peckerhead

That was a cheap shot. I have devoted most of my life to skydiving and I have brought many new people into the sport. Get over yourself. Skydiving did not begin when you started jumping.

Her name was Sue I was 12 She was 14 Beaverton Oregon. I can't tell you the details, that is private.

Nothing more than a bracket? What the fuck is a bracket mate? Red jumpsuit yeah. I have about 300 of Ruckerts cards left, still can't give them away. Tell him to check his bloody email. And what do you mean "back in the air"? Where has he been?

Whatever, the nationals were on ABC's wide world of sports with Bob Beattie back in the 80's Russ Goodard who was also an NFL player with the San fransico 49'ers was a guest commentator. They had great air to air footage and landings. Most likely some of the best ever shown on national TV..... It was a two hour show with race cars mixed in. Nobody watched it and that is why it has never been on since. The general public will never "get it" Hell Base jumpers get more press these days. Get over it. People will pay to watch you on "Americas funniest home videos" That is the venue.....

I was about 125 pounds without gear. With gear almost 200. People used to jump into war with that shit. But when you are 18 in 1981 it didn't weigh a thing. You are a skydiver!

Thanks Dave, this time last year I was jumping with my buddy Ruckert in Picton. We were the obnocious Americans who made too much noise. I can't wait to make it back mate!

I hope the mods don't mind. I posted this in the bonfire and it dawned on me that I might have been in this sport long enough to be considered "history" I made my first jump at Hot Spur Paracenter Inc. in Littleton Colorado. I was barely 18 and scared to death. I found my old faded first jump certificate in an old photo album. I can't read my Instructors signiture but I think it says Bob something. He was D-5465. I never talked to him again after that day. Bob, if you are out there somewhere I salute you! My Jumpmasters signature looks like Martin Something....C-11707 I salute you as well. I skillfully landed a t-10 out in a field of cattle and prickly pear with the help of an arrow I saw off in the distance. I walked for about 20 minutes before I saw another human being but I didn't give a shit. I was well trained how to pick up the equipment just in case. The attached photo is my second jump 3 months later in Oregon. Nobody had a camera for my first one. Back then if you wanted a picture you had to bring a friend with a camera. My how times have changed....

I made my first jump at Hot Spur Paracenter Inc. in Littleton Colorado. I was barely 18 and scared to death. I found my old faded first jump certificate in an old photo album. I can't read my Instructors signiture but I think it says Bob something. He was D-5465. I never talked to him again after that day. Bob, if you are out there somewhere I salute you! My Jumpmasters signature looks like Martin Something....C-11707 I salute you as well. I skillfully landed a t-10 out in a field of cattle and prickly pear with the help of an arrow I saw off in the distance. I walked for about 20 minutes before I saw another human being but I didn't give a shit. I was well trained how to pick up the equipment just in case. Nice spot Martin! Life is GOOD! The attached photo is my second jump 3 months later in Oregon. Nobody had a camera for my first one. Back then if you wanted a picture you had to bring a friend with a camera. My how times have changed....

Jerry Baumchen maybe? My memory is fuzzy but I think he was the "No springs" guy. Great idea but a cypress would probably not work with that.

Yep, the 4 way guys want you to watch the video 10 TIMES! Even if you need another beer or have to pee. The CRW dawgs are kinda like the swoopers...Did ya see that, did ya, DID YA? But none of them expect to have people PAY to watch.

I absolutely agree! I know some will not want to hear this but most swoopers think other jumpers want to watch them when in fact they really don't give a shit. It's like Hey look at me! Look ma, no hands! And then they are all bummed out cuz no one was watching. Oh Man! You should have seen it, I am sooo cool! The only time you see swooping on TV shows is when some one crashes. Whuffos don't think you are cool, they think you are an idiot. Perfectly good plane, crashed into a lake, you know the rest. The only time mainstream people are going to pay to watch skydiving is when they have already paid to see something else like a football game. I really can't believe any skydiver would pay to watch another jumper land a parachute. Hell, I don't even like having to pay for my own jumps

I was hoping to be the governor of Louisissippi. we could build the governors mansion in Cancun.

It would be a little tricky to move the Rio-Grande. Someone might notice.

People keep saying we need to strengthen our borders. The simple solution would be to eliminate the border.... That's right, just make Mexico part of the United States. They won't keep coming if they are already here. Mexico is rich in natural resources; oil, coal, natural gas, timber, etc. It has some of the most beautiful tourists destinations in the world. They have everything we have and lots of it. The only reason people are so poor is because of mis-management and corruption in government. We round up the thugs and crooked government officials and start making money. We could divide the country into 5 new states: South Texas Southern Arizona New Texaco Louisissippii AND New Mexicalifornico I don't think we would have to invade or anything like that. Since they all want to be Americans anyway they would likely surrender without firing a single shot. What do you think?

I knew a guy back in Oregon in the early 80's that packed his rig just like you describe. No pilot chute at all, the pud was sewn directly to the nose near the center cell with a short piece of line and a straight pin holding the container closed. You could actually see fabric from the nose sticking out between the closing flaps. When he pulled the pud the container opened and then he would pull the nose of the canopy out to full arm extension and let it fly. The lines were also free stowed in the bottom of the container. I remember I was at a boogie at Scravel hill in Albany Oregon and me and my buddies watched him pack it and jump it all weekend. It was probably the scariest packjob I have ever seen and the openings about as ugly as you could possibly get on a ram-air. But, it did open every time and he could pack in about 5 minutes which was un-heard of back then. We thought he was nuts! I think the container was a Handbury but I can't say for sure. It had been modified by the owner who was also a master rigger. The canopy was a Strato Cloud Delta.

Case of beer.

Is that the same as listening to Ralph scream "GO" in the plane at his student from 4 grand -- and those of us on the ground being able to hear him?? You can hear Ralph in freefall. He is the only person I know who can yell at you while you are skydiving.

The reason I posted this is because I have spent almost two and a half decades standing out at the pea pit screaming FLARE Why wont they listen?

When you come in to land face into the wind and pull your steering toggles down. It is called a "flare" If you do not know how to Flare then you should find somebody who knows how to do this

My last real night jump was a four stack. 1989 I think? The pucker factor on a CRW night jump is way up there. I have 12 night jumps at the DZ. Solos, two ways, and 4 ways. Another dozen or so on demos but landing in a lit up stadium is hardly the same as landing in the dark. The demos were soo much easier. You can see the target easily on jump run and landings are no problem when you can see the ground. Nowadays I prefer to be ground crew and drink beer. Search and rescue advisor and coordinator.

I have a PD 160, a Tempo 150, and a Smart 160 in my 3 rigs. I would not hesitate to ride any one of them and I have no doubt they would perform as designed if needed. The "PD only" crowd seems to think they are somehow safer but there is really no empirical evidence to support this belief. Many are overloading their reserves but think the brand name will somehow make everything alright. As mentioned get the reserve that is the right SIZE for you weight and ability. The bigger the better.

I have two eclipses and I love them both. In my opinion they are the most comfortable rigs ever made. I also own an infinity. In the past I have jumped javelins, vectors, racers, dolphins, etc. I would not hesitate to get a used Eclipse if it is in good condition. You may not get any direct support from the manufacturer but parts are still availble from a few sources. Besides that parts from other rigs can work just fine in an eclipse. For instance I have a Naro reserve pilot chute in one of my eclipses, the main bag is from an infinity. Many other parts are interchangeable with other containers. Any Master rigger can work on them, the reserve container is very similar to the vector 2. Ralph in Oregon is also a good sourse for parts if you need them. He pretty much has parts for anything.

Are they going to start putting the numbers back on the cards? I got mine so long ago I can't remember my numbers and I have lost all my patches. Do they even give out patches anymore?

I absolutely agree. As I mentioned before Somebody has to pay for it! If the jumpers don't pay for their ride then the DZO is the one who has to pay the bill. It is not a matter of being "cool" If that happens often enough everyone will end up paying for it through higher jump rates. Aircraft are expensive to operate whether you jump or not and it is not just the fuel it is also the time on the machine, the pilots time and so on. It would be like telling your buddy that you will pay for gas to go on a fishing trip and then refusing to give him any money because you did not catch anything.

You are correct Jerry. Unless you are a student then you just pay for the training. The jump and the airplane ride are free.