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chuteless

50 years

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I made my first jump at the Baldwin Dropzone on Sunday August 5th 1962, and I will make my final / last jump on Sunday August 5th 2012, 50 years later, to the very day.

At the same time, my two daughters Donna and Crystal will be making their first jump, a tandem.

I expect to fly alongside either or both of them for a few seconds. It should be a real fun day.

Bill Cole D-41




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That's awesome. I hope you have spectacular weather to cooperate with a great plan.

Wendy P.
There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

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I made my first jump at the Baldwin Dropzone on Sunday August 5th 1962, and I will make my final / last jump on Sunday August 5th 2012, 50 years later, to the very day.

At the same time, my two daughters Donna and Crystal will be making their first jump, a tandem.

I expect to fly alongside either or both of them for a few seconds. It should be a real fun day.

Bill Cole D-41



Baldwin Wisconsin?
Birdshit & Fools Productions

"Son, only two things fall from the sky."

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I've got 15 years to go, but I hope I'm able to match your effort. Please get video and post it for us. Good luck and have fun.

I have 40 years to go :D. I hope I can get there and do a couple of JOES jumps :)Congratulations on the celebration
scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM

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Well done. I bet it was something you never imagined way back then when you first went to the DZ.

Not many get to live through the evolution (well the major part of it anyway) of a sport.

Buy yourself a beer.....
My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

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Thought one of Bill's poems would go good here~

The Path That I Chose By Bill Cole D-41

When I began jumping in sixty-two
Rules for safety were well defined,
But as time went on and more jumps were made
I began to change my mind.
I knew in my heart I could do much more
And the old book of rules I could close,
When I jumped without chute, they gave me the boot
But that was the path that I chose.


CSPA cried foul, and they tried their best
To obstruct every jump that I made,
They had no success and the public enjoyed
The parachute game that I played.
Low openings soon were my specialty
And their tempers quickly arose,
But they gave to me, good publicity,
And that was the path that I chose.


Then came some high jumps, six miles and more,
The record for Canada's skies,
Its a fact they were free jumps, time after time
In spite of CSPA's cries.
"Suspend him for life", "suspend him again",
Some jumpers would loudly propose,
But I didn't mind, I was very well paid
And that was the path that I chose.


Jumps were made in the summertime
In the wonderful skies of blue,
A thrill to the crowd that came to watch,
To see skydiving that was new.
Jumps also were made in wintertime,
And sometimes we nearly froze,
Memories in log books, one by one,
Cause that was the path I chose.


Canadian jump records for day and for night
That have lasted for many years,
Jumps made by Descenders Parateam
As CSPA shed their tears.
Their members should have been quiet about
The things that they liked to oppose,
I felt sorry for them, but it just had to be,
Because that was the path that I chose.


Those jumps got me sponsors, a wonderful thing,
Equipment supplied to the team,
Reputation was growing as each year went past
I was living a skydiver's dream.
Airshows, commercials, and movies and such
Till old age my career would close,
I had a great time, and I have no regrets
Because that was the path that I chose.


We did break some rules, but most were just bent
So requirements made could be filled,
Twas fortunate for myself and the team
That no one had ever got killed.
I'll be first to admit when all has been done
And in death both my eyes will close,
While is sure was fun, broken bones and all,
I thank God for the path I chose.






_________________________________________________


Check out a few more from Chuteless! B|

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=3801524#3801524










~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

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So is 50 years a nudie jump?



Might be too much drag to keep up with a tandem.
"I may be a dirty pirate hooker...but I'm not about to go stand on the corner." iluvtofly
DPH -7, TDS 578, Muff 5153, SCR 14890
I'm an asshole, and I approve this message

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Bill

We've never met, and it appears that I will never get a chance to jump with you. I appreciate your contributions to the sport, though and have thoroughly enjoyed reading some of yoru tales here.

I hope your last jump is great and I hope you continue sharing those stories!
"What if there were no hypothetical questions?"

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