koppel 3 #1 October 20, 2005 Interested to hear from people who have jumped the Thunderbow or similar. Do people know of other canopies that have similar characteristics etc. Also anyone got one I can get my hands on please.I like my canopy... ...it lets me down. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chuteless 1 #2 October 20, 2005 I jumped one years ago....similar to a Para Commander. The P.C. is the best chute ever made. Bill Cole D-41 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ripcord4 0 #3 October 20, 2005 QuoteI jumped one years ago....similar to a Para Commander. The P.C. is the best chute ever made. Bill Cole D-41 I second that - the ParaCommander rules. The Thunderbow is similar, but do yourself a favor - get a PC. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
koppel 3 #4 October 20, 2005 We have one T/bow on the DZ that I have jumped twice and it rocks. I haven't had the pleasure of a P-C yet, I look forward to it. Just thought it would be kinda cool to do specialty jumps with two T/bow's so still looking I like my canopy... ...it lets me down. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
poppenhager 1 #5 October 20, 2005 Quote Thunderbow was better than a 7TU and not as good as the MK1 PC!! POP D47 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites fergs 0 #6 October 20, 2005 I had a T-bow back in the early 70's. Made a couple hundred jumps on it. Always opened softly - I only ever side packed it (flake it and pull the sleeve down without bothering to dress it). I eventually retired it after getting my first square canopy, a strato-star in 1975 or 76. Pic attached. Blue Skies, fergs Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites shall555 0 #7 October 21, 2005 Not *quite* the same, but I jumped the Mini-Thunderbow -- Security introduced it sometime in the late 70s. I believe it was made with lo-po fabric and kevlar lines. Here's a photo The thing knocked me on my sole jump on the thing. Felt like I bent double in the harness and was sore for a week. The guy that owned it was breaking lines frequently on the thing. I'm sure he gave up on it. I would have ! shall Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Duluth 2 #8 May 28, 2013 Just ran across this post and even though no one is still monitering it, thought I'd respond. Back in the day...PC's (para commander not pilot chute!) ruled and there were a number of knock off attempts. I jumped the origiinal long line PC's and the later versions where the lines were shortened (less oscilation) and most of the copy cats....Crossbow, Thunderbow, Russian PC. The Crossbow was a glorified cheapo; the Thunderbow was OK but less drive and slower turns than a PC; and I wouldn't rate the Russian as better than the PC but I do know that I only had 4 jumps on friend's rig and logged 4 dead centers with it. As I remember, regardless of color pattern you had, they all had an arrow in the front. We always told any student that jumped it, "just follow the arrow to hit the peas". Usually they'd walk away then suddenly turn around with a "ya but..." look on their face. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites airtwardo 6 #9 May 28, 2013 Duluth Just ran across this post and even though no one is still monitering it, thought I'd respond. Back in the day...PC's (para commander not pilot chute!) ruled and there were a number of knock off attempts. I jumped the origiinal long line PC's and the later versions where the lines were shortened (less oscilation) and most of the copy cats....Crossbow, Thunderbow, Russian PC. The Crossbow was a glorified cheapo; the Thunderbow was OK but less drive and slower turns than a PC; and I wouldn't rate the Russian as better than the PC but I do know that I only had 4 jumps on friend's rig and logged 4 dead centers with it. As I remember, regardless of color pattern you had, they all had an arrow in the front. We always told any student that jumped it, "just follow the arrow to hit the peas". Usually they'd walk away then suddenly turn around with a "ya but..." look on their face. I still have mine...the 'Polish Parachute' because it has an arrow pointing forward. ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Duluth 2 #10 May 28, 2013 Just reread my post and realized due to brain lock, it looks like I said that the Russian PC had the arrow...it was the Thunderbow. I always thought that a "Polish parachute" was one that opened on impact! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites JerryBaumchen 1,046 #11 May 29, 2013 Hi Duluth, Well, those of us from 'back in the day' knew what you were referring to. I have one jump on a T-Bow and that was enough. My P/C could out-run it and was far more stable. YMMV. JerryBaumchen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Krip 2 #12 May 30, 2013 Hi Mr T Even in Ks and MO there were a few polish PC's. No disrespect intended to our polish brothers and sisters. But the arrow was unique. At our little club we heard the tunderbow was called a polish because the arrow would point to the DZ. Whatever, everyone was backing up most of the time anyway. So the arrow on the canopy was pointed away from the dz from where you were coming from not where you were headed. Damn winds and a short spot One Jump Wonder Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites alec86 0 #13 May 30, 2013 I hoping to jump a thunder bow in a couple of weeks, one of the guys at a local DZ has one, they also have a round too but not sure what it is. I've always fancied jumping an old school main I think these days we don't realise how good we have it with the modern equipment. I've attached a picture of the thuder bow doing some CRW lolSpank the Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Beatnik 2 #14 May 30, 2013 I have two Thunderbows in my collection. They are nice chutes but they are real dogs compared to a PC. Packing is slightly larger than a PC but not much. They are one of those chutes that are great to bring out and jump because the arrow is always an eye catcher. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
fergs 0 #6 October 20, 2005 I had a T-bow back in the early 70's. Made a couple hundred jumps on it. Always opened softly - I only ever side packed it (flake it and pull the sleeve down without bothering to dress it). I eventually retired it after getting my first square canopy, a strato-star in 1975 or 76. Pic attached. Blue Skies, fergs Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shall555 0 #7 October 21, 2005 Not *quite* the same, but I jumped the Mini-Thunderbow -- Security introduced it sometime in the late 70s. I believe it was made with lo-po fabric and kevlar lines. Here's a photo The thing knocked me on my sole jump on the thing. Felt like I bent double in the harness and was sore for a week. The guy that owned it was breaking lines frequently on the thing. I'm sure he gave up on it. I would have ! shall Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Duluth 2 #8 May 28, 2013 Just ran across this post and even though no one is still monitering it, thought I'd respond. Back in the day...PC's (para commander not pilot chute!) ruled and there were a number of knock off attempts. I jumped the origiinal long line PC's and the later versions where the lines were shortened (less oscilation) and most of the copy cats....Crossbow, Thunderbow, Russian PC. The Crossbow was a glorified cheapo; the Thunderbow was OK but less drive and slower turns than a PC; and I wouldn't rate the Russian as better than the PC but I do know that I only had 4 jumps on friend's rig and logged 4 dead centers with it. As I remember, regardless of color pattern you had, they all had an arrow in the front. We always told any student that jumped it, "just follow the arrow to hit the peas". Usually they'd walk away then suddenly turn around with a "ya but..." look on their face. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 6 #9 May 28, 2013 Duluth Just ran across this post and even though no one is still monitering it, thought I'd respond. Back in the day...PC's (para commander not pilot chute!) ruled and there were a number of knock off attempts. I jumped the origiinal long line PC's and the later versions where the lines were shortened (less oscilation) and most of the copy cats....Crossbow, Thunderbow, Russian PC. The Crossbow was a glorified cheapo; the Thunderbow was OK but less drive and slower turns than a PC; and I wouldn't rate the Russian as better than the PC but I do know that I only had 4 jumps on friend's rig and logged 4 dead centers with it. As I remember, regardless of color pattern you had, they all had an arrow in the front. We always told any student that jumped it, "just follow the arrow to hit the peas". Usually they'd walk away then suddenly turn around with a "ya but..." look on their face. I still have mine...the 'Polish Parachute' because it has an arrow pointing forward. ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Duluth 2 #10 May 28, 2013 Just reread my post and realized due to brain lock, it looks like I said that the Russian PC had the arrow...it was the Thunderbow. I always thought that a "Polish parachute" was one that opened on impact! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JerryBaumchen 1,046 #11 May 29, 2013 Hi Duluth, Well, those of us from 'back in the day' knew what you were referring to. I have one jump on a T-Bow and that was enough. My P/C could out-run it and was far more stable. YMMV. JerryBaumchen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Krip 2 #12 May 30, 2013 Hi Mr T Even in Ks and MO there were a few polish PC's. No disrespect intended to our polish brothers and sisters. But the arrow was unique. At our little club we heard the tunderbow was called a polish because the arrow would point to the DZ. Whatever, everyone was backing up most of the time anyway. So the arrow on the canopy was pointed away from the dz from where you were coming from not where you were headed. Damn winds and a short spot One Jump Wonder Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alec86 0 #13 May 30, 2013 I hoping to jump a thunder bow in a couple of weeks, one of the guys at a local DZ has one, they also have a round too but not sure what it is. I've always fancied jumping an old school main I think these days we don't realise how good we have it with the modern equipment. I've attached a picture of the thuder bow doing some CRW lolSpank the Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Beatnik 2 #14 May 30, 2013 I have two Thunderbows in my collection. They are nice chutes but they are real dogs compared to a PC. Packing is slightly larger than a PC but not much. They are one of those chutes that are great to bring out and jump because the arrow is always an eye catcher. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
