tonybrogdon

Extremley sad news. Harry and I have been friends for 30 years, He was a wonderful person and will greatly missed by many people. Blue Skie Harry! Tony Brogdon D-12855

Hi Jim I'm pretty sure that's Jimmy Davis who was stunt coordinator for the TV Show That's Incredible along with Dar Robinson. Tony Brogdon D-12855

Your right, Tijuana's 100th Birthday Fair demo. Your right about Dick Pedley. He filmed the tandem of the local news caster Artimesa and died two weeks later downtown LA. He was a great guy. A trevia. Which one is Pelon's so Rico on his 14th jump and 5th demo in Mexico? The PRI Governor and Tijuana's Mayor is in the same photo. Another photo was taken a year later with me and Manny Moya presenting the Mexican Flag to the 1st PAN party Governor Ernusto Ruffo. Recognise Mongo, Pelon, Joe Dela Garza and many others? The lineup with multicolored jump suits is the one zero zero (100) formation. Tony Brogdon D-12855

Can anyone name the people and the event? 19 years ago. Tony Brogdon D-12855

I replaced mine with a Handbury rig and later also got a Comet 228. Great rig, Great parachute, finally. Tony Brogdon D-12855

Hi Bill I remember my first jump on my GSE. It was in Dublin, Va. after exiting at 7500 feet, I remember saying to myself, " This has got to the dumist thing I have ever done," jumping the PC to see if it would open using a bag verses a sleeve, not even knowing at the time of the problem with the reserve risers. When I saw the notice about the rig being grounded, I immediately bought one of the original Vectors with a 5 cell Strata Star main where after several ground pounding landings I bought my first 7 cell a 220 Comet. Tony Brogdon D-12855

How many remember this rig or ever owned one? In 1977 I bought one from the former head of the Godlen Knights, Charlie Brown back in Richmond Virginia. It had a Navy Conial reserve and a PC main packed in a bag. Charlie came by my office and showed me how to pack it in my hallway. The PC was designed for a sleeve not a bag and the bag it used was not designed for the rig. Over twenty years later I looked up Charlie when one of the nationals were being held at Perris and gave the only picture I had of me wearing the rig taken at West Point DZ in Virginia. He remembered me and selling me the rig. I reminded him that shortly after buying the rig from him the USPA grounded the rig. It seems that it had a major design flaw. When going for the reserve the stiching would come loose at the risers and streamer the reserve. He told me that he had sent it in prior to selling it to me to the Mfgr and they had corrected the flaw. Not knowing this previously, I had always wondered what would have happened if I had to cut away on that rig. Tony Brogdon D-12855

I have heard a number of people talk about what was the first tandem. If my memory serves me right, the first tandem was done by Jim Hanbury with his son who was very young but wanted he wanted him to know what skydiving was like. My youngest son, now retired from the Navy ( 20 years ) used to ask me from age eight when could he make his first jump. I promised I would sign for him when he reached 16. On his 16th birthday, I arranged for him to make a tandem at Perris. It was 1985. He jumped without a drouge chute and I went head down to catch up and didn't get close until opening. Shortly after, Ted Strong developed a drouge chute due to canopies blowing up. I discovered that the FAA waiver for tandems was for 18 year old and up. OOps!! Tony Brogdon D-12855

Made my first jump at Hutchinson Sky Sports, September 1977. Met Smitty that same day also. I became good friends with both Smitty and his son Jerry. I invited both of them on December 15th, 1987 to come to Perris where they both made tandems. Both were very rememberable days. Tony Brogdon D-12855

link has been changed for video Its now : http://tonybr.tripod.com Web.com discontinued thier sub domains. Tony Tony Brogdon D-12855

Thanks John Jan Davis was also on the lip of the stadium pointing the video relay to the media both for the practices and actual Opening Ceremonies. All who particapated in making it happen, I'm sure have memories of a life time. Thanks again for your post. Tony Tony Brogdon D-12855

The Korean Army were using round reserves. Tony Brogdon D-12855

Thanks Peter As I stated orginally it was an effort of a lot of people with many facets to it as many opportunities to funnel it. Thank God though everyone in the actual demo did an incredible job as the video shows. Tony Brogdon D-12855

Hi Jerry It was the centerfold of Time Magazine's 1988 Pictures of the Year. I have a copy. My grand kids have it. Check with Norm Kent. My Partner Jay Ryu was the one who told me about the media thinking the malfunction was a fatality and he knew first hand that Park, Seh Jik, President of SLOOC was up all night. I made 5 trips to Seoul each time meeting with Park, Seh Jik and other committee members. Orginally on my first trip Park, Seh Jik came to my hotel, The Shilla Hotel in Seoul and gave me a letter stating that SLOOC was going to put the Skydiving in the opening Ceremonies. On my second trip I learned that the South Korean Assembly objected to have USA Skydiving Society, Inc. which I was President and CEO of having such an important part of the Opening Ceremonies which they considered more important to show case thier culture. We then agreed to include a World Cup in the Olympic Stadium exactly one year ( 1987) prior to the Olympics. I traveled to Ireland along with my partner a short time later to offically ask the International Parachute Committee PIA to hold the 1987 World Cup in Seoul. Austria who had already been awarded the World Cup had to offically recend and allow it to happen. The same opponents fought tooth and nail up until the last minute to prevent it. It's possible that most of the actual jumpers were not aware of a malfunction. It was a among the 22 other countries who's skydiver had a round reserve landing on the lip of the stadium. I am very sure of what of what took place. A good person to person to substantiate what I am saying is Craig Fronk who was on the jump and former member World Champion Coors Skydiving Team or Larry Bagley, USPA's Director of Competition. he was there also. Thanks Jerry for your comments and questions. Tony Brogdon D-12855

Tom did his usuual top professional job but need to give credit to Norm Kent, Jan Davis and Ken Crabtree for the Video as well. It was Norm's picture of the rings over the stadium that Time Magazine published as its 1988 Time magazine picture of the year (centerfold ) Ken was the engineer that helped stream live video to the media and Jan was on the lip of the stadium getting the landing shots. BJ was on my board USA Skydiving Society, Inc. as Vice President. It took a team effort of a lot of people to both convince the Seoul Olympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee to risk allowing it to happen. All in all it changed the perception of the world towards skydiving to being a sport verses dare devils foolishly risking our lives. Also without my two Korean partners, Richard Chung and President Roh, Tae Woo's cousin Jay Ryu it never would have happened. Roh, Tae Woo became President of South Korea shortly before the Olympics. He was former head of the Korean Airborne and was responsible for getting the Olympics to Korea. The picture on my website shows Roh, Tae Woo reading an endorsement letter from Former US Senator and Former Governor of California Pete Wilson. He got on his phone shortly after that picture was taken and ordered President of the Seoul Olympic Committee, Park, Seh Jik to make it happen. Over the next 2 1/2 years , many events took place to make it come about. very few people are aware that on the last rehearsal jump the day before the actual ceremonies that one of the skydivers had a reseve ride and the Korean media reported it as a fatality. Park, Seh Jik was up all night arguing with goverment officals to cancel the skydiving portion and not take the risk. They were not aware that Roh, Tae Woo had ordered Park, Seh Jik 2 1/2 years earlier to make it happen no matter what. Tony Brogdon D-12855

Thanks Jim Tony Brogdon D-12855

The Korean Government has released video of the 1988 Olympics. I have embeded the video on youtube on my site which shows the whole event which was exactly as planned but not shown fully by our NBC. You can reach my site by going to: http://skydiving.web.com Tony Brogdon D-12855

Thanks Billy I made my first jump in Septemeber 1977 at Hutchinsin, Ka. Dale Boyer was my instructor. He and his wife lived in the old military barracks on the base. I first had the privilage of meeting Smitty that day also. Tony Brogdon Tony Brogdon D-12855

Hi Mike Bear was a true friend to all those that knew him. A real credit to the sport. I was fortunate to watch loads one and two of the Perris jet Dec 30th at Perris and see Bears ashes. He wanted to be on the first jet load and he got his wish Tony Brogdon D-12855

Smitty was a true Pioneer of the sport anda wonderful person Tony Brogdon D-12855

Pic definetly taken at Perris. Haven't seen a pic of Danny Gainer (Bear) in a long time. Travolt's DC-3 was a great jumpship while it lasted. Skip's have definetly made the most movies. I have a good memory of Mr. Douglas over a New Years boogie at Deland. Rock music all the way to altitude. Tony Brogdon D-12855

Well said John Tony Brogdon D-12855

Having some first hand knowlege, If you own the land and the Aircraft , you stand a chance to be other than "non-profit". Otherwise you are providing a service because you love the sport. Tony Brogdon D-12855

Truly sorry to hear about Dirty Ed. He was a landmark in Southern California Skydiving. Always cheerful and a pleasure to be around. I am sorry for the loss. Tony Brogdon D-12855

Thought that was Bud instead of Al Tony Brogdon D-12855