lekstrom10k

That was the 10-E from Z-Hills. It was at the time when Jeff Searles was getting out of the DZ business and Si Fraser was buying him out I believe. All of us from Mi Wi and Ontario were down there one time while Jeff was up in Mi screwing Scruffing. We had 35 or more sleeping at his house as he was up north. Somebody decided to take the plane to Key West all 17 of us. To sit on the bulkhead passing joints and champagne was quite a feat as they were coming from both sides. We sent the straightest people to rent a car . We got a station wagon and I was one of the lucky 5 to ride the down tail gate to town.When we flew back the electric went out, we had to hand pump the gear down .After a boinky boinky landing with no landing lights we finally got back to the tie-down. Many never knew the crap we were in because of smokie fog inside the plane. In another picture of the same roll or shot you can read the big "Z" on the left vertical stabilizer. you can just glimpse it over the door saying Zephyerhills parachute center, I believe that was correct

If I recall He had a severly broken arm and or shoulder. I also believe he sued USPA and others. I also recall he used the money to take flying lessons.

Bruce was the only one that never complained about my alleged snoring in the "Crack house" bunk room at Napoleon Skydiving Center in Michigan.I always had fun jumping with him there or Quincy ,Rantoual and Richmond. He will be missed by all of us.We will do a missing man formation for him as soon as God gives us the weather.

I always used the back the screws out trick. but put on head on the table. Then rotate the link as vertical as possible. a smack or to should do it. I also made a wedge out of 1/8 stainless or regular steel. .It was about 2 inches high and over 2 at the bottom with both sides tapering in to the inside dimensions of the link. with slightly radiused corners. Put the link flat on the table stand the tool vertically between the sides and smack it down . If you arent good at pounding nails other than the ones on your finger tips you can make the 2 inches taller . it works great even on PC center lines joining the links. Be glad you didnt have solid links to get lines off of

Where are his risers in the cheif2 picture? I first jumped with him and Donna at Three Rivers Mi in the early 70's out of I believe Branch's DC-3. I was at Gary when the Beech-18 bellied in on take off. The EMS cut up his brand new rig while saving his life. In the first picture the car in the back ground isnt that faraway. Thats just how tall he is. Wouldnt want him any other way

Did you ever get to see the Meyers -165, or better still the 200. what a kick ass airplane. It was often mistaken for a Navion in flight, but up close there was no doubt. They were at the south end of Meyers Airport [now Meyers -Diver], while Skydive Tecumseh was mid field on the north side of 9/27. At one time they also made canoes. They have cockpits for big bird noise abatement kits there now, I dont know how active that is any more.I saw Mrs Meyers do a fly-by {not a scare you skydiver driver buzz job] at an anniversary fly-in. But not bad for someone 80+

We were at Richmond a few years ago where i was organizing. I had a group walk up to jump. we either had a now call or 20 minutes, we took the now call as the plane was taxing back. I drew up a dive on my handy dandy note pad and passed it around during climb out. It all went amazingly well and they all wanted to do it again as we repacked. We used to do 4-ways at Marine City were the first guy out the door of the plane yelled back in what the jump was . They always worked too. Decide wether you want brain strain or have fun instead. If you need all the pre jump and post jump grief get on a 4-way team that always looking for some one to blame for their personal inadequecies. I'll take having fun any day.

The first time I flew in the Tri-motors at Put-in bay was around 1958. My high school friends family owned cottages on Middle Bass island i think. If you were at the ferry dock facing Lonz Wineries[now closed] it was off to the north east at 2:00 oclock. They used the planes as school buses too. as all the islands had runways. The yoke had a model "A" steering wheel and the big stick out of the floor for brake controls between the pilots seat. The oil pressure gauges were on the out board engines ,and you had to look outside to check them. I also got to flt right seat a few times.They also delivered groceries and TV's to the residents. As far as the right door DC3's .I also jumped them at Quincy doing tandem videos kind of wierd and fun hanging out backwards. I thought American Airlines was the only one with them.It seems to be for passenger convenience to not have to walk around the tail at the terminal. they taxied up in a loop turn as there werent any pushme pullme trucks then. The Grand Caravan we had Napoleon for a few summers was also tried as the shuttle plane at Port Clinton. Bob Clark was the only pilot with the ability to make it work there. the other pilots got scared with the runway length, and the nice bump in the middle. Hi Jack, That name sounds familiar and I would go on the buffed aluminum. Say HI to the Boss for me OK

I get it as the up-dated version of the Tri -Motor called the Bushmaster I believe .The Tri- Motor would have corrugated metal outer skin

He already did 2 AFF's One where he whacked his head on the Sky-Van. A sticker on the plane now shows where. The second he failed because he didnt pull. He did tandems into demos because of the winds. At least he is trying hooray for him. I wonder if the families of his crew that didnt get out of the Avenger feel about his skydiving career? I am still proud of him

Under equipment if I am doing a Tandem I put SIG for Sigma. For my own gear I put S for my Sabre then the number jump on the canopy. For todays 6 jumps its at 683, It makes it easier for new line set counting and when it comes back for totaling for the next lime set.

When asked why you jump out out a perfectly good airplane. I usually say you havent seen our plane up close. If its a real obnoxious person add your area of expertise is obviously not in aircraft. I like to reply to someones statement about "if God wanted us to fly we would have been born with wings" People should stay in bars watching their fourth football game on TV drunk like God intended, then drive home and hope they dont get busted.The comment about the only thing thar comes out of the sky is bird shit and fools, add drunken deer hunters out of tree stands. It usually slows them down.

I spotted the one load that everyone made it on the DZ. They did a great job of flying up the wrong runway . I gave many corrections, the co-pilot came back to ask why? He said they only give 5 degree corrections. I asked what the signal for 90 right was. He didnt have an answer. When I told him I was jumping DC-3s before his dad was born,he went back up front. They gave us a long go around 10 miles minimum and extra altitude. Not at all like Mark and Mr Douglas, when he smiled it was time to get out and never worry.

Backing up from from pull tabs how about using a church key to punch two triangle holes in a beer can.Dont forget 45 record players under the dash fuzzy dice on the mirror and a suicide knob on the steering wheel. I decorated a christmas tree with a pull tab chain so long you couldnt see the tree anymore.Who knows when "Bondo" wasnt around 1957, lead was in. Anyone remember Annette Fullofjello before she got boobs or even who she was {MMClub} How about a stoker coal furnace?

At the time Mike Johnston was working at the Jump-Shack in Farmington or Novi Mi He is now airport manager at Deland Fl with his wife Vicky also an employee of the Jump-Shack there. He was with USPA for years ,He and Jack Gregory went around the country doing AFF certification courses. Mike Horan of Dayton Oh was starting a museum there while he was conference director for ME with USPA. I know he has the original 24ft chest mount sentinal with the altimeter you had to turn off after opening that I sent him. Inever knew how far he got with the museum though.

The plane you were referring to is now in the back corner of the hangar at Richmond In. Steve Stewart sent pictures like yours into Parachutist for October featuring Twin Beeches. He called last month and we talked about it and Jon. I would have someone walk up to Jon while he was always working on his plane to ask him one question. "Hey mister can I borrow a screwdriver so I can pop the emblem off your engine to make me a belt buckle?" He wouldnt even turn around and say "Hi Larry" how did he know? He could have stripped the leading edge heating gear and more but he wanted to keep it authentic WW11 C-45. In an earlier comment about Stormville Lodestar, I also jumped it at Poppenhager,s at Indiantown Fl. It seems to me the Farmer Nasty at Stormville was a Federal Prison . "Dont land there no matter what" Another Lodestar out of Michigan 17 Gulf [Garbage] ended up being the one that got burnt up in the hangar of the "Yankee Air Force Museum" Willow Run Air Port Ypsilanti Mi a few years ago.I was onetime part owner but never got paid back when it was sold. It was weird to walk into a museum to see the actual airplane you jumped from. Going to Wright-Patt was OK "I jumped one of those and one of those" . ,but the actual plane.

I have made many for friends,at all different lengths, and sizes.. We have "Riders Hobby Shops " They have model airplane RCs etc . They have all sorts if landing gear wire sizes and lengths. Like 12 and 36 inch. You can take a 12 bend it in the middle for a normal 6 incher. I drill2 small holes cross ways in a wooden dowel rod push the wires thru the holes about 1/4 inches apart then with pliers bend the wire over t wice to push it back down each others holes ,it makes a secure handle. I have taken a 36 inch and done the same for Cypress lines. Actually a little bigger wire makes it easier to finger-trap than too small

I have used gutted 550 for years also the flat type used for crown lines on PC's. It does finger trap nicely for a smaller loop , add a figure-eight [stopper] knot. No small washer needed.

I had a Baby plane and 3 para planes 3 PCs and 2 Delta 11.s while we were there. It was definitely the right year We left there in 1976 fot Marine City

We were putting first jump students out on PC's at the Para-hawks DZ at Salem Mi [west of Detroit 25 miles] in 1972. We used Style - asters 1-1/2 shots and steerable high mount reserves. Most of the PC-s came from jumpers up grading to squares. Harold Lange at Tecumseh was pissed because it made his T-10s and belly warts stolen from Fort Bragg look bad. Especially when the students would ask if they could jump the ones like they had at Salem.

If you look to the right you can see my jump numbers. I am 3 short of starting log book number 76. I do tandems and have people ask if I took up so and so their cousin etc. I can show them as all their names are in there. I have DZO's call and ask who was the fourth guy on a load two week-ends ago .I have it. Bob Hoover Lew Sanborn Bob Sinclair Jerry Bird Carl Boenish Carl and Roger Nelson Paul Fayard have all signed my books. We have a guy that already made two or three hundred jumps alreadt this year. The manifest master log has him at 43, just a little difference.One post wanted the number of different planes we have jumped out of .Revewing my books its 67. Cant do that by memory or it would be 400 or 500 easy. I have a running hours in freefall 157 hrs 37 min 22 seconds. I wouldnt do it any other way, I am glad I did. Its also fun to have a sub-hundred jump wonder sign it.It slows some of the jaw flapping down when the see you have more log books than they have jumps. At least until you leave

Since you can only do your talking with your eyes and nods etc stay with clear. I want to tell where your looking. I cant tell if some one is going to crash into us if your being way to cool. Or if some one went low behind me, or if you got my signal for the same. I seldom turn down anyone for a jump, but will ask them try to find clears

First the hoop unstaple one side pull it apart then fill it with aquarium gravel or such restaple . it will fly much better .I electrical tape about 4:30 and 7:30 clock positions for grip locations If some one goes through and comes aroud behind you to take your place to go through ,it establishes a good location. and makes it easy to raise or lower for a not quite perfect attempt. Too heavy holders will Guillotine any passers, any one with the hoop in their left hand at break-off just sticks it out and pulls normal . you can actually hang it on you neck to land with it. An Otter or Caravan exit go side by side backing out inner hand on the hoop touching the floor between you outer hands on the floater bar ,look at each other for your go then let it flip up between you . A C-182 pass it out to the person on the step shuffle out facing front and off you go.. I hope this helped, and enjoy like I have

The original cloud had 1000lb line line 550 only bigger with a clove hitch and 2 half hitches with about 4 iches excess line sewn down under red heat shrink. The next version had 1000lb micro stretch but would hang up a slider at thr cascades most of the time Imade a a machine to reline cloude with around 750lbs line. Also no trailing brake loops inline like todays. Another thing we did if you have 6to8 hours to spare was de taping the top and bottom seams. It took a few dozen exacto blades with patienceto yield a quart size sauce pan full of unnecessary reinforcing tape .It would now fit in a container for a Para-commander.. Also hot knife coffee can size cross port holes at the "B" and "D" or so inner rib panels. As far as the slider size it didnt matter much if it stayed up you used the coffee can template to cut a hole in its center. We put a loop on the center tail for 3 rubber bands, one for the slider and te other for each set of excess right and left steering lines Question2 The Para-plane cloud didnt have stabalizer and about 21foot "A" lines The Strato clouds had stabalizer and 2square vent on the bottom skin for deep brakes sinks for accuracy landings The cloud could be put ina slack line sink and drop behind you. When you let up quick it would pass over you again with you slackline above it . then back to normal a fulldown toggle spin could have the nose below you until you let up. The slider was the second best thing to happen to jumping after 4 jumpers in a C-182. thankfully Zoo toggles replaced the round 1 inch plastic ones with extraction loops Like Ford as any color as long as it was black Para planes any size as long as it was 220 ,baby plane as long asit was 200. Strato clouds started getting sizes. A rule of thumb was add 50 to your weight for a canopy size. I hope this helped if you need more info let me know

I was fortunate enough to attend every Boggie/Boogie, except this years. I was told I could go but wouldnt have a job to come back to. In Michigan they are rare.As I have stated before Boogie-man was from a Laurel and Hardy movie "The march of the Tin Soldiers" It was also in WWII songs like "The boogie -Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B" I agree with the Keep on Trucking guy. Does any still have or a picture of the "Keep on Trackimg" T-Shirt . It had a guy with a belly wart reserve with canopy coming out"Frenchie jump boots in a steep track grinning. My darling wife threw away that and my original misspelled Boggie because they were worn out. The main reason they were worn out they were collectors items, and my favorites. I let the boogie guy T-Shirt from Scotty Carbone,be copied by Steve on the Airports copy machine. It has then become the logo on the mugs tickets and t-shirts. I retired it before it fell off to be framed for a wall decoration. I didnt give them the number of jumps it had there and other DZ's but at least 500.. Here we go again to back in the day. A boogie was described as meeting the following requirements You had to drive a minimum of 300 mile You jumped with the people you normally didnt jump with from your home DZ Being from Michigan you hid non-returnable beerin the Michigan returnable boxes for refunds back home You couldnt leave unless you did another night nude beacon ride to keep your status current The Scrambles at Hinckley were always great too. First Twin -Otter jumps in 73 and a low Freak Brother number[ 128] . I could of had 58 but Carl lost his pen and I waited for next year. The reason it was changed to WFFC Roger wanted to up grade our status From Freak Brothers for advertising purposes . After leaving Freakport it seemed necessary. but a porcine is still a pig with a latin name. Bluffed Quincy for a while though. I am smiling as I peck away at the keys stiring up memories. Unlees I am in a cardboard box ready to have my ashes dumped out of by a bunch of fools wanting to spit out them I will be at Richmond in 2008