0
wrightskyguy

First Flight Centennial

Recommended Posts

Two things John...

One;
That was Katie Booth's 2nd
Tandem jump...
The first being into the North Pole!

Kudos' on being accepted Katie! :)(thought I'd die laughing when she asked
'Dad' for a "Javilin" rig for Christmas!!!)

...and Two;
You look better in person,
than your 'helmeted' Avitar! B|

On my thoughts...
It was truly an honor to be a part of that memorable jump!

The whole focus of the jump was to have 100
canopies open and in the air at once!
Which happened, ..
and WAS impressive!

It was the event of a lifetime for sure!

I jumped the Dayton International Air Show
this summer...
The home of the Wright Brothers.

There...
Some of the performers were given a Sterling Silver
'Wright Flyer' pin..
One of a hundred created as 'special gifts' for
aviation VIP's attending the show...

I wore mine into the Kitty Hawk demo...
Making it the coolest tie tack I will EVER own!

Our "Texas 20 Way" came off without a hitch!

No Shit..There I Was...
After diving on the base,
I'm looking across the building formation
at our organizer, Roger Ponce...
who was grinning ear to ear!
Glen Bangs, the USPA President docking on my leg as 'JohnRich' and 'Sparky' ...'JohnWright' and others
flying SHIT HOT,
swoop slots on all sides!

Built fast and flyin' solid...stingers burning smoke,
I looked straight down 9000 feet,
at the monument built and dedicated
to the bicycle building brothers from Dayton.

Wondering what THEY would be thinking today,
were they on site...
Looking Back Up! :)
Kudos' to the Fayards for making the event
run smooth and safe.
My first time at Carolina Sports Center and I
felt at home...won't be my last time there for sure!

And... "Hats Off" to Al Saylor, B|
'our' group organizer ...
for putting together such a fantastic bunch.

The guy ROCKS!
Our Casa was delayed an hour an a half behind
all the other planes returning to the DZ,
due to confusion on refueling by the airport ground crew.

Gave some of us an opportunity to walk around
the Air Show Performers static displayed aircraft...
But not old 'Saylor!' :)

...As we were preparing to FINALLY
get on our way for the hour flight back to the DZ,
I'm throwing on my rig...
and look across the tarmac to see the 'boss' running in.
FOUR CASES OF BEER IN HIS ARMS! :o

That guy ROCKS!

Sure hope I get asked to be on the 200 year jump
in 2103!!! :ph34r:










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

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

That was Katie Booth's 2nd Tandem jump...
The first being into the North Pole!



Jay Tribble corrected me on that one too. Wow, for having only two jumps, they sure are incredible ones! How's she gonna top those?

Quote

You look better in person, than your 'helmeted' Avitar!



But of course.

Quote

On my thoughts...



I enjoyed reading your comments, and concur completely. It was quite a memorable event.

Quote

...As we were preparing to FINALLY get on out way for the hour flight back to the DZ, I'm throwing on my rig... and look across the tarmac to see the 'boss' running in. FOUR CASES OF BEER IN HIS ARMS!



Yep, that's how creative this guy is as an organizer. On a short layover in an out of the way airport, he somehow manages to commandeer a car, find a jiffy mart, and return to the airport in time, with enough beer for a whole Casa load of jumpers for the flight home. Al Saylor for National Director!

Attached: 1) Photo of the bomb-sniffing dog with his security crew, going by the tailgate of our Casa; 2) Sunset on the Manteo flight line; 3) Jumper T-shirts - only one of 100!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Thanks, Mike for posting my website address
The event was fantastic. Whe I had to scratch as an invited jumper, the Fayards and Don Carrington asked me to be their video/photo coordinator for both the First Flight event and the demo into the Beach boys concert on Saturday. The only thing better than being there was working with this truely amazing group of jumpers and organizers. Thanks to all involed for your professional good humor and standing still long enough for me to get you pictures!
Karen Wood

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites


I plan on being there,:P I'll bring a spare pair of goggles!B|

*** >:(

Oh Man!
Sparky...
That is just wrong...in SO many ways!! :P

Quick, somebody get the knife outta my back! :$

Hey...I thought I did pretty well...
you try flyin' with the "blinkers"
goin' full blast! :)

(...and I wasn't even going to comment
about what everyone was saying as to the
'reason' your jumpsuit was that color of yellow!)
:P










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

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

Oh Man!
Sparky...
That is just wrong...in SO many ways!!

Quick, somebody get the knife outta my back!

Hey...I thought I did pretty well...
you try flyin' with the "blinkers"
goin' full blast!



That was not a stab in the back:P, it was a compliment on your ability to fly like an eagle under adverse conditions. Yea, thats what I meant.B|
My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

Quote

Oh Man!
Sparky...
That is just wrong...in SO many ways!!

Quick, somebody get the knife outta my back!

Hey...I thought I did pretty well...
you try flyin' with the "blinkers"
goin' full blast!



***
:)B|:ph34r:

That was not a stab in the back:P, it was a compliment on your ability to fly like an eagle under adverse conditions. Yea, thats what I meant.B|












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

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

Here are a couple of spectacular teaser photos from Karen Woods' web site. She was the official photographer for the event.

1) Flag jump in front of the Wright Brother's Monument.

2) "USA" 16-way dive.

More: http://karenwood.hookturn.com/



Re: the USA formation..........

If the dives were done as a demonstration and done above thousands and thousands of spectators on the ground......why wasn't the USA dive,,, designed so that it could be read,,,, from the ground....???? and not from above the formation,, as it seems in this pic...
just' wonderin' ,,,:|

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote


why wasn't the USA dive,,, designed so that it could be read,,,, from the ground....????

Excellent question. We asked ourselves the same thing several times. A few of us even engineered a 2nd point so it would read correctly from the ground.

But as we looked at the value of each orientation we concluded that the picture of the formation against a background of the memorial and grounds was more valuable than the live shot that relatively few people would have seen from the ground. Because the names of the 100 Heroes of Aviation were being read while we were in freefall, we could not call attention to the formation and besides, how many non-skydivers can follow a single freefall formation with a video person from exit to break-off at 5500' while 4 airplanes and 100 skydivers are in the air at the same time?

Anyway, that's kinda what our team captain said so we said, "yes sir" and did what we were told.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
:)... yes it also occured to me that the " S " could be read either way,,, and the the " A " and the " U " could be "sequenced " , but as you say...
if there are other things going on,,,etc... many many people could have 'missed it" anyway..
Great Job...... kudos to CSS,, and all involved..
Wilbur and Orville would have loved it...
" Simplicate and Make Lighter "
:)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
I too thought that was the reason...

But was waiting in hope that one of you guys on
the dive would answer.
I was under canopy watching the last few seconds
it held, and then break-off...

I didn't realize it was 'backwards'
until the debrief at the DZ...

And I know what I'm look at!

So it was fine for the crowd as presented.

And you're right!

THAT is the picture you see EVERYWHERE
in regard to 'our' little demo...B|

A much more impressive shot from above...!

Great Job!
And it was both a pleasure and
an honor meeting you guys!
:)










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

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote


Somebody all ready has his pictures for the demo.
Michael (aka Sparky)



Yep, have you gotten yours yet?

That one came from the jump on Saturday before the Beach Boys Concert. We landed heading away from the monument, (180 to the Tuesday jump). Karen printed a few for us as soon as we got back Saturday. One of the advantages of jumping at the host dz.

BTW, I really appreciate all the folks who had to travel to be part of this event. It couldn't have been done without you. I hope we get to do something similar real soon.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

BTW, I really appreciate all the folks who had to travel to be part of this event. It couldn't have been done without you. I hope we get to do something similar real soon



Keith,
It was an honor to travel form Calif. to be part of something like this. As a host you guys in CSS are the best there is.
My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

Keith,
It was an honor to travel form Calif. to be part of something like this. As a host you guys in CSS are the best there is. ***
I couldn't agree more!
And hey Keith...
Sparky and I are wanting to reserve our slots
on the 200 year celebration too...:)











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

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote


I couldn't agree more!
And hey Keith...
Sparky and I are wanting to reserve our slots
on the 200 year celebration too...



Woo Hoo. Look out 12/17/2103:P

Aw shucks. You guys are the greatest. I'm glad you got to experience some of our Carolina hospitality and I'm glad you enjoyed our little soiree. Honestly though, the honor truly was ours. If you guys schedule something in Texas or Calif, keep us east coast PROs in mind.

Merry Christmas y'all and have a wonderful New Year!

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.

Guest
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.

0