steve1

I finally found a smaller pair of glasses that I wear under my Z-1. I think I'm going to order a pair from sport-RX next. They sell a pair that are low profile and look like glasses. They too will fit under the visor of a Z-1....Steve1

I'd love to go to something like this. I haven't jumped with Mike Muskat for a couple years. Is he still load organizing at Perris? He didn't look too gimped up when I saw him last. Just another old fart like myself.....One of these years I'm going to break away and make it......Steve1

There was a time or two (when I first started back), when I went to pull my rip cord and then realized that it wasn't there. It's amazing how muscle memory stays with you after even 2O years. I think that's why old timers have no trouble falling stable or even getting right back into RW, after a long lay-off. It's just like riding a bike....Steve1

If anyone has the video of Lost Prairie 2002, you can see Bob exiting a DC-3. Who else would have a rip-cord handle on his main these days. What a cool guy! He told us a story of how he jumped into the Rose Bowl (without permission, back in the 60's)....Steve1

It might make a good demo canopy.....Make sure it's still serviceable. Have a rigger check it out. I have a Falcon 235 with over a 1,000 jumps on it for a 2nd rig. I bought it when I was first learning to jump squares and didn't know much. Probably not a good investment, but it still let's me down fine when I don't have time to pack for a 2nd jump....Steve1

That's one of the things I really enjoy about my hornet, is the color coded lines. It really makes it quick and easy to pack. I've got some Pals with thousands of jumps, who agree. I wonder why more canopies don't come with this...Steve1

Darkwing, Sounds like you are a former Idahoian. I was just wondering if you remember Rozo, Steve Morow, or Sully. The were active Idaho jumpers during the 70's and was just wondering if you remember them. Sully burned in, in about 76 or so. I heard it was at Athol. I haven't jumped at Star in over 30 years. I plan to attend their boogie next year......Steve1

Thanks Dave....I found your earlier post and plan to look it over carefully......Steve1

I read Aggie Dave's post on Bev Suits. They sound great. I was just wondering if you like another brand better than Bev Suits? Any recommendations on what I should order for a medium faller? Maybe medium fast. I'm just doing some comparative shopping here and thought I'd ask the experts help......Thanks.......Steve1

I think we have all day-dreamed about this kind of jump. They do it all the time on TV, but is there anyway it could be done. I've heard a few stories about Mr. Bill jumps, but still wonder how this is done. Back in the 70's I knew a guy who used to experiment with different types of jumps. He rigged up a bar fastened to the risers of a round canopy. A static line openned the rig as he jumped out and tried to hang on. Noone could....(as I was told). I recall reading another story about two Army Air Corps soldiers (in World War II) who had to jump because their plane was going down. They only had one parachute. One guy tried to hang onto his buddy as the chute opened. He couldn't hang on and he fell to his death......So I have my doubts if this can be done.....Steve1

I had several friends who jumped "Pig Rigs" back in the early 70's. To tell you the truth they scared the bejeebies out of most of us newbies. I still don't really understand some of the gizmos that were on some of them. Some had one shot cape-wells and t-shaped reserve handles and so on. Many of us just referred to them as death rigs. The idea of not having your reserve out front just seemed way to scary to me. Some of them even had a Jesus line (I think it was called) to pull in case the reserve didn't open properly. When someone would walk by with this rig on I'd think, "Man that guy has guts" or "Man that guy must be good!".....That's about all I know on the subject of pig rigs.......I get chills just thinking about them.......Steve1

Strikes do promote violence at times. Butte, Montana has a history of being a strong union town. Most folks there used to work in the mines and it is a tough place to live. It's also the home of Evil Kennevel. One time many years ago some workers crossed the picket line to work. A couple of them were shot dead. Then they were propped up and pictures were taken of their bodies. The pictures were then circulated around town saying, "This is what happens to Scabs in Butte." Sounds like a scary place, huh? That is one place I wouldn't cross a picket line.......Steve1

I used to think I'd never cross a picket line, but now I think it depends on the situation. I was once a (union) plumber and pipe-fitter's apprentice. I've also worked in other trades on other construction jobs that were unionized. I can see the purpose of unions, but I also feel they are sometimes too strong. Many are run by a bunch of greedy people who care nothing about anything, or anyone, but themselves. I got into the plumber's and pipe-fitter's union on my own merit. Often this is not the case. Usually it depends on who your relatives are. If your dad is in the trade, you are usually a shoe in to get in. When I got in there was close to 100 applicants (back in the early 80's). They only took four that year. I was the only one whose dad wasn't already in the union. I worked on one job where the workers seemed to be running the show rather than the bosses. You'd see lot's of folks doing almost nothing all day, some smoking dope on their breaks, and you'd even find little forts where some workers would hide and drink beer on the job. The bosses were afraid to fire anyone because of fear of a walk out. The job had to be finished soon or suffer a huge fine (which was in the contract). I recall attending some union meetings that truly reminded me of a Klu Klux Clan rally. The worst name anyone could think of was "Scab". Most were threatenly violence to anyone who would think of crossing the picket line. Whenever it would come time to negotiate a new contract the huge salaries and benefits they were already making was not enough. They alway's demanded a shit load more or threaten to go on strike. I know all this sound pretty negative, but I could tell plenty more stories similiar to this. This is a case where unions are just getting too strong in my opinion. This past summer a neighbor of mine was having a hard time keeping his grocery store up and going because his workers were on strike and were trying their best to break him. He didn't have the money to pay the raises and benefits that his workers were demanding. I crossed this picket line at least once a week.......Steve1

Just think about how great it feels when you quit. It can even be addictive.......Steve1

Congratulations! Best of luck in the future.....Steve1

I jumped in the 70's and then quit though the 80's and 90's. I'm sure there have been many advances in rounds during those years. Everyone so far has given good advice. You'd be smart to get a square reserve. I had a couple reserve rides on 24 ft rounds. Both were modified differently. The first let me down fairly soft (for a round) but the 2nd oscillated like hell and was nearly unstearable. I ended up spraining both ankles in a rock pile. I've always heard good things about 26-conicals. This is probably a better choice. But like I said I was out of the sport for about 25 years, so what do I know. I usually packed round reserves, on the floor. As Rigger Rob mentioned a table is a much better way to go. I kind of miss flaking. But then again, I'm getting old and senile.....Steve1

I was just wondering if B.J. Worth was organizing the 124 ways......Just curious.....Steve1

There's three reasons why I wouldn't make a naked jump. No. 1... I wouldn't want to gross anyone out when they saw an elderly gentleman with rolls of fat and white skin. No. 2.... I'd be afraid of dragging something across the tarmac on the way to board the plane. And No. 3...I wouldn't want anyone to think I had a streamer while in freefall.......

This sounds to me like a personal problem......Steve1

I heard of a jumper who must have been from a nudist colony or something, because he was continually jumping in the buff, even at the most inappropriate times. One day he was late for his load so they had to call his name on the loud-speaker. He had the nickname of Naked Ralph. So they announced, "Will Naked Ralph please come to the loading area. This time with your clothes on, please!"..........Steve1

I recall that scene.......The scene that really sticks in my mind though is of the two-way hookup tearing it's way through someone's canopy. I'd love to see that movie again. It's been about 30 years since I last viewed it. I'd also love to jump a PC again. Everyone thinks I'm nuts for wanting to, but just for old time's sake. I've still got my old Frenchies. You never know, I might need them again. I may even get out my old motorcycle helmet. portia goggles, and baggy jump suit (complete with bell-bottom sleeves and legs)......Steve1

I would grab my rear risers,,, but would cross my arms,,, over my head,, and get my left riser w/ my right hand, and my right riser w/ my left hand, and then torque around ,,,180 degrees just at touch down,,by straightening out my arms, as I "chinned myself", so that while my canopy was still " backing up" I was landing facing "forward,",, and then would "run out the landing"......hahaha worked 6 times out of 10 !!. .. Ah..... youthful enthusiasm Sounds like a great way to land on a windy day. (I've got a couple jumps on a papillon.) I hated doing rear PLF's. Most of mine were feet, rear, and then head (on windy days). I used to experiment with a type of hook turn back in the 70's. If you hooked a para-commander into the wind just right, you wouldn't end up backing up. If you were late, landings were brutally hard, but it was still almost better than backing up. Thank god for French Paraboots......Steve1

This reminds me of when my daughter was younger she had kind of a warped sense of humor, (just like her old man). I had gone hunting that day, and didn't get home till late. On arrival home my daughter informed me that she was very worried about me, and they had been thinking something bad could have happened. Then she stated that she was really really worried, but then she got to thinking that if something had happened to me that she'd get all my stuff, and then she didn't feel so bad......Where did I go wrong????.......Steve1

Good luck Bill! Just remember everything I taught you at Lost Prairie last summer. I wonder why I wasn't invited on this?.........Steve1

Oh, I think it was at least 45, if not 46. Things were happening so fast and furious, that I don't rightly know. We should a hired one of them there camera fliers, so we could figure out for sure......Steve1