howardwhite

Jerry Irwin, for many years one of the best and most prolific skydiving photographers, has begun posting some of his collection of pictures on Flickr. Pictures of people, canopies and airplanes that will bring back great memories for a lot of people here. HW

I have a pretty big collection of academic papers on the sociology, psychology and physiology of skydiving. Many are copyrighted and come at a price, and most are too big to post here. The Laurendeau papers (there are several others) are distinguished from the majority in that they display a sense of humor and are actually readable. My favorite is "The 'Crack Choir' and the 'Cock Chorus': The Intersection of Gender and Sexuality in Skydiving Texts," a study of skydiving songs. HW

I got there too late for what would have been the best picture -- 121PM being towed around the airport by a Miata with its top down. But maybe one of these days we'll do a photo shoot that includes the tool truck -- also in the Pilgrim colors. Jr. is talking about recovering from Sr. the O2 system. HW

At the risk of causing pain to old Cal City folks, I offer today's pictures. HW

I saw a bunch of Cardinal demos last year at Connecticut Parachutists Inc. following memorial services for Vic Deveau. There were a couple of Popes present, IIRC. HW

Cottler, not Clotter. Rick Pittaro, not Peter Nelson. Mary Thornton, David Adams, Bob McDonald, Jack Sirois. I saw David Adams this summer. The story of how I put him out on his first jump was chronicled last year in Parachutist. I'm afraid I have no recollection of your second S/L. I'll have to go back to the video for the others. And maybe I'll jump out of your Cessna Sunday... HW

Yes. I'm much too busy now. Maybe next time I jump out of an airplane you're flying. HW

I can name them all. (Of course it helps that Skip Kniley thoughtfully captioned them when he made the movie from which this is stolen.) The team was named "The Tailfeathers of Orange," in tribute (?) to Bird's team, "The Wings of Orange." (Note that several people are jumping Bird "Ripoff" reserves.) HW

Another picture of UHaul, a Massachusetts team at Z-Hills in mid-seventies. (It's a screengrab.) (Back row, left, is Lew Sanborn.) HW

Not a Classiflier. It's a Top Secret. Feel better now? HW

Well, o.k., here are a couple of pictures of the technique in action. Note that the pullup cord goes over a dowel. Now, of course, absolutely everyone will immediately recognize the rig. HW

Having trouble closing your reserve? Here (from a mid-70's rig owner's manual) is a solution. HW

Well, that's what the PDC says it is.. HW

Would the second airport be Waggoner? It was used as an alternate/practice airport during Tahelquah Nationals times. HW

Another screengrab for Lurch's impugning pleasure. And some text from the show synopsis: === No. 8: The Wing Suit Are you an adrenaline junkie? Then forget skydiving with those big parachutes, because the wing suit may just be for you! The wing suit is a full body suit with fabric that stretches under the arms from the wrists to the waist and between the legs. You need to be 1,800 feet or higher before jumping with one, and for every 1 foot of vertical drop, you travel 3 feet forward. When you fall to about 200 feet above the ground, a parachute is released to assist with the landing. “Basically, it turns you into a flying squirrel,” Dr. Jim says after putting on the suit. To use the suit, you need to be a certified skydiver with at least 200 jumps completed. “One of the great things about sports like this is if you know what you’re doing, it can be relatively safe,” Dr. Travis says. === Yeah, especially if you jump above 1800 feet and your parachute is released at about 200 feet above the ground. HW

...and, of course, the brief PI midwest venture, in Crawfordsville, IN. HW

Pretty sure I posted this before....whatever.. HW

Yes. Although the brown 206 is still brown (as least as of last Thursday, when I flew in it.) HW

Another work in progress (somewhat Photoshopped to disguise the Undisclosed Location). HW

So make a better one, robot-man. HW

Got ya beat. He was my FJC instructor in 1965 HW

How could you have left out Skydive East, Doug Angel's place in Pittstown? HW

Then (not Texas) there was Roanoke Rapids, NC, Jerry Rouillard. HW

When you watch it, be sure to take notes on what the "doctor" is saying in this scene HW

Or you could look at the first message in this thread. HW