"Right foot forward! NO! Left foot forward! Back Straight! Squat Down! Shuffle, shuffle! Don't touch the door!"
But, a good friend was killed at Freak Brothers in 1985 hitting the door and getting knocked out exiting a small door DC3 second from last of about 28. Guy behind her claims he didn't see anything. Hard to believe. Of course no AOD's (no typo, that's what they were called then).
edited based on Howard correcting my memory
(This post was edited by councilman24 on Nov 6, 2008, 6:28 AM)
Your right Howard, I knew it didn't look right when I typed it. I was thinking Automatic deployment device but it was automatic opening device. The industry (airtec) didn't like to imply opening, only activation.
She had on a frap hat, of course. Most of the DZ's experienced jumpers were on the load. Lots of folks said they were going to get Protecs, and some AOD's. AFAIK not one helmet or AOD was added because of her death.
And when you exited 40th you had a long and fast dive ahead...
You aint kidding. Last time I did that was 11 years ago at a 4th of July Skydive Chicago big way camp when they were doing formation loads with Mr Douglas and their two Otters. I miss shuffling in the longest line, but definitely not front floating the goddamn thing.
She had on a frap hat, of course. Most of the DZ's experienced jumpers were on the load. Lots of folks said they were going to get Protecs, and some AOD's. AFAIK not one helmet or AOD was added because of her death.
I was in that plane , in the group behind them. We were questioned as to whether we heard a bang as they exited or saw anything. Nobody heard anything. extraordinary. As I remember the conclusion was that her neck was broken not by a bang against the door but more of a push past the door , by the folks behind.
"Right foot forward! NO! Left foot forward! Back Straight! Squat Down! Shuffle, shuffle! Don't touch the door!"
Reach forward and hold onto the sides of the container - no, not the person directly in front of you, nor the one in front of them, but the next person
"Right foot forward! NO! Left foot forward! Back Straight! Squat Down! Shuffle, shuffle! Don't touch the door!"
Reach forward and hold onto the sides of the container - no, not the person directly in front of you, nor the one in front of them, but the next person
Yeah...try that bein' 6'4" 240# and wearin' a wart!
As I remember the conclusion was that her neck was broken not by a bang against the door but more of a push past the door , by the folks behind
I'm 5'4", and don't really have to duck that much to go out the door; just a little. Which means that pushing on my butt has some tendency to straighten me up a little bit (try it -- it's kind of a normal thing to do). I'm pretty sure that's what happened when I hit the door, and I'm equally sure it didn't make that much of a noise.
I was really glad to have worn a hockey helmet that day.
One of my favorite photos (I wish I had been looking at the camera!) was taken over Zephyrhills in the early 70's. A window was missing over the wing of the DC-3 and someone stuck a camera out of it. I was first to go in a mass exit and was trying to give the folks behind me plenty of room.
I loved being on the tail of a "tarantula" exit. Sqatted down with inside leg strap grips on the person in front, on "g' of "go", hop slightly straight up and find yourself out the door.
At the recent US Nationals at Elroy one of the pilots flying there was able to convince the 10-way teams and the judges to run the last round of the 10-way speed formation competition into changing the final formation to a star and putting the teams out of the DC-3 with a no show, no grips exit. Watching the videos of the teams' exits and swoops was hilarious. There were no new record times scored.
At the recent US Nationals at Elroy one of the pilots flying there was able to convince the 10-way teams and the judges to run the last round of the 10-way speed formation competition into changing the final formation to a star and putting the teams out of the DC-3 with a no show, no grips exit. Watching the videos of the teams' exits and swoops was hilarious. There were no new record times scored.
I've been waiting to do that for the longest time and I missed it!
Well I remember a single file snake of sorts. The last person was really kinda next to the door facing the front of the plane and ran to the front, made the turn and then back towards the door again.
But I never minded being front float when we did decide against a no show exit.
DC-3 exit.jpg
> 
Guy behind her claims he didn't see anything. Hard to believe. Of course no AOD's (no typo, that's what they were called then). 
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