FunBobby

Just got back from a week of flying at sea aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt, a Nimitz class aircraft carrier. As much as many would say that there's something not quite right about our love of jumping out of "perfectly good airplanes," many others would say that there are many things that are definitely not right about carrier landings... flying a 40,000lb jet aircraft (40,000 pounds of aluminum, steel, jet fuel, and ordnance) hurtling towards a 100,000 ton mass of steel that's pitching, rolling, and heaving in heavy seas, and trying to hit a spot that's about thirty inches across, all at speeds of 120-150 mph. Add all the rotors, burbles, and wild aerodynamic effects of jet exhaust from aircraft on deck blowing aft, gusty winds, and things get more interesting. Then try doing that $h-t at night! Man oh man. Even after years of doing this, night landings still suck. Scary, scary, scary. Daytime, it's fun. Night time, it sucks. I did take some cool pics, tho. Here are a few... S-3B Viking F-14 Tomcat F/A-18F Rhino Another tomcat Enjoy... FunBobby

Why don't you just wear a big red bullseye around the DZ now? You haven't targetted yourself at all with this post. Haha. Just be glad you're not the guy in this pic. He had no idea it was coming; when he realized what was about to happen, he put a good fight but couldn't overcome the 5 guys who tied him to the fence before shoving and smearing no less than 5 real cakes and pies into his face... Oh yeah, the staff then "washed" him off with all the icewater in all the beer coolers from the boogies. FunBobby

Very nice. Bold and chic at the same time. FunBobby

Hmmmm..... Definitely getting keen on foreign languages. You know what they say... If you're a cunning linguist, you don't have to be a master debater. FunBobby

New gear free? Are you kidding? You just made me realize I could make a killing off of that stuff... Come to think of it, rides, too... anyone? Anyone? FunBobby

Seen it before, but here you go... FunBobby

Here's me flying with my Vector III (V343 w/ Stiletto 135 main and PD143 reserve) doing an RW jump some time ago. The Vector served me well but has been relegated to backup duty in favor of my new Mirage and Stiletto 120. Blue Skies - FunBobby

Really nice job to you and the rest of the gang, Art. Was wondering how everything was going to come together, but man oh man, everything went off really, really well. It was funny to hear one side of the stadium roaring when Scott said over the PA "Now entering the stadium is Ronnie Smith, wearing and flying the colors of Florida State"... and then to hear the other side roaring when Jeff came in with WVa's colors. Once again, my hat's off. Well done. Cheers - Bobby

- Nomex flight suit, nomex/leather gloves - G-suit, torso harness, SV-2 survival vest, low profile LPU - Tacair helmet, low profile O2 mask - MB Mk-14 NACES ejection seat - High performance tactical aircraft Larger version here FunBobby

Art - If the hurricanes don't really hurt the DZ, perhaps they were a blessing in disguise. Did you guys have to board up the windows, hangar the aircraft and tie everything down? Did you guys hunker down in safe places? Don't change a thing...... Rumor has it that a far greater threat is on its way to Florida and may be in Palatka that weekend. It's coming from San Diego and by some accounts, it is the Tasmanian Devil incarnate. It seems that years of living in California have fueled its fires and energy, and no one's quite sure what will happen if it shows up at the Hog Flop Boogie. Run!!!! Run!!!!! Flee!!!!! Flee for your lives!!!!!!! FunBobby

0:3:0 Only 3 jumps, but took a little time for remembrance and for honor. Just curious - anyone else take a solemn moment on Saturday and then proudly fly the colors that never run? (Attached pics taken Saturday, September 11th) I hope so. God Bless America. FunBobby

To help prepare for the flim and better understand the psyche and character of carrier tacair pilots, Jessica Biel spent several days last December in Lemoore, CA with the Vigilantes of Strike Fighter Squadron 151. She didn't actually get to fly a jet, but spent time in the simulators, hanging out with squadron aviators, and even sending a few rounds downrange on the base's small arms training range. She created quite a stir, as you may imagine. FunBobby

Hey Aubrey - Nice photo finish picture in Parachutist!!!! FunBobby

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds, -- and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of -- wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there, I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air .... Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace Where never lark nor ever eagle flew -- And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod The high untrespassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand, and touched the face of God. - John G. Magee, Jr Thank you, Adria, for your time with us. We miss you. God be with you and your family. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want... Psalm 23 Blessings, Bobby

*Bump* Curt Swanson from Perris posted the latest on her condition here: clicky. God be with you, Adria. Bobby

Adria Adria and Jessica Adria landing How sad... I took these pictures of Adria only a couple of weeks ago and just saw her last weekend. I've only jumped with Adria a few times but have seen and talked with her plenty at Elsinore, SSD, and even at the Tavern in PB. Though I can't claim to know her that well, I can say that she's always impressed me - she's a great skydiver and a really awesome girl, well liked by everyone - me included. Never loud, never arrogant; always smiling, pleasant, but modest and unassuming; I didn't even know she was a lawyer for the longest time. Prayers to her, her family and friends, and Godspeed in her recovery. Blessings, Bobby

Come to think of it, others have more recently successfully repeated that feat with a larger aircraft. clicky FunBobby

I don't think so.... but they have "dead sticked" a 767 to a safe landing with no engine power before.... clicky Cheers- FunBobby

Clicky 1 Clicky 2 Image quality is degraded because of bandwidth restrictions. The canopy is beautiful. Thanks, Amy. Blue Skies- FunBobby

Art - Have you actually jumped from one of those? By the way, I think you'd be hard pressed to find an aviator in any service willing to admit he flies a "Jolly Green Giant" - Clicky Cheers - FunBobby

No way. No camera was fast enough. Of course, I think the Rabbit is the reason I only go to do 2 jumps the next day. Nice work all weekend, by the way. FunBobby

You know, Chappie, some would contend that I don't spend enough time posting or thinking about what and who I write about. Just trying to spread the good word about the DZ, bud. But I will tell you that I feel better about what I do outside the country knowing that there are good persons like you who work hard to keep everyone safe inside the country. I am priveleged to know you, sir. Dude, that's more pie than I've had my entire life. Congratulations. Cheers - FunBobby

Geez, somehow, I had a feeling my Florida peeps might start throwing a few jabs my way. Happily, I believe I have only destroyed one piece of property here at SSD: the wind sock, which I took out many months ago when I swooped a little too close to the fenceline. I must have been fairly fast, because only the end cell of my Stiletto hit it, but that was enough to bend the metal pole about 30 degrees. Andy was pretty cool about that. I suppose I'm getting better about respecting others' property as I age. No plumbing emergencies (and come on, are you sure that was me?) and no smashed quarter panels on brand new trucks. I did pay for that, tho. Perhaps you can rest a little easier when Jack Daniels or one of his friends calls FunBobby out from his alter ego at night on the DZ. HAH! Thanks for the birthday wishes, and you know, I seem to remember you dragging me out to some bar out near Craig field on my birthday last time in Jax. Remember, it's always somebody's birthday somewhere in the world, and we should never let an opportunity pass us by to celebrate. For the record, by the way, the big man's words were "...you are not a good looking individual to begin with, anyway." You know, I'm supposed to get back to Florida in mid October - just in time for HALLOWEEN and the boogie. Cheers - FunBobby

The fun jumpers at SSD always welcome new skydivers. And if anyone is less than friendly to you when you visit SSD, the beatings will resume until attitudes are re-adjusted. You can't swing a baseball bat five feet around the DZ without hitting a "dot commer." Hmmmm, those are just the locals, though. Anyone for a DZ.commer get together at SSD? Cheers FunBobby

Thank you, Diana, Wyat, Brett, Amy, Dusty, et al from Icarus. It's great having you guys around. Your energy and enthusiasm are as contagious as they are refreshing, and everyone on the DZ benefits from the experience you bring and impart to all of us fun jumpers. See you this weekend. Cheers - FunBobby