I made my first jumps at a bandito drop zone and I was nearly killed. My friend insisted I go to Parachute Center in Lodi to see that this sport can be safe and fun. The year: 1981. My friend, Ron Ingram introduced me to Bill Dause and up I went in a Twin Beech. It was to be my first bomb out. He told me to sit in the door and face to the nose upon exit. Of course that blew me into a backward sommersault. I freaked out because I knew they were all watching me from the plane so I got stable real quick. It was an awesome experience and I landed right back at the hangar. That was my "initiation", and everyone welcomed me into the family. I have not jumped in 30 years. Life gets in the way, but I never lost my love for skydiving. This drop zone appears to have more services, but somethings are classic. Bill Dause, packing in the hangar, pitching a tent on the grass, getting 6 skydives a day if you want to. The biggest shock: Skydives are still 15 bucks!!! Bill was never about the money and you could always trust that he jumped in the planes he used so they were really well maintained and safe. Back then, he had a DC-3. So sad to hear it has gone to the big hangar in the sky. Over the years, I would ponder going back, wondering if I would still know anyone, would it be under different management, and can you ever go back and experience something without it being totally alien to you? Class and style never dies or gets old, and at Bill Dause's...he keeps doing what he does best. I still have two pre-paid tickets to altitude...I wonder if they will honor them for a real old friend and fan...
