darkwing

I used to own a Top Secret. The photos confuse me though. I don't recall they had a last hope rope on them or Martin Baker handles (which I still like more than most people). Either the handle shown isn't martin baker anyway, or my brains are scrambled ( which is likely). -- Jeff My Skydiving History

"Mark the Narc" "Crazy Ed" (there are many Crazy Ed's in the world. "Ganja" (because his last name was Weed) "Maplehart," or "Dougie Maplehart" (neither was related to his real name) "Wragg" because when your last name is "Wragg" you have an automatic skydiving nickname "Pilot Error" for one of our pilots Four of the six above are dead. Maybe we should avoid nicknames. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

About 10 years ago I tracked through a dispersed flock of white birds of some sort at about 4500 feet. Didn't hit one. Another time a teammate during a 4-way competition landed with some bird poop on the front of his jumpsuit. Never saw the bird. I imagine the bird had an emergency "evacuation" when my 300 pound teammate approached from above in free fall. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

Pretty much any whacky thing you can imagine has been done. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

This is contrary to my memory. I recall many years ago, before Snyder died, that it was widely acknowledged that Yarbenet invented the slider and I don't recall Steve Snyder disagreeing. I freely admit my memories may be flawed. Even if you are saying Snyder adapted it from rounds to squares that is not my recollection. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

I will add myself to the short list. I built 5, 6, 7, and 8 cell canopies. I was quite pleased with the 6 and 8 cell ones. Many jumps on both. Won the 1978 nationals 4-way jumping a 6 cell. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

talk is one thing, data is another. Can we see drag versus speed graphs for this versus a same diameter traditional "two circle" pilot chute?

I remember in the dim past that there was a research-y article or two regarding fear/anxiety for skydiving in some psychology journal. I think. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

At the very considerable risk of disagreeing with Bill Booth, I will say that I have a clear memory of lengthy one-on-one discussions with Elek Puskas, and of seeing video showing deployment of a reserve with an intentionally horseshoed bridle. I recall very specific discussions with Elek about their intentional design for that specific issue. It was also central to ParaFlite's design of their rig, the Swift, with a very open reserve container system, without the modern container design "feature" that holds on to the reserve bag even when the container is open. To be clear, I am not saying that Bill Booth is mistaken, but I am saying that ParaFlite believed differently. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

I started in 1973, and made 500 jumps on round canopies. Many more jumps since. Old age sucks. Old age where you have no pleasures to look back on sucks more. Pretty much impossible to say if your skydiving is a causal factor in your current physical condition. Even if I was convinced that my aches and pains or worse were caused by skydiving, I'm pretty sure I'd say it was worth it. Your real question could only be answered by an epidemiological study, which isn't going to happen, and it wouldn't address it for your particular case anyway. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

Conventional wisdom, which I believe to be correct, says that landing will be better if you release the lines. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

This is a good discussion to have with your instructional staff. It is more complicated than you think. Having a solid idea of your main vs. reserve altitude is a good one. Many people would say 1500 feet, BUT... In many places I've jumped, my altimeter saying I was at 1500 ft, was misleading. Think about where the ground is. I have often been at "1500" feet but really been only 500 feet above the ground, because the ground we are flying over is much higher than the ground we took off from. Another issue is the well known one of making the intellectual decision ahead of time that you will use your reserve, but doing the emergency action of activating your main, because that is what you virtually always do. This is a well know phenomenon. Continue discussing... -- Jeff My Skydiving History

I don't smoke. Smoking is stupid. I don't jump without an AAD I don't jump without a helmet I don't jump without a reserve. I wouldn't ride a motorcycle without a helmet. BUT... I view it as societally and philosophically dangerous to tell adults too much about what they can and cannot do. I think adulthood is largely a license to be stupid. So go ahead and do what you want. I do view it as ok if the DZO requires some things. That is the DZO's prerogative. I'm one of the old guys who tells the young guys I think they are about to be stupid. Then they do what they want. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

Did the military ever use sleeves on them? I'm voting with Jerry that you just lay it out, and make one. Easier and faster than copying one that was probably made the same way by someone with less skill than you have anyway. I'll volunteer someone to test jump it for you. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

Ottley was a babe magnet. When I introduced my (then) wife to him, she keenly observed "nice testicle Ottley" as his was peaking out from his shorts. This was in Tahlequah. He was only slightly mortified. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

To make the most out of your first jump, make a second one. Don't think too far ahead. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

Additionally-- In 50 years you will wish you had written more, gotten more signatures, and logged every single jump. Write down tail numbers of the airplanes. It is fun to look them up on the net and see where they are now. Write down peripheral things about the jump, and the day, and the trip itself. You cannot write too much, and you will thank yourself for it, eventually. Write about the food, the bad exits, the noise, cold airplanes, the nice things that happened, and the scary things. Write about climbing out the door and realizing the seat belt was still connected to your leg strap. Write about taking out the formation. Write about falling in love with people, places, and things to do. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

For some years in Idaho during the 1970s it was traditional for the Boise jumpers to go to Sun Valley/Hailey/Ketchum Idaho and jump over New Years. We had many, many adventures these times. This story is just one. Some years we jumped into a big field in front of a Holiday Inn. One New Year's day the manager asked if someone would jump into the swimming pool. We sort of figured we owed it to them, so I volunteered. It was 1 January, 1975. The hotel was a five-story box, and the pool was right next to the building, surrounded by a small concrete apron and cyclone fence. The ground temperature was 15 degrees. Canopy: ParaCommander Mk 1, short lined 3 feet. I had 470 jumps, so I was a BIG GUN. I jumped from about 4500 ft. Landed in the middle of the deep end, and didn't kill myself. Photos show approach and just after splashdown. Oh, and one of the enticements was a free bottle of any liquor they had. The big problem is I don't drink, not even then. The biggest mouth in my group said "Lemon Hart" which is a 151 proof rum of ill repute. So that is what I got. Drove home with my soaked rig freezing in the back of the pickup truck. The rig, not me. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

I'm a physicist. This is nonsense. I'll send the calculations to anyone who wants them. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

Because it is glorious. That is the answer to give for many endeavors. I feel a little sorry for people who never find a pursuit they feel that way about. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

At least in the old days, it was common, as much for shock and humor value as anything. For me at least, I'd still rather kiss a woman in free fall than a man. Kissing a new pilot during exit was always fun too. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

Never heard of it up in the northwest where I jumped for some years. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

Close to the ground is a very risky place to do stall tests on experimental canopies. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

50 year pack job -- In either 1996 or 97 at Boise someone found an emergency pack that was sealed since 1946. The put it on a test drop dummy with a static line on the ripcord and threw it out. Worked fine. -- Jeff My Skydiving History

I started jumping forty years ago. I often wrote more than most other jumpers, but I wish I had written down much more. I can guarantee that in 40-50 years you will love a trip down memory lane. I wish I had recorded the tail numbers (N numbers in the USA) of every plane I jumped from. It is really interesting to see what has become of them. I wish I had written down more names, to reconnect with people. I wish I had written more about the road trips and boogies. I have logged every one of my 2410 jumps. It is hard to predict what mundane thing will later become important to you. I guess I can see how a modern "working" jumper, such as a tandem instructor, might have trouble getting motivated to log significant info. But I still bet most will wish they had. Some student will be famous, or infamous, some day. -- Jeff My Skydiving History