patworks

Correct: However, 1) it must be a wedge-shaped formation 2) 6 key people must wear skateboards on their chest 3) Pick an uncluttered landing spot. Avoid highways and cemetery Pat Works nee Madden Travis Works, Jr .B1575, C1798, D1813, Star Crest Solo#1, USPA#189,

1. There ain't no gravity. The earth sucks; we fall. 2. Alternate theory: the earth is an ass-hole magnet. Feel pull? 3. In important skill test is pulling your ripcord. It is especially important to pull prior to impact. 4. Eco-friendly BASE jumpers will wear a hydration-pack backwards on a jump. It is filled with the eco-friendly cleaner Simple Green. Being on your chest, the pack should burst open when you frap. Come the next rain and Mother nature will tidy up your messy splash and gore with pure rain water. Voila! a clean impact point! Also because it has phosphates, the simple green + your body fluids nurture the plants! GO GREEN!! 5. Timing is key: Doing a Free fall before year 1911 will kill you: Prior to 1911 any person falling free would instantly lose consciousness. Live tests were avoided to avoid dead testers. However Since it was a 'known' scientific ‘fact’ that falling over 300 feet rendered you unconscious and incapable, there wasn't a long line of people anxiously wanting a ripcord for delayed free falls. To compensate, bicycles were invented. Pat Works nee Madden Travis Works, Jr .B1575, C1798, D1813, Star Crest Solo#1, USPA#189,

1934 free fall flight control: Freefall parachute: T. S. Baldwin introduced the first silk limp parachute in a pack with a harness in 1897. Baldwin's gear and approach opened doors for foldable- packed parachute for other gypsy moths. Later, Broadwick refined that into the coat pack type that Tiny jumped. At 1st, no one used a ripcord. By 1919 Floyd Smith, Irwin, Stevens and several others made and marketed pack-type parachutes. unconscious and incapable -- Prior to 1911? ) it was believed that any person falling free would instantly lose consciousness. Live tests proved this presupposition to be false. However Since it was a 'known' scientific ‘fact’ that falling over 300 feet rendered you unconscious and incapable, there wasn't a long line of people anxiously wanting a ripcord for delayed free falls. However, by 1924, half a dozen well known parachutists were skilled free fall masters of today's skydiving maneuvers: In 1918 Floyd Smith and Leslie Irvin jointly developed a "modern free-type, manually operated parachute." Early free fallers, battled the tangible danger of uncontrolled body spins. The extremely fast and dangerous rotation where, “Everything becomes blurred and the jumper loses his sight and judgment.” As a consequence “blood rushes to the head and unconsciousness may result.” Floyd described This real and present danger “The untrained person in a free-fall spin is about like a novice pilot in a blind spin without instruments.” Expert free fallers -- Smith and a few others became very proficient when they "fell free through the air" saying, "Since that day scores of men have made long free falls or delayed-opening jumps." and "I have seen extraordinary progress in the control of the human body in the air." These skills were ”tribal knowledge” of select elite free fallers. Their knowledge of controlled flight died with them. There was no mechanism to transfer knowledge beyond their small cadre. The exception was Floyd Smith. 1934 in a popular magazine, Mr. Smith documented control skills they’d learned ten years earlier. He accompanied his descriptions of the positions for free fall flight control with photo-illustrations of each. Lost & Found: The lost knowledge was resurrected 25+ years later at Les centres de parachutisme français. In the early 1950s, after French state run school training our two most important free fall parachuting missionaries learned the arts of body flying that they communicated broadly on their return to the United States of America. These two notable French-Americans, Raymond Young and Jacques A. Istel graduated from the courses then transferred their knowhow to the U.S.A.. 1924 Free Fall Maneuvers Floyd Smith, Spud Manning, “Kohley” Kohlstadt, and Harry Eibe, and few others demonstrated and illuminated positions expert free fallers make the most of for a spectrum of maneuvers. Including techniques for: 1924 Free Fall Maneuvers* basic stable head down tracking back tracking delta front loop back loop carving Steering fwd. movement parachute canopy deployment on your back head down deployment flat-stable deployment *{quote}; making a quick turnover (front loop); High-Speed Vertical Fall (head down); position for falling Flat, Face down (Basic stable); position for Backward Loop; going into Spiral side; inducing a spin; Position Assumed for Loop with Back inside (Backloop); tracking on your back (back tracking); Using the Arm as a Rudder to Guide the Body (Steering); executing a Slow Roll; initiate a turn {end quote}. Terminal velocity -- Adding, "If you lie in the air flat with arms and legs outspread, you will reach a maxim velocity of about 105 miles an hour at sea level." Freefly, "If you take a head-first position you attain the greatest speed." Later, Floyd continues, "I refer to a sort of swan dive with the both at angle of about forty-five degrees to the earth. By pulling in one arm you can quickly roll over on your back." And tells what position will "turn you over backward..." Floyd Smith said that his most difficult position was "straight head first" adding that Manning learned to maintain a head down for 5,000 feet, "to come out gradually and maintain control while slowing up into a swan dive." Causing "considerable horizontal movement... a gliding plane against the air." Hard experience: Smith emphasized that control of the human body in free fall requires accumulated experience. The how-to information on positions for expertise was developed as “the result of hundreds of free falls by men who have specialized in it.” Zero altimeters -- In 1924 F. Smith’s free fall peers included “Kohley” Kohlstadt, Harry Eibe, H. E. “Spud” Manning, and John Tranum (England). “By laying flat and balancing with spread arms you can fall indefinitely at relatively low speed and in perfect position to calculate your distance to the ground. “To judge opening altitude Eibe and Kohlstadt relied in counting off the seconds in fall whereas Manning and Smith relied on angular observation AKA “ground rush” to calculate altitude with a variation of less than 100 feet. Thirty years later in Houston, in the 1960’s my freefall RW friends and I relied on this “no altimeter” technique and consistently eyeballed pull time with canopy open deviation of about 75 feet. Above is from my research on my 5th book to be titled something exciting like, "A Chronology of Skydiving." ... out late this year. Hopefully Pat Works nee Madden Travis Works, Jr .B1575, C1798, D1813, Star Crest Solo#1, USPA#189,

[50+ years skydiving yields opinions. These are mine. Others know more. Ask; listen] Avoiding Collisions: Look, Locate and do it! Recall that the primary purpose of the parachute is to enable one to make more parachute jumps! Besides, dying under an open canopy is considered poor form. ;-> Unintentional canopy relative work kills. Mid-air collisions are always potentially fatal. They are particularly hazardous in low pull situations. Always track or dive away from people, into clear air and pull. Always give a wave-off and remember that the low man has the right of way. Said, another way, at break-off, the higher people are obligated to pull higher. Those toward the bottom of the swarm are obligated to “go downstairs.” Unless low altitude is a more serious problem, continue flying to avoid a collision. If you’ve already pulled and there are other people in your immediate vicinity, keep flying hard as long as you can before line stretch. Develop and practice a dive-turn, barrel roll or loop what will fly you around an obstacle. You must miss the other person’s body, if at all possible. Look, locate, and dodge -- Be prepared to use risers to avoid traffic at once after opening. When surging together, veer to the right to avoid a head-on collision. On opening, look everywhere, locate everyone, and only then unstow your brakes. Practice making riser turns. In a panic situation, trained reflexes will save your ass. Look, locate, and yell! On every jump, be especially watchful on finial approach for landing. Do not fixate on your landing target with other canopies in the air! Do look, locate other canopies and evade them. Acknowledge other canopy flyers with a double heel click. Touching heels together is a polite way of saying, “Yes, I see you.” Do not attempt radical avoidance action below a survivable altitude! Get their attention. Be ready to yell! Loudly! [Be noticed: wear a whistle? carry a gun? unfurl a flag? trail smoke? bang a gong? wire a bomb to your body? ] Entanglements happen. If two entangled canopies are open it gets difficult. Today it is smart thinking to discuss canopy wraps with members of your local CRW team. These are the people with first-hand experience at wrap-management! Seek expert advise; make an action plan. Look, locate, and execute -- Execute your pre-planned procedure(s) after discussing it with your tangle-partner. Generally, the lower jumper gets the honors of cutting away first. If you do get wrapped up in an entanglement, it can be nice if you’ve remembered your hook knife. It should be accessible to either hand, and you should be able to deploy it in one second flat, in a ready to cut position. Before yanking either your cutaway handle or hook knife remember to verify that doing so will separate you from the mess! Moreover, prior to cutting loose from an entanglement, be sure to check canopies and altitude. Here, it is important to again look, locate any problems, and act (or not) with alacrity. Be calm. Communicate. Act on a good plan quickly. if all else fails, head for the trees. Be ready to do a first class PLF. Try to hit the ground harder than it’s going to hit you! ------------------------------------------ Pat Works nee Madden Travis Works, Jr .B1575, C1798, D1813, Star Crest Solo#1, USPA#189,

Agree. Let it get better 1st... if you can. If you can't wait [team, competition, dumb] Jump.. .. Wrap it; wear a good ankle brace; wear lace-up boots; land soft ;-) -- feet together. Sprains were normal in early '60's accuracy. ... down wind landings, hook turns, night accuracy = Ouch! THINK... a bad sprain takes 12+ months to "heal" Pat Works nee Madden Travis Works, Jr .B1575, C1798, D1813, Star Crest Solo#1, USPA#189,

Jump Master In-Tow over Texas -- A jumper in tow means that a jumper is hung up on the aircraft and cannot separate on his own. Many years ago the most common cause, of this uncommon event, was a static line that did not release. Normally, it is the student who (with pin-type static line) get suspended below the jump ship requiring knives, carabiners, heroics, else great bodily harm and etc. In this way, Jumpmaster could save students and aircraft both and avoid littering the area with parts of either. In the dim daze of yesteryear, in about 1965? at Wallace's DZ, there is the true story of our jumpmaster, Mr. one-ear Brumley. OneEar Brumley was a Houston Fireman. I dunno, how he lost his ear. We jumped a Cessna 195/196. The Pilot was Rufus Ramsey the round weed roller. Except for the participants, it was a sorta normal jump. There was one static student. A first-timer, she was a butt-ugly fat chick. Her Jump Master (one-ear) and three other skydivers who’d planned a 4-way with OneEar. On the low pass, On Jump-run, the student Butt-Ugly (aka BU), refused to exit. Froze up. Nope, was not going to leave, no-way; no how. Her being too big to just kick in the head and encourage out, BU was relocated behind the pilot for the high-pass. At 7500 feet (normal high altitude then) the skydivers exit. Whooosh! Except for Jumpmaster one-ear. One ear is hanging below the Cessna kicking and screaming a bit. Rufus Ramsey the round weed roller and pilot leans out the door and notices one ear. They have some sort of a discussion. There is agreement that OneEar is caught by the foot from the aircraft's step (which is shaped like an "L". The tongue of the step is stuck somehow up OneEars cowboy boot. Rufus Ramsey the round weed roller does some aerobatics; wiggles the plane and such. OneEar accompanies him with what might have been Wagnerian Opera. BU is crying and discussing her family. This goes on for way too long. Brumley could sing way-loud. Finally, Rufus Ramsey the round weed roller gets BU to switch places with him..."Jus hold it straight and steady... I will return in a jiffy… just be a moment..." Rufus then hangs himself out of the open door and wrestles with OneEar, the wind, the cowboy boot and lady luck. Since Rufus was not wearing his parachute, most of the remaining passengers were rooting for Rufus. Rufus wins. Boot comes off. One Ear hitchhikes back to the DZ arriving about 45 minutes after the airplane lands. On landing, BU exclaims to the world in general her current feelings about the sport. (Not real positive at all). Called a Heroine, a savior of One Ear, a budding pilot, a wonderful person... etc (we only had the one airplane and pilots were hard to find, too). Anyhow, she quickly asserts that this hero stuff is all B/S. Big-eyed, like the wheel is spinning, but the hamster is dead. Sez, she, “… I did NOT fly any airplane, never! That man! (Rufus Ramsey the round weed roller) Forced me into that tiny seat. The steering wheel thing was squished against my bosoms (and chest-mounted reserve)... I could not have drove that airplane to save my life...." About then, OneEar arrives back from the near-dead. His faith renewed, he proclaims his undying love and respect for Butt-Ugly and proposes marriage as heartfelt thanks. Lord love a duck, they do marry. The cowboy boot was never found. Pat 2-cat works. B1575 Pat Works nee Madden Travis Works, Jr .B1575, C1798, D1813, Star Crest Solo#1, USPA#189,

What is dandy: Lyricists of mind; seldom 'chat' Phat, that. ------------------------------ The joy in Flying sky-passion is a dream. Imagine unlimited flight. Joy. Passed on, an intellectual fantasy Neither substance nor grist: few converse on freefall wonders of “If”. Celebrate Oral sky paintings: Larry Y. (RIP) , SKR, Roland, Rande (RIP), Magic John (RIP), Carl (RIP) , PYL, Kevin (RIP), Mike, Norman, Jerry, Andy, and Ray Whose images Illuminate & paintbrush our sky and eye: tête-à-tête, words, airplay, camera, ground RW. . . . Pregnant With possibilities That choke hearts in potentials & unlock fresh skies Candy. Cotton candy.

I stumble for words... Our sky-passion is but a reflection of he that was: mentor, role model, fond friend. One of the few I could converse with on topics of substance and grist. He, SKR, Roland, Rande, Magic John, Carl, PYL, and Ray lit my skies with word-play…. …. Tête-à-tête with paint. They paintbrush our sky and our eye With potentials That choke hearts with love and lust to open new skies Candy. What is dandy: Lyricists of mind synergy; seldom-ever 'chat' Phat, that Pat Works nee Madden Travis Works, Jr .B1575, C1798, D1813, Star Crest Solo#1, USPA#189,

There are several-many USAF film, professional, full color, on deployment and use of the Capewell Mfg. '2-shot' canopy riser release. The storyboard and narration highlight that the release was so that a downed air crew could release one-side of the canopy prior to being drug to death. Texas A&M ROTC we ate 'em up.... lots of nice ejections, hard landings, and landing winds that gave pucker. Somewhere these films still exist. ? Pat Works nee Madden Travis Works, Jr .B1575, C1798, D1813, Star Crest Solo#1, USPA#189,

On Mon, 15 Nov 1999 Larry Yohn Killed :Black Death, : Old friend and long-time Perris Valley skydiver-instructor was killed :today on a demo jump in Pomona Calif. I do not know any details. : Larry was a bon vivant (& a 1-leg jumper) who taught school and was an :avid reader. He lost his leg in India riding a motor scooter several :decades ago. : Larry had/has my respect. :Blue Skies,

"Warning! For sport parachuting use only, Pilot chute removed" -- Two handed reserve deployment: Hold the flaps closed with one hand, and pull the rip cord with the other. Next, pitch the handle and use both hands to grab the reserve fling it out and dream it opens. Sport Chest pack reserves carried the notice, "Pilot Chute Removed for Sport Parachuting." --- 1963-1966(?) With less than 40 reserve rides, a Texan, I lernt that 28' flat circular c-9 with 24' ripstop chest pack reserve "Look-pull-punch, throw" worked as well as a dirty rabbits foot charm. Like seldom-hardly. Recall the little name tag on the reserve "Pilot Chute Removed for Sport Parachuting." Seemed to me, that with a line-over main canopy, the reserve won't deploy unless your vertical speed is way exciting. High heart-rate + Adrenalin did not assist openings (Rats!).

Nope. Darwin saved his genes. BooZE + Carlos' Indian blood = havoc. Akin to a BASE Jump with a bag lock...

100F & 99% humidity, Houston is hot SCENE: Wallace's Drop zone and Spa --- Crosby, Texas. Summertime 1960s Houston DZ Daze -- SUNDAY, 6-9 of us attend sky cathedral . Some Newguy drives up. Rent Car. ALL the correct gear and parachuting equipment. Packing mat! Tidy! Squared away. Parachute-packs like a brain surgeon. Spiffy duds. Sincere sort.... "HI! Checked FAA; found your NOTAM!" :-) Manifests himself for a jump. Expansive. Explains his air hero status; Yankees he knows. Miles driven. Skies conquered. Our good luck. Puffs 'n preens gracefully. Humble sort in his dreams, Samaritan, Newguy offers that any 2 of our paltry skydivers who might accomplish a two-way formation in FREE FALL, well, then, HE would close third to grant our DZ a 3-Man star-shaped formation! natch, had our rapt attention.... Right-off, Skippy is DELIGHTED! Cheery! Gleeful! Wonderful opportunity! Carlos signs on as 3rd-man. TAKEOFF: The Cessna C-195 lofts SKYWARD 7,200' To Chorus, "Hoot! Hoot!" EPIC SKYDIVE: Carlos +Skippy 2-man hookup just out the door. After a polite pause with ceremony, Newguy flies in and enters 3rd. Magic! A three-man Star! Yawn. Overwhelmed with devilment, Skippy + Carlos transition 3-man-star into a 3-man-line. (A lower-case "L" sans serif) . . . Tight grips. Welder's gloves. Carlos Gene has Newguy's arms. Skippy owns Newguy's legs.... Hot Damn! Watch !!! 'giggle-giggle' - MULTIPLE SKY WONDERS! . . . Voila the 3-man-line! Ahhhah! Rare . - History in motion: The poetry and joy of 3-man RW flight is profound. It merits "OMG" moments! Newguy is particularly excited. Writhing, kicking, and screaming, Newguy is having the time of his life! He shakes like a belly-dancer. CATCH & RELEASE: at 800-900 ft., satiated, Carlos and Skippy leggo of new guy above Houston dirt. ... a Geographic moment, Texas scenery flash upward. My, My! bushes freight-train up as trees run away! Ground rushing up at his face like D-Day at night, Newfellow deploys his parachute with alacrity. CAUSE: Flagrant safety violation! By coincidence, sun struck; bored, 2-Texans experience a judgment lapse but deploy canopies 500 yards altitude low. CORRECTIVE ACTION: Such safety defilement curdles the parachute Club Safety Officer (CSO) into fetid cheese. However, our Club Safety Officer did not freak out. Mostly because we never had one. Pending NEWGUY: Canopy open, he lands, scurries to collect his kit. Awestruck to the hilt, stuffs shit in rent car and splits. LATER: Stalwart true believers weigh heat/humidity versus hope and manifest a 5-man star formation shot from church at 7.2K. Cool. 1.5 miles up is cool whilst Houston DZ summers fierce.

SCENE: Wallace's Drop zone and Spa --- - Sunday. Newguy shows up. Rent Car. ALL the correct equipment. Packing mat! Tidy! Squared away. Packs like a brain surgeon. Manifests (Found Doug). Explains his air hero status; Yankees he knows. Puffs 'n preens gracefully. Samaritan, offers that if any 2 of us could possibly build a two-way, HE would grant the DZ a 3-Way! Humble smile. Skippy is DELIGHTED! Cheery! Gleeful! Wonderful opportunity. Carlos is Carlos, & signs on, too, Chorus, "OH ! Yes!" and "This is a nice opportunity you give us!" SKYWARD 7,200' CG and Skippy get a 2-way just out the door. After a polite pause with ceremony, Newguy enters 3rd. Magic! A three-way Star! Hot Damn! Overwhelmed with glee and mean, Skippy + Carlos transition, quick, to a line. CG has Newguy's arms (2-way) and Skippy has Newguy's legs.... A 3-man-line! Ahhhah! History in motion: The poetry and joy of 3-man RW flight is profound. It merits "OMG" moments for the accomplishment, certainly! Evidenced by writhing, kicking, and (Hearsay) screaming, Newguy was having the time of his life. After a while,.... after exulting in the conquest of linked flight, both GC and Skippy leggo of new guy at 800-900 ft. AGL. His joy increases. All open per SOP and land. Dumbfounded by bliss, Newguy, stuffs his shit in his rent car and splits. Awed; No ceremony. DZ regulars yuk it up; weigh the heat versus hope and manifest for a 5-way attempt from 7.2K. Certain was the 4-way. But one day, Weird Bob entered fifth at about 2,000 AGL on his back, smiled and we took it down to break-off. Strange entry. Very. . . . . we plumb forgot to remember the recent ride Newguy got. Houston DZ summers are to blame. SAT. Pat Works nee Madden Travis Works, Jr .B1575, C1798, D1813, Star Crest Solo#1, USPA#189,

1974 ? Jumpsuit Grippers Today all FS jumpsuits sport “grippers” off-the-shelf. Repeated failures led to corrective action. When building round star formations, grips are were the weak link. Big rounds required big hands and strong grips. Men and women with small hands just couldn’t hang on. So, for record attempts, we dispatched runners to the hardware store for 1” rubber hose. Tacked to your sleeve, the hose permitted a stronger and more flexible grip than wrist-grips allowed. Voila!

FREEFLYIN’ WITH C.G. GODFROG “ Umnnnn ! Nicceee!” Carlos Gene Godfrog reflects. From deep in the midst of a powerful mind scene his whole body sighs. He feels positively noiseless. Even his mind had been motionless. Turning his thoughts inward, CG is at ease. Relaxed, comfortable, and serene. He stretches against walls on all sides. “Ahhahh! An extraordinary feeling!. . . Hey, all around me...it’s really dark! . . . WHERE AM I?" His inward calmness stripped away, C.G. comes aware of claustrophobic surroundings. His body twitches against a smothering shell. Blackness seizes his soul. Towering fear engulfs his core. Terrified-crazy he panics shrieking, "Aarrrrghh!" Entombing walls fuse down to grant barely any space. One cold wet wall is less than an arm's reach from another in all directions. This is way scary. Trashing blindly, now totally freaked, he kicks punches, and hammers black walls. Pow! One collapses abruptly. Breaking free in a shower of dried mud C.G. pops into dazzling daylight. His green, Froggy body breaths in sweet air as nocturnal frog eyes are blinded by an utterly blue sky. "Damn! This is Bright City; I'm gonna need some shades here, quick, or what?" On turf that compliments his skin, Carlos curls web toes to luxuriate in cool grass’ feel and looks intently about. Oddly, next to him is an egg-shaped hole sprinkled with clumps of fresh grass and dry mud. He ogles the stifling tomb he's escaped. "Oh my God! duh, it’s Spring! . . . Silly me, of course!" LOL! Laughing out loud and shaking his head, he inspects the hole and giggles, “My, my, ‘tis my own frog hibernation-hole I climbed into to escape zero-ceiling zilch-jump weather.” He remembers El Niño grounded skydivers all winter. His tattered memory reminds him that after weeks of clouds and no jumps Carlo’s instinct led him to do as vRW derelicts and members of his genus of amphibian do in crummy weather. Rx: Binge drink, party wild, abuse drugs, crawl in a hole, pull hole in after you, and hibernate. It is spring, 2007. Entering his hole at El Niño winter chill he had self-interred for seven and one-half months whilst zonked in the clutch of an alcohol fogged Autogenic Training exercise. He shrugs yesterdays off to check out today’s Drop Zone scene he’s burst upon. “OMG, typical weekend.” Lotsa tight 4-way suits and ritual creeping… Jabber. Much packing of parachutes. One noisy bunch dirt dives sporting relaxed jump suits from the 1990s. A few vegetable types lay back mellow.. And… Yes! There! A probable skymate!, “Ah Ha! a freaky dude lookin’ righteous.” Carlos hops on over. A tall spiked hair Dude eyes Carlos with a grin whilst they fist-touch, fake a high-five, and mime “You Da Man!” pointing pistol-fingers. Polite, the new-found mate Jive-speaks, "Whoa! Web fingers and a full-on Honky handshake. Dude, your kicks are cool beans!" Carlos looks at his feet and replies, "Fact. No-way I can get these puppies into Sketchers. Z’up Bro?" "Yo! Blue sky, wanna fly, Hey?" sez the freak, who turning, snags a tiny rig, and lopes towards a turning aircraft. Dancing sidewise, the tall spike-red/black hair dude stumble-stuffs feet and shoulders into his bikini harness as Carlos hops along, "What's the rig?" he croaks. "Fifty-seven twelve cell." trumpets his new sky mate, “Fourteen pounds, 3.4 wing-load, opening snivels but no twists; Awesome swoops: way strong and long. Three hundred foot surfs when you death-spiral. A tad sensitive to input, you steer it with leg input and head position. Touchy! But flare is one-step. Hit it right and it is da Bomb! Dude! Awesome fast! Really rips! Custom Colors!! …. Er, what are you flying, mate?" Nonchalant Carlos smirks, "A zero-zero. No canopy-zero cells. No parachute. … hate packing, Dig? … Jus’ a righteous swoop… works phat in open spaces. Usually get half mile belly-turf-surf,no-sweat, if I time it right. … and don't flinch." A smug Carlos looks sideways to casually nab a fly with his tongue. "Bitchin! I’m Frank the Freak. Wanna plan our dive?" "How about: freefly exit; let it happen; turn-and-burn?" replies C.G. placidly as they enter the acrid smell and windy heat of turbine props to clamber aboard the thunderous feather-propped Otter. "Reet, Dude. Let’s do it!" Taking the seat by the door seat away from a Noob hop-and-pop Frank zips down his skin-tight freefly suit revealing a masterpiece tattoo accented with Arrow staples. Folding his flippers under the bench, Carlos Gene belts into a nearby seat, "Nice body work there; fine design and good colors. Never seen staples used like that..." Looking at his psychedelic chest, Frank fingers staples which bleed gently at his touch. "I’d have my Tats re-inked if they fade. . . These staples are bogus. … keep falling out." He pulls several out and pops them in his mouth. "Num Num-yum. What about yours? Is that skin or did you have it done? Looks way rad, lad." "Frog skin, drum-dyed. Rolled and pleated. Standard flysuit, Dude” Fidgeting, they gaze out the door. Frank sings tuneless songs into the door-wind and fingers pierced skull chain attachments. C.G. idly looks for bugs. At 10,000 feet AGL they re-animate, don goggles, do routine hand- jive. Warm smiles and nods with deep breathing end in fluttery hand –arm moves like butterflies leaving a flower. Jump door opening dissipates thick methane. They turn to the other skydivers in the plane, smile, nod, present palms, point fingers, fists, press flesh, and exclaim, "Have a good one!" Decisive smile-nods. Gear check. Stand up. Jump run. Frog + freak animated fingers touch as the "GO " flash green. Half out the door, they crouch, get eye-contact, and sway-count, "Scoobie, Doobie, DO!" …a rag-doll exit into a head down. Coasting sub terminal, Carlos' frog-eyes focus Frank’s baby blue own. Deep yellow eyeballs’ black vertical pupils gaze back. Frank nods, "Very Weird." They palm touch on the hill. He carves, Carlos helicopters. After an eagle, weed-eater cartwheel to a stand, and belly bump to a knee dock. Carlos transitions to an invert, takes a mind meld, wraps his tongue around Frank's head. 4,500’ arrives. Wave-off; C.G. spins him like a top to track. Frank recovers to a sit, back-tracks, air-checks, and deploys. Not wearing a rig, Carlos tracks for the surf-pond. Focused, he tastes the air to gauge air-density with frontal lobe sensors that resemble acne. At 1,103 feet above the up rushing DZ air thickens more. Carlos goes from a frog head down speed-dive, arch out to swoop. Frog legs, webbed fingers, and flipper toes deflect air as he screams across the surf-pool. Reality pops eyes wide with fear. "Oh shit!" Ten feet too high and 42 mph too fast, his chin hits on the opposite bank hard. Soft - Muddy, CG plows a long furrow. Pain. Much pain. Gritting his teeth, glad he’s cold-blooded, Carlos arches his back and saves his ass with a turf-surf on his slimy tummy. Slowing some, he shoulder rolls, stands, and bows courteously to mesmerized onlookers. Openmouthed, they gape. Mr. Godfrog looks skyward to check out his sky mate’s landing approach. Above, Frank's Fifty-seven-ft.-12 cell starts to open. At 1,215 feet AGL, end cells still closed, Frank grabs the slider in his mouth and unstows toggles. Tight spirals set up for a 720 final; then at 200 feet Frank deftly adds a 360 degree front riser turn. Wind whistles loud through his lines as he approaches at an impossible angle. His surging canopy hammers the ground nose first. He follows as the pendulum swing body-slams him into mother earth. Frank the Feak’s terminal fear-rush is eclipsed by a blinding pain flashbulb. “Ka-WHOMPH!” Conscious leaves. He does not hear the impact-thud echoing like a ripe watermelon dropped off of a high-rise building. Packers look up & cringe as Frank’s bounces through shroud lines. Dust clouds a body at impossible angles. Blood bubbling from his mouth, Frank twitches. Dashing over, Carlos bends over his companion to cry out, "Frank! Frank!.... Oh, man! Ya screwed up that, Bro! Big Time! …” Stomping meaningless circles in the dirt he continues, “Whoa, Bro! You should'a started that turn 75 feet higher, Dude! …. Ah, man…. Terrible. Sorry, Frank…. Ah, Dumbshit! NEVER let your canopy land before you! Damn! Damn! Damnit all!” C.G. tenderly fingers the growing bruise on his chin, shakes his head sadly, reflecting, “Ouch, I should go get some ice and Advil on this chin.” Dusting himself off, Carlos mournfully heads to the packing area for shade and a cold drink. The abnormal DZ quietness, a “dead-silence” fades away. Hyper charged people sprint to a crumpled skydiver. One concerned sort addresses Carlos in passing, "What happened? … Is he OK?" Carlos shrugs, "Na, he's toast . . . Weekend jumper, ya know?" Seeing the expected flashing red lights approaching G.G. ponders, "Ok, fire truck is here, ... Cops will be next. Ambulance will take about 35 more minutes...they'll probably call the corner, too...Hummn, that means that I have time for lunch and a nap before my next jump. Good-O!"

THINK what you see. Capture that thought. If, like a pearl, it glistens and astounds, Cherish what your camera-eye caught. Share

Freaks 'R US! . . . . Freaks 'R U! The family-tree branch from the SCR Brotherhood to Freak Brothers is 1:1 - - - meaning Father-to-Son. Brothers, co-fly our crystal sky. That bed shared, We, eagles all, flock. Gathered, We shall fly air only angels have walked. Got wings? Capture the sky? Yep. Freak Brothers know why. Capture the sky, kiss it for me; Share memory. FB 61

Masters of Eye-Sky. The Sky of our Earth: Images -- The sky of our earth presents pictorial images that few eyes ken. Just pilots, parachutists, and balloonists share grandeur that light sky halls: chasms of caverns of tumbling vertical expanses. Apart from a camera, only a mind’s eye reveals such eye candy. These treats aerial photographers capture. Sometimes….. to ignite your mind. BLAM! Captured! Blaze of glory, sky fantasy mural, magic moments of air-sky-earth-skydiver out shine perfect diamonds with God's Glory. Magnificent images. Gone forever. Invisible; non existent, except in your mind's eye.... and IF and when Masters of aerial Skydive photography flew, knew, and captured that fleeting microsecond of perfection. If. If then, via image capture sky-moves grow. Wonder? Think of Star Crest yesterdays, record-ways, night dives; free-flys, and blots that filled skies with 'impossible' numbers. Bottom line: To honor masters of sky art is imperative. Why? Otherwise, be invisible. Honor those who foster the dream you fly: Ray Cottingham, Jerry Irwin, Craig O'Brien (OB), Rande Deluca, Michael McGowan, Norman Kent, Tom Sanders……. Respect

Biographical Sketch of Lyle H. Cameron, Sr. RIP 1993 (Letter to me May 13, 1975) Lyle Cameron Editor and Publisher Sky Diver Magazine La Habra, CA Lyle died in 1993 while flying in Honduras.

40 Years ago: the RW proposals accepted for 10-man team competition at the 1972 National Parachuting Championships. Jan and I bleary-eyed over-killing the research thing for the displays 2012 National Skydiving Museum Weekend & Hall of Fame Celebration Doing research can be fun with your remaining brain cells History? We got files of files of historical / hysterical stuff. . . . like when 10-way was introduced to the USPA Nationals (A time when RW folks and USPA both had a, "Who needs YOU." friendship approach Whatever, I found my handwritten notes from January 27, 1972 Milwaukee USPA BOD Mtg. ... Lookit here: Open Letter to RW Council Members The initial letter to key RW people to explain the RW proposals accepted for 10-man team competition and the 1972 National Parachuting Championships. Pat Works first “underground” communication, from his notes at the event…. (February 2-3, 1972) The initial letter was signed by the three individuals who made the proposal to the Board of Directors, P. Works, D. Girausso, John Sherman. . . . – The RW Council. There are no dues but you must remain active in RW. By virtue of being a RW Council member you are also an advisor on relative work to the USPA Competition Committee Our duties are that you voice your opinion on RW matters. The RWunderground newsletter will print anything you have to say concerning the betterment of RW. The RWunderground Newsletter went to over 1,120 active relative workers all over the world. Members included the FAI CIP, Plus leaders from France, UK, Australia, NZ, S. Africa, Germany, Holland, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Belgium, Canada, Texas, etc. Pat’s notes from The Event: Jan 27, 1972 Battle Plan “Underground” Communication with Relative Workers Nationwide. RW Council RW Teams, and initial list Bill Newell, Bob Sprague, Larry Perking, Curt Curtis, Dan Poynter, John Sherman, Dick Girausso, Betty Girausso, Jan Works, Pat Works TEAMS: Z-Hills, Del Rey, Hinckley, Waco Texas, NE (Pieces of Eight), Michigan. People: Jerry Bird, Stan Troeller, Father Farkle, Lyle Cameron, Dan Poynter, Curt Curtis, Jeff Searles, Jim Bohr, Phil Mayfield, Gary Lewis, Larry Perkins, Leon Ritichie, Bill Smith, Matt Farmer, Skratch Garrison, Bill Newell. Nationally: Team Captains are the representatives and leaders of Star People. (Not Safety officers or Conf Directors, or Club’s Presidents) T ------------------------ Notes added next day, Jan, 28, 1972: Entertain other RW formations. Don’t let Rw stagnate at round stars where all the fun can deteriorate into a tense push for speed & time…. Let’s have snowflakes, lines, …. PAT WORKS’ NOTES Taken at the USPA Milwaukee BOD Meeting: Quotations of BOD Members on the motion: - Len Potts -- Meet aircraft should meet SOP and have insurance - Lyle Cameron – Hold a Spring meet at Hinckley - C. Curtis –PLEASE, Let’s support them… - Ken Glover – You are precluding people who didn’t enter those 10-way meets - Gene P. Thacker --- Let’s support ‘em. Let’s vote! - Jim West -- Hey, I want a chance to compete too! - Mike Linz -- Heaton must control 10-Star…. - N. Heaton -- applicable parts of Part 50 will be observed… same rules - M. Linz – Star people are the only people with enthusiasm; Let’s help ‘em. - N. Heaton – We gotta start somewhere… style and accuracy started the same way. Lets Do it!

I got replies from across the USA San Diego, Byron, Perris, Elsinore, Texas, Florida, etc etc. Yes, it does vary by DZ, but apparently not massively. Dan BC at Perris reports that it is about 65% FS Skydivers (better term than 'belly') Unscientific, but, Overall, it seems close to 50-50 with Freeefly growing faster for jumpers over age 40. With younger (newer?) skydivers going to freefly. For tadpoles, I venture that FF is more natural/easier, probably 'cauze tadpoles still have tails? Like salmon spawning, they just point their head into the current, relax, and go with the flow. On the other hand RW FS requires drill and dedication to master: tight tuck, elbows in.... perhaps akin to group style. :-)

Jan + Pat need Help to assist in transporting Dispalys, Photos, Pictures, posters, banners, relics, and, artifacts to ELOY for Natl Museum Event Nov7 Due to limited transportation space, we need help to shlep display boards, posters pictures, artifacts, etc etc ahead to Eloy and have them accessible for us to unpack/display at the Hangar. :Pile of stuff is about 2.5 ft high and about 4 ft on a side. If you can, hook us up with someone with room in car or van or truck who can lend a hand .. . We live in Fullerton between Brea Mall And Cal State Fullerton off Bantanchury. Hope I can coordinate to do this with you. We don't have the room... Please let us know, we need to make arrangements, soon. Pat & Jan [[email protected]]

John "Hammo" Elsinore sez it's about 40% FF, 40% FS; and 10% Wing suit. Pat Works nee Madden Travis Works, Jr .B1575, C1798, D1813, Star Crest Solo#1, USPA#189,