muff528

Yes, scary but also ...... aren't they playing with their food?

I wonder if that has changed.

Yes, but it was not my accident that made me think "WTF am I doing here?". It was the loss of a very experienced jumper early in my skydiving career that made me question my ability to survive this sport. He was the first person that I actually knew who died in the sport. Although there have been too many losses of friends and acquaintances since then, that one was the wake-up call for me. It brought home the realization that this sport really was dangerous and that maybe I wasn't prepared for it. But I kept jumping anyway.

I fly the F-15C. Two Pratt & Whitneys put out 24,000 lbs of thrust or 26,000 lbs depending on which set you've got. Sorry - all the ALQ stuff is classified. We carry 6 AMRAAMs and 2 AIM-9Xs. We still do play crud and it's the best game on the planet. Going low and fast is fun, but its also the best way to end your career. Unless there is a specific reason that we get to do it (Tactical airspace, filed low-level, airshow or flyby) we can get into a lot of trouble. The european guys (and the USN) have a lot more leeway and don't get into as much trouble. 105's haven't been in service for at least 20 years. 1000 mph is possible, but not normal for those guys. Still, even at 600 or 700, the world is going by pretty fast! The guy I spoke with said they flew low and fast to keep from getting shot up over Hanoi. I don't know if the 1000mph number was an exaggeration or not. I remember seeing a couple of 105's at Vance AFB in the early 60's when my dad worked there. They made a stop there for some reason and I happened to be there when they took off. They certainly impressed an 11-year old kid.

What else would you like to hear about? I don't even know how to respond without losing status as a "respectable" member.... So lets just say: awww hell. Tell us about a low pass on the landing strip. Talk about thrust. Tell us about how hard and fast you can keep it going with the afterburners on.

My first thought was that he just took off and started a left turn. Looks like that may be runway markers below. Also, it looks like the photographer is somewhat elevated above ground level that is visible in the photo.

post a youtube link Good Grief!! I wish there were an explanation for this other than "I really AM getting old."

Why do YOU get to sleep in tomorrow morning?

+1 on that. I did a tandem jump in 1994 with an old rancher into his ranch in North Texas for a rather large cattle auction he was having. He had been a bomber pilot in WWII and had one previous jump to his credit, out of a flaming B-17 over Germany after which he spent 17 months in a POW camp. Man, talk about a tough act to follow. Oh yeah, that auction was when I learned that bull sperm can sell for more than beef on the hoof. My dad, flight engineer/top turret gunner aboard a B-17, was a veteran of 26 combat missions (near the close of hostilities they also participated in 3 "Chowhound" flights to Holland). When they were first issued their parachutes he said he thought to himself that there was no way in hell he would ever jump. He said they usually used all the parachutes and other gear as padding and shielding against flak as soon as they took off. During one of their raids they were jumped by Me262's and all 4 of the planes in their element were hit. He saw the plane next to theirs catch fire and as the fire spread to the rear that plane exploded and went down. They soon realized that they, too, were on fire and at that point he scrambled for his chute and prepared to help get the crew ready to leave the a/c. The sight of the other B-17 exploding changed his mind instantaneously about skydiving. Fortunately, the radioman threw an oxygen bottle out of the hole in the side of the plane and the fire extinguished itself allowing them to limp home. After I started jumping he said he was always baffled that parachuting had actually become a voluntary sport. A few years ago my brother and I offered several times to get him a ride on one of the restored Fortresses. He always declined saying that they would have to pay him to ride in one again although I think he secretly would have liked to have taken a ride.

I remember the guy who got drunk after skydiving and fell asleep in the fire at Zhills. This incident taught me to lean AWAY from the fire while partaking in the evening festivities. (I won't mention any names but he was of the Brit persuasion.)

Crap! I was planning to see this one.

HIM!.......HIM!.........

Y'all Brits never hear'd of fried green duh-maters? I was driving around aimlessly this morning and found myself in Tampa. While I was there I had to stop by Cacciatore's and pick up a pound and a half of pecorino romano. I stopped at a bakery and bought a couple of loaves of cuban bread. By the time I got home half a loaf of bread and at least a quarter pound of the cheese were gone. A couple of tomato slices and a little basil would have made a nice sammich. Think I'll make me one for dinner.

I saw that on TV a couple of hours ago. I thought I saw one whistling in under a streamer. Maybe not. It seems like they took quite a chance liability-wise. I'd think it would leave a mark if one didn't open and it hit you on the head from that height.

Yes, and the reverse should be true also: "You must dial a '1' in front of the phone number. Please hang up and try again."Well, if they know I need a "1", why not just add it themselves and go ahead and put my call through? You MUST be reminded daily that your existences are increasingly at the mercy of the engineers. THAT is their "game".

oly-Hay ap-cray, atman-Bay! is-thay ooks-lay ike-lay it ould-cay e-bay a ery-vay onfusing-cay read-thay!

One Million Years BC with Raquel Welch is probably inaccurate to some degree. No way she's THAT old! Also, Orwell's 1984, the movie. Oh, wait! ....That one may be true.

There used to be a guy at Phoenix/ZHills in the early 90's that opened at full altitude and talked on his ham radio gear. I think maybe 6-meter or 2-meter band Can't remember his name but he was there quite often.

Lessee.......if we look into outer space there is always Dr. Zachery Smith, Q, and the Daleks. As for the Borgs....Seven of Nine can assimilate me anytime.

Great job!! The silent consultation in freefall between the two of you is priceless!

"On a scale from 1 to 10 he/she is a 747."

One of the bad guys from the YellaWood commercials......I think his name's McCully......the one that tried to break out of jail.

Shouldn't that be S.U.a.M.O. ?

I can see where driving your train to dinner and a movie wouldn't be very cool. On the other hand, it has a helluva back seat.

A motherless child. (By coincedence I just happen to be watching Ritchie Havens on PBS -WUSF Tampa- singing that song as I type this. Rockin' out on his Guild. Lots of old folkies on the show!)