steve1 5 #176 November 6, 2003 Airtwardo's story reminded me of another one when I was in Jump School at Ft. Benning. Some of the Black Hat's (instructors) back then were sometimes kinda sadistic. I have vivid memories of the 34 ft. tower, probably because I went out of it so many times until I finally could do it right. I always had an elbow out too far or my hands weren't placed just right, and they'd send me back up to do it again. I had the risers slap me so many times behind the ears that they were both bloody. (really).....and I guess I was lucky I wasn't recycled. Some said it was scarier than jumping. Some said they made it exactly 34 feet because that was the scariest height of all, and there was nothing below it but hard packed dirt. You jump out of it as many times as I did and it was not really that scary, but the first few times were kind of tough. Well anyhow one of the first jumps out of it there was this guy ahead of me who forgot to hook up one side of his risers. The black hat up there was screaming at us the whole time and he finally shouted "stand in the door" and this kid, ahead of me, did as he was told and took up a good exit position. I'm sure his heart was going pitter-pat because I know mine was. Then the black hat showed him the riser's that were unhooked on one side and then shoved him out the door. The other side was hooked up though, and he ended up bouncing down the trolley cock eyed. I'll bet he remembered to hook things up right the next time. And we all lived happily ever after.....Steve1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 6 #177 November 10, 2003 QuoteAirtwardo, Great story! Tell us another one......Steve1 *** Upon some philosophical reflection, I'm reminded that sometimes we must relearn some of the simplest lessons... File this one under: Never judge a book by its cover. It was just at sunrise on a chilly and damp morning, I hadn't gotten any sleep because of a long ‘put away’ memory being unlocked and replayed, because of where I was and what I was there to do. There was a stiff breeze from the East blowing in across the Mississippi. Making the weather feel worse that it probably actually was. In truth, the air tasted exactly like it did the last time Id stood here. I reached up touching with one hand, the stainless steel was icy, ...just like I remembered. I laughed out loud, thoughtful of the ongoing paradox. A thing of genuine beauty, a work of art that I never could look at. As the first ray of sun graced its peek, the entire St. Louis Arch seemed to sparkle and come alive. 20 years before, a fellow skydiving instructor, a mentor and a friend died here after trying to land on top. With his wife watching from below and his best friend looking down through the open door of a Cessna cockpit... “This is my favorite time of day to be here.” Words that snapped me back into the present, came from a squeaky hillbilly voice from behind me. Looking at the source of the interruption, I see what looks like ‘Jabba the Hut’ in a Park Ranger Uniform. My inner voice mimics Jerry Seinfeild’s whine, “Hellooo NEWMAN!” The park is empty, but Ranger Bob starts into his spiel... “It's a parabolic arch, 630 feet tall...” “Yeah, I know” I said, “And 33 feet across at the narrowest point” (A little tight...I thought to myself.) “Oh, come ‘round here often?” No not really, It's been a while... I'm from out of state. What brings yawl back? Well, I'm on the parachute team that will be jumping here this weekend for the show. Just thought I’d look the place over. “Ya know... that's somthin’ ah always...” As I turned up the setting on my ‘bullshit filter’, I thought to myself... Hey dumpling, 3 inches taller and you'd be round! Best you stick to riding herd over the tourists... In a somber mood and wanting to be alone, I gave him a quick nod and turned to walk back to my car. ‘Simba’ following on my heels, goes back into his canned mantra... “This parabolic arch, because of it’s design characteristics and slick construction material, actually acts much like an airplane wing... creating unseen and often violent vortices of wind turbulence... “Oh yeah?” I said digging for my keys, “Great!” He continued in a mindless monotone, “It'll flip yer perryshoot round like ‘yasina’ turnanaido'.” Gimme a break Sneezy, I’m thinking, ...Somewhere in town, Snow White's got an empty chair at the breakfast table. “How many jumps did you say you had?” I asked, as I shut the door and started to drive away. ...Nothing worst than an “Expert Wuffo” I said to my self, Give some people a fucking badge... Later that afternoon we were scheduled to do a Flag jump into Cardnial Stadium prior to the start of a baseball game. We wouldn't be able to do a practice jump into the actual landing area as we like to do for stadium jumps, but we could make one into the park next to the arch where we would be landing the next few days during the Air Show. We could at least get to see the stadium from the air, and get a general feeling for the winds... and ‘knock the dust off’. 2500 feet in the 206, throwing a WDI at the top of the St.Louis Arch... that lands someplace in Nebraska... We decide to take the spot WAY out... Over the river into Illinois in fact! Which was fine with me, for some weird reason, I just don't like exiting over water... Any water... Any time! Four of us do a hop and pop from 4500’ and form up in a line heading across the ‘Mighty Miss’ toward the “Gateway to the West” Though not a performance per say, we did trail long Red, White and Blue banners just to give those that happened to notice something to look at. Going across the river headed toward the city was an indescribable experience, St.Louis is a beautiful city and visiting downtown in this manner is highly recommended! As we near the Missouri side, the park is busy with vendors and promoters setting up their equipment for the 4th of July celebration and Air Show. Not crowded just busy... I was tail end Charlie on the line and was delighted to see the #1 guy go straight through the arch 1/2 way between the top and the ground... I was half a mile back and to be honest the perspective gave me a cold chill. A chill that was instantly washed away as I set up for my approach to ‘Run the Arch’ I was on an even level with the observation windows at the top center and made eye contact with some people taking pictures from inside... the whole thing was awe inspiring, and I was laughing and hoopin’ at the top of my lungs... riding 1/2 brakes to slow it down and make the ride last as long as possible. About 100 yards past the monument that; “Will be here longer that the Pyramids” (...more ‘canned’ Ranger quips) I started into a slow 180* hook to get headed into the wind and set up for landing. When... SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING! You guessed it! First... I’m looking at my pilotchute...FROM BEHIND! In the next instant... I'm falling backwards toward the collapsing nose... transfixed on how the slider is climbing back up the lines! Hell..If I had a pull-up, I could get this thing repacked before I LAND! Talk about a time-saver! Taking a wrap to hopefully assist... I buried the steering lines to initiate a stall, and at least get me back below some of this nylon... Landing AFTER your parachute, packed or not, ...is still bad form! Knowing from years of competition accuracy how to “pump” a stalling / sinking canopy to stabilize and recover... I started flapping like a gooney bird. Fortunately I was using a 260 sqft. 9 cell, the same rig I’d intended to take into the stadium later in the day. I actually hit straight down, with no forward or backward drive from the parachute or winds. I stood there for a few seconds... UN puckered...took a DEEP breath, and wondered if I’d perhaps missed a page or two in the “SIM”... As the four of us were walking back up the hill toward the equipment van, comparing ripped jumpsuits and scrapped helmets, Who should I spy but my Park Ranger Acquaintance from the sunrise stroll... “ Ahh tried ta tell ya!” he drawled, “ Ah bin watchin’ perryshoot guys tryin’ to land here fer tin years now, nobody believes me!” “Only happens when da win is from the East... like today, but I tells ‘em all... an all of ‘em think I’m jest a dumb country boy!” Ya know... EATING CROW isn't 1/2 bad... smothered in adrenaline ‘Hot Sauce’!! ....I took “Officer Davis” to the van where I outfitted him with a team pin, patch, hat and a tee-shirt. As I repacked for the afternoon jump, we traded tales like old friends, I told him about the jumps both today and 20 years ago... He told me about demo jumpers "dielemmas" at the Archway Park that he'd witnessed and assisted with going back a decade. We exchanged business cards and handshakes, and I recalled something my dad said to me years before, Listen to more to WHAT someone is telling you, and less to how and why they say it! ***************************************** Stadium jump went great! The grass is so perfect... Depth perception is off, much like over water. That and I was somewhat distracted just prior to landing... Some movement caught in my peripheral vision caused me to look left... I still get kidded about the astonished expression on my face, when I recognized my 50 foot head... Live feed on the ‘Jumbo-Tron!!!” Make a Skydive...Get a Check! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve1 5 #178 November 10, 2003 I used to make some demo jumps in the old days. Anyone with more than a hundred jumps and a para-commander was usually invited. Well anyhow after a 25 year lay off I started jumping again. For some reason I figured I still knew it all. After all I used to go on all the big loads in the old days. A big load back then might have been a 12-way. Well anyhow I bought one of these new fangled square canopies, and I figured I'd start making demos again. Of course I didn't know what in the hell I was doing. So I told the school I worked for that I'd jump into the football field for everyone's delight. An old jump buddy that I jumped with 30 years earlier had an airplane and volunteered to fly. He'd been out of the sport a long time too and probably didn't know anymore than I did. The foot ball field was kind of down in a hole with tall cottonwood trees on the south with a hill and buildings on the east. And then the wind came up (from the south). Of course I didn't have a clue that the wind might collapse a canopy in this kind of situation. The wind was about 15 knots when we took off, and getting worse. I had a good spot. I left at about 6,000 and after opening I did enough spirals to make myself sick. Everything was going according to plan and I was putting on a good show for everyone. The kids were hooping and hollering and the folks I worked with were grinning, and then I hit this turbulence from the trees. Suddenly I have this sickening falling sensation as I am setting up to land. My canopy had collapsed. I didn't know you should pump your brakes, in fact I wasn't even sure what was happening. And then just as quickly it re-enflates and I come in for a landing on the football field. Some people say that you get smarter with age. After reading this story, we all know that isn't always the case......Steve1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 6 #179 November 10, 2003 Steve Your story reminds me of a time our college demo team was going into the football stadium as a pre game warm up. My roommate who had a couple hundred jumps and a diamond wing attitude, just flat would NOT play the winds going into the stadium. No matter which way the winds were blowing, he would ALWAYS set up on the South end of the field over the score board and 'sink' until he felt he could run it in and make the 50 yard line... On one occasion there was a brisk crosswind for this type of approach. Deep into the brakes his canopy all but completely collapsed... Instead of "pumping" the brakes together he wildly punched them one at a time Left..Right..Left..Right... This only made matters worse and he was TOTALLY out of control, with what looked like four cells of a seven cell Para Plane open and flying.... One of the few times in my life that I actually hurt myself LAUGHING... He hung the canopy on top of one arm of the goal posts... swung around about three times and then CUT AWAY while still doing the Maypole! Legs swim kicking and arms flailing... he damn near made a STAND UP! The Applause from the crowd continued for 15 minutes as a male cheerleader shinnied up the post and removed the 'decoration'. ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #180 November 10, 2003 QuoteHe hung the canopy on top of one arm of the goal posts... swung around about three times and then CUT AWAY while still doing the Maypole! Legs swim kicking and arms flailing... he damn near made a STAND UP! The Applause from the crowd continued for 15 minutes as a male cheerleader shinnied up the post and removed the 'decoration'. And I'm sure the Whuffos in the stands thought that it was all part of an act. Did yall get any media coverage from that one?--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chuteless 1 #181 November 10, 2003 After posting a remark or two on the Ghoulidge thread, and feeling quite upset inside, I thought I'd add something to this thread, which might make me feel better inside. Once when making a demo jump at a football game in Ohio, another jumper named Luicas and I drove to the airport to get readty. We found that the aircraft we had was a Cessna 170, a small taildragger. The seating room was not condusive to two guys with large sized rigs but we crambed our way into the back seat like sardines. The pilot taxied out onto the grass strip, and did his engine runup. He turned and looked at me and said, " she's only hitting on one magneto" Hell, one is good enough....lets go for it I told him, and he poured the fuel to it and we began bouncing down the runway. I think the aircraft may have been borderline to overloaded, but we kept going. Soon we were about run out of grass runway, and we werent up. I could see cars on the road that indicated where the runway stopped, and to make it worse, there was a large willow tree and an advertising billboard on the other side of the road, and about 35 ft between them. We lifted off slowly, but the sign and the tree challenged our climb out. The pilot banked the aircraft and neatly slipped between the sign and the tree. He striaghtened out and turned to look at me, and all three of us were grinning like cats that had just raided the fishbowl. real neat, I calls it....adrenalin just apumpin Gosh I miss those days !!!!! Bill Cole D-41 Canada Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 6 #182 November 10, 2003 *** Did yall get any media coverage from that one? Quote Actually there was a shot of the canopy on the post in the student newspaper..which I have a few copies of somewhere...most likely in a pile at my folks house where I dumped everything in '81 after graduating... Should go through that stuff someday! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites AggieDave 6 #183 November 10, 2003 You really should dig all your stuff up out of your boxes, write a book and have pictures. That'd be a great book. Possibly get other jumpers to do the same, funny stories, etc, with pictures and such. That'd be a kickass book!--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites usedtajump 1 #184 November 11, 2003 Quote*** Did yall get any media coverage from that one? Quote ...most likely in a pile at my folks house where I dumped everything in '81 after graduating... Should go through that stuff someday! Well bud, you better get over there NOW and get what you want. Ask me how I knowThe older I get the less I care who I piss off. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites airtwardo 6 #185 November 11, 2003 QuoteYou really should dig all your stuff up out of your boxes, write a book and have pictures. That'd be a great book. Possibly get other jumpers to do the same, funny stories, etc, with pictures and such. That'd be a kickass book! ***I have 25 years worth of aviation 'treasures' Signed posters from airshows all over the world.. new unworn event tee shirts...from shows, boogies..etc. (Including one from the FIRST 'Freak Brother Convention.) Skydiving and aviation artifacts... Thousands of photographs... I'm payin' 100.00 a month for a storage unit in San Diego full of stuff that I never got around to moving here to Houston! My honey is a notable aviatrix in her own right... Airline Pilot, Air Racer, Air Show Performer, Aerobatic competitor... (Lousy Cook) We just don't have ROOM for the stuff we pack rat away! I always figured I would open a bar when I hang it up, and wallpaper the place with this junk... And yes Dave... I WILL serve Shiner! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites krkeenan 0 #186 November 13, 2003 Great Thread - Thanks. Here's an old one... As a young Texas jumper in 1972, I made a trip to Elsinore, the Mecca of skydiving in those days. I was on an RW load going up in the Twin Beech. There were no seatbelts on jump planes, then, nor were jump doors seen very often. I was sitting in the back looking out the door as we started the takeoff. As the tail came up, I could feel it swing one way, then past the center the other way, then farther back again. It was much later, after I became a pilot and had flown Beech a D-18, that I really understood how a ground loop works. The simple version is that the center of gravity is behind the landing gear, and if you're not careful, it tries to spin the airplane around. After a couple swings of the tail, we broke loose into a ground loop. This was essentially a series of 360 degree turns while going down the runway at about 60-70 mph. Everyone was hanging onto rivets with their fingernails and everything else they could grab. I watched out the door as the entire airport went by several times, and the left wingtip got closer and closer to the ground. I figured that if that wingtip touched down, we could start to cartwheel. Luckily, that didn't happen, and we spun to a stop. Everyone's eyes were huge as we all looked at each other- freaked out and speechless. We couldn't even see anything outside because of all the dust stirred up by the plane. After the pilot caught his breath, he yells. "Is everybody OK ?" We said we were, so he runs the engines back up, and taxis back to the end of the runway. I figured that was plenty of excitement for the moment, and we were probably going to take a break and check the airplane. Nope. He turns the plane around at the end of the runway and starts the takeoff again. This time, it went OK, and I thought, "Geez, these are sure some hard-core bastards out here." It turned out that the jumper who was riding in the copilot seat was a friend of the pilot, so the pilot was letting him make the takeoff. Presumably, they both learned something from that incident. Kevin K.====================== Seasons don't fear the Reaper, nor do the Wind, the Sun, or the Rain... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites steve1 5 #187 November 13, 2003 Now that's a scary one!.....Steve1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites krkeenan 0 #188 November 13, 2003 What's really weird is that I was back at Elsinore a year ago for the first time since then (30 yrs.). I was telling some people that story, and it turns out that one of the guys I was doing CRW with had been on that load that day. We got a hell of a laugh over that. kevin====================== Seasons don't fear the Reaper, nor do the Wind, the Sun, or the Rain... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites cruzlite 0 #189 November 26, 2003 This one takes place in the 80's at a dz somewhere in the mid-west... We go up to do a 4-way out of the 182, I'm spot & hang...I climb out, hang & look left... The next guy out(who has only one good eye) is on the step, however he has left his pilot rapped around the the flap handle, and is unaware of it... At this point I decide to "hang" around... Time stands still as I make eye contact with the pilot- I will never forget the look on his face Without hesitation he reaches down, unrapps the pc, and throws it down & out the door... The guy on the step VANISHES .5 secounds later. I mean this guy DISAPPEARS! I look back, the tail is still there, & 2-out is under canopy & turning. So we go ahead & make a 3-way, break, turn, track, & open... Before I can get my brakes off, something hits my canopy, then goes past, & I'm thinking altimeter.. cause its (by now) so small... I follow it down as far as I can & mark it's spot, then walk back (1/2 mile) to dz... I walk up to this guy wondering if he has any idea how lucky he is, & ask him hows he doing... "Great but I lost my helmet" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites newsstand 0 #190 November 27, 2003 This is no way as scary as some of the shit here but it is my story. Back in '79 at Monks Corners, SC. I was doing my third or fourth static line on a T-10. I was last out of the plane and the method for telling you were to steer was a big arrow on the ground. When it was in use they uncovered the tip and it was bright orange so you would see it. Well I leave the plane and look up to a good canopy and then look down to a gray arrow. I try my best to steer in what I think is the right direction. After what seemed like an eternity I see people running across the ground to the arrow and uncovering the tip and spinning it around. Long story short I land on the road base driveway about 20 feet from a building with a corrugated steel roof. They had forgotten that there were four students in the plane. Guess it was better than my friend who landed in a tree the same day! Cost him beer. "Truth is tough. It will not break, like a bubble, at a touch; nay, you may kick it about all day like a football, and it will be round and full at evening." -- Oliver Wendell Holmes Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites airtwardo 6 #191 December 5, 2003 In another forum: Someone was asking who carries a hook knife, and if they've ever used one... My answer fits better here than there! I always have at least one on every jump... Usually I have one of those junk plastic two-finger jobs attached to the Velcro on my wrist altimeter, and a 'Jack the Ripper' in a sewn pocket mid thigh. I've used a knife twice... Once to cut some lines over on a square reserve... I cut 3-4 lines and got most of the spin stopped before smacking the ground 5 feet from the water at Elsinore. A bit scary...but! The first time was back in the mid 70's... I was 19 and jump mastering a student load out of a 182... I had a student in tow. He was slowing spinning at the end of the static line and was not showing any signs of consciousness. Back then, procedure was... If the student were conscious and aware, they were to put both hands on their helmet signaling to the jump master that they were 'ready'. The jump master was then supposed to cut the static line and the student would pull the handle on the front mounted reserve. But... If the student was 'out'... The jump master was supposed to use the carabiner we all carried on the main lift web, to attach himself to the static line... then slide down it to the student in peril. Grasping the students reserve handle you then cut the static line and deployed the incapacitated jumpers reserve. This "John Wayne" fantasy script was actually in The Jump Masters Handbook! Who ever wrote this wet dream had obviously never tried to do it because when I did... there were a few 'problems' involved. (Another 'No Shit...' story) First... The student is not only a heavy weight on the end of a rope, but there is air speed drag involved too... pulling that static line extremely tight across the floor and around the corner, down the fuselage. Rather difficult to 'clip' on it, I contortion myself half on the step, half in the plane, ...bloodying my fingers until finally getting attached. Then... I'm sliding ass over earlobes down the static line smashing face first into the still spinning student. Our bodies are 180 degrees out of alignment, both of us facing away from the relative wind, both slowly pin wheeling, winding the static line up 'rubber band' like. I can't reach his reserve handle in this position and looking down during the rotations, I can see that we're descending, no doubt from all the drag we both are now causing. Followed by... At this point self preservation mode kicks in... I figure he's a gonner 'cause we're out of options and using all the strength I have left to push myself away somewhat from him, trying to get a clear swipe at the yellow rope and be sure I don't get any of my harness with the blade, ...I feel this... KaaSnappp...and he's gone!I guess the combination of my pushing off in terror, and the ever tightening winding static line... broke what ever was holding the container closed. Finally... As I watched the sleeve come off his back, and lines unstow... I feel this "Boink" and get a sharp snap through my body. "Summptin' ain't right here..." The student's gone, O.D. Green T-10 catching air... and I'm sill swinging like Tarzan behind the 182! There is a bunch of white material slapping my boots... and this M-A1 Pilot Chute in my crotch! Since I had a blue "Hot Dog" Pilot Chute on my main, I figured somehow I'd popped and shredded my reserve! Time really does slow down in these situations and I was thinking remarkably clear considering... I figured at this point, one of two things could happen. I cut the static line and go for the main, hoping it clears the remnants of my 23 foot Tri-Con Reserve. ..which obviously I can't 'release' and, I'm getting too low to hack at with the hook knife, that I suddenly realized is still firmly clutched in my teeth... where I put it while back on the plane's step when this adventure started. Or.. I can land / crash with the plane, and hope getting dragged at high speed down the grass strip doesn't kill me. We're in a right hand descending turn right over the ' Peas' , low enough that I can see the guys all looking up and pointing. ..some moving vehicles away to give the pilot all the room possible to bring it in. "Screw IT!" And I cut the static line. ..dropping my knife and nailing the main rip cord with both hands. ..closing my eyes as I flipped / cart wheeled away. An instant later... I'm in the saddle, Rainbow 252 over my head. ..in perfect position for an accuracy run at the disc! Roughly 5 to 600 foot off the deck... Well, I made the pit, missed the disc. ..nothing left in my arms to sink or flare the canopy! After I stopped shaking, and we starting putting together what had transpired... I was getting chastised for not pulling my reserve since I was so low. ..I yelled back that I no longer HAVE a reserve, citing how it was damaged during the ordeal... The club's president then walks up to me... (still wearing my rig) ...and pulls my reserve handle. I stand there dumbfounded as it unloads off my back onto the ground!? WTF? What happened was... Someone... (no one would come forward) ...had mistakenly used white 'Tack-Chord' instead of 'Break-Chord' when setting up several of the rigs. There were 2-3 wraps on each of the 4 closing loops and 5-6 wraps on the 'Bridle / Static Line' connection. ..on 2 other rigs in the bin. Our wrestling match somehow blew the student container open, and as he fell away. ..the weakest point remaining was the sleeve retaining line, which tore apart allowing the T-10 to open clean, "Free Bag" style. ..leaving the sleeve and pilot chute still attached to the static line. The M-A1 bridle caught up against the carabiner clip on my harness, the white cotton sleeve flapping in trail. When I cut the line...the drag from the mess cleared everything away from me and I was simply in freefall rather low... ...with an undamaged and workable rig! ...And the REST on the story; The student was fine, and in fact most likely didn't know anything out of the ordinary had even happened. ..until he started picking up on the 'debrief' going on. The pilot thought I had become disabled. ..and was headed to the open / plowed field across the runway from the peas. He has going to cut the static line up on his end at around 500 feet. ..being a real considerate type, he didn't want the guys to have to walk to far to find my body! Shortly thereafter...we invested in these rather new fangled dealies...from Snyder. AOD's they were called back then. We all decided if anything like what happened to me occured again... We'd just cut the static line from the aircraft... A hope old Steve knew what he was doing with 'them Sentential things!" The following week someone found one of those orange rubber handled hook knives in the grass next to the target area. ..I told him it was mine, could I please have it back. He said there's no name on it, how do you know it's yours? How?... "Look at the fuckin' teeth marks in the handle!" ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites chuteless 1 #192 December 5, 2003 I was always told that the knife was to slit your throat before you mushed into Mother earth. Gosh, ya learn somethin every day on DZ.com. Bill Cole Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites airtwardo 6 #193 December 5, 2003 QuoteI was always told that the knife was to slit your throat before you mushed into Mother earth. Gosh, ya learn somethin every day on DZ.com. Bill Cole LOL! Ya know, Bill...I'd always heard that too! A friend told me that's how to keep yourself off the "Incidents" page in "Parachutist" magazine... With a slit throat...you didn't die skydiving! Of course before long... "Parachutist" would be offering that; "Failure to properly sever the jugular in a timely manner, was the cause of this skydiver to be killed upon impact... Proper familiarization, training and utilization of approved safety equipment. i.e. a hook knife, would have prevented this skydiving fatality. It is up to each individual participant to take measures to maintain their EDGE!" ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites jerry81 10 #194 December 5, 2003 It's been said before, but Twardo, you should write a book! Actually, a lot of this thread could be compiled and printed out (dz.com Publications present; No Shit, There I Was... ) But tell me, do you have any of those nine lives left at all? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites airtwardo 6 #195 December 5, 2003 QuoteBut tell me, do you have any of those nine lives left at all? *** I wonder too sometimes! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites usedtajump 1 #196 December 5, 2003 "If the student was 'out'... The jump master was supposed to use the carabiner we all carried on the main lift web, to attach himself to the static line... then slide down it to the student in peril." ------------------------------------------------------------ What balls he has ladies and gentlemen. Giant, brass ones that you have to haul around in a wheel barrow I had heard of that rescue method but you are the only one I ever heard of who actually inplemented it. Yep, enormous, harry, pendulous.........The older I get the less I care who I piss off. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites cruzlite 0 #197 December 5, 2003 STOP! Your killin me .... the tears are rollin... oh sh#! I just p#@!%% my Pants Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites jonstark 8 #198 December 6, 2003 Back then, procedure was... If the student were conscious and aware, they were to put both hands on their helmet signaling to the jump master that they were 'ready'. The jump master was then supposed to cut ... -------------------------------------- The way I remember it and the way I trained my students was this; If you're concious then put your left hand on top of your head and the right on the reserve... If you're unconcious then put both hands on your head. jon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites airtwardo 6 #199 December 6, 2003 Quote"If the student was 'out'... The jump master was supposed to use the carabiner we all carried on the main lift web, to attach himself to the static line... then slide down it to the student in peril." ------------------------------------------------------------ What balls he has ladies and gentlemen. Giant, brass ones that you have to haul around in a wheel barrow I had heard of that rescue method but you are the only one I ever heard of who actually inplemented it. Yep, enormous, harry, pendulous......... *** Really Jer ?! I've spoken to a few instructors from that 'bygone' era... that utilized the procedure, with varying degrees of success and similar outcome. As far as your 'Big Harry Balls' comment... I respectfully submit to you that at the time, I was merely following the recommended procedure I had been trained in. Believing my training and actions would successfully bring the event a happy ending... ...after all if it was in the manual, it must have happened enough for it to be addressed. No... I think the real 'Grande Balls' award goes to the instructors that follow a flailing student below their recommended 'hard deck' in life saving attempts that go against recognized procedure. But then again... You may have something there! I finally figured out where I thought I might know you from, We do indeed have a few mutual acquaintances... From stories recalled, with consideration of your experiences; I certainly can understand your comment within the context you undoubtedly meant it. ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites usedtajump 1 #200 December 6, 2003 Take it as a compliment of the highest order. I'm sure that at the time, that proceedure seemed very practical and sane but, but .....but ..... well.... uh....God what were we thinking? Edited to ask "where and who?"The older I get the less I care who I piss off. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Prev 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Next Page 8 of 61 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. 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AggieDave 6 #183 November 10, 2003 You really should dig all your stuff up out of your boxes, write a book and have pictures. That'd be a great book. Possibly get other jumpers to do the same, funny stories, etc, with pictures and such. That'd be a kickass book!--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
usedtajump 1 #184 November 11, 2003 Quote*** Did yall get any media coverage from that one? Quote ...most likely in a pile at my folks house where I dumped everything in '81 after graduating... Should go through that stuff someday! Well bud, you better get over there NOW and get what you want. Ask me how I knowThe older I get the less I care who I piss off. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites airtwardo 6 #185 November 11, 2003 QuoteYou really should dig all your stuff up out of your boxes, write a book and have pictures. That'd be a great book. Possibly get other jumpers to do the same, funny stories, etc, with pictures and such. That'd be a kickass book! ***I have 25 years worth of aviation 'treasures' Signed posters from airshows all over the world.. new unworn event tee shirts...from shows, boogies..etc. (Including one from the FIRST 'Freak Brother Convention.) Skydiving and aviation artifacts... Thousands of photographs... I'm payin' 100.00 a month for a storage unit in San Diego full of stuff that I never got around to moving here to Houston! My honey is a notable aviatrix in her own right... Airline Pilot, Air Racer, Air Show Performer, Aerobatic competitor... (Lousy Cook) We just don't have ROOM for the stuff we pack rat away! I always figured I would open a bar when I hang it up, and wallpaper the place with this junk... And yes Dave... I WILL serve Shiner! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites krkeenan 0 #186 November 13, 2003 Great Thread - Thanks. Here's an old one... As a young Texas jumper in 1972, I made a trip to Elsinore, the Mecca of skydiving in those days. I was on an RW load going up in the Twin Beech. There were no seatbelts on jump planes, then, nor were jump doors seen very often. I was sitting in the back looking out the door as we started the takeoff. As the tail came up, I could feel it swing one way, then past the center the other way, then farther back again. It was much later, after I became a pilot and had flown Beech a D-18, that I really understood how a ground loop works. The simple version is that the center of gravity is behind the landing gear, and if you're not careful, it tries to spin the airplane around. After a couple swings of the tail, we broke loose into a ground loop. This was essentially a series of 360 degree turns while going down the runway at about 60-70 mph. Everyone was hanging onto rivets with their fingernails and everything else they could grab. I watched out the door as the entire airport went by several times, and the left wingtip got closer and closer to the ground. I figured that if that wingtip touched down, we could start to cartwheel. Luckily, that didn't happen, and we spun to a stop. Everyone's eyes were huge as we all looked at each other- freaked out and speechless. We couldn't even see anything outside because of all the dust stirred up by the plane. After the pilot caught his breath, he yells. "Is everybody OK ?" We said we were, so he runs the engines back up, and taxis back to the end of the runway. I figured that was plenty of excitement for the moment, and we were probably going to take a break and check the airplane. Nope. He turns the plane around at the end of the runway and starts the takeoff again. This time, it went OK, and I thought, "Geez, these are sure some hard-core bastards out here." It turned out that the jumper who was riding in the copilot seat was a friend of the pilot, so the pilot was letting him make the takeoff. Presumably, they both learned something from that incident. Kevin K.====================== Seasons don't fear the Reaper, nor do the Wind, the Sun, or the Rain... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites steve1 5 #187 November 13, 2003 Now that's a scary one!.....Steve1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites krkeenan 0 #188 November 13, 2003 What's really weird is that I was back at Elsinore a year ago for the first time since then (30 yrs.). I was telling some people that story, and it turns out that one of the guys I was doing CRW with had been on that load that day. We got a hell of a laugh over that. kevin====================== Seasons don't fear the Reaper, nor do the Wind, the Sun, or the Rain... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites cruzlite 0 #189 November 26, 2003 This one takes place in the 80's at a dz somewhere in the mid-west... We go up to do a 4-way out of the 182, I'm spot & hang...I climb out, hang & look left... The next guy out(who has only one good eye) is on the step, however he has left his pilot rapped around the the flap handle, and is unaware of it... At this point I decide to "hang" around... Time stands still as I make eye contact with the pilot- I will never forget the look on his face Without hesitation he reaches down, unrapps the pc, and throws it down & out the door... The guy on the step VANISHES .5 secounds later. I mean this guy DISAPPEARS! I look back, the tail is still there, & 2-out is under canopy & turning. So we go ahead & make a 3-way, break, turn, track, & open... Before I can get my brakes off, something hits my canopy, then goes past, & I'm thinking altimeter.. cause its (by now) so small... I follow it down as far as I can & mark it's spot, then walk back (1/2 mile) to dz... I walk up to this guy wondering if he has any idea how lucky he is, & ask him hows he doing... "Great but I lost my helmet" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites newsstand 0 #190 November 27, 2003 This is no way as scary as some of the shit here but it is my story. Back in '79 at Monks Corners, SC. I was doing my third or fourth static line on a T-10. I was last out of the plane and the method for telling you were to steer was a big arrow on the ground. When it was in use they uncovered the tip and it was bright orange so you would see it. Well I leave the plane and look up to a good canopy and then look down to a gray arrow. I try my best to steer in what I think is the right direction. After what seemed like an eternity I see people running across the ground to the arrow and uncovering the tip and spinning it around. Long story short I land on the road base driveway about 20 feet from a building with a corrugated steel roof. They had forgotten that there were four students in the plane. Guess it was better than my friend who landed in a tree the same day! Cost him beer. "Truth is tough. It will not break, like a bubble, at a touch; nay, you may kick it about all day like a football, and it will be round and full at evening." -- Oliver Wendell Holmes Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites airtwardo 6 #191 December 5, 2003 In another forum: Someone was asking who carries a hook knife, and if they've ever used one... My answer fits better here than there! I always have at least one on every jump... Usually I have one of those junk plastic two-finger jobs attached to the Velcro on my wrist altimeter, and a 'Jack the Ripper' in a sewn pocket mid thigh. I've used a knife twice... Once to cut some lines over on a square reserve... I cut 3-4 lines and got most of the spin stopped before smacking the ground 5 feet from the water at Elsinore. A bit scary...but! The first time was back in the mid 70's... I was 19 and jump mastering a student load out of a 182... I had a student in tow. He was slowing spinning at the end of the static line and was not showing any signs of consciousness. Back then, procedure was... If the student were conscious and aware, they were to put both hands on their helmet signaling to the jump master that they were 'ready'. The jump master was then supposed to cut the static line and the student would pull the handle on the front mounted reserve. But... If the student was 'out'... The jump master was supposed to use the carabiner we all carried on the main lift web, to attach himself to the static line... then slide down it to the student in peril. Grasping the students reserve handle you then cut the static line and deployed the incapacitated jumpers reserve. This "John Wayne" fantasy script was actually in The Jump Masters Handbook! Who ever wrote this wet dream had obviously never tried to do it because when I did... there were a few 'problems' involved. (Another 'No Shit...' story) First... The student is not only a heavy weight on the end of a rope, but there is air speed drag involved too... pulling that static line extremely tight across the floor and around the corner, down the fuselage. Rather difficult to 'clip' on it, I contortion myself half on the step, half in the plane, ...bloodying my fingers until finally getting attached. Then... I'm sliding ass over earlobes down the static line smashing face first into the still spinning student. Our bodies are 180 degrees out of alignment, both of us facing away from the relative wind, both slowly pin wheeling, winding the static line up 'rubber band' like. I can't reach his reserve handle in this position and looking down during the rotations, I can see that we're descending, no doubt from all the drag we both are now causing. Followed by... At this point self preservation mode kicks in... I figure he's a gonner 'cause we're out of options and using all the strength I have left to push myself away somewhat from him, trying to get a clear swipe at the yellow rope and be sure I don't get any of my harness with the blade, ...I feel this... KaaSnappp...and he's gone!I guess the combination of my pushing off in terror, and the ever tightening winding static line... broke what ever was holding the container closed. Finally... As I watched the sleeve come off his back, and lines unstow... I feel this "Boink" and get a sharp snap through my body. "Summptin' ain't right here..." The student's gone, O.D. Green T-10 catching air... and I'm sill swinging like Tarzan behind the 182! There is a bunch of white material slapping my boots... and this M-A1 Pilot Chute in my crotch! Since I had a blue "Hot Dog" Pilot Chute on my main, I figured somehow I'd popped and shredded my reserve! Time really does slow down in these situations and I was thinking remarkably clear considering... I figured at this point, one of two things could happen. I cut the static line and go for the main, hoping it clears the remnants of my 23 foot Tri-Con Reserve. ..which obviously I can't 'release' and, I'm getting too low to hack at with the hook knife, that I suddenly realized is still firmly clutched in my teeth... where I put it while back on the plane's step when this adventure started. Or.. I can land / crash with the plane, and hope getting dragged at high speed down the grass strip doesn't kill me. We're in a right hand descending turn right over the ' Peas' , low enough that I can see the guys all looking up and pointing. ..some moving vehicles away to give the pilot all the room possible to bring it in. "Screw IT!" And I cut the static line. ..dropping my knife and nailing the main rip cord with both hands. ..closing my eyes as I flipped / cart wheeled away. An instant later... I'm in the saddle, Rainbow 252 over my head. ..in perfect position for an accuracy run at the disc! Roughly 5 to 600 foot off the deck... Well, I made the pit, missed the disc. ..nothing left in my arms to sink or flare the canopy! After I stopped shaking, and we starting putting together what had transpired... I was getting chastised for not pulling my reserve since I was so low. ..I yelled back that I no longer HAVE a reserve, citing how it was damaged during the ordeal... The club's president then walks up to me... (still wearing my rig) ...and pulls my reserve handle. I stand there dumbfounded as it unloads off my back onto the ground!? WTF? What happened was... Someone... (no one would come forward) ...had mistakenly used white 'Tack-Chord' instead of 'Break-Chord' when setting up several of the rigs. There were 2-3 wraps on each of the 4 closing loops and 5-6 wraps on the 'Bridle / Static Line' connection. ..on 2 other rigs in the bin. Our wrestling match somehow blew the student container open, and as he fell away. ..the weakest point remaining was the sleeve retaining line, which tore apart allowing the T-10 to open clean, "Free Bag" style. ..leaving the sleeve and pilot chute still attached to the static line. The M-A1 bridle caught up against the carabiner clip on my harness, the white cotton sleeve flapping in trail. When I cut the line...the drag from the mess cleared everything away from me and I was simply in freefall rather low... ...with an undamaged and workable rig! ...And the REST on the story; The student was fine, and in fact most likely didn't know anything out of the ordinary had even happened. ..until he started picking up on the 'debrief' going on. The pilot thought I had become disabled. ..and was headed to the open / plowed field across the runway from the peas. He has going to cut the static line up on his end at around 500 feet. ..being a real considerate type, he didn't want the guys to have to walk to far to find my body! Shortly thereafter...we invested in these rather new fangled dealies...from Snyder. AOD's they were called back then. We all decided if anything like what happened to me occured again... We'd just cut the static line from the aircraft... A hope old Steve knew what he was doing with 'them Sentential things!" The following week someone found one of those orange rubber handled hook knives in the grass next to the target area. ..I told him it was mine, could I please have it back. He said there's no name on it, how do you know it's yours? How?... "Look at the fuckin' teeth marks in the handle!" ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites chuteless 1 #192 December 5, 2003 I was always told that the knife was to slit your throat before you mushed into Mother earth. Gosh, ya learn somethin every day on DZ.com. Bill Cole Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites airtwardo 6 #193 December 5, 2003 QuoteI was always told that the knife was to slit your throat before you mushed into Mother earth. Gosh, ya learn somethin every day on DZ.com. Bill Cole LOL! Ya know, Bill...I'd always heard that too! A friend told me that's how to keep yourself off the "Incidents" page in "Parachutist" magazine... With a slit throat...you didn't die skydiving! Of course before long... "Parachutist" would be offering that; "Failure to properly sever the jugular in a timely manner, was the cause of this skydiver to be killed upon impact... Proper familiarization, training and utilization of approved safety equipment. i.e. a hook knife, would have prevented this skydiving fatality. It is up to each individual participant to take measures to maintain their EDGE!" ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites jerry81 10 #194 December 5, 2003 It's been said before, but Twardo, you should write a book! Actually, a lot of this thread could be compiled and printed out (dz.com Publications present; No Shit, There I Was... ) But tell me, do you have any of those nine lives left at all? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites airtwardo 6 #195 December 5, 2003 QuoteBut tell me, do you have any of those nine lives left at all? *** I wonder too sometimes! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites usedtajump 1 #196 December 5, 2003 "If the student was 'out'... The jump master was supposed to use the carabiner we all carried on the main lift web, to attach himself to the static line... then slide down it to the student in peril." ------------------------------------------------------------ What balls he has ladies and gentlemen. Giant, brass ones that you have to haul around in a wheel barrow I had heard of that rescue method but you are the only one I ever heard of who actually inplemented it. Yep, enormous, harry, pendulous.........The older I get the less I care who I piss off. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites cruzlite 0 #197 December 5, 2003 STOP! Your killin me .... the tears are rollin... oh sh#! I just p#@!%% my Pants Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites jonstark 8 #198 December 6, 2003 Back then, procedure was... If the student were conscious and aware, they were to put both hands on their helmet signaling to the jump master that they were 'ready'. The jump master was then supposed to cut ... -------------------------------------- The way I remember it and the way I trained my students was this; If you're concious then put your left hand on top of your head and the right on the reserve... If you're unconcious then put both hands on your head. jon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites airtwardo 6 #199 December 6, 2003 Quote"If the student was 'out'... The jump master was supposed to use the carabiner we all carried on the main lift web, to attach himself to the static line... then slide down it to the student in peril." ------------------------------------------------------------ What balls he has ladies and gentlemen. Giant, brass ones that you have to haul around in a wheel barrow I had heard of that rescue method but you are the only one I ever heard of who actually inplemented it. Yep, enormous, harry, pendulous......... *** Really Jer ?! I've spoken to a few instructors from that 'bygone' era... that utilized the procedure, with varying degrees of success and similar outcome. As far as your 'Big Harry Balls' comment... I respectfully submit to you that at the time, I was merely following the recommended procedure I had been trained in. Believing my training and actions would successfully bring the event a happy ending... ...after all if it was in the manual, it must have happened enough for it to be addressed. No... I think the real 'Grande Balls' award goes to the instructors that follow a flailing student below their recommended 'hard deck' in life saving attempts that go against recognized procedure. But then again... You may have something there! I finally figured out where I thought I might know you from, We do indeed have a few mutual acquaintances... From stories recalled, with consideration of your experiences; I certainly can understand your comment within the context you undoubtedly meant it. ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites usedtajump 1 #200 December 6, 2003 Take it as a compliment of the highest order. I'm sure that at the time, that proceedure seemed very practical and sane but, but .....but ..... well.... uh....God what were we thinking? Edited to ask "where and who?"The older I get the less I care who I piss off. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Prev 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Next Page 8 of 61 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. 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airtwardo 6 #185 November 11, 2003 QuoteYou really should dig all your stuff up out of your boxes, write a book and have pictures. That'd be a great book. Possibly get other jumpers to do the same, funny stories, etc, with pictures and such. That'd be a kickass book! ***I have 25 years worth of aviation 'treasures' Signed posters from airshows all over the world.. new unworn event tee shirts...from shows, boogies..etc. (Including one from the FIRST 'Freak Brother Convention.) Skydiving and aviation artifacts... Thousands of photographs... I'm payin' 100.00 a month for a storage unit in San Diego full of stuff that I never got around to moving here to Houston! My honey is a notable aviatrix in her own right... Airline Pilot, Air Racer, Air Show Performer, Aerobatic competitor... (Lousy Cook) We just don't have ROOM for the stuff we pack rat away! I always figured I would open a bar when I hang it up, and wallpaper the place with this junk... And yes Dave... I WILL serve Shiner! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
krkeenan 0 #186 November 13, 2003 Great Thread - Thanks. Here's an old one... As a young Texas jumper in 1972, I made a trip to Elsinore, the Mecca of skydiving in those days. I was on an RW load going up in the Twin Beech. There were no seatbelts on jump planes, then, nor were jump doors seen very often. I was sitting in the back looking out the door as we started the takeoff. As the tail came up, I could feel it swing one way, then past the center the other way, then farther back again. It was much later, after I became a pilot and had flown Beech a D-18, that I really understood how a ground loop works. The simple version is that the center of gravity is behind the landing gear, and if you're not careful, it tries to spin the airplane around. After a couple swings of the tail, we broke loose into a ground loop. This was essentially a series of 360 degree turns while going down the runway at about 60-70 mph. Everyone was hanging onto rivets with their fingernails and everything else they could grab. I watched out the door as the entire airport went by several times, and the left wingtip got closer and closer to the ground. I figured that if that wingtip touched down, we could start to cartwheel. Luckily, that didn't happen, and we spun to a stop. Everyone's eyes were huge as we all looked at each other- freaked out and speechless. We couldn't even see anything outside because of all the dust stirred up by the plane. After the pilot caught his breath, he yells. "Is everybody OK ?" We said we were, so he runs the engines back up, and taxis back to the end of the runway. I figured that was plenty of excitement for the moment, and we were probably going to take a break and check the airplane. Nope. He turns the plane around at the end of the runway and starts the takeoff again. This time, it went OK, and I thought, "Geez, these are sure some hard-core bastards out here." It turned out that the jumper who was riding in the copilot seat was a friend of the pilot, so the pilot was letting him make the takeoff. Presumably, they both learned something from that incident. Kevin K.====================== Seasons don't fear the Reaper, nor do the Wind, the Sun, or the Rain... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve1 5 #187 November 13, 2003 Now that's a scary one!.....Steve1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
krkeenan 0 #188 November 13, 2003 What's really weird is that I was back at Elsinore a year ago for the first time since then (30 yrs.). I was telling some people that story, and it turns out that one of the guys I was doing CRW with had been on that load that day. We got a hell of a laugh over that. kevin====================== Seasons don't fear the Reaper, nor do the Wind, the Sun, or the Rain... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cruzlite 0 #189 November 26, 2003 This one takes place in the 80's at a dz somewhere in the mid-west... We go up to do a 4-way out of the 182, I'm spot & hang...I climb out, hang & look left... The next guy out(who has only one good eye) is on the step, however he has left his pilot rapped around the the flap handle, and is unaware of it... At this point I decide to "hang" around... Time stands still as I make eye contact with the pilot- I will never forget the look on his face Without hesitation he reaches down, unrapps the pc, and throws it down & out the door... The guy on the step VANISHES .5 secounds later. I mean this guy DISAPPEARS! I look back, the tail is still there, & 2-out is under canopy & turning. So we go ahead & make a 3-way, break, turn, track, & open... Before I can get my brakes off, something hits my canopy, then goes past, & I'm thinking altimeter.. cause its (by now) so small... I follow it down as far as I can & mark it's spot, then walk back (1/2 mile) to dz... I walk up to this guy wondering if he has any idea how lucky he is, & ask him hows he doing... "Great but I lost my helmet" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
newsstand 0 #190 November 27, 2003 This is no way as scary as some of the shit here but it is my story. Back in '79 at Monks Corners, SC. I was doing my third or fourth static line on a T-10. I was last out of the plane and the method for telling you were to steer was a big arrow on the ground. When it was in use they uncovered the tip and it was bright orange so you would see it. Well I leave the plane and look up to a good canopy and then look down to a gray arrow. I try my best to steer in what I think is the right direction. After what seemed like an eternity I see people running across the ground to the arrow and uncovering the tip and spinning it around. Long story short I land on the road base driveway about 20 feet from a building with a corrugated steel roof. They had forgotten that there were four students in the plane. Guess it was better than my friend who landed in a tree the same day! Cost him beer. "Truth is tough. It will not break, like a bubble, at a touch; nay, you may kick it about all day like a football, and it will be round and full at evening." -- Oliver Wendell Holmes Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 6 #191 December 5, 2003 In another forum: Someone was asking who carries a hook knife, and if they've ever used one... My answer fits better here than there! I always have at least one on every jump... Usually I have one of those junk plastic two-finger jobs attached to the Velcro on my wrist altimeter, and a 'Jack the Ripper' in a sewn pocket mid thigh. I've used a knife twice... Once to cut some lines over on a square reserve... I cut 3-4 lines and got most of the spin stopped before smacking the ground 5 feet from the water at Elsinore. A bit scary...but! The first time was back in the mid 70's... I was 19 and jump mastering a student load out of a 182... I had a student in tow. He was slowing spinning at the end of the static line and was not showing any signs of consciousness. Back then, procedure was... If the student were conscious and aware, they were to put both hands on their helmet signaling to the jump master that they were 'ready'. The jump master was then supposed to cut the static line and the student would pull the handle on the front mounted reserve. But... If the student was 'out'... The jump master was supposed to use the carabiner we all carried on the main lift web, to attach himself to the static line... then slide down it to the student in peril. Grasping the students reserve handle you then cut the static line and deployed the incapacitated jumpers reserve. This "John Wayne" fantasy script was actually in The Jump Masters Handbook! Who ever wrote this wet dream had obviously never tried to do it because when I did... there were a few 'problems' involved. (Another 'No Shit...' story) First... The student is not only a heavy weight on the end of a rope, but there is air speed drag involved too... pulling that static line extremely tight across the floor and around the corner, down the fuselage. Rather difficult to 'clip' on it, I contortion myself half on the step, half in the plane, ...bloodying my fingers until finally getting attached. Then... I'm sliding ass over earlobes down the static line smashing face first into the still spinning student. Our bodies are 180 degrees out of alignment, both of us facing away from the relative wind, both slowly pin wheeling, winding the static line up 'rubber band' like. I can't reach his reserve handle in this position and looking down during the rotations, I can see that we're descending, no doubt from all the drag we both are now causing. Followed by... At this point self preservation mode kicks in... I figure he's a gonner 'cause we're out of options and using all the strength I have left to push myself away somewhat from him, trying to get a clear swipe at the yellow rope and be sure I don't get any of my harness with the blade, ...I feel this... KaaSnappp...and he's gone!I guess the combination of my pushing off in terror, and the ever tightening winding static line... broke what ever was holding the container closed. Finally... As I watched the sleeve come off his back, and lines unstow... I feel this "Boink" and get a sharp snap through my body. "Summptin' ain't right here..." The student's gone, O.D. Green T-10 catching air... and I'm sill swinging like Tarzan behind the 182! There is a bunch of white material slapping my boots... and this M-A1 Pilot Chute in my crotch! Since I had a blue "Hot Dog" Pilot Chute on my main, I figured somehow I'd popped and shredded my reserve! Time really does slow down in these situations and I was thinking remarkably clear considering... I figured at this point, one of two things could happen. I cut the static line and go for the main, hoping it clears the remnants of my 23 foot Tri-Con Reserve. ..which obviously I can't 'release' and, I'm getting too low to hack at with the hook knife, that I suddenly realized is still firmly clutched in my teeth... where I put it while back on the plane's step when this adventure started. Or.. I can land / crash with the plane, and hope getting dragged at high speed down the grass strip doesn't kill me. We're in a right hand descending turn right over the ' Peas' , low enough that I can see the guys all looking up and pointing. ..some moving vehicles away to give the pilot all the room possible to bring it in. "Screw IT!" And I cut the static line. ..dropping my knife and nailing the main rip cord with both hands. ..closing my eyes as I flipped / cart wheeled away. An instant later... I'm in the saddle, Rainbow 252 over my head. ..in perfect position for an accuracy run at the disc! Roughly 5 to 600 foot off the deck... Well, I made the pit, missed the disc. ..nothing left in my arms to sink or flare the canopy! After I stopped shaking, and we starting putting together what had transpired... I was getting chastised for not pulling my reserve since I was so low. ..I yelled back that I no longer HAVE a reserve, citing how it was damaged during the ordeal... The club's president then walks up to me... (still wearing my rig) ...and pulls my reserve handle. I stand there dumbfounded as it unloads off my back onto the ground!? WTF? What happened was... Someone... (no one would come forward) ...had mistakenly used white 'Tack-Chord' instead of 'Break-Chord' when setting up several of the rigs. There were 2-3 wraps on each of the 4 closing loops and 5-6 wraps on the 'Bridle / Static Line' connection. ..on 2 other rigs in the bin. Our wrestling match somehow blew the student container open, and as he fell away. ..the weakest point remaining was the sleeve retaining line, which tore apart allowing the T-10 to open clean, "Free Bag" style. ..leaving the sleeve and pilot chute still attached to the static line. The M-A1 bridle caught up against the carabiner clip on my harness, the white cotton sleeve flapping in trail. When I cut the line...the drag from the mess cleared everything away from me and I was simply in freefall rather low... ...with an undamaged and workable rig! ...And the REST on the story; The student was fine, and in fact most likely didn't know anything out of the ordinary had even happened. ..until he started picking up on the 'debrief' going on. The pilot thought I had become disabled. ..and was headed to the open / plowed field across the runway from the peas. He has going to cut the static line up on his end at around 500 feet. ..being a real considerate type, he didn't want the guys to have to walk to far to find my body! Shortly thereafter...we invested in these rather new fangled dealies...from Snyder. AOD's they were called back then. We all decided if anything like what happened to me occured again... We'd just cut the static line from the aircraft... A hope old Steve knew what he was doing with 'them Sentential things!" The following week someone found one of those orange rubber handled hook knives in the grass next to the target area. ..I told him it was mine, could I please have it back. He said there's no name on it, how do you know it's yours? How?... "Look at the fuckin' teeth marks in the handle!" ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chuteless 1 #192 December 5, 2003 I was always told that the knife was to slit your throat before you mushed into Mother earth. Gosh, ya learn somethin every day on DZ.com. Bill Cole Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 6 #193 December 5, 2003 QuoteI was always told that the knife was to slit your throat before you mushed into Mother earth. Gosh, ya learn somethin every day on DZ.com. Bill Cole LOL! Ya know, Bill...I'd always heard that too! A friend told me that's how to keep yourself off the "Incidents" page in "Parachutist" magazine... With a slit throat...you didn't die skydiving! Of course before long... "Parachutist" would be offering that; "Failure to properly sever the jugular in a timely manner, was the cause of this skydiver to be killed upon impact... Proper familiarization, training and utilization of approved safety equipment. i.e. a hook knife, would have prevented this skydiving fatality. It is up to each individual participant to take measures to maintain their EDGE!" ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites jerry81 10 #194 December 5, 2003 It's been said before, but Twardo, you should write a book! Actually, a lot of this thread could be compiled and printed out (dz.com Publications present; No Shit, There I Was... ) But tell me, do you have any of those nine lives left at all? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites airtwardo 6 #195 December 5, 2003 QuoteBut tell me, do you have any of those nine lives left at all? *** I wonder too sometimes! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites usedtajump 1 #196 December 5, 2003 "If the student was 'out'... The jump master was supposed to use the carabiner we all carried on the main lift web, to attach himself to the static line... then slide down it to the student in peril." ------------------------------------------------------------ What balls he has ladies and gentlemen. Giant, brass ones that you have to haul around in a wheel barrow I had heard of that rescue method but you are the only one I ever heard of who actually inplemented it. Yep, enormous, harry, pendulous.........The older I get the less I care who I piss off. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites cruzlite 0 #197 December 5, 2003 STOP! Your killin me .... the tears are rollin... oh sh#! I just p#@!%% my Pants Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites jonstark 8 #198 December 6, 2003 Back then, procedure was... If the student were conscious and aware, they were to put both hands on their helmet signaling to the jump master that they were 'ready'. The jump master was then supposed to cut ... -------------------------------------- The way I remember it and the way I trained my students was this; If you're concious then put your left hand on top of your head and the right on the reserve... If you're unconcious then put both hands on your head. jon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites airtwardo 6 #199 December 6, 2003 Quote"If the student was 'out'... The jump master was supposed to use the carabiner we all carried on the main lift web, to attach himself to the static line... then slide down it to the student in peril." ------------------------------------------------------------ What balls he has ladies and gentlemen. Giant, brass ones that you have to haul around in a wheel barrow I had heard of that rescue method but you are the only one I ever heard of who actually inplemented it. Yep, enormous, harry, pendulous......... *** Really Jer ?! I've spoken to a few instructors from that 'bygone' era... that utilized the procedure, with varying degrees of success and similar outcome. As far as your 'Big Harry Balls' comment... I respectfully submit to you that at the time, I was merely following the recommended procedure I had been trained in. Believing my training and actions would successfully bring the event a happy ending... ...after all if it was in the manual, it must have happened enough for it to be addressed. No... I think the real 'Grande Balls' award goes to the instructors that follow a flailing student below their recommended 'hard deck' in life saving attempts that go against recognized procedure. But then again... You may have something there! I finally figured out where I thought I might know you from, We do indeed have a few mutual acquaintances... From stories recalled, with consideration of your experiences; I certainly can understand your comment within the context you undoubtedly meant it. ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites usedtajump 1 #200 December 6, 2003 Take it as a compliment of the highest order. I'm sure that at the time, that proceedure seemed very practical and sane but, but .....but ..... well.... uh....God what were we thinking? Edited to ask "where and who?"The older I get the less I care who I piss off. 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jerry81 10 #194 December 5, 2003 It's been said before, but Twardo, you should write a book! Actually, a lot of this thread could be compiled and printed out (dz.com Publications present; No Shit, There I Was... ) But tell me, do you have any of those nine lives left at all? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 6 #195 December 5, 2003 QuoteBut tell me, do you have any of those nine lives left at all? *** I wonder too sometimes! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites usedtajump 1 #196 December 5, 2003 "If the student was 'out'... The jump master was supposed to use the carabiner we all carried on the main lift web, to attach himself to the static line... then slide down it to the student in peril." ------------------------------------------------------------ What balls he has ladies and gentlemen. Giant, brass ones that you have to haul around in a wheel barrow I had heard of that rescue method but you are the only one I ever heard of who actually inplemented it. Yep, enormous, harry, pendulous.........The older I get the less I care who I piss off. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites cruzlite 0 #197 December 5, 2003 STOP! Your killin me .... the tears are rollin... oh sh#! I just p#@!%% my Pants Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites jonstark 8 #198 December 6, 2003 Back then, procedure was... If the student were conscious and aware, they were to put both hands on their helmet signaling to the jump master that they were 'ready'. The jump master was then supposed to cut ... -------------------------------------- The way I remember it and the way I trained my students was this; If you're concious then put your left hand on top of your head and the right on the reserve... If you're unconcious then put both hands on your head. jon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites airtwardo 6 #199 December 6, 2003 Quote"If the student was 'out'... The jump master was supposed to use the carabiner we all carried on the main lift web, to attach himself to the static line... then slide down it to the student in peril." ------------------------------------------------------------ What balls he has ladies and gentlemen. Giant, brass ones that you have to haul around in a wheel barrow I had heard of that rescue method but you are the only one I ever heard of who actually inplemented it. Yep, enormous, harry, pendulous......... *** Really Jer ?! I've spoken to a few instructors from that 'bygone' era... that utilized the procedure, with varying degrees of success and similar outcome. As far as your 'Big Harry Balls' comment... I respectfully submit to you that at the time, I was merely following the recommended procedure I had been trained in. Believing my training and actions would successfully bring the event a happy ending... ...after all if it was in the manual, it must have happened enough for it to be addressed. No... I think the real 'Grande Balls' award goes to the instructors that follow a flailing student below their recommended 'hard deck' in life saving attempts that go against recognized procedure. But then again... You may have something there! I finally figured out where I thought I might know you from, We do indeed have a few mutual acquaintances... From stories recalled, with consideration of your experiences; I certainly can understand your comment within the context you undoubtedly meant it. ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites usedtajump 1 #200 December 6, 2003 Take it as a compliment of the highest order. I'm sure that at the time, that proceedure seemed very practical and sane but, but .....but ..... well.... uh....God what were we thinking? Edited to ask "where and who?"The older I get the less I care who I piss off. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Prev 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Next Page 8 of 61 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 1 1
usedtajump 1 #196 December 5, 2003 "If the student was 'out'... The jump master was supposed to use the carabiner we all carried on the main lift web, to attach himself to the static line... then slide down it to the student in peril." ------------------------------------------------------------ What balls he has ladies and gentlemen. Giant, brass ones that you have to haul around in a wheel barrow I had heard of that rescue method but you are the only one I ever heard of who actually inplemented it. Yep, enormous, harry, pendulous.........The older I get the less I care who I piss off. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cruzlite 0 #197 December 5, 2003 STOP! Your killin me .... the tears are rollin... oh sh#! I just p#@!%% my Pants Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jonstark 8 #198 December 6, 2003 Back then, procedure was... If the student were conscious and aware, they were to put both hands on their helmet signaling to the jump master that they were 'ready'. The jump master was then supposed to cut ... -------------------------------------- The way I remember it and the way I trained my students was this; If you're concious then put your left hand on top of your head and the right on the reserve... If you're unconcious then put both hands on your head. jon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 6 #199 December 6, 2003 Quote"If the student was 'out'... The jump master was supposed to use the carabiner we all carried on the main lift web, to attach himself to the static line... then slide down it to the student in peril." ------------------------------------------------------------ What balls he has ladies and gentlemen. Giant, brass ones that you have to haul around in a wheel barrow I had heard of that rescue method but you are the only one I ever heard of who actually inplemented it. Yep, enormous, harry, pendulous......... *** Really Jer ?! I've spoken to a few instructors from that 'bygone' era... that utilized the procedure, with varying degrees of success and similar outcome. As far as your 'Big Harry Balls' comment... I respectfully submit to you that at the time, I was merely following the recommended procedure I had been trained in. Believing my training and actions would successfully bring the event a happy ending... ...after all if it was in the manual, it must have happened enough for it to be addressed. No... I think the real 'Grande Balls' award goes to the instructors that follow a flailing student below their recommended 'hard deck' in life saving attempts that go against recognized procedure. But then again... You may have something there! I finally figured out where I thought I might know you from, We do indeed have a few mutual acquaintances... From stories recalled, with consideration of your experiences; I certainly can understand your comment within the context you undoubtedly meant it. ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
usedtajump 1 #200 December 6, 2003 Take it as a compliment of the highest order. I'm sure that at the time, that proceedure seemed very practical and sane but, but .....but ..... well.... uh....God what were we thinking? Edited to ask "where and who?"The older I get the less I care who I piss off. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
