howardwhite

Well, if you want to go way back, the "Telechute" was promoted as a feature in association with the opening of the nation's first commercial parachuting center at Orange, MA in 1959. It was supposed to be developed commercially, but I can't find any evidence that anything came of it. HW

I am now the self-appointed old farts correspondent for Parachutist. (By the way, in the mid-70s Spotter had lots of articles by one Pat Works, who is being too modest to mention himself.) Does anyone know where Scott Hamilton is these days? Even Curt Curtis has no idea. HW

See http://www.uspa.org/membership/travel/rigs.htm#tsa

You might find some enlightenment here: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=2634320;search_string=build%20tunnel;#2634320

I was surprised to read here: http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_D_plane16.1db2665.html that the Perris DC-9 is only 27 feet long.

Already brought up here: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=2674953;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread

A memorial service for Dick Enarson, D-226, will be held tomorrow (Feb. 17) at 10 a.m. at the Pittsburg, CA VFW Post (186 E. Leland Rd.) Enarson, an early Southern California jumper, served as assistant executive director of PCA in Monterey in the early 60s. He died Jan. 28 in Spirit Lake, IA. He retired as a CWO after 20 years in the Army. He flew many missions in Vietnam. He was a master rigger and CFI. He will be buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery Feb. 28 at 3 p.m. I have contact info (snail and email and phone) for his widow, Janet. PM me if you want it. HW

Did you notice the comment "those parachutes are a bit small?" He must be talking about the drogue.

http://www.webmd.com/content/article/43/1671_51089

This one would be cool, especially if your DZ is near water. (Taken by a friend, old-time jump pilot, who flew bush planes in Alaska winter 2005-06) HW

The first time I saw (and rode in) a PC-12, I asked the pilot (a jumper) about the PC-12 as a jump plane. He told me the door is structural -- that is, you can't fly without it. Last summer, I asked the pilot of another PC-12 (not a jumper) the same question, and he said that as far as he knew, the answer is still the same. Too bad; might be a nice jump plane. HW

Is that total # of licenses? If so that would mean everyone that has a D may be counted up to 4 times, a, b, c, d (sing it now!) right? It's just simple addition. You can get a license without having held a lower one, so long as you meet the qualifications. That's why the number of Cs (35718) is greater than the number of Bs (29555). You don't have enough data to make any meaningful guess about the number of jumpers represented. HW

Here's another, pretty new, site that has a good handle on the scam artists in the online camera sale business: http://sheddingsomelight.com/buy-cameras/cameras-index.html If you're thinking about ordering a camera online from New York, it's a great read. HW

Based on the numbers in the February Parachutist, USPA has issued > 144,350 licenses. Many who received those licenses are dead, many more are inactive. Not a very useful figure. USPA membership is currently ~31,000. HW

Some nice coverage on Boston TV; Derek Landry is the instructor. http://www.myfoxboston.com/myfox/pages/InsideFox/Detail?contentId=2353417&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=5.2.1 HW

You just didn't look hard enough, or maybe the fact that they change their name from time to time made you miss it. See: http://slickdeals.resellerratings.com/seller8754-p4-s1-d1.html Anyone even remotely thinking about buying through eBay from any of these sleazeball outfits should read all of these horrible stories -- and should seriously question the reliability of eBay ratings. HW

I sort of knew that, but I was surprised they suggested a "software update." I put a little mark on my old battery to see if I got it back with new software, but instead I got a new shrink-wrapped one. I suppose they just tossed the old one. HW

Thanks for the clicky, I guess. I was kind of hoping not to attract too much attention to it until it's worth visiting. That was you in the bsbd T-shirt at the banquet? HW

Some of you will remember DZ USA, a news magazine that was published from the mid-sixties into the seventies. On the PIA "Pioneers of Parachuting" site, I just discovered this Guestbook entry: ====== Hello all! I would like to speak to some fellow "pioneers." My first jump was in 1963 and I received my gold wings in 1970. I'm a friend of Jacque Istel, Garth Taggert and Jim Arender. If you all read this please contact me, I have lost touch over the years. I was also the owner and editor of DZ USA Magazine from 1965-1972. If anyone wishes to contact me they can do so at Gene Hunnell, 3333 South Alameda, Apt 22J, Corpus Christi, TX 78411 or call me at 361-855-8561. ====== (I discovered this only because I have been roped into, or volunteered to try to breathe some life into the PIA "low numbers" web pages.) HW

Shortly after I bought my Sony HC3 last fall, I went shopping for an extra battery. I wanted a big one, but the local Best Buy was out of the Sony FP-90 so I got an Energizer ER-C557 instead -- a lot cheaper than the Sony. A few weeks later, I was firewiring a video from the camera to a computer using the battery when, all of a sudden, the camera shut down -- bang, no warning, blackness. I plugged it in -- still nothing. I though the camera was fried, but when I put in the other battery, all was fine. The same thing happened several more times. The camera battery indicator showed full charge, yet the camera would just die, either shooting or playing. I searched the web and found the web site for Technuity in Indianapolis, the distributor. They had a tech note on batteries for Sony cameras, so I wrote them and got back an email saying "It appears you may have purchased an ER-C557 that is in need of a software update." They sent me a UPS form, I sent the battery and, on my return from PIA, had a new battery. Who knew some batteries have "software?"

Out of idlest curiosity, why do you want to select among three vendors on eBay rather than going to a known, reliable on-line vendor such as B&H? http://www.bhphotovideo.com/ Do you really want the tripods, lens cleaning kits, bags, etc. that are thrown into these packages? In any case, I suggest you do Google searches on J&K Cameras and Barclays Photo, both of which have been subject of major complaints. (Couldn't find anything on Empire Digital, but maybe it's a new kid on the Brooklyn block.) HW

"Handsome Dave" DeWolf was presented the Parachute Industry Association's highest award last Thursday in Reno -- the Don Beck Memorial Achievement Award. The award (picture attached) honors "achievements which have withstood the test of time." He was presented the plaque by Dan Poynter, last year's winner. If you don't know Dave, you can get some of the flavor of the man in the recent thread noting his 12,000th jump: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=2517480;search_string=dewolf;#2517480 HW

Maybe, but Dan Poynter has the patent: http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT3908937&id=GukxAAAAEBAJ&dq=parachute+ininventor:poynter&as_drrb_ap=q&as_minm_ap=1&as_miny_ap=2007&as_maxm_ap=1&as_maxy_ap=2007&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=1&as_miny_is=2007&as_maxm_is=1&as_maxy_is=2007&jtp=1#PPP1,M1 HW

I learned today of the death of Dick Enarson, D-226. Here's what I received from Kim Emmons Knor, D-221, who forwarded it from his wife, Janet. HW ===== Funeral services are pending for Richard L. Enarson , 70, of Lake Park, Iowa and formerly of Antioch, California. He died January 28, 2007 at the Spirit Lake Regional Hospital. He is the son of Russell and Catherine Enarson. Richard was born on February 26, 1936 in San Francisco, CA. He served 20 years in the army and retired as a military chief warrant officer. He was an active pilot and flew many missions in Vietnam. He was also an FAA Certified Flight Instructor, Helicopter pilot, Parachutist, and a Master Parachute Rigger. He was always flying "in the Company of Eagles," as he put it. Surviving is his wife Janet Enarson of Lake Park, IA; daughter Linda Enarson and husband Jay Wooten of Jacksonville, FL son Mark Enarson of Antioch, CA and his children Jason and Michael; step-children Layton and Michelle Vick of Spirit Lake, IA; Elizabeth Vick-Hermann and husband Rolf of Switzerland; Paul Vick of Troy, MO; and LaRonna Hibbs of Milford, IA ===== Here is a portion of the note from his wife: Just a short note to let you know that Dick passed away Sunday morning the 28th at 2 am. He suffered a massive stroke and didn't recover and was in no pain. We are in the process of getting the necessary paperwork done for him to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. It was his wish to be cremated by the Neptune Society. I will try to keep you informed as to when the service will be. We will also have a memorial service in CA. for him at a later date. It is a huge loss for us and we are coping the best we can. Until later with more news, Janet

Err, don't tell that to the people at the MIT, UConn, and UMass/Amherst clubs, all of whom are active at Jumptown. HW