steve1

I got my new "old" rig. Everything seems in really good shape. The velcro and elastic on the release system needs to be replaced, but everything else looks good. On the down side...it is definitely a competion model. I've been reading Gary Lewis's manual on paracommanders, and it does state that the competition model does land hard and is more likely to malfunction. According to the manual, this canopy can be greatly improved by making a few modifications to it. Such as covering up the large hole in the back with a mark 1 data panel, and shortening the two long turn slots is supposed to improve openings and soften landings considerably. It will still be short lined. But hopefully at my weight of 180 it should descend around the same rate as Mark 1 if I make the other modifications. At any rate, I really appreciate your input. Do you think I should hire another rigger to make the modifications I mentioned earlier? My sewing skills leave a lot to be desired. Thanks...Steve1

Sure, but I can't stand hearing the cute little tofu's scream and every time I see a shot tofu I think of that cute little tofu in that Disney movie...the one with the lettuce friend called Crisper. ............................................................ The Native Americans had a name for vegetarians.....They were called, "Poor Hunters".

I had a couple paraplane jumps back in the early 70's. That one would malfunction about every 10 jumps. At least that was the rumor. It might have been close to one out of every 20 or thirty, but it did malfunction a lot. What a sight to see landed properly. This was the first square that I saw in the air. What a step up from the other canopies of that time period.....Steve1

So if you're not debating gun laws, but simply discussing gun advice, should that go in Bonfire? ................................................ Debating what gun is the best for a given situation can get very spirited. I've seen people about come to blows when someone stated their favorite elk gun wasn't up to snuff. So in my opinion, I think this may be the right place for this....Steve1

Let me try that picture again....

This boils down to the type of gun you like best. I've never been a big fan of automatics. I'd much rather have a bolt action. In my experience they are more accurate than an auto, but there may be some auto's out there than may make me eat my words. A lot of auto's will jam up in really cold weather, or if they get dirty. Just some things to think about. So, I'd pick a good bolt gun for elk. The 30/06 is a good elk cartridge. It's probably killed more elk than any other single cartridge. I'd use 180 grain bullets that won't blow up on bone. I've gotten adequate penetration with 150 grain bullets, but 180 grain should penetrate better on a big bull. My old Remington 700 30/06 will group close to an inch at 100 yards, off the bench (with the right reloads). I've hunted with it off and on for about 40 years. I still love it. I've killed elk with a 270, but I'd rather have a 30/06 for that purpose. A 7 MM Mag. is a great cartridge too. It kicks about the same as a 30/06. You'd need at least a 24 inch barrel in 7 MM mag. for maximum velocity. Most 30/06's are about 22 inches (usually). They may be easier to pack around for that reason. I have a 26 inch barrel on my 300 Win. Mag. to ring out the most velocity. I don't like it's noise or recoil much. It's another great elk cartridge though. This picture was of a bull I shot many years ago. Yes, that's my old ought-six in the picture. It took about a week to get all the meat out. A blizzard thwarted one attempt to get the meat out of goat country and down to the horses.....Steve1

Thanks for all the input everyone! I appreciate the fact that there are other old farts out there who are trying to keep me safe

I heard that Bob Sinclair almost never wears goggles. He's been doing that for probably 50 years. But then again he's tougher than the average jumper. My eyes tear up really easy, and I'd have a really hard time without them. I had a pair of really big, black, rubber (bultaco)goggles back in the 70's. They really looked cool, but they let in way too much air. I ended up with tears everywhere on the inside of them, so I had to scrap them and go back to my little plastic portia goggles. I guess my eyes are kind of on the wimpy side...Steve1

Thanks Ripcord4, (I just read your post) That's the info. I was looking for. I'll get the velcro replaced, and brush up on my PLF's. I'm still a tough old bird, even though I'm kind of on the plump side these days....Steve1

Thanks Terry, for your input. It makes me feel a little better knowing that you liked yours when you weighed 160. I weigh around 180 right now, so maybe it could be jumpable under the right conditions. Maybe if I go on a crash diet, or quit drinking beer....(Nah...To hell with that idea!) I'm also wondering about the R-3 tapewells. How safe are these? They weren't invented yet in 75 when I quit. (At least I never saw any). The PC I jumped a while back had R-3's and these were the first I've seen. I'm just wondering if there is much chance of them coming unhooked on opening. Can you get a clean release on a cut away? Someone told me to check them every time after opening to make sure none of the velcro has come loose. Kind of a scary thought. I felt secure with my old shot and a halfs, but they could also snag a reserve. Thanks,....Steve1

Oh shit! I went and rechecked the pictures looking for serial numbers...and sure enough it says right on it, in fine print..."Competition". I guess that's what happens when you figure you know it all, and rush into buying something. Noone I knew, back in the olden days, had a competition model. I assume it's short lined for less oscillation on turns. Is there any other differences? Are the landings really that much harder than a standard Mk-1? Maybe this canopy will be for water jumps only. It sure is purty though. Red, White, and Blue....Steve1

...................................................................... I guess I won't know for sure what I bought, till it arrives. I never have jumped a comp. model. I think this one is long lined and a standard Mk-1, but I could be wrong. I have gained about 30 lbs. since the 70's (solid muscle, I might add). No longer am I a 140 lb floater. It's funny how your mind says you can still do things you did 35 years ago. Like standups under a para-commander. I did jump a P.C. a couple summers back, but I'm not so sure it wasn't a Jumbo model. Stood it up with no problem, but this canopy might be a different story. Thanks for the input....Steve1

Thanks Jerry, I'll keep that in mind. Back in the 70's I had a super-pro main container and a stylemaster reserve container. So, it only makes sense to now have a stylemaster main, and super-pro reserve now. I hope to be in Oregon this summer, and maybe make some jumps in Mollala if time allows. Maybe our paths will cross...Steve1

I just made the winning bid on 1973 Mark 1 with a stylemaster harness and container (on ebay). It has R-3 tapewell release system. I paid $202. Everything looks to be in really good shape except for the ripcord pocket which needs to be replaced. Did I do good? I'll have another rigger check it out, before jumping it. I quit jumping in about 75 so I'm not real familiar with this tapewell system. Apparently the velcro is still good. Maybe this is a step up from the old shot and a halfs. I was never trained to cover my cape wells after cutting away, so maybe this is a safer system for an old fart like me. Now all I need is a belly wart reserve (hopefully with a modified 26 coni in it). God, it feels good to be a paracommander owner again!....Steve1

No endangered species can be legally hunted in America. Wolves and Grizzlies may be delisted soon in Montana. If that happens they might be hunted on a very limited basis to keep their numbers in check. Wolves have made a tremendous come back. They were virtually extinct not many years ago. Now there are hundreds in Western Montana. Wolves are now moving to the Eastern part of the state. This would be great, if there were no people, livestock, and pets. There lies the problem. A single wolf went through a flock of sheep recently, here in Eastern Montana. It killed and crippled nearly every animal in the flock of about 35. Most of the crippled animals had to be destroyed. So, this particular wolf is being hunted hard, by a few Government hunters and trappers. The hunting of elephants in Africa is now legal in some places. I see nothing wrong with this, if elephant numbers grow too large for a particular area. Of course it would need to be closely regulated. The money from a rich hunter can go to feed a lot of hungry mouths over there....Steve1

QuoteMan, what a bunch of old coonass skydivers. reply] I don't think I've heard the term "coonass" since I was in the Army at Ft. Polk (69 & 70). Not sure what it means, but it's a cool name. Most people called me a damn "Yankee" back then. Not sure if that was good or bad, but I kind of liked it. I've got to make a trip down South one of these years. I've got a ton of memories from down in those parts, and most of them are good....Steve1

It's good to hear Bob is still jumping. I hope I've still got the motivation and heart that he does, when I get his age....Steve1

I'd listen to your Doctor and your own feelings on this. If it's a groin injury, it may only take one hard opening or landing to ruin any healing that is going on. Doctors know a lot. It seems they also are very conservative and cautious. Many judgments they make could involve a law suit, so you may have to use some of your own judgment on this. Trying to cowboy up and jump on it, might not be too bright of an idea. Last summer my ankle was really messed up from a low turn. I really thought it was broke. Any Doctor would have told me not to jump for months and months. I should have gone to a specialist after my initial x-rays. I didn't even do that. I took about four weeks off because of the pain, and then started jumping again. Being your basic dumb ass I slid in most landings and was able to continue jumping. Things turned out okay, but I may not be so lucky next time. Oh, and this isn't the only time I've done stupid things in my life. I remember riding broncs with my free arm in a cast, following a severe concussion (many years ago). A couple of other times I cut a cast off early, so I could return to work. So, far I've got away with all this, but I was lucky. My ankle still isn't 100%, and I limp every morning till I get it warmed up. This may be a permanent problem. I should have taken better care of it. Dan Brodsky was told by his Doctors never to jump again after he broke his neck. He went on to win several World Championships after that. But then again, the pain in his neck still bothers him a lot, today. So, I guess this all boils down to a judgment call that only you can make. It's a good idea to take the cautious way out. If you abuse your body too much you may live to regret it Eble Keneval is one of my heroes. I say a picture of him recently and he looks a 100 years old. He swallows a fist full of pills each morning just to get out of bed. I don't want to ever end up like that....Steve1

Your wish is granted; second installment here: http://www.ducts.org/06_06/html/memoirs/garr.html It covers, among other things, Doug's first jump at Greene, NY (there was a brief thread here a bit ago about that DZ), along with a series of reflections on the danger of skydiving. HW ........................................................ Man, this is great stuff. The best writing I've read in reference to our sport. It's amazing how Doug Garr can put into words the things we have all felt while skydiving, but probably couldn't describe half as well. What a great writer!....Steve1

*** I STILL have my Style Master and Pap. reply] ................................................................ Stylemaster containers were hot back in those days. I had a Stylemaster reserve container that I bought cheap from B.J. Worth. It really packed up tight. I had to almost jump on it to get it closed up around my 24 ft. reserve. I wish I had hung onto all that old gear!. I sold it all for peanuts. The pictures bring back a ton of memories....Steve1

I didn't need an "A" lic. to jump a round and chest mount.

Thanks for sharing, Howard! What a great story! Doug Garr is a wonderful writer. I'd like to read more of his stuff....Steve1

[replys "He had an "artillery simulator, which he had tucked into the pack opening band of his chest reserve. reply] .................................................................... I've heard a lot of grenade simulator's go off. Jesus, they are loud. I can imagine what one would do to your chest. I think the last grenade simulator that I heard go off was in the middle of the night in the last few weeks of S.F. training. We had been humping through the boonies most of the night with heavy rucksacks. We sat down for a short break. Man, I was exhausted. Within seconds I was unconscious, and off in LaLa Land dreaming. When all of a sudden there was this tremendous-huge-Kawoom! I about crapped my drawers...it was that close, and that loud. Then one of our instructor tells us we are now under attack, and we had to move. Just fun and games in the military. No wonder I can't hear well these days....Steve1

I'm rigging Pyro for a demo this weekend. ..........................................................................I've about run out of jump stories, but Airtwardo's discussion of Pyro got me thinking of another really scary story that had a really sad ending. It isn't really a jump story but it did involve some army jumpers. So, if you're really bored, here goes. Back in 1970 I was getting toward the end of Special Forces training at Ft. Bragg. In the final phase of training you receive quite a bit of explosives training. One thing you did was rig up a ring main. This involved having a group of people each take a block of TNT and wire several blocks together with electrical caps. It's really pretty simple. We did the same thing in Infantry training. Any idiot knows that the last thing you should do is hook a power source onto these wires while you are wiring it up. Well anyhow, in the class ahead of ours there was a group of future S.F. soldiers wiring up this ring main. I can't recall all the details, but there was like eight soldiers all down range rigging this up. Each was holding a block of TNT. Back up range, some idiot had forgot and left the wires hooked up to a battery with the switch open. So, when the circuit was completed all of these soldiers were blown to Kingdom Kum (whereever that's at). So, be careful Airtwardo. Explosives are dangerous....Steve1

QuoteQuoteJeez. You must have had Lemonhead in charge of breakoff. reply] We had a Lemonhead for a load organizer at Perris several years back. Is that the same one?....Steve1