RogerRamjet

That's a great shot! And as can be seen, 500lbs of landing gear is 6 feet aft of where it would be if lowered. The best lodestar pilot I ever flew with, Bill Buchmann, told me that it is imperative to have the gear down on jump run for this reason. ----------------------- Roger "Ramjet" Clark FB# 271, SCR 3245, SCS 1519

Ever get one of Warren's cards? I too jumped at the Sod Farm quite a bit. Ski and Donna's last name is spelled: Chmielewski Pat, great album so far! Keep em coming... ----------------------- Roger "Ramjet" Clark FB# 271, SCR 3245, SCS 1519

For more info on Jim's work, see his website at:http://www.jimhooper.co.uk/ ----------------------- Roger "Ramjet" Clark FB# 271, SCR 3245, SCS 1519

I'd say the retention rate at Z-Hills was similar. I believe Hooper told me when I started training static line students that only 1 in a 100 would complete the 5 jump SL course and do a freefall. Of those, only 1 in a 100 would complete 100 or more jumps. I expect the same math worked for 1000 or more jumps... ----------------------- Roger "Ramjet" Clark FB# 271, SCR 3245, SCS 1519

Super! ----------------------- Roger "Ramjet" Clark FB# 271, SCR 3245, SCS 1519

I agree with you. The formations like the diamond and papillon were rare at the time compared to large round attempts. Rounds are probably harder to build (or at least hold together) than other types of formations. I do have a photo of the night 21. If you have access to facebook, here is the link http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1448622141917&set=a.1448620141867.2063633.1424116782&type=3&theater ----------------------- Roger "Ramjet" Clark FB# 271, SCR 3245, SCS 1519

Hmmm, I was in the first 16 man diamond and the first 20 man papallion in 1974. You sure things weren't already changing when 1977/78 came around? I was also in a 21 man night round in 1975, I had no idea the largest night round was/is only 22. ----------------------- Roger "Ramjet" Clark FB# 271, SCR 3245, SCS 1519

Does it mean something to you (IE: Is it you or someone you know)? I do the database admin stuff for Bill and if something is missing or messed up, I'm sure I can get it straight for you. ----------------------- Roger "Ramjet" Clark FB# 271, SCR 3245, SCS 1519

I was on vacation (up from Z-Hills) in 1974 jumping at Downsville MD. I went down to Woodbine on 6/9/1974 and participated in the first 8 man ever made there. Great people and great party that night. Maybe you checked me out when I arrived? I had a black pop-top reserve with a XX (twenty man) patch on the pilot-chute cap. When whoever it was turned the reserve over after checking the packing card, they saw the patch and after some conversation asked me if I'd organize the 8 man attempt. I looked at the plan and said, looks well organized already, but I'd love to go on the jump and went 8th which I believe was last out of a 206 (a 182 had the base 4). Anyway, I used that jump to apply for my SCS and considered the day the highlight of my trip

The ring would have been on his other hand (not shown) ----------------------- Roger "Ramjet" Clark FB# 271, SCR 3245, SCS 1519

From the report: The landing gear struts and actuating linkages had separated from the wing. One 1acdir.g gear actuator was found with the actuating rod in the extended position and bent at the housing. This indicates that the gear was in the extended position at impact. Doesn't mean it was extended on jump run, but earlier in the report, another of the DZ pilots had reported gear down and flaps at approach settings to be normal for jump run. One of the best Lodestar pilots I've ever known (Bill Buchmann) told me not having the gear down on jump run for this airplane was foolish at best since it places 500lbs of landing gear approx 6 feet further aft than if extended. ----------------------- Roger "Ramjet" Clark FB# 271, SCR 3245, SCS 1519

I was young (20) and not Worldly by any definition when I started working for Jeff Searles as the DZ rigger in 73. When the Turkey meet rolled around I had my education "enhanced" a bit by the European visitors. I was walking out to our van to get something when I saw a very pretty German girl strip completely naked to change into another set of clothes right next to her car. I knew right then that I had to visit Europe at some point ----------------------- Roger "Ramjet" Clark FB# 271, SCR 3245, SCS 1519

Had to fix that one sentence above. By 73/74, Z-Hills was known around the world. We had skydivers coming there from all over the world; some for weeks at a time just to jump at our famous DZ. ----------------------- Roger "Ramjet" Clark FB# 271, SCR 3245, SCS 1519

I saw both Paul and Jerry Friday at Z-Hills. Both seem to be doing great (though Jerry's Studebaker seems to be ailing a bit). Saw many other skydivers from 3 decades back as well

+1 I went up for Friday and saw a number of skydivers I haven't seen in 3 decades. ----------------------- Roger "Ramjet" Clark FB# 271, SCR 3245, SCS 1519

Where are you located? Just dropped in on the 50th Turkey Meet Z-Hills reunion Friday. Saw a number of skydivers I hadn't seen in 3 decades! Great to hear from you! ----------------------- Roger "Ramjet" Clark FB# 271, SCR 3245, SCS 1519

Yes, the last 3 or 4 days of the event. I wonder if we need T-Shirts with our names and the years we jumped there so we can find each other...? ----------------------- Roger "Ramjet" Clark FB# 271, SCR 3245, SCS 1519

Yes. I plan to be there, probably Fri - Sun. Hope to see you there! ----------------------- Roger "Ramjet" Clark FB# 271, SCR 3245, SCS 1519

Hey, I'm in that book! See chapter 5 heading:Pre-Stars? "Hey Man, You're Late..." Made a lot of jumps with my friend Roger Nelson. Never knew we were making history at the same time... ----------------------- Roger "Ramjet" Clark FB# 271, SCR 3245, SCS 1519

I land my Strato-Star on one foot (Yellow and Black with Yellow jump suite at 5:40 in the film). People pounding in hard are way more common today IMO... I was at both Z-Hills and Deland this year and saw many landings that made the worst ones in this film look soft. ----------------------- Roger "Ramjet" Clark FB# 271, SCR 3245, SCS 1519

I've been on it too long! FB1371 1983 convention Doesn't seem too long to me... ----------------------- Roger "Ramjet" Clark FB# 271, SCR 3245, SCS 1519

Had the T-Shirt; letters all kind of jumbled together and hard to make out the words. Most people were trying to make out the words so hard, they totally missed that the words were in the shape of a penis Did it look something like this? Sparky http://flic.kr/p/apLkap Nope; but I like that one too! ----------------------- Roger "Ramjet" Clark FB# 271, SCR 3245, SCS 1519

Had the T-Shirt; letters all kind of jumbled together and hard to make out the words. Most people were trying to make out the words so hard, they totally missed that the words were in the shape of a penis ----------------------- Roger "Ramjet" Clark FB# 271, SCR 3245, SCS 1519

Hi RR Thats what I;m talking about!!!! Nice Rack The profile of the altimeter is priceless

For a proper altimeter/stopwatch setup, see attached photos... ----------------------- Roger "Ramjet" Clark FB# 271, SCR 3245, SCS 1519