Thanks for the input from all.

I only have about a 100 jumps on a square canopy so I still have lots to learn. I keep hearing about people being hurt and and even killed under a collapsed canopy. A friend of mine broke his back when he hit some dead air on the other side of a building. I was jumping into a tight dz on a windy day a while back. There were trees, a slight hill, and some buildings. I was about 300 feet up, in about half breaks when I experienced this scary falling sensation for a few seconds. (not fun!) I didn't look up because I was close of a goal post and fence, and my attention was focused on missing these. But I think I was experiencing a collapsing canopy. I was using a bigger canopy for a demo type jump. (A falcon 235) At any rate I would like to learn how to avoid this next time. Is your canopy more likely to collapse in half brakes? I assume the danger is greater on smaller canopies. Excuse my ignorance. Most of my jumps are on a para-commander about a hundred years ago. Rounds may have been slow but they didn't collapse. I also know that maybe I shouldn't have been making a demo jump with my limited experience under a square even though I have a D-license. I live a long way from the nearest drop-zone so I really appreciate your input. Be kind. I know there may be some sheer stupidity to this post.

I too just realized who this Lisa is. I want to thank you for helping me select my new used Talon container. It fits like a glove. The other guy I talked to thought it'd be way too small. I'm glad I took your advice. The price was super and the quality was better than I had hoped. Steve

Thanks for all the great information. Maybe I'll meet some of you at Perris and Elsinore. I can't wait.