SkiD_PL8 0 #51 August 20, 2004 QuoteThe same year, they also had a small hot air balloon tethered to the ground that they were going to use for base jumps or something. Well, the winds weren't very calm that day, and the balloon's listing to one side and they were firing that burner at full blast, and caught the balloon fabric on fire, and I'm standing there watching pieces of it melt, and thinking, boy am I glad I'm not in that gondola!How did that turn out? I would think it would come down pretty fast with a nice size hole in it. Greenie in training. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 34 #52 August 20, 2004 QuoteQuoteThe same year, they also had a small hot air balloon tethered to the ground that they were going to use for base jumps or something. Well, the winds weren't very calm that day, and the balloon's listing to one side and they were firing that burner at full blast, and caught the balloon fabric on fire, and I'm standing there watching pieces of it melt, and thinking, boy am I glad I'm not in that gondola!How did that turn out? I would think it would come down pretty fast with a nice size hole in it. They were trying to get high enough, but could not get anywhere near the altitude they wanted, and the burned hole aborted the attempt. They were lucky that the balloon came back down to a soft enough landing that nobody was hurt. There's another incident I remember from that convention. My group was standing at the loading tent waiting for our plane, and we watched some of the jumpers land in and near the main LZ. I saw one guy land on the taxiway behind the DZ control tower, breaking his foot near clean off. I'm watching him laying on his back on the taxiway and he's holding up his leg with the foot hanging at a 90 degree angle, and he had ALL that empty flat grass to land on beyond the taxiway!! What an idiot... The worst sight I ever saw was at the same convention where I watched Mike "Dead Mike" Vederman slam onto the runway after a canopy collision with Andy Anderson. To this day, the image of his bloodied and broken body on what looked like his last gasps, is ingrained in my memory. I still can't believe he survived. He actually died, but came back in the ambulance, startling the EMTs. I think his website is still up - www.deadmike.com. It's really something... Blue Skies Billy"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brewman 0 #53 August 21, 2004 Stupidest thing I saw this year was the guy who swooped a few feet over a golf cart that was driving along the front side of the organizing tents. In the golf cart was a young lady with an eight month old baby. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChasingBlueSky 0 #54 August 21, 2004 I'm surprised no one mentioned the guy that landed his canopy on the nose of the Casa - while the props were still spinning._________________________________________ you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me.... I WILL fly again..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 15 #55 August 21, 2004 YEah, I know the Casa pilot that almost had a heart attack when that happened to him. I've heard his point of view story... but never someone elses.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CieloDiosa 0 #56 August 21, 2004 Quote2. That girl who flew through that guy's canopy and split it in two at 800.' That was pretty stupid. how'd she do that??? that teddy bear story was pretty funny hahha ~boogie ho!! pull before impact! L.A.S.T#14, PMS #309, Ci EL O DI O SA Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChasingBlueSky 0 #57 August 21, 2004 QuoteQuote2. That girl who flew through that guy's canopy and split it in two at 800.' That was pretty stupid. how'd she do that??? I believe that video is on one of the last Quincy videos. Basically it was a head on collision and the higher jumper tore thru the canopy on impact and briefly was tangled in it. As soon as they cleared the jumper with the torn canopy did some pretty quick handle pulling, had a short reserve ride, and slid in safely. I don't think they ever found who flew into him._________________________________________ you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me.... I WILL fly again..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jdfreefly 1 #59 August 24, 2004 I was loading that plane!!! Scared the hell out of me when I saw all the black smoke pouring by the windows from the inside... That guy owes Georgi Gelardi and the pilot his life. She grabed the edge of his canopy and ran the other way with it. Methane Freefly - got stink? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FrogNog 1 #60 August 24, 2004 That low canopy-jumper collision vid was great. I love that timely quote: "Mother". Nice EPs that guy did. Funny how the voiceover says he struggles with his ripcord, after he pulled it probably 10 inches, surely the pin was out and deployment was beginning, and he was just working on the end. "30 seconds away from certain death." Hey, I'm less than 30 seconds away from sudden death almost every time I pull. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
firstime 0 #61 August 24, 2004 What is a Mr Bill landing, have only heard it here and not at the DZ???? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WFFC 1 #62 August 24, 2004 QuoteWhat is a Mr Bill landing, have only heard it here and not at the DZ???? Basically: We exit the plane together (me hanging onto you with a death grip). Exit plane, you deploy immediately. If I hang on, great. If I don't...well, Ohhhhhh Nooooooooooooooooooooooo Mr. Bill from the old Saturday Night Live.----- ~~~Michael Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jerm 0 #63 August 25, 2004 actually, he said 3 seconds.... then again he said finley was uder 600 feet when he chopped.. even though finley said he was at 850 when he got hit Landing without injury is not necessarily evidence that you didn't fuck up... it just means you got away with it this time Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
