DavidB 0 #26 April 18, 2008 Quote Quote Joey D showed me that pic back in the later 80's. wall) on 9/11. Didn't get back on site for almost a month, & it sure looked strange not seeing the towers. ----------------------------------------------- Would that have been Joey D. at Lakewood, NJ? Yep, that's the one! He & 2 or 3 others bought the skydiving operation at Lakewood in 83 or 84 & it folded after the 85 season, Thanksgiving weekend. I happened to be on the last legal load (formation flight with both 182's & the Cherokee 6, 14-way attempt), the weekend before T-giving (though there were a few bandit jumps into the bowl later). Haven't seen Joey since the early 90's.When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
McGonigal 0 #27 April 18, 2008 Im sorry, I thought you said he had a hand held pilot chute in his hand,he used a conventional ripcord (do you remember what that was???) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 34 #28 April 18, 2008 No I just didn't get the "readers digest as a kicker plate" reference. And yes, I trained on a rig with the spring loaded pilot chute and conventional rip cord."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
NickDG 23 #29 April 18, 2008 We used to use plastic coffee can lids, much lighter than a Reader's Digest . . . NickD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kimemerson 7 #30 April 18, 2008 I believe you are correct about the ESB as opposed to WTC. I knew Mike back in '90 or '91 and I heard a lot of his tales, which are well worth the listen, but I just didn't remember which NYC landmark he'd jumped. I believe he's also done the Eiffel Tower. Mike talked about how after doing the ESB he heard from Phillipe Pettit (?) and that they both had instant celebrity status in New York: Talk shows, free dining & hotel, they couldn't pay for anything. Any idea where Mike is and what he's up to these days? Also, I didn't know Sergio didn't jump after he snapped that famous shot. Thanks for the clarification. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NickDG 23 #31 April 18, 2008 Mike also did the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. I have a hysterical video somewhere of it. The hysterical part is Mike running after the jump with some Italian old lady dressed in black chasing him off. She actually bopped him with her cain a few times . . . Below is Nigel Slee's UK BASE magazine called "JUMP" with Mike on the cover from October of 1989. NickD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 34 #32 April 18, 2008 Quote Mike also did the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. I have a hysterical video somewhere of it. The hysterical part is Mike running after the jump with some Italian old lady dressed in black chasing him off. She actually bopped him with her cain a few times . . . Man if you can find that video, post it! We want to see that! "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
markd_nscr986 0 #33 April 18, 2008 I think you're talking about some of these guys. Marc SCR 6046 SCS 3004 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kimemerson 7 #34 April 19, 2008 Yeah, I'd like to see that video as well. Mike is a real character. That old Italian lady scenario just fits his general m.o. I'd love to catch up with him again someday. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guru312 0 #35 April 19, 2008 Quote Mike also did the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. NickD I had a student and very good friend, Harvey Soss--Herd member extraordinaire!-- who jumped the Eiffel Tower and a number of other places, I seem to remember him saying he did the Leaning Tower but I'm not sure. There can't be too many people to jump either one of those structures. I know that he jumped Angel Falls because he gave me a picture that you can see here: http://www.aicommand.com/SossAtAngelFalls.htm Soss died while riding his Harley after being hit by a drunk driver. As far as I know, he never got hurt BASE or skydiving. I looked at your fatality list, and it got me to thinking: Is the fatality rate from skydiving and BASE jumping greater than the fatality rate of auto/cycle accidents for those people who BASE/skydive? I bet driving is statistically more "dangerous."Guru312 I am not DB Cooper Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jonstark 8 #36 April 19, 2008 Quote I had a student and very good friend, Harvey Soss--Herd member extraordinaire!-- Jesus Christ! What a claim to fame!!! Soss was quintessential Herd no doubt. Miss him. jon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vanair 0 #37 April 20, 2008 I van rafuse jumped the trade center 9/13/80. I also jumped the verrazano bridge on three seperate occasions. I cut the lock off the door and climbed to the top inside the tower nearest to staten island. Two out of the three I was able to glide to shore, the third I went for a short swim after opening facing the tower and hitting it before being able to turn away. I sold the story and pictures to the star after the first time. John carter,(not sure of the spelling) asked me all about the details of the top of the bridge. He later jumped from a chopper landed on top then used his reserve to jump off. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BETO74 0 #38 May 2, 2008 It will be a great ideato get a compilation of those jumps on DVD. sounds pretty coolhttp://web.mac.com/ac057a/iWeb/AC057A/H0M3.html Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fledgling 0 #39 May 3, 2008 There was an Aussie in the early 80's by the name of Mike who skydived onto the top of Center Point Tower in Sydney. He then cut away his main and BASE jumped his reserve off of it. They have the footage of it on one of the ABA videos. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jaymundo 0 #40 May 10, 2008 There was an article in TNT ( Truth,News,Trends) the month of the WTC jump.Pretty cool.....Wish I still had those rags. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aj4218 0 #41 May 10, 2008 I've been in touch with Mike in the last few years. He lives in Western USA and describes himself as an 'urban monk'! I have an email address for him if you want it - PM me. He also did the very first modern UK BASE jump in October 1981- a 1,013' 'A', at night. Its a repost, but attached are photos and article of Mike & Alasdairs ESB jump and Mike and Amanda's ET jump. Mike was also planning a WTC jump in August of 1001 ... Al Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aj4218 0 #42 May 10, 2008 Make that August 2001 Al Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites