Zing

Bump ... because its for a friend, and to add my thanks to all who are helping. Zing Lurks

I have this (minus the words) on my ankle ... Zing Lurks

"So my question is, I know theres the saying about being so scared that you shit your pants, but does that actually happen?? And if so, has anyone ever heard of this happening in skydiving?? Please say its not true... " A long time ago at a dropzone not far away I was flying the dropzone's new turbine airplane, now lodged in my memory as the Whirlwind. Following a little incident with a runaway propellor, I landed, rolled up to the hangar, and despite a gathering crowd of jumpers and management, found it imperative that I get to a toilet NOW! That was the day I learned having the shit scared out of you is NOT merely a figure of speech. Also somewhat surprising was the fact that my skinny carcass could hold that much shit. Fortunately, I made it to the head in time, but five seconds later would have been too late. Zing Lurks

????????????????? Zing Lurks

I'm putting a check in the mail tomorrow morning ... anybody else??? Zing Lurks

I never saw a twin beech there, but I think N9770T was the Cessna I pranged. Kind of a shit tan, lavender and silver 182. I do remember Brent and Annette ... probably met some of the others you mention. I always enjoyed getting out of the city to Cedar Valley because it was a beautiful valley to explore. I was working as pilot for a company developing a high-res aeromagnetic airborne survey system and spent many hours buzzing around the area. I'd spot interesting areas from the air and then take my old Land Rover out and go explore them. Zing Lurks

Hey Tim, Post something so Skymama can get through to you. Zing Lurks

Larry Patterson owned the place when I was there from 1983 to 1988. I flew a few loads and had my first engine failure there, dinging a prop blade on a rock in the plowed field I landed in. Met Jack Guthrie there, Steve Hardon, Shawn & Shawna ???? ... and a bunch of good folks. Had a real blast when Larry had gliders out there. Flew down to the DZ in a Piper J-3, make a leap or two, fly a load, take a glider up in BOOMING thermals. Ahhhhhhhhh ... the good old days. Zing Lurks

Talked to Tim half an hour ago. He'll join the discussion here when he gets to a computer and signs up. I'm certain he'd appreciate some help on new gear. I've got a couple spare bucks to add too. Zing Lurks

In 1997, I was back in school at the University of Arizona. Prior to one class, a bunch of us would informally meet outside the classroom building and BS about all manner of things prior to class. Most were in their early 20s at the time and I was in my late 40s. One day, this young fellow strolled up and started telling us about this new group he'd been listening to the night before. "Great music," says he, "Riders on the Storm, LA Woman, The End ..." and on and on. What's the name of the band? I asked, and his reply was "The Doors." He refused to believe me when I explained to him that The Doors were famous when I was his age and that Jim Morrison died before he was even born. Still some good music though. Zing Lurks

Zing, they are hoping you will go away. Bo spent your life time money on Party favors.

I talked toTim today. His gear has not been returned. Zing Lurks

I'm pretty broke right now and have a PCA patch in my stash of patches somewhere. What's it worth to you? Zing Lurks

I remember that one. I flew the load and I'd have bet that she wouldn't jump (and lost the bet too). Landed the airplane, strolled over to get pictures of her landing and walked up just in time to see her toss her lunch and spit out that unforgetful line. Priceless. Zing Lurks

When A Skyvan engine cane apart on me, pieces went everywhere. Although the cowling stayed in place for me, it, the fuelage and wing were peppered with holes of various sizes. Mechanics later told me that close to 200 lbs of engine departed the airplane ... mostly out the tailpipe. I was impressed. Zing Lurks

Don't expect much from USPA ... I paid for a lifetime membership in 1975 and have had to renew annually evey time I go jumping ... and they wonder why membership is falling? Pfft! Zing Lurks

Me too ... utter bullshit! Zing Lurks

Fava beans and a nice Chianti ... ring any bells? Zing Lurks

Just remember the most important part ... smile! It's all for fun. Zing Lurks

I was once a mild-mannered reporter for a metropolitan newspaper. Reporters already lack credibility for numerous reasons, but we all cultivated sources that gave us info based on that premise that the source was not disclosed. Lacking the protection of the First Amendment, sources will be irrevocably lost, resulting in even worse reporting ...and it can get worse. Each reporter risks being ordered to disclose a source and must decide for themselves wether or not to talk or go to jail. Zing Lurks

I did a number of intentional cutaways too ... both for demos and with the intent of having a rig set up for cutaways where you pulled handles located in the same places a "normal" rig has them. Didn't matter if it was crudely rigged by me or expertly modified by a qualified rigger ... it added layers of complexity to the process and was never quite the same as a real emergency cutaway. After more than a few Capewell cutaways, I still distinctly remember my first 3-ring cutaway ... it actually amazed and surprised me by how fast it was, that I flailed into instability rather than just falling away ... and it took a couple seconds to get stable and fire the spare. Intellectually, I see potential benefits to having the opportunity for intentional cutaway practice, but in reality, the rigs available to do it with give only practice at something that will be different than an emergency cutaway. And add the potential for REAL problems to occur if the rig is not properly operated. For myself, after 50-plus reserve rides and one minor reserve malfunction, I'm saving deployments of my spare for real emergencies. Zing Lurks

Exactly ... and if the student doesn't launch aggressively, the rig can catch on the bottom of the door (the floor) too. Zing Lurks

From a pilot's perspective of S/L exits ... when sitting in the door exits are done, quite frequently the lower corner of the rig does not clear the door frame ... student arches ... rig catches door frame ... student's body turns. Have seen that occur often, and sometimes the jumpmasters don't see what happened to induce the turn out the door. Zing Lurks

Geoff Frangos ... aka "Jacuzzi," is alive and well. Still flying fling-wings for medical lifts, somewhere in California. Spoke with him not long ago while another Gulch denizen, dEd Dugan was undergoing some surgery. I was never at the Gulch until after it was closed down, but "the Arm" made numerous appearances at the Ghoulidge boogies. The arm wasn't petrified, it was mummified ... and there were and are a variety of stories relating its origin. Terry Cooper, (who once had the forethought to bring a bottle of vodka on the Loadstall saved the airplane after some lit smoking material fell through the floorboards, starting a smoldering fire. Cooper put the fire out by pouring vodka on it.) claimed it was found nailed to the wall of a cabin in the deep woods back east. The little fingernail on the hand was known to be used for the nasal ingestion of non-smoking material. Cooper had the arm for years, passed it on to Dugan, and at a Halloween Boogie at Ghoulidge, circa 1978-79, a person I know stashed it out of sight in the desert near the airport and it disappeared. May have been carried off by coyotes???? Somewhere, I've still got a "The Gulch" t-shirt drawn by Bullit Bob of the arm and ripcord and one of dEd's photos of the arm and ripcord protruding from the pea gravel. Hey Beech Bitch ... how's life? Zing Lurks

You're right ... hard to find a single word to do the deed justice. Perhaps Superhuman, but even that pales. I flew the Porter ... the Wonderbread polka-dotted one that was at Elsinore for the last record. The PAC's cleaned my clock on turn time. New record is 1 minute 53 seconds by Brent from Deland. I don't even know how many loadfs I flew ... just many more than the last time. It was an honor to be included and I was happy to make my small contribution to the effort, but the bottom line is that it was ALL Jay. I am impressed, again. Zing Lurks