peckerhead
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Everything posted by peckerhead
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OK, mystery solved! It IS a Curtiss ROBIN, modified for jumpers with a bigger engine and jump doors. Lynn Emerich bought this Curtiss to replace the TravelAire that crashed & killed the pilot when it was returning from Eastern Washington after they replaced the fabric on the wings.
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Thanks Walt, I'll give it a shot.
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Thanks, I have both photo shop and HP editor. Sometimes cropping the picture works. I just can't figure out how to reduce the file size, without making the quality of the photo suck. I see attached photos posted here that are clear and sharp...I must be missing something.
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You are right though...I am pretty sure that plane came from Issaquah. What year did they shut down?
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Sometimes when I try to attach a photo I get this message. What does it mean and how do I fix it. Also, how do you post a link? The html I use on other boards does not seem to work here.......
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The Curtiss Travel Air was an open cockpit Bi-plane. The Curtiss we are talking about was NOT a Travel Air. Maybe a modified Robin. I remember that plane well and everyone at the DZ called it a Curtiss including the pilot. Ralph would probaly know what model. I will e-mail him that picture so we can solve this mystery......
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It is definetly a Curtiss. It may be a robin I can't say for sure. It was obviously modified for jumpers and had two sliding doors on one side. That picture is well known in the Northwest, I have seen it many times at different dropzones. I am almost positive that was taken at Kapowsin during the Geek brothers convention in the late '80s. I made jumps from that plane at Geek brothers in Washington. Not one like it, that exact same plane. I remember when it first landed all the jumpers from Oregon said "what is that thing?" The pilot told us it was a Curtiss. I also remember manifest calling for Curtiss loads on the loudspeaker. We also flew Beavers at that boogie. Ralph has one and Kapowsin used to have one. They are similar but the beaver is a metal airplane and the Curtiss is fabric. The Beaver has one door and the Curtiss had two. Both are tail draggers but the Curtiss is longer and narrower, the Beaver is wider.
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That is a Curtiss, and that picture was taken in Washington state with Mt. Rainier in the background. Kapowsin I believe. Not sure what model. I jumped that plane back in the '80s. It has fabric wings and pratt and whitney radial. As I recall it will hold 8 jumpers. Very loud.
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Is there still a DZ near Missoula Montana?
peckerhead replied to peckerhead's topic in Events & Places to Jump
I might be moving to an area about an hour south of there. I can't seem to find any info, years back there was a DZ called silvertip I believe..... -
You had a bag lock on a tandem? And, it was the rubber bands fault? That drouge was not strong enough to pull out the line stows? Please, tell me more.
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"Because it causes line twists and bag locks. With double wrapped stows, the bag tilts to the side more as the stow releases, this can cause the bag to spin." Hmmm? Never had a bag lock and I don't get line twists either. So much for that theory.... Do you really think a doubled rubber band is stronger than the pull force of a pilot chute?
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DO NOT DOUBLE STOW! Why? I have been double stowing since my last malfunction...That was 1989 and I have not had one since. Hmmm? Maybe I am on to something. Hell, if it is really stretched out I might even (gasp) TRIPLE STOW! What is the advantage of loose stows? Rubber bands, even tube stows do not wear evenly. You can start out with a complete set of properly sized stow bands and after time they can be different lengths. I don't replace them until they break. If they are loose DOUBLE THEM! I can think of advantages to having tight stows, I don't see any advantage to having them loose and sloppy.
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"Line dump is no big deal. I've had it on several tandem jumps and wouldn't have known if it wasn't for the video. Every reserve deployment with a free-bag is basically line dump." I disagree. Lines properly stowed in a free bag will deploy in an orderly manner until the two locking stows are released. They all have the same tension as they deploy from the freebag. Besides, you want the reserve to open fast. Lines "dumped" out of rubber bands on a main deployment bag can occur out of sequence if there is not proper tension on each stow. This can either cause a hard opening or a possible malfunction. Loose stows on the main are not a good idea. There should be a "snap" on each stow as the lines are stretched to insure the lines are straight and clean before the canopy is released from the bag. If your stow is loose, double it. If it is tight, leave it alone. The pilot chute is much stronger than most people give it credit for. IMNSHO
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Both. Velcroless toggles, The top of the toggle goes in the top pocket and the bottom of the toggle goes in the bottom pocket.
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Here is the website address, I don't know how to do that clicky thing. www.callralph.hatley.com
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You have that backwards Squeak. Ralph WON'T sell canopies that are too small for those too heavy or inexperienced. He will always try and talk you into something more suitable for your skill level. Some people don't like him because he won't sell them something they have no business buying. For one thing he does not want to see someone get hurt on gear they bought from him. Second, it makes sense from a business standpoint because he can later sell them something else when they are ready to downsize. To the original poster: If you go to the drop zone section and look up Oregon DZ's Ralphs DZ is listed as Skydive eagle creek. Ralph is a straight shooter and you can't beat his prices or service. He offers 100% satisfaction guaranteed or your money back. No bullshit. I have bought many rigs from Ralph ever since the '80s including my new infinity.
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Question about Jumping at higher elavations.
peckerhead replied to jasonRose's topic in General Skydiving Discussions
Ah yes, the cowpies.... A few years back there was a record crop. Almost impossible not to land on one. They were hard and crusty on the top and wet and gooey on the underside. It was like landing on banana peels. You think you are getting a stand up then you slide for a few feet and end up on your ass. It gets even more interesting when it rains. -
What are some of the funniest team names you've heard?
peckerhead replied to ACMESkydiver's topic in The Bonfire
My sister in law was on a womens softball team called the "mouthy bitches" I always thought that would be a good skydiving team name. -
Yep, that was us alright.... If you see that dork tell him to check his e-mail.
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http://magicarpets.com/images/600_DSC00450.JPG
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I love this place! If you want someone to tell you why you are a moron.... This is the place! You can buy ANYTHING here.... Call Ralph!
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I just got back from Australia last month and I would also recommend Picton and Nagambie. Those were the only two DZ's I visited and I was treated well at both places. Picton has more aircraft and bigger numbers. It is only an hour or so south of Sydney.
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Back in the 80's I had a cutaway on a borrowed rig. After I landed I checked the card and it had not been repacked in over 4 years. Remember, the 120 day cycle was made law back in the day when parachutes were made from natural fibers. IE cotton silk, etc. The equipment has changed, but the rules have not. With modern day equipment and synthetic fibers the only reason for repacks is to stay legal, not safety. The pointer manual even says the best way to keep a parachute safe is to keep it sealed in it's protective container....... I know I will get flamed for this but if you take care of your gear there is no valid reason to open it and re-pack it every 120 days. A 5 year old reserve that has been repacked every 120 days has more wear than the same reserve that has never been repacked. But, until the rules are changed I must abide by the FAA regulations....
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Use the force.....
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Well, I'm a pilot and don't have any problem with night landings. You are a hero, I am just a skydiver.