jacketsdb23 49 #1 December 31, 2009 So I've attached a picture of me from my 3rd or 4th grade science project. It was on Skydiving. Notice the dope drawings I made with stock PD colors :) I remember my dad giving me an older rig to bring in for the project but I don't remember who made it. Any guesses? I realize its not the best picture. This would have been the late 80's. Abut 20 years ago.Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen God is Good Beer is Great Swoopers are crazy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #2 December 31, 2009 Hard to tell from that view, maybe a Wonderhog? ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #3 December 31, 2009 QuoteHard to tell from that view, maybe a Wonderhog? It definitely looks old. since its in black and white..... certainly before the advent of COLOR Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stratostar 5 #4 December 31, 2009 If it's not a wonderhog, it could be a RTS. The yoke is what makes me think RTS or hog. Very have to tell with out seeing the back side.you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 613 #5 December 31, 2009 That could be a Wonderhog or clone from any of a dozen manufacturers. The hardware is pre 1981. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lekstrom10k 0 #6 December 31, 2009 I would go wonder-hog. It has the full round harness ring making it a pre 81. Some of the early ones had the blast handles. I had a 77 or 78 with R-3s, and belly band piolt chute, converted to BOC for my Eddy Mosher "Swing -Wing".Does the pilot chute bridle fold to become the closing pin for a shock cord loop? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jacketsdb23 49 #7 December 31, 2009 Well I've confirmed its a Wonderhog - about 1980. It has a 5 cell Unit in it and a 26' Lopo reserve. People used to jump that crap? I kid! It was funny I had to call my dad up two years ago and tell him that at 300 jumps (at the time) that I had more ram-air parachute malfunctions then he did when my x-fire 2 spun up and I had my first reserve ride. He says, "you cut away line twists? Pussy" He would certainly jump that Unit over my X-fire anyday. He thinks I'm nuts. In his 180 skydives with a "round" main he had a maywest and baglock malfunction. The remaining 700 skydives with the UNIT, PD210 and Challenger 220 ram air mains he never had a reserve ride. Love the history of this sport and it will always continue to impress me the way the sport has advanced. Big thanks to all those who made what we have now possible. Now if we could just learn how land these little napkins without hurting others or ourselves. Marcel EDIT: This post just made me wonder if we are too nonchalant about reserve rides these days. oh a different subject for a different time I guess. Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen God is Good Beer is Great Swoopers are crazy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JerryBaumchen 1,304 #8 December 31, 2009 Hi jacket, Quote5 cell Unit You will not see the day when I say that I have seen everything. But, I have never heard of a Unit being a 5-cell. Would you mind taking a 2nd look and letting us know what you find? JerryBaumchen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jacketsdb23 49 #9 December 31, 2009 Yes - i missed that. It was a 7-cell. He never jumped a 5-Cell. Although he had a swift reserve at one point. It was also a PD218 he had. Not a 210. Happy New Year!Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen God is Good Beer is Great Swoopers are crazy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zoobrothertom 5 #10 January 1, 2010 QuoteIf it's not a wonderhog, it could be a RTS. The yoke is what makes me think RTS or hog. Very have to tell with out seeing the back side. Wasn't the original RTS made with the handles reversed? Reserve handle on the right and cutaway on the left. I remember borrowing one and being very careful! :)____________________________________ I'm back in the USA!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JerryBaumchen 1,304 #11 January 1, 2010 Hi zoo, I do not know if they made them that way but I have heard that Silly was a very strong advocate of them being that way. So am I. JerryBaumchen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jimmytavino 16 #12 January 1, 2010 ...yes i DO believe the handles WERE reversed.. for those who were NOT around, then.. RTS stands for Rapid Transit System. made by Mike "silly" Ceresoli (sp) . jmy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Niki1 1 #13 January 1, 2010 Quote Hi zoo, I do not know if they made them that way but I have heard that Silly was a very strong advocate of them being that way. So am I. JerryBaumchen The idea that the most important handle be on the dominant hand side makes a lot of sence EXCEPT that emergency ripcords have been on the left side since Christ was a corpral. A good idea about 75 years too late. I used to advocate (facetiously) that all the manufacturers put their handles in different places in order to get Darwin back into the sport. Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossilbe before they were done. Louis D Brandeis Where are we going and why are we in this basket? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dudeman17 313 #14 January 2, 2010 If you've confirmed from your dad that it was indeed a Wonderhog, ok, but it sure looks like a Handbury rig to me. I've still got one in my closet somewhere, and the yoke design, the way the cutaway handle is longer and the corners more squared off, the way the 3-rings attach, the two tack points of the reserve ripcord housing by the three ring, and a few other points sure make it look like one of Jim's rigs to me. Oh well, could be wrong... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pchapman 278 #15 January 2, 2010 QuoteIf you've confirmed from your dad that it was indeed a Wonderhog, ok, but it sure looks like a Handbury rig to me. You've got a point. In some ways it is like a Handbury in my basement, but I can't tell how it might resemble a Wonderhog. The rig in the photo: - Looks kind of like it has that smooth, thickly padded backpad of a Handbury - It almost looks like there's a bellyband, as on some Handburys, sitting across the chair, but I can't tell. - The reserve housing attachments are like a Handbury. - The thin white strip at the left would be the side of the rig, barely visible. It seems rather wavy, which could be the plastic reinforced side that existed for a while on Handburys. However, the chest strap buckle is on the opposite side to the Handbury I have. Someone who is familiar with Wonderhogs may be able to say whether it looks more like one or not. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RogerRamjet 0 #16 January 2, 2010 QuoteQuoteIf you've confirmed from your dad that it was indeed a Wonderhog, ok, but it sure looks like a Handbury rig to me. You've got a point. In some ways it is like a Handbury in my basement, but I can't tell how it might resemble a Wonderhog. The rig in the photo: - Looks kind of like it has that smooth, thickly padded backpad of a Handbury - It almost looks like there's a bellyband, as on some Handburys, sitting across the chair, but I can't tell. - The reserve housing attachments are like a Handbury. - The thin white strip at the left would be the side of the rig, barely visible. It seems rather wavy, which could be the plastic reinforced side that existed for a while on Handburys. However, the chest strap buckle is on the opposite side to the Handbury I have. Someone who is familiar with Wonderhogs may be able to say whether it looks more like one or not. Ok, I left Booth's shop just before the 3-Rings went into production, but this looks like a Wonderhog to me. The yoke is exactly what we made, the chest strap is the same. I can't speak to the reserve tackings since on the capewell equiped rigs, the housing ended above the chest strap (See attached photo). The backpad is consistent with the original Wonderhog also. I don't think Silly reads this forum, but he was still working for Booth when this type of rig hit the market, so he could probably identify it one way or the other (as could Booth who does log in here). http://www.dropzone.com/photos/Detailed/Personal/Left_to_right_Roger_Clark_-_Traci_Trimble_-_Greg_Baker_110879.html ----------------------- Roger "Ramjet" Clark FB# 271, SCR 3245, SCS 1519 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DavidB 0 #17 January 2, 2010 From the "for what it's worth" file: The reserve handle pouch on my Handbury is in-line with the chest strap. Looks like that handle pouch is below the strap. Count me as another vote for Wonderhog.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
skypuppy 1 #18 January 2, 2010 Just about any rig in production at that time had a belly band, I would think.... Sure looks like a wonderhog to me....If some old guy can do it then obviously it can't be very extreme. Otherwise he'd already be dead. Bruce McConkey 'I thought we were gonna die, and I couldn't think of anyone Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterrigger1 2 #19 January 2, 2010 Wonderhog..... BS, MELSkyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tonybrogdon 0 #20 January 2, 2010 GreenStar Express. I had oneTony Brogdon D-12855 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #21 January 4, 2010 Quote GreenStar Express. I had one ...and you're still alive?! Never did any stitch pulling I gather, huh Tony?? ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tonybrogdon 0 #22 January 12, 2010 Hi Jim I bought from Charlie Brown before he joined the Army Golden Knights back in Petersburg, Virgina. It had a PCmain packed in a bag instead of a sleeve besides. I fortunately never tested the reserve. TonyTony Brogdon D-12855 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites