chuteless

You must be kidding. I didnt find skydiving boring, because I made an effort to make it not boring, but always an exciting adventure.

We started off with making baton passes, and just doing relative work with other jumpers. We learned how to fly with people who fell faster, or slower, and eventually I realized that if you can pass a baton with confidence, you could pass a parachute. Seven years after my first jump, I did that, and again 3 years later. People wondered out loud, " What if you don't connect with the other guy ? " Once you have learned how to fly and adjust to another person's flying, you had absolutely NO doubts about connecting with anyone...in any sky, anywhere.

My best suggestion is to read the poems I wrote , found in the TRIVIA thread of dropzone.com, and written there by Twardowsi on May 22nd 2012. If that doesnt explain it satisfactorily to you, then nothing will. Its the greatest thrill available on the face of this planet. Read " How a Human Can Fly, " and others.

It was likely before you started in the sport, when 16 jumpers drowned in Lake Erie on August 27th 1967. To think that they all would be in their 60s or 70s of age now. Bill Cole

Jim: I am already thinking of my next jump, but told my daughter that I would wait until she is proficient in freefall for a 60 sec delay. That is when I will emerge from the pile of dust webs in the corner, and once again " Punch a Hole In The Sky". For explanation, see Jim Twardowski submission on skydiving poems Thanks for your kind comments Bill Last posted May 22 2012

Steve: I was never one to pass up a " dare ", and that has got me into trouble a few times. Once I make up my mind on something, I refuse to back down or be told I have to do something, someone elses way. I will see it through. Thanks for your encouragement. Bill Cole

Thanks Jim. It was nice that you and I crossed paths during my 50 yrs in the sport I loved. When I think of all the wonderful people I met and jumped with, I sure consider myself a lucky guy. Bill

I will " drop in " a visit to the various dropzones around this area. Hope to meet you all then. Bill

Well, I finally got it done. Although it rained on the 50th anniversay of my first jump, I went to the same dropzone on Monday August 6th, and jumped from 13,500. It was a real job even to put on a jumpsuit, as after the heart surgery I had, it takes my breath away just to put the jumpsuit on. I have to do it in stages, reating after each move. However, there I was all suited up, and then came the stepping through the leg straps. Oh, for the quick ejector straps we used to have. However, I got the gear on, and we were headed for the Cessna Caravan and climbed on board. We laid out a plan, that immediately after my daughter and her tandem master left the aircraft, I would drop my legs out the door and lean fowrad. I was once again in flight. Ryan Jambrich, ever faithful as a great friend was there to make sure I was okay. I decided not to chase my daughter, and just do the jump, and make a safe landing. Ryan grabbed my left hand, and after awhile he let go, and I dumped the chute about 3300 to 3500, and headed back to the DZ. It was the fastest opening Ive ever had on a main chute. It was a chore after landing to walk down the grass of the airport, and get a place to sit and catch my breath. I think I lost my breath somewhere around 12000 ft. Anyhow, that was my final jump. I have a few sore spots, but nothing to write about. 50 years and 1 day, and my career is finally over....this time for good. My daughter having tasted freefall in a tandem, realized what I had done over the 50 years, and concluded that I must have been crazy. I love her anyhow, and I will be content to watch her from now on as she is bent on making more jumps. I bought the mandatory case of beer and delivered it to the aiport fridge this morning. Thanks to all those who supported me over the years and during the final jump. Bill Cole D-41

I hope it heals quickly and you get back in the sky. For a jumper, there is nothing worse than feet or legs going out of whack. Its not the jump that hurts, hurt usually comes from the landing part. Take care, my friend Bill

Thanks Jim: I do think that replacement is going to be done over the winter, maybe as early as November. Turning 80 yrs on Oct 31st, I might squeeze a jump in first, and that would have to be my last. I have had a great ride, and no regrets. I would love to go to Oshkosh next year, and cheer you guys on. Thanks again for your kind words. Bill

I think that I will wait until my birthday. In the meantime, I will be getting ( on August 9th ) a shot of steroids into both knees, and hopefully that will make them work a bit better and be less painful. I do expect to have both knees replaced over the winter months, and only yesterday, I was watching a good friend jump and he had one knee replaced, and said it makes all the difference. He has several thousand jumps and hasn't slowed a bit.

Maybe a water landing in the swoop pool. Its pretty shallow, but if I can just do a belly flop, I might make it. Thanks for the suggestion but I do think I will have to pass on that. Bill

Did anyone notice which finger Joe Paterno was pointing upwards?????

I have two vials of steroids at home which will be injected into my knees on August 9th. If it reduces the pain, I can always do another anniversary jump later. August 20th is the 43rd of my 1st chuteless jump ( Aug 20 1969 ). Also ( not a good anniversary) it was Aug 27th 1967 when 16 jumper friends drowned in Lake Erie. If I don't get the knees replaced, I can jump for the 40th anniversary of my HALO record on April 7th 1973-2013. Thanks to you all for the encouragement. I am taking two of my grandchildren to Algonquin Park for 5 days of camping and fishing. I really don't want to foul that trip up with a careless move. I turn 80 yrs old on October 31st....another milestone anniversary. I appreciate all your thoughts. Thanks BILL COLE D-41

On August 5th 2012, it will be exactly 50 years since my first jump at the Baldwin Ontario dropzone. I planned to make a commemorative jump on Sunday Augut 5th 2012, but I have been plagued by severe arthritis in both knees. Two weeks ago I had them X-rayed, and the doctor told me there are bone chips floating around both kneecaps. I want to make the jump which will certainly be my last, as the doctor also said I should get both knees replaced with surgical stuff, but with the pain I am taking right now, I don't think it would be wise to make another jump. However, I have been known to throw caution to the wind, and do somethings that I know can hurt me. That is the rub....I want to, I know I shouldn't, but my heart tells me, aw shucks, go ahead, make 1 more for old times sake. To hell with the pain and consequences. I will have to wait until the 5th of August, and then play it by ear. I will spend most of the day at the DZ, so who knows what will happen. I realize its not the jump that will hurt me...its a possible crash and burn landing with rickety old bones.

There is one things you should always remember about having a close call. Close calls are a part of building experience, and each close call prepares you for the eventuality of having another later. You will find a "close call" is real " HIGH" and it keeps the blood flowing just as it should. Reserve openings , especially after a cutaway are the best to keep you on your toes, and keep you thinking in a positive way. Best of luck with your jumping, and chalk up those close calls to gaining experience that you can lean on in the future. Bill Cole D-41

You are correct. He took down a Yak 3 and later a Yak 9, which was a head on collision. The Russian Pilot was killed, and Oscar's chute opened seconds before his feet hit the ground. He hurt his knee when it wacked the vertical stabilizer of his FW-190. There is a list of his victoires if you google his name, and then click on the top thread that comes up.

For any of you aviation/W.W. II fans, you might be interested in knowing my dear friend, Oscar Boesch, who flew Fock-Wolfe 190 fighters in the war has died at age 88. Oscar downed about 28 aircraft, mostly American bombers, but a few fighters like a British Spitfire, Russian Yak-19, etc, as well. Oscar performed at over 600 air shows in Canada and the USA, and he put on a dazzling display with his sailplane. He is the only person ever to have flown a non-powered glider/sailplane non stop from Toronto to Montreal, Quebec, a distance of about 350 miles. He was a real fine gentleman, a great pilot, and we shared many great moments in our homes, and at the air shows. A few years ago, he told me he would like to meet the family of a Spitfire pilot he shot down on Jan 1st 1945. I told him I would try to track his family down, and found the Spitfire pilot has two nephews living in Toronto. I contacted one of them ( a lawyer) and he asked to meet Oscar. He assured me he had no animosity towards the man who shot his uncle down. We met in a hotel restaurant near Pearson Intnl Airport, and we talked for over 3 hours. I decided to leave, and the two gentlemen agreed, but Oscar took Grant Doak ( Joe Doak's nephew ) out to where his car was parked. He opened the trunk and took out a 2 1/2 foot long piece of Joe Doak's wooden Spitfire propeller. He also had some other mementos of the war. Oscar was shot down 4 times and used his parachute to survive, and he crash landed 4 times. He had a head on collision with a Russian Yak-19, and the Russian pilot was killed, and Oscar was taken prisoner by some Russians. He later escaped and walked all the way back to Austria ( except for a ride on a found bicycle ), and walked into his home on his 21st birthday. The war was over. He was a fine man, and a great pilot, and a great friend. I will miss his familiar greeting " Awe Beel , how is my friend today? "

I made many night jumps from 12,500, but I also made one from 30,571 ft over Canada's largest airport. I took a member of my team at the time, but it was his 102nd jump, and he had never ben up at night before. It was kind of a reward for being so faithful and always ready to do a demo with the team. I could always count on him. We both landed alongside one of the 2 mile long runways on Pearson Intnl Airport. I don't have my log books anymore, so can't tell you how long a freefall it was, but a day jump from 36,916 took 2 1/2 minutes of freefall before opening. Chuteless D-41

That did happen. If you are aware of this jump, and have any more details, post them. It didnt kill the jumper, but it was quite a bit more than your regular cut while shaving in the morning.

We intend to have the jump on video, so it will be posted ASAP. I will be 80 years old in less than 3 months after that final jump. My, how time flys, eh ??? Bill

No....Baldwin, Ontario, Canada. You know....its where the polar bears live.

The Para Commander WAS in a deployment bag. That didnt slow anything down. I thought that the bag plus the 25 ft risors that were folded back and forth to fit into the container would slow me down, but the whole chute was open and I still had 25 ft to go at terminal. OUCH !!!!

For those who think jumping as Santa Claus is a fun thing, there have been many deaths due to something going wrong on a Santa jump. I always refused to do them. On one occassion, one of the guys on my team George Drainville) contracted to do a Santa Jump into a small strip plaza. On landing he hooked a turn and broke his leg like it was a matchstick. One of the other guys put the Santa costume on while George was taken to the hospital, and the first kid to climb up on this new Santa's knee, pissed himself, and soaked Santa to the skin. The original jumper ( George Drainville) said he needed some cash in a hurry and thought he would take the chance. On another jump ( in the USA) a jumper has his beard wired around the back of his neck. On opening, the risors caught the beard that was blown around his neck, and the wire tore through the jumper's throat. It is a jinxed jump , and years ago I had a list of Santa fatalities. Bill Cole