howardwhite 2 #1 August 16, 2007 This one should be easy and Zing is ineligible for the big prize. HW Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
itllclear 1 #2 August 16, 2007 C-54 (DC-4)?"Harry, why did you land all the way out there? Nobody else landed out there." "Your statement answered your question." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JerryBaumchen 1,041 #3 August 16, 2007 Hi howard, Musta been about late '70's by the rigs. A wonderhog in the door; another one on the top of the stairs; the next guy down has a rig that I cannot determine, possibly Strong with how the main container is built; then a 'Jerry Bird' Velcro-rig for the lowest guy on the stairs; and then the guy on far left with a Security System. That's all I recognize; anyone else? Jerry Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zing 2 #5 August 16, 2007 Man, does that photo bring back some memories. That'd be me with the green Wonderhoh at the top of the stairs, making sure the 125 people on the load had tickets. There were always a dozen or more who tried, and often succeeded, in sneaking onto the big plane loads. According to the pilot/owner of the DC-4/C-54, we ran out of room for jumpers in the main cabin long before we got anywhere near the gross take-off weight of the airplane. For the history buffs, that airplane's military career included a couple years service after WWII as Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower's personal transport. Sadly, the airplane's final appearance as a jump ship ended its availability as a jump plane. Jim Blumenthal told me that on one of the loads he flew at the WFFC, a video guy took of his seat belt during the taxi to the runway and walked around shooting video of the takeoff. About a month after the convention ended, Blumenthal got a call from his insurance underwriter telling him that his coverage on the airplane was canceled and they would no longer insure him. When he asked why he was being canceled, the insurance company said they had a copy of the video that showed people moving around the cabin during takeoff, which violated the terms of the insurance when hauling jumpers. He was unable to obtain insurance on the C-54 antwhere else, and was forced to sell the airplane. He still has his C-123, but he swears no sport jumpers will ever get on one of his airplanes ever again.Zing Lurks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 34 #6 August 16, 2007 Quote He still has his C-123, but he swears no sport jumpers will ever get on one of his airplanes ever again. Ah, thanks for this. I was in The Pub last night chatting with Pixie about Skydive Arizona's fleet. I wondered whatever happened to that C-123... Now I know."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
3331 104 #7 August 16, 2007 That's Bobby Venezuela in the baggy blue suit with dark blue stripes. Haven't heard anything about Bobby V for years. I made many jumps from that plane. Connie Tiblts was the co pilot.I Jumped with the guys who invented Skydiving. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
howardwhite 2 #8 August 16, 2007 QuoteThat's Bobby Venezuela.... Or maybe Bobby Valenzuela... If you do a search here, you'll see him in reasonably recent threads about "all 50 states." HW Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jimp 1 #9 August 18, 2007 N51802 - now owned by Brooks Fuel Inc. of Fairbanks AK Connie was co-pilot again at the 2000 WFFC jimp Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
howardwhite 2 #10 August 19, 2007 QuoteN51802 - now owned by Brooks Fuel Inc. of Fairbanks AK. Yup. N-number clearly visible (at least in my original) in this picture. HW Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
howardwhite 2 #11 November 3, 2007 And another picture -- perhaps from the same jump. Jumper is identified as Scott Brady of Littleton, CO and picture by Alf Humphries. It was published in the March, 1979, Parachutist, accompanying an article written by some local type.HW Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grimmie 173 #12 November 3, 2007 I did a demo with Bobby V. in Hermosillo Mexico about 10 years ago. I saw him in Eloy about 8 years ago, he used to walk up from Marana, and sleep on the lawn in front of the Bent prop. What a character! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites