Anyone around who remembers the summer jumpers in Wisconsin Dells? It would have been Tommy Bartletts Water Shows, and I remember flying for him in (I think) a 195, back probably in the summer of 67-68. It was a tough jump for most, you had to land on a beach in front of viewer bleachers and Tommy was pretty specific about landing only on the beach and not the water. The jump was usually from 2,800 and with the winds and variables it made the jumps challenging at best, you had to parallel the river and turn in at the last minute to land on the beach. All this with PC's.... The jumps were in conjunction with a water ski show. The setting was the Wisconsin Dells, the river was the Wisconsin River and the "Dells" were huge rock formations that tourists would view from riverboats that Bartlett had. Just don't remember any of the peeps that were around that summer....but had a blast. Further searching on the net I found that the first show with jumpers was in '66 but appears that it was held on Lake Delton and not the river as I remembered. I do have a distinct memory of flying jumpers and letting them out on the river, but it may have in fact been Lake Delton. I'll poke around some more and try and clarify that.
(This post was edited by lodestar on Oct 13, 2009, 6:11 PM)
years ago Jerry Rouillard had mentioned to me about doing demo jumps at Wisconsin Dells back then but don't remember who else might have been involved.
Not related to the Dells but the first demo I saw when I was about 11 in the late 60's was at a 4th of July celebration. They got out what seemed like a LONG ways away and landed their PC's on a 15' X on the bank of a river. Only out was really the river itself. Actual spot was at least 3/4 mile out. Decided then and there I'd try it. Took until 1978 that I was old enough and had a chance.
In 1967(?) one of the jumpers was Rob Jenks from willingboro nj. he started jumping at steve snyder's dz(ripcord para center)when he was 16 just a year earlier(1966)
Roullard, Jimmy Davis, and I can't remember the third guy (it'll come to me in the middle of the night) got thrown out for landing on the stage. Roger Wolford jumped a lot of years there. I think the guys name was Bill Burnner that jumper the first square in. It was hilarious, the closer he got to the chicken shack on the beech the bigger his eyes got. Ron Ziess use to jump a Delta II in. When it would open. Side note: two years ago the dam broke and the lake emptied in a couple hours. Taking some fancy houses with it an the main road to the Dells. It became the Tommy Bartlett mud show.
I do remember Roger Wolford as one of the jumpers....there were no squares when I was there. What sticks in my mind though was the river....and not the lake....thanks gents
1968 John coppe was the pilot and jumped on his day off.Roger Wolford,Robby Jenks,Wimpy (cant remember his real name) were the jumpers.I made 2 jumps there when visiting.Bill Ottly was there when I was but did'nt jump.It was a tight area but had the water for a way out if needed.
Thanks Pop, That rang a lot of bells....I remember Coppe, Wolford, Jenks and Wimpy..... Hope you are well, you may remember me from Zhills, Tuna.....I knew you and your son from those years....was there in 69-72. I think it was through Hasenfuss I got to work there, he had a 190 so I was familiar with those and somehow connected with Bartlett, don't remember exactly how but remembered the flying. May well have been on Coppe's days off....
