propblast

Yeah, man I made one myself. You see, a bar full of Air Force drunks started picking on two ROKs....I jumped under the table to avoid getting hit by the flying bodies. Table got crushed but me and my buddy were fine. "How did you get wounded in the war grandpa?" DEAD ANTS! Airtwardo, I can never quiet tell how serious you are with this thread

Yep Familiar with the FS series as well. Should have added that above. Thanks Propblast

Jo, I doubt very much if the Smoke Jumpers needed a parachute that could handle 400 pounds. Remember that Smoke Jumpers were for jumping into remote areas with minimal equipment in order to fight the fire until more personnel could arrive by land. So Smoke Jumpers at the start of a fire would basically be few in numbers and using only tools that they could carry and use by hand. Of course, those tools were dropped in by small parachutes but they sure didn't weigh 400 pounds. Robert99 Robert, I do not take sides in this thread nor do I think Cooper was a smokejumper. The skills sets need are not the same (Having said that I will now be proven wrong in the future

Robert, You would be incorrect on the smokejumper equipment drop. They absolutely dropped/drop cargo. A easy historical example for you to see this would be the Mann Gulch Fire Tragedy. Propblast

I do remember reading this tractor story Georger but I have no way of knowing if it is true or accurate. The problem with researching "facts" on this forum is that it isn't a peer reviewed publication. As BK denmonstrates, anyone can get published. Any wild theory can get publsihed as alleged fact. If the tractor account is accurate I'd sure like to know what remained unexcavated. I cant imagine that the FBI or the US military wouldnt have wanted to see if human remains were there. The US military goes to GREAT lengths to investigate freshly discovered old crash sites to see if human remains can be found and identified. What lies beneath? To me that's an interesting question. Maybe Bruce will find out someday. 377 Yep, This is something Im interested in. Cooper or not. Propblast

Actually I do. However I would need to have a hands on inspection of the chute as well. Your post is rather typical of what I am talking about. Propblast

I remember fondly the GBSPC in 2001. I hate i cant find my card anymore. Propblast

This thread kills me. No wonder this is still a mystery... Propblast

As an aside, is the Protrack still bring sold and serviced? Propblast

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airborne_forces "In February 1967 Operation Junction City was launched, it would be the largest operation the Coalition Force would assemble. During this operation, 845 members of the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry (Airborne), the 319th Artillery (Airborne), and elements of H&H company of the 173rd Airborne Brigade made the only combat jump in Vietnam". IF he made THAT jump he's be what...66-67 years old now? He probably told the next guy through the line he was a Navy SEAL in Granada! Junction City wasn't the only combat drop. The Army did at least 15 other static line jumps, the Marines did 3 and there where at least 5 HALO drops...at least that's what I hear on the Interweb. The story is still really a stretch as most know for sure. Combat jumps? really??? Where & When? BTW, I just noticed happy 12 anniversary to me....although I am sure I was on this site as early as 1999. Propblast

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airborne_forces "In February 1967 Operation Junction City was launched, it would be the largest operation the Coalition Force would assemble. During this operation, 845 members of the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry (Airborne), the 319th Artillery (Airborne), and elements of H&H company of the 173rd Airborne Brigade made the only combat jump in Vietnam". IF he made THAT jump he's be what...66-67 years old now? He probably told the next guy through the line he was a Navy SEAL in Granada! Junction City wasn't the only combat drop. The Army did at least 15 other static line jumps, the Marines did 3 and there where at least 5 HALO drops...at least that's what I hear on the Interweb. The story is still really a stretch as most know for sure. Propblast

No..the raiders on operation Ivory Coast did not parachute in. Frankly I have a hard time believing that story. Propblast

Well, HAVE you viewed photos of the rigs Smoke Jumpers Used. Remember they jumped with LOTS of heavy equipment. Equipment that was NOT compact and they had to carry supplies and one individual jumped with the "radio" how they communicated on the ground. In Tall Timbers - a book about early smokejumping - is a description of all of this and maybe a picture. There was another book also that showed pictures - Young Men and Fires. They had to get pics and shovels on the ground with them. They talked about the weight and the disturbution. NOT at all like it would be done today. They had a release so they could release the load to hit the ground just before the jumper did. This was in the late 40's. No light weight stuff like they have today. The radio was large and awkward - just trying to remember all of the things I read and perhaps some of you better look back and ask yourself WHY the FBI first started with the Smokejumper looking for Cooper in 1971. Perhaps the way Cooper tied the money to himself will provide an answer to that for some of you newer jumpers. FIND old ways they carried equipment to the ground and you will know how Cooper did it. I haven't just viewed it. I have jumped it. Many many times. Propblast

That lowering line ( like all the other photos shown on here tonight) is attached to Drings sewn into the parachute harness. It can also occasionally be attached to a triangle link. Just FYI that "line" is folded, velocroed, and rubber banded to ensure it doesn't flap around and interfere with deployment. How one would do that with suspension lines, I don't know. Then we have the attaching and releasing problem. Amongst other problems. Back to the shadows I go... Propblast

I know nothing about that panel. But, I have jumped with many a load and can tell you that lowering line is made of much wider ( 1/2 inch tubular nylon webbing) material than the suspension lines Cooper used. Additionally, that harness has a single point release which involves metal releases, buckles and friction adapters. ( Older harness involved two releases) It would have been a helluva rig job to do that with suspension lines and expect it to stay attached. Propblast

I remember the old dz.com, I literally spent nights on this site. Propblast

That's a awesome photo!!! Propblast

Agreed. Propblast

You do not want to release a capwell before hitting the water. That's bad stuff. Loosen reserve and rotate. Seat well in the saddle but, don't release a capwell prior to hitting the water. It's very hard to judge distances above the water and people get hurt trying this. Off my soapbox. Propblast

Excellent link. Thank you. Propblast

I think I'd like a copy. Propblast

No date. Just Altimaster II printed on the back. Propblast

Yeah this Alti is not thick like a Alti 1 or console altimeter. Propblast

Well I had that much figured out but, I appreciate it.

Now with picture http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa460/_Erik_1/FFAC3672-AFC4-448D-8C45-FEBA2B6D7CED-723-000000DB23999882.jpg