Gargano Spirit

[conwayte 0]

Hi,
Back in the 80's I put several hundred jumps on a Spirit canopy. If I recall correctly, it was made in 1981 by Gargano. I don't believe Gargano produced these canopies for too long a period before selling to Strong. Can anyone tell me if my memory is correct and possibly provide any more specific info on this little slice of parachute history?
Thanks,
Tim

[JerryBaumchen 1,046]

Hi Tim,

That is exactly how I remember things proceeding.

Now, of course, that means my memory is working properly.

JerryBaumchen

[aj4218 0]

I jumped a Spirit from 1981 to 1982 having met Bill at Perris in Nov 1980 and been really impressed by him. I believe the first 20 or so Spirits were actually just re-badged Comets until the Spirit came into its own in early 1981. This shot was at Netheravon UK on July 10th 1982 and was just a few hours after I got my BASE number on it with an 'E' on the UK south coast. Handy that the Spirit came with a 42" pilot chute!

Al

[conwayte 0]

Thanks Jerry. I have a vague memory of being able to remember more in the past than I do now.

[conwayte 0]

Hi Al,
That sounds right about the re-badged Comets. I remember a couple guys using them as BASE canopies also. My pics aren't as clear but here's a couple from a demo in the mid-80's.
Tim

[FUDZC 0]

Quote

Attachments: img060.jpg (538 KB)

Whoa! Looks like a 14-man sleeping bag!

- Fud

[sundevil777 93]

Quote

Whoa! Looks like a 14-man sleeping bag!

Yeah, they had a very thick leading edge!

Mine was a bounce and blend pattern of browns/tans.

The Spirit was about 220, I think the Wizard was the bigger version, was the Merlin the smaller size, or was that a different mfg?

People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

[conwayte 0]

I think the Merlin may have been a Pioneer canopy? Though the name does sound like it would fit with others in the product line: Hobbit and Wizard. Where's an old Paragear catalog when you need one?

[aj4218 0]

Pioneer made the Merlin and I think it was 200 sq. ft. It was jumped for years by my old friend Mike McCarthy who put thousands of CRW jumps on it and most famously used it for his Eiffel Tower jump in 1984. He never replaced the lines, hence the shape of the canopy and was still jumping it in 1985!

Al

[conwayte 0]

Very cool pictures! Was the "Amanda" mentioned in the article Amanda Tucker?

[aj4218 0]

Yes it was, and she exited first!

Al

[riggerrob 558]

Hobbit, Spirit and Wizard were built by Bill Gargano. 176, 220 and 270 square feet respectively ... IIRC

Later Bill licensed those patterns to Parachute Australia.

[kgrebb 0]

I got my 228 spirit from Dick Giarrusso in 1981. it had a built in rite turn, but I jumped it for years even some objects. It never let me down

Kelly

[Kahuna 0]

My first square was a Spirit... bought it from a fellow jumper in bounce and blend colors in 83-84.
My buddy Glen-Bob had a blue Comet. We both did the Comet "roll the nose to the bridal" pack job for hundreds of jumps. When we went to other dropzones and people saw us pack... they would walk by "Your all going to die!" Lol