chuckakers

You're right Rickster - I forgot about that...old age maybe?

I ran a DZ on a federally subsidized field and the issue of liability insurance came up during our initial talks. Here's the lowdown straight from the feds (in our case). The airport owner may require the skydiving operation to maintain liability insurance with the same coverage of all other commercial airport users. However, this coverage MUST BE AVAILABLE for the airport owner to demand it. What this means to a skydiving operation is that the airport owner may require GENERAL LIABILITY (slip and fall coverage, no pun intended), but cannot demand that the operation buy liability coverage for actual skydiving activities, since no such coverage exists for DZ's. They may also require the DZ or aircraft operator to maintain liability coverage on flight operations, although this insurance does not cover any claim that occurs once the jumpers begin to exit the plane (this is the point when - according to the insurance companies - we become jumpers and no longer passengers). In lue of a skydiving liability policy purchased by the DZ, they may require that ALL jumpers maintain USPA (or other) membership that offers individual liability protection, since that insurance is readily available. The key to this controversy is that the airport owner MUST BE NON-DISCRIMITORY. In other words, they cannot do 2 things: 1. They cannot require the DZ to maintain any "activity specific" insurance that they do not require of other commercial airport users. 2. They cannot require insurance that is not available. Doing so constitues unreasonable and discrimitory demands, which is not allowed of federally funded or subsidized airports. Remember, if an airport - whether private or municipal - accepts a single dollar of federal funds, they are locked into the anti-discrimination (and other) clauses for 22 years! (unless that has changed since 1997). Maybe you guys should look at some privately-owned-but-federally-assisted airports. Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

stop whining or go home. chuck akers houston, tx ex-customer gouging dzo with a big pile of cash to prove it...all 3 dollars of it.

see, white men do jump.

I used to work in the radio biz and one of my co-workers (Outlaw Dave, for those from Houston) did a tandem with me and was able to place a call. He phoned in to the studio and had them record the call for air as he gave a play by play of the ride. The phone lost signal at about 2 grand though. Chuck

Sorry for the delay, but like everyone else, life is busy. I just wanted to take a minute to say thanks to everyone that played at this year's Ballunar Lift Off Festival!! For those who may not know, this event is a "one and only" in the skydiving world. Technically a demo, this boogie in disguise has become a Texas tradition - and for good reason. Orginally designed to compliment the balloon aspect of this NASA based balloon festival, the skydiving has become a key part of the event. Each year finds new talent for a weekend of fun jumps into Nasa's Johnson Space Center, demo schmoozing, and parties. This year saw our tradional RW competition at 20-ways out of CASA's (and nice ones at that), CReW Dog Ballunar Veterans banging out nice formations and seeing some new sights, the freeflyers added last year were back to show the crowd their version, and new this year were the 2 Birdmen that jumped smoke all weekend while buzzing the CReW formations!!!!!!!!!! Yes I saw the Birdman's video and yes it was pretty impressive. The pool party Saturday night was a smashing success. Even with food, beer, jell-o shots, and the Booze Luge", we somehow managed to break only a small saucer at our host Rich Delgado's house...whew! Sunday's jumps were a loaded with fun factor minus a couple minor injuries, and the post event dinner at Mamasitas was its' usual tortilla tossing good time. OK, so if that sounds like a reader's digest version of an event report, sue me. The point is it took 100 or so talented skydivers with an eye on the mission - and another eye on the keg - to pull it off, and that makes it worth recognizing. Every year jumpers leave saying "Wow, what a cool event" and for those new this year you now know why. On behalf of everyone that makes Ballunar Lift Off happen - jumpers and volunteers alike - THANK YOU!! See ya next year! Chuck Akers Houston, Texas

>>"That was the coolest thing I've ever done. That was better than my threesome with twins."

E-mail Al a.s.a.p. at skysaylor@aol.com Sounds like the check may not have made there. See ya there!!

A few slots remain. This event is verrrrry cool. Folks are coming from all over to play. Here's the hype: Hey Texas and Gulf Coast Skydivers - LET'S SKYDIVE!! The Ballunar Lift Off Festival 2003 is coming up August 22 - 24, at the Johnson Space Center (NASA) in Clear Lake Texas, near Houston!! This is the 10th year for the event!! Disciplines represented: RW CReW Freeflying Wingsuit (new this year) THE JUMPS PERFORMED AT THIS EVENT ARE DEMONSTRATION JUMPS!! ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST HOLD A USPA "D" LICENSE, JUMP AN IN-DATE SQUARE RESERVE, AND ABSOLUTELY MUST BE APPROVED TO PARTICIPATE BY A TEAM CAPTAIN, GROUP CAPTAIN, OR EVENT ORGANIZER. With that said, if you meet the above requirements and would like to join in, read on. The Ballunar Lift Off Festival is a longtime Texas tradition and very unique. The event is part demonstration, part competition, part boogie, and a very cool experience according to everyone I know that has participated. One of the biggest attractions of the event is the variety of aerial disciplines represented. Ballunar Lift Off is Texas' largest balloon festival (see http://www.ballunarfestival.com ), and also features, powered parachutes, hang gliding, rockets, gyro-planes, static displays, etc. There's also vendors of art & crafts, lots of food and drink, live bands, and other cool stuff. So as jumpers at Ballunar, we are also part spectator, making the experiences at the event as cool as the skydiving. Well, almost. The event runs from Friday evening the 22nd through the afternoon of Sunday the 24th. There is also on optional "safety meeting" Thursday evening at a local watering hole, just to make sure we start off on the right foot, if ya know what I mean. We meet up Friday evening for a steak dinner, catered on the NASA grounds. Just after sunset, the balloons - tethered - all fire up their burners for a "night-glow". The beer flows and we announce the RW teams, selected before the event "sandlot style". We usually dirt dive that evening to get ready for the meet. A cool start to a cool weekend. Jumps both Saturday and Sunday run on a strict but easily maintained schedule. We ride air-conditioned luxury motor coaches to Ellington field, about 10 minutes away. Buses are equipped with video review so teams or groups can watch their last skydive along the way. We arrive with plenty of dirt dive time, then board the CASA...yes, a CASA. The jumps are then made over the festival, with landings directly onto the festival grounds right in front of crowds totaling 100,000 throughout the weekend - ala demo!!! Jumpers are encouraged to mingle with the crowd on their way in, of course. As a participant, you will be performing 6 six jumps throughout the course of the weekend. Between skydives, the other aerial demonstrations happen, while we are on the ground to watch! As you can see, this event is not a jump-yer-ass-off event, but that's not the point. For RW folks, these jumps will be competitive 30-ways. These are low-key dives...depending on your point of view. Freeflyers, CReW dogs and Wingsuit jumpers will be sharing the CASA between RW loads. This will be the first year for wingsuits! Last year we resurrected the pool party and everyone loved it. Soooo, this year we're going to make it bigger and better! Beer, jello shots, and the Booooze Luge will be on tap Saturday night after jumping. The pool party this year is destined to be talked about for a while. Don’t miss it!! We’re soliciting sponsors, so I’ll take this occasion to thank Scott’s Grips for their generous sponsorship already. Who else is in? Sunday's schedule is a copy of Saturday's, with lots of beer and an awards ceremony held at the end of the RW meet. For those that don't have flights to catch, there's also the Sunday evening dinner/tortilla fight at a local Mexican place, just to make sure we end in style. Let me remind that... THE JUMPS PERFORMED AT THIS EVENT ARE DEMONSTRATION JUMPS!! ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST HOLD A USPA "D" LICENSE, JUMP AN IN-DATE SQUARE RESERVE, AND ABSOLUTELY MUST BE APPROVED TO PARTICIPATE BY A TEAM CAPTAIN, GROUP CAPTAIN, OR EVENT ORGANIZER. Cost is only $25 registration fee, and $15 per jump!! For that, jumpers get event T-shirts and hats, a goodie bag, steak dinner, free soft drinks all day, beer, attendance at the pool party (bring friends too)and passes to Space Center Houston!! Be part of a Texas tradition - The Ballunar Lift Off Festival! For an application, e-mail chuck_akers@hotmail.com Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, Texas Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Probably? Larry, I expect to see you there causing your usual brand of trouble. The pool party is really shaping up to be...well...remembered. Now you wouldn't want to miss that would you?? Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

You can do more than that. The organizer (Al Saylor) is looking for volunteers to help with everything from registration to golf cart driving. You can e-mail him at skysaylor@aol.com. You will definitely have fun volunteering at this event. Welcome aboard!! Chuck Akers

OK, the Ballunar Lift Off is coming soon, so here's your last reminder of this really cool Texas tradition. This event brings skydivers from all over who enjoy the unique atmosphere of this part demo, part boogie, all party!! Here's the flyer - come play!!!! Hey Texas and Gulf Coast Skydivers - LET'S SKYDIVE!! The Ballunar Lift Off Festival 2003 is coming up August 22 - 24, at the Johnson Space Center (NASA) in Clear Lake Texas, near Houston!! This is the 10th year for the event!! Disciplines represented: RW CReW Freeflying Wingsuit (new this year) THE JUMPS PERFORMED AT THIS EVENT ARE DEMONSTRATION JUMPS!! ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST HOLD A USPA "D" LICENSE, JUMP AN IN-DATE SQUARE RESERVE, AND ABSOLUTELY MUST BE APPROVED TO PARTICIPATE BY A TEAM CAPTAIN, GROUP CAPTAIN, OR EVENT ORGANIZER. With that said, if you meet the above requirements and would like to join in, read on. The Ballunar Lift Off Festival is a longtime Texas tradition and very unique. The event is part demonstration, part competition, part boogie, and a very cool experience according to everyone I know that has participated. One of the biggest attractions of the event is the variety of aerial disciplines represented. Ballunar Lift Off is Texas' largest balloon festival (see http://www.ballunarfestival.com ), and also features, powered parachutes, hang gliding, rockets, gyro-planes, static displays, etc. There's also vendors of art & crafts, lots of food and drink, live bands, and other cool stuff. So as jumpers at Ballunar, we are also part spectator, making the experiences at the event as cool as the skydiving. Well, almost. The event runs from Friday evening the 22nd through the afternoon of Sunday the 24th. There is also on optional "safety meeting" Thursday evening at a local watering hole, just to make sure we start off on the right foot, if ya know what I mean. We meet up Friday evening for a steak dinner, catered on the NASA grounds. Just after sunset, the balloons - tethered - all fire up their burners for a "night-glow". The beer flows and we announce the RW teams, selected before the event "sandlot style". We usually dirt dive that evening to get ready for the meet. A cool start to a cool weekend. Jumps both Saturday and Sunday run on a strict but easily maintained schedule. We ride air-conditioned luxury motor coaches to Ellington field, about 10 minutes away. Buses are equipped with video review so teams or groups can watch their last skydive along the way. We arrive with plenty of dirt dive time, then board the CASA...yes, a CASA. The jumps are then made over the festival, with landings directly onto the festival grounds right in front of crowds totaling 100,000 throughout the weekend - ala demo!!! Jumpers are encouraged to mingle with the crowd on their way in, of course. As a participant, you will be performing 6 six jumps throughout the course of the weekend. Between skydives, the other aerial demonstrations happen, while we are on the ground to watch! As you can see, this event is not a jump-yer-ass-off event, but that's not the point. For RW folks, these jumps will be competitive 30-ways. These are low-key dives...depending on your point of view. Freeflyers, CReW dogs and Wingsuit jumpers will be sharing the CASA between RW loads. This will be the first year for wingsuits! Last year we resurrected the pool party and everyone loved it. Soooo, this year we're going to make it bigger and better! Beer, jello shots, and the Booooze Luge will be on tap Saturday night after jumping. The pool party this year is destined to be talked about for a while. Don’t miss it!! We’re soliciting sponsors, so I’ll take this occasion to thank Scott’s Grips for their generous sponsorship already. Who else is in? Sunday's schedule is a copy of Saturday's, with lots of beer and an awards ceremony held at the end of the RW meet. For those that don't have flights to catch, there's also the Sunday evening dinner/tortilla fight at a local Mexican place, just to make sure we end in style. Let me remind that... THE JUMPS PERFORMED AT THIS EVENT ARE DEMONSTRATION JUMPS!! ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST HOLD A USPA "D" LICENSE, JUMP AN IN-DATE SQUARE RESERVE, AND ABSOLUTELY MUST BE APPROVED TO PARTICIPATE BY A TEAM CAPTAIN, GROUP CAPTAIN, OR EVENT ORGANIZER. Cost is only $25 registration fee, and $15 per jump!! For that, jumpers get event T-shirts and hats, a goodie bag, steak dinner, free soft drinks all day, beer, attendance at the pool party (bring friends too)and passes to Space Center Houston!! Be part of a Texas tradition - The Ballunar Lift Off Festival! For an application, e-mail chuck_akers@hotmail.com Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, Texas

OK, the Ballunar Lift Off is coming soon, so here's your last reminder of this really cool Texas tradition. This event brings skydivers from all over who enjoy the unique atmosphere of this part demo, part boogie, all party!! Here's the flyer - come play!!!! Hey Texas and Gulf Coast Skydivers - LET'S SKYDIVE!! The Ballunar Lift Off Festival 2003 is coming up August 22 - 24, at the Johnson Space Center (NASA) in Clear Lake Texas, near Houston!! This is the 10th year for the event!! Disciplines represented: RW CReW Freeflying Wingsuit (new this year) THE JUMPS PERFORMED AT THIS EVENT ARE DEMONSTRATION JUMPS!! ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST HOLD A USPA "D" LICENSE, JUMP AN IN-DATE SQUARE RESERVE, AND ABSOLUTELY MUST BE APPROVED TO PARTICIPATE BY A TEAM CAPTAIN, GROUP CAPTAIN, OR EVENT ORGANIZER. With that said, if you meet the above requirements and would like to join in, read on. The Ballunar Lift Off Festival is a longtime Texas tradition and very unique. The event is part demonstration, part competition, part boogie, and a very cool experience according to everyone I know that has participated. One of the biggest attractions of the event is the variety of aerial disciplines represented. Ballunar Lift Off is Texas' largest balloon festival (see http://www.ballunarfestival.com ), and also features, powered parachutes, hang gliding, rockets, gyro-planes, static displays, etc. There's also vendors of art & crafts, lots of food and drink, live bands, and other cool stuff. So as jumpers at Ballunar, we are also part spectator, making the experiences at the event as cool as the skydiving. Well, almost. The event runs from Friday evening the 22nd through the afternoon of Sunday the 24th. There is also on optional "safety meeting" Thursday evening at a local watering hole, just to make sure we start off on the right foot, if ya know what I mean. We meet up Friday evening for a steak dinner, catered on the NASA grounds. Just after sunset, the balloons - tethered - all fire up their burners for a "night-glow". The beer flows and we announce the RW teams, selected before the event "sandlot style". We usually dirt dive that evening to get ready for the meet. A cool start to a cool weekend. Jumps both Saturday and Sunday run on a strict but easily maintained schedule. We ride air-conditioned luxury motor coaches to Ellington field, about 10 minutes away. Buses are equipped with video review so teams or groups can watch their last skydive along the way. We arrive with plenty of dirt dive time, then board the CASA...yes, a CASA. The jumps are then made over the festival, with landings directly onto the festival grounds right in front of crowds totaling 100,000 throughout the weekend - ala demo!!! Jumpers are encouraged to mingle with the crowd on their way in, of course. As a participant, you will be performing 6 six jumps throughout the course of the weekend. Between skydives, the other aerial demonstrations happen, while we are on the ground to watch! As you can see, this event is not a jump-yer-ass-off event, but that's not the point. For RW folks, these jumps will be competitive 30-ways. These are low-key dives...depending on your point of view. Freeflyers, CReW dogs and Wingsuit jumpers will be sharing the CASA between RW loads. This will be the first year for wingsuits! Last year we resurrected the pool party and everyone loved it. Soooo, this year we're going to make it bigger and better! Beer, jello shots, and the Booooze Luge will be on tap Saturday night after jumping. The pool party this year is destined to be talked about for a while. Don’t miss it!! We’re soliciting sponsors, so I’ll take this occasion to thank Scott’s Grips for their generous sponsorship already. Who else is in? Sunday's schedule is a copy of Saturday's, with lots of beer and an awards ceremony held at the end of the RW meet. For those that don't have flights to catch, there's also the Sunday evening dinner/tortilla fight at a local Mexican place, just to make sure we end in style. Let me remind that... THE JUMPS PERFORMED AT THIS EVENT ARE DEMONSTRATION JUMPS!! ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST HOLD A USPA "D" LICENSE, JUMP AN IN-DATE SQUARE RESERVE, AND ABSOLUTELY MUST BE APPROVED TO PARTICIPATE BY A TEAM CAPTAIN, GROUP CAPTAIN, OR EVENT ORGANIZER. Cost is only $25 registration fee, and $15 per jump!! For that, jumpers get event T-shirts and hats, a goodie bag, steak dinner, free soft drinks all day, beer, attendance at the pool party (bring friends too)and passes to Space Center Houston!! Be part of a Texas tradition - The Ballunar Lift Off Festival! For an application, e-mail chuck_akers@hotmail.com Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, Texas

Every pack job is a trash pack the moment the canopy leaves the bag. Chuck

What'd you do to your arm? You healing? Doc sez I blew up part of my bicep. Surgery Thursday. sux. . Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Hey Texas and Gulf Coast Skydivers - LET'S SKYDIVE!! The Ballunar Lift Off Festival 2003 is coming up August 22 - 24, at the Johnson Space Center (NASA) in Clear Lake Texas, near Houston!! This is the 10th year for the event!! Disciplines represented: RW CReW Freeflying Wingsuit (new this year) THE JUMPS PERFORMED AT THIS EVENT ARE DEMONSTRATION JUMPS!! ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST HOLD A USPA "D" LICENSE, JUMP AN IN-DATE SQUARE RESERVE, AND ABSOLUTELY MUST BE APPROVED TO PARTICIPATE BY A TEAM CAPTAIN, GROUP CAPTAIN, OR EVENT ORGANIZER. With that said, if you meet the above requirements and would like to join in, read on. The Ballunar Lift Off Festival is a longtime Texas tradition and very unique. The event is part demonstration, part competition, part boogie, and a very cool experience according to everyone I know that has participated. One of the biggest attractions of the event is the variety of aerial disciplines represented. Ballunar Lift Off is Texas' largest balloon festival (see www.ballunarfestival.com ), and also features, powered parachutes, hang gliding, rockets, gyro-planes, static displays, etc. There's also vendors of art & crafts, lots of food and drink, live bands, and other cool stuff. So as jumpers at Ballunar, we are also part spectator, making the experiences at the event as cool as the skydiving. Well, almost. The event runs from Friday evening the 22nd through the afternoon of Sunday the 24th. There is also on optional "safety meeting" Thursday evening at a local watering hole, just to make sure we start off on the right foot, if ya know what I mean. We meet up Friday evening for a steak dinner, catered on the NASA grounds. Just after sunset, the balloons - tethered - all fire up their burners for a "night-glow". The beer flows and we announce the RW teams, selected before the event "sandlot style". We usually dirt dive that evening to get ready for the meet. A cool start to a cool weekend. Jumps both Saturday and Sunday run on a strict but easily maintained schedule. We ride air-conditioned luxury motor coaches to Ellington field, about 10 minutes away. Buses are equipped with video review so teams or groups can watch their last skydive along the way. We arrive with plenty of dirt dive time, then board the CASA...yes, a CASA. The jumps are then made over the festival, with landings directly onto the festival grounds right in front of crowds totaling 100,000 throughout the weekend - ala demo!!! Jumpers are encouraged to mingle with the crowd on their way in, of course. As a participant, you will be performing 6 six jumps throughout the course of the weekend. Between skydives, the other aerial demonstrations happen, while we are on the ground to watch! As you can see, this event is not a jump-yer-ass-off event, but that's not the point. For RW folks, these jumps will be competitive 30-ways. These are low-key dives...depending on your point of view. Freeflyers, CReW dogs and Wingsuit jumpers will be sharing the CASA between RW loads. This will be the first year for wingsuits! Last year we resurrected the pool party and everyone loved it. Soooo, this year we're going to make it bigger and better! Beer, jello shots, and the Booooze Luge will be on tap Saturday night after jumping. The pool party this year is destined to be talked about for a while. Don’t miss it!! We’re soliciting sponsors, so I’ll take this occasion to thank Scott’s Grips for their generous sponsorship already. Who else is in? Sunday's schedule is a copy of Saturday's, with lots of beer and an awards ceremony held at the end of the RW meet. For those that don't have flights to catch, there's also the Sunday evening dinner/tortilla fight at a local Mexican place, just to make sure we end in style. Let me remind that... THE JUMPS PERFORMED AT THIS EVENT ARE DEMONSTRATION JUMPS!! ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST HOLD A USPA "D" LICENSE, JUMP AN IN-DATE SQUARE RESERVE, AND ABSOLUTELY MUST BE APPROVED TO PARTICIPATE BY A TEAM CAPTAIN, GROUP CAPTAIN, OR EVENT ORGANIZER. Cost is only $25 registration fee, and $15 per jump!! For that, jumpers get event T-shirts and hats, a goodie bag, steak dinner, free soft drinks all day, beer, attendance at the pool party (bring friends too)and passes to Space Center Houston!! Be part of a Texas tradition - The Ballunar Lift Off Festival! For an application, e-mail chuck_akers@hotmail.com Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Hey Texas and Gulf Coast Skydivers - LET'S SKYDIVE!! The Ballunar Lift Off Festival 2003 is coming up August 22 - 24, at the Johnson Space Center (NASA) in Clear Lake Texas, near Houston!! This is the 10th year for the event!! Disciplines represented: RW CReW Freeflying Wingsuit (new this year) THE JUMPS PERFORMED AT THIS EVENT ARE DEMONSTRATION JUMPS!! ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST HOLD A USPA "D" LICENSE, JUMP AN IN-DATE SQUARE RESERVE, AND ABSOLUTELY MUST BE APPROVED TO PARTICIPATE BY A TEAM CAPTAIN, GROUP CAPTAIN, OR EVENT ORGANIZER. With that said, if you meet the above requirements and would like to join in, read on. The Ballunar Lift Off Festival is a longtime Texas tradition and very unique. The event is part demonstration, part competition, part boogie, and a very cool experience according to everyone I know that has participated. One of the biggest attractions of the event is the variety of aerial disciplines represented. Ballunar Lift Off is Texas' largest balloon festival (see www.ballunarfestival.com ), and also features, powered parachutes, hang gliding, rockets, gyro-planes, static displays, etc. There's also vendors of art & crafts, lots of food and drink, live bands, and other cool stuff. So as jumpers at Ballunar, we are also part spectator, making the experiences at the event as cool as the skydiving. Well, almost. The event runs from Friday evening the 22nd through the afternoon of Sunday the 24th. There is also on optional "safety meeting" Thursday evening at a local watering hole, just to make sure we start off on the right foot, if ya know what I mean. We meet up Friday evening for a steak dinner, catered on the NASA grounds. Just after sunset, the balloons - tethered - all fire up their burners for a "night-glow". The beer flows and we announce the RW teams, selected before the event "sandlot style". We usually dirt dive that evening to get ready for the meet. A cool start to a cool weekend. Jumps both Saturday and Sunday run on a strict but easily maintained schedule. We ride air-conditioned luxury motor coaches to Ellington field, about 10 minutes away. Buses are equipped with video review so teams or groups can watch their last skydive along the way. We arrive with plenty of dirt dive time, then board the CASA...yes, a CASA. The jumps are then made over the festival, with landings directly onto the festival grounds right in front of crowds totaling 100,000 throughout the weekend - ala demo!!! Jumpers are encouraged to mingle with the crowd on their way in, of course. As a participant, you will be performing 6 six jumps throughout the course of the weekend. Between skydives, the other aerial demonstrations happen, while we are on the ground to watch! As you can see, this event is not a jump-yer-ass-off event, but that's not the point. For RW folks, these jumps will be competitive 30-ways. These are low-key dives...depending on your point of view. Freeflyers, CReW dogs and Wingsuit jumpers will be sharing the CASA between RW loads. This will be the first year for wingsuits! Last year we resurrected the pool party and everyone loved it. Soooo, this year we're going to make it bigger and better! Beer, jello shots, and the Booooze Luge will be on tap Saturday night after jumping. The pool party this year is destined to be talked about for a while. Don’t miss it!! We’re soliciting sponsors, so I’ll take this occasion to thank Scott’s Grips for their generous sponsorship already. Who else is in? Sunday's schedule is a copy of Saturday's, with lots of beer and an awards ceremony held at the end of the RW meet. For those that don't have flights to catch, there's also the Sunday evening dinner/tortilla fight at a local Mexican place, just to make sure we end in style. Let me remind that... THE JUMPS PERFORMED AT THIS EVENT ARE DEMONSTRATION JUMPS!! ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST HOLD A USPA "D" LICENSE, JUMP AN IN-DATE SQUARE RESERVE, AND ABSOLUTELY MUST BE APPROVED TO PARTICIPATE BY A TEAM CAPTAIN, GROUP CAPTAIN, OR EVENT ORGANIZER. Cost is only $25 registration fee, and $15 per jump!! For that, jumpers get event T-shirts and hats, a goodie bag, steak dinner, free soft drinks all day, beer, attendance at the pool party (bring friends too)and passes to Space Center Houston!! Be part of a Texas tradition - The Ballunar Lift Off Festival! For an application, e-mail chuck_akers@hotmail.com Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Howdy Ya'll, We have this little ol' skydivin' thing down here in Houston every year or so, and we wuz jus' wondern' if ya might wanna join us. Ya see, it's like this. Every August a bunch of us jumpers mozy on down to NASA for a few hops and a reeeeaaaaal good party. You know NASA, the big ol' command center for that there rocket program we got. Well they put on a festival that includes a heap of balloons, skydivers, hang gliders, rockets, and a bunch of other stuff. There's live bands, food and drinks, craft makers, and more things than you can find at the county fair. Over 100,000 Texans (and some other fine folks) will be there this year!!! Now I know it sounds like yer doin' a demo all weekend, cuz ya are. That's why you gotta have one of them there "D" licenses, a square reserve (in date dangit) and USPA membership (even though the varmits dont deserve it). More important - we're kinda picky about which cowpokes we'll take on this here aerial stampede. Since there's so many whuffos around (yep, we call 'em that down here too) we gotta be reeeeaaaal careful 'bout screwin' up. If ya wanna ride, ya gotta git ok'd by a posse boss. Well anyway, this year were doin' it August 22nd thru the 24th. This dang thing gets better every year. This year we're invitin'… Formation skydivers (that's RW fer you ol' guys) doin’ 30-ways!! Freeflyers (that impossible fer you ol' guys) doin freeflyer stuff CReW (fer you crazy guys) doin’ that CreW stuff And here's the best part - the whole dang thing is only $25 registration and $15 CASA jumps! Yep, I know yer sayin' "ain't no way I just read $15 CASA jumps", but ya did!!! Fer yer bucks, ya git dinner, beer, passes to space center houston, a goodie bag filled with goodies, event t-shirts and hats, prizes, and a bunch of other stuff. And here's the really best part - the pool party Saturday night will buck ya right off yer high horse. Jell-o shots, the "cowboy booze luge" and a whole bunch a barely dressed bodies...some even worth lookin' at!! And here’s the really really best part. Since it’s a demo with lots of people around, the 10 second rule will be in effect, YEEEEEHAAAWWWW!!!!!! Now before I go any farther, let me tell ya somethin’ partner. This little ol’ thing ain’t fer you “gotta-jump-my-chaps-off” types. In fact, we’re only gonna rustle up half a dozen jumps per cowboy all weekend. No sir, it ain’t about that. This here weekend is all about gettin’ together as a big ol’ skydivin’ family, puttin’ on a great show for thousands of folks, partyin’ yer asses off at the pool, and generally enjoyin’ the most…well…enjoyable parts of jumpin’. Just ask anybody that's rode with us before and they'll tell ya - this is one skydiving event ya don't wanna miss!! So if yer interested here’s watcha do. E-mail me and request an application. Include yer experience, license number, discipline, etc. Remember, every cowpoke must be approved by a posse boss. If yer accepted, we’ll send ya a form to sign up!! And don’t ferget to pass the word around. Seems every year we have a couple empty saddles and cowboys that find out too late to join the rodeo. We’re gonna have a reeeeaaaal good time, so come ride with us!! Chuck Akers Posse Boss chuck_akers@hotmail.com 281-960-7120

Howdy Ya'll, We have this little ol' skydivin' thing down here in Houston every year or so, and we wuz jus' wondern' if ya might wanna join us. Ya see, it's like this. Every August a bunch of us jumpers mozy on down to NASA for a few hops and a reeeeaaaaal good party. You know NASA, the big ol' command center for that there rocket program we got. Well they put on a festival that includes a heap of balloons, skydivers, hang gliders, rockets, and a bunch of other stuff. There's live bands, food and drinks, craft makers, and more things than you can find at the county fair. Over 100,000 Texans (and some other fine folks) will be there this year!!! Now I know it sounds like yer doin' a demo all weekend, cuz ya are. That's why you gotta have one of them there "D" licenses, a square reserve (in date dangit) and USPA membership (even though the varmits dont deserve it). More important - we're kinda picky about which cowpokes we'll take on this here aerial stampede. Since there's so many whuffos around (yep, we call 'em that down here too) we gotta be reeeeaaaal careful 'bout screwin' up. If ya wanna ride, ya gotta git ok'd by a posse boss. Well anyway, this year were doin' it August 22nd thru the 24th. This dang thing gets better every year. This year we're invitin'… Formation skydivers (that's RW fer you ol' guys) doin’ 30-ways!! Freeflyers (that impossible fer you ol' guys) doin freeflyer stuff CReW (fer you crazy guys) doin’ that CreW stuff And here's the best part - the whole dang thing is only $25 registration and $15 CASA jumps! Yep, I know yer sayin' "ain't no way I just read $15 CASA jumps", but ya did!!! Fer yer bucks, ya git dinner, beer, passes to space center houston, a goodie bag filled with goodies, event t-shirts and hats, prizes, and a bunch of other stuff. And here's the really best part - the pool party Saturday night will buck ya right off yer high horse. Jell-o shots, the "cowboy booze luge" and a whole bunch a barely dressed bodies...some even worth lookin' at!! And here’s the really really best part. Since it’s a demo with lots of people around, the 10 second rule will be in effect, YEEEEEHAAAWWWW!!!!!! Now before I go any farther, let me tell ya somethin’ partner. This little ol’ thing ain’t fer you “gotta-jump-my-chaps-off” types. In fact, we’re only gonna rustle up half a dozen jumps per cowboy all weekend. No sir, it ain’t about that. This here weekend is all about gettin’ together as a big ol’ skydivin’ family, puttin’ on a great show for thousands of folks, partyin’ yer asses off at the pool, and generally enjoyin’ the most…well…enjoyable parts of jumpin’. Just ask anybody that's rode with us before and they'll tell ya - this is one skydiving event ya don't wanna miss!! So if yer interested here’s watcha do. E-mail me and request an application. Include yer experience, license number, discipline, etc. Remember, every cowpoke must be approved by a posse boss. If yer accepted, we’ll send ya a form to sign up!! And don’t ferget to pass the word around. Seems every year we have a couple empty saddles and cowboys that find out too late to join the rodeo. We’re gonna have a reeeeaaaal good time, so come ride with us!! Chuck Akers Posse Boss chuck_akers@hotmail.com 281-960-7120

This has to be an all-time classic... Summer of '92 - the "point break" summer. DZ phones are ringing like crazy, and one guy definitely saw the flick. "So how long is the freefall?" he asks. "About 60 seconds" I say. "60 seconds...hell in Point Break they were in freefall for almost 3 minutes!!" "Yeah, but in Point Break, they jumped from 7,000 feet." He seemed satisfied with the answer. . Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

Make that green cans - it's a pool party.

Sure can - bring beer!

uh oh, here we go.

The Ballunar Lift Off Festival is coming up August 22 - 24 at the Johnson Space Center in Clear Lake. For those who have played with us in the many past years, expect an invitation from Al Saylor in your e-mail box soon. Once again this year, the wife and I are hosting a POOL PARTY Saturday night (August 23rd) at one of the nearby hotels (to be announced). On tap this year are jello shots (of course) and we're even thinking about bringing out the ol' SUSA booze luge!! THE PARTY IS OPEN TO ALL (leave the kids at home, as we might be doing the Wharton Wave)!!!! YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE PARTICIPATING IN THE EVENT TO ATTEND THE PARTY. We highly recommend wearing a swimsuit, as you WILL be swimming (or at least getting wet). Bring plenty of beer on ice (no bottles please). Bring munchies or take part in the collection. If you're interested in participating in the skydiving (30-ways, freefly, and CReW) contact Al Saylor at SkySaylor@aol.com For more info on the party, contact me! . Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX

The Ballunar Lift Off Festival is coming up August 22 - 24 at the Johnson Space Center in Clear Lake. For those who have played with us in the many past years, expect an invitation from Al Saylor in your e-mail box soon. Once again this year, the wife and I are hosting a POOL PARTY Saturday night (August 23rd) at one of the nearby hotels (to be announced). On tap this year are jello shots (of course) and we're even thinking about bringing out the ol' SUSA booze luge!! THE PARTY IS OPEN TO ALL (leave the kids at home, as we might be doing the Wharton Wave)!!!! YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE PARTICIPATING IN THE EVENT TO ATTEND THE PARTY. We highly recommend wearing a swimsuit, as you WILL be swimming (or at least getting wet). Bring plenty of beer on ice (no bottles please). Bring munchies or take part in the collection. If you're interested in participating in the skydiving (30-ways, freefly, and CReW) contact Al Saylor at SkySaylor@aol.com For more info on the party, contact me! . Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX