Aug 29, 2003, 1:34 PM
Post #7 of 13
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Re: [airtwardo] Dayton International AirShow Demo.
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Great pictures! I've never seen the smoke like that. I don't get out much....It looks like there's three of them on a line below you. Could you explain this a little? It really has a neat affect......Steve1
Aug 30, 2003, 7:43 PM
Post #9 of 13
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Re: [YahooLV] Dayton International AirShow Demo.
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It's called a "candy cane", and it's a lot of fun to fly!
Quote:
YES IT IS!!!
..And how did it get THAT name???
(Thought you'd NEVER ask!)
Here's a little 'History and Trivia' for ya.
Going back 25 years...
I was lucky enough to get tied into a bunch of real hard core style and accuracy guys that also did a LOT of demo's back in the Midwest.
An 'interesting' group to say the least, thinking back... Our exploits would make for another dozen or so posts in the 'Scary Stories' thread.
Mostly older guys, ( I was 19-20 ) with jobs and families... They liked my 'can-do' attitude toward jumping demos.
I was a little...less structured ... shall we say, than I am now, and I did a lot of things that the guys with kids to feed weren't as aggressively attempting.
In addition to jumping demos then, that I wouldn't even WATCH someone attempt now..
I also got to be the test jumper for all the 'Basement Built Bullshit' that anyone came up with.... (another dozen scary posts!)
I was all the way across the country when I got the call to go do a big airshow demo...
The next weekend I show up at the appointed time and place...
But the 'guys' were less than enthusiastic about my latest 'image'
Some didn't like the Chopper.. Most hated the earring...
They ALL thought the Ponytail should go!
(Not to mention the... "Here's 20 bucks, buy some new jeans... and burn those!)
We WERE breaking into the big leagues... forming what was to become-
The Liberty Parachute Team
So...I went along with some of the 'Look Professional' stuff, but Damn... ya know how long it take to grow this hair!!!
Anyway...we are done with the first 3 days of a 4 day show...
Doing, RW...CRW..Flags...typical stuff.
Planning the act for the next day... we're sitting at the bar, brainstorming.
When the weirdest of the 'basement riggers' comes back from his car and hands me a huge, beat-up old bellywart.
"Tomorrow...YOU'RE jumpin' THIS!
........AND GET A HAIRCUT!!!"
In it are like 12 smoke bombs... a rats nest of wire cable..velcro, clips, hooks.... Looked like a kids takle box!
I played with it for much of the night, kinda got the idea of what he was going for with all of it.
Next day we're geared up and ready to go...
On jump run, I'm closest to the door for a change... with the 12 smokes on my chest, and 4 more..2 on each foot...
They wanted to be sure they could kick me out fast should I start to smolder in the airplane!
Turning for jump run, I feel a tug on my helmet... Looking back at 1/2 a dozen grinning faces...
It took a second to focus on the guy holding up both his hook knife........
And my fucking PONYTAIL!!!
They had timed it perfectly... we were right over the "Spot" all I could do was yell "ASSHOLES" as I rolled out the door.
It wasn't easy...
but I finally get this 'Towering Inferno" lit. And spiral down 3000 feet.. to the L.Z.
directly in front of all the event big wigs at "Air Show Center"
The crowd is going nuts!...
The rest of the team...Flags, banners, CRW guys. are a minute or so behind me, not spinning, as I had.
Just enough time to shed my rig, boot brackets, and boots... (Figured I could fight better without those big French 'Para-Boots' on!)
I'm standing by my pile of gear at Air Show center, as the guys all come gathering around carrying their stuff...
...They're all talking at once...
"Man, Twardo...THAT looked great!"
"Better than I'd EVER imagined!"
"Didn't think you'd get'em ALL burning..."
I'm just seething... but I AM, getting the 'hero' treatment! (ahhhh...gosh...I guess it did look kinda cool)
The biggest of the event bigwigs runs over to us...
"That smoke thing! That was GREAT!!
Whatever it was... you guys are coming back NEXT year and doing THAT again!!"
Next year?? ...We all look at each other and start to smile.....
"HELL YES" Mr.Big yells, "We want to see THAT again....What do ya call it???"
The then team leader...
...sporting his "shit for supper" grin, proudly holds up the trophy that was minutes before ....attached to my head.
We call it the BARBER POLL !!!!
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!! The HELL we do, I growled...
I'm the only one nuts enough to JUMP this death trap....
...and "I" call it...
THE CANDY CANE !!!
To the best of my knowledge... (and I HAVE checked)
That was the first time a "Candycane" was ever showcased... (Forget it!..already bought THAT beer, 25 plus years ago!)
Since then a Candy Cane has always been part of our show...
Went to 6 bombs pretty quick because it's faster to lite and spins better...
Now using 3 most of the time, as lots of shows won't pay 300.00 for smoke per cane.
And...If memory serves,
I got a freaking' Head Cold riding the Harley back to the West Coast!
Aug 30, 2003, 9:41 PM
Post #10 of 13
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Re: [airtwardo] Dayton International AirShow Demo.
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Thanks for the history lesson. For every defeat (pony tail), there is a success- home built "stuff" that works!
Enjoyed the story, put a smile on my face. I haven't been able to jump 6 yet. (Too damn expensive), but I did built it so I can double up on 3 for a fuller smoke layout....looks pretty good. I have never seen it as I"m spiraling down and have to concentrate on other things. If and when I get some pics, I'll send some out.
daytonflgcc.jpg
