skybill

What whuffo questions annoy me the most???......None of them...really.
Like, they're Whuffs', Whiskey Tango Foxtrot did you expect from them?? Remember, before "WE" took the "Leap of Faith" we too were whuffs' once!!

OK boyz and gurlz,
"WHEN IN DOUBT, WHIP IT OUT!!
As my sky-bud "Sammy Skull," His Majesty the Reaper's Royal Scribe would say,"When ya' pass thru 3-5 ya', got about "5" to 2-5 when ya' should dump!! If, ya' know ya' left 3-5 over 5 seconds ago dum-dum....Do I really have to tell ya',"IT'S TIME TO PULL >>>NOW!!!!" ....

Sam and I have lurked more Craters than we care to have. Rather unfortunate for those that tried to snort more dirt than they thought they could... "Quote: Dirty Ed" Any way, every Crater tells a Story and generally, all of them could have been prevented by judicious Deployment a Parachute at an appropriate altitude!!

Hi Jim,
My Heart goes out to you and yours. Not much else I can say.

mjosparky

Quote

I may fly like a Man Hole Cover~

But a "Man Hole Cover" with "Cool". After all, you have been to Kill Devil Hills.

Sparky

Hi Spark,
As an old resident of the "Eastern Carolinas" for a few years, I "hear tell" of why they called it "Kill Devil Hills." It seems the old "Rum Runners" usedta' bring up their contraband cargo up on them thar hills. "RUM" that "elixir" of the Gods was "nick named" "Kill Devil" as it was suppose to "Kill The Devil in ya'!!!!!" 'Drank enough of it, I should know!!!"
"Cuba Libre's para tu!!!"
III%

Bobutt

I borrowed Dirty Billy Bishops (deceased) Security rig for my first hogback jump. Opening shock disconnected both leg straps! Darn quick disconnects. Fortunately he had sewn a piece of webbing to the leg straps for a seat. It caught me at the knees. I landed on my butt. Painful, but better than the alternative. 41 years later, I still double check my leg straps even with a step in harness before going out the door.

Dirty Billy was a piece of work. His Dad had one of the first ever computers from Caltech in the basement.
Dirty was in the Beech and needed to relieve himself. A real problem for him. So he goes to the door and proceeds to get only most of the liquid out in the windstream. With an approving nod from Poteet , he got a kick in the pants from Dennis ? and entered freefall with his member in the off hand and a loose legstrap. Decisions decisions. Poor guy, got thrown from a car in Mexico and was literally plowed into the ground by a passing farmers plow.

Hi Bob Butt (and MJ),
"Dirty Billy" What a guy!!
Made some jumps with him on 4th of July weekend at Parker AZ "1975" To start with Don Hansen organized the "Event" we had a Premo Beech 18 (H) model from Leo Pike , an Airmail contract pilot from Bakersfield!! (H) model had the stretched (Higher) cabin interior and would climb like a home sick angel!! We took off from Chino that Saturday morning after we got some breakfast at "Flow's!!" then on to Parker! Since "Dirty Billy" "Knew" the area at Parker, "He Spotted!!" Mistake #1 !! Got under canopy, Airport? what airport? Oh That's it over there.....on the horizon!!! Oh! that was just the beginning of a "Fun!" weekend! At least I got a "Splashdown"(Sat. sunset) in the middle of the Colorado River in front of the Blue Water Marina under my 28' LL get picked up by a ski boat that we got to help us out, as I came up the ladder this dude shoves a "Ice Cold Budweiser!!" into my grubby fist!! What a water jump!! Thx for the spot Billy!! Some of the people there that weekend, Me, My (Ex) Chris, Chuck Knight, Chet Bennett, Jay Mejia, Dirty Billy, Don Hansen (organizer,) Madam Salley and others, have o dig out my logs to be sure who else!...............
RIP Billy!!

You Guyz!! 'Ya jumped with "The" Chuck Blue!! Yup, me too!! 'Useta' hang at Raeford!! Just happened to be at the DZ the day he "Retired from the Army!!" had to go to work and Drive "Truck" "Over the road, long haul Big Glass for Schneider Specialized" that evening so I couldn't partake of the juice!! Oh well, we still made a bunch of jumps together and "Partied Hardiest!!" 'Must say, Chuck is a "Good Friend!!"
BTW Wendy, by the time I met Chuck it was hard to tell who was more "Rurant??"

Hi Charlie,
MC-5 The dude that said it lands like a cow is almost right, more like a big sack of fresh Bull Sh#t!!!!! 'Usedta; watch the Army guys land those things at Raeford, what a joke!! Even if they are brand new they still (read above!!). 'Definitely needs' to try some new stuff, A Navigator or some other similar canopy. I'm "Old" and my bones don't bend like they usedta' so I have a Stiletto 190!! She's a sweetheart! Powder puff landings!!

Hey wally,
I concur, 'Tried Faceplant for 20min, 'bout puked, like after 20 beerz!! BARF!! Guez' we're in "The Twilight Zone!!"
"That place between light and Shadow!!?"
Got Gunz??,
III%

Hi "Cat Lady!!"
Funny how that goes!! There was Many more, all great kitties!! "Lucky" is the "Survivor!!" A little solid black short hair with the sweetest disposition! We found each other 29 June 1999 and she and I are still together!! (she was only 5 weeks old when found)
So you have a couple of kitties in your life!! That's wonderful. When one of them crawls under the covers, curls up next to your chest and purrs like a chainsaw, I think you have a Keeper!! That's my "Lucky!!!"
Blue skies, cat lady!!,
III%,
skybill-out

NickDG

Have fun tomorrow, Bill. Wish I could be there.

When I look back on my own skydiving career I realize the three most important things have been the throw-out pilot chute, the 3-Ring release, and woman. And without the former two there would have been a lot less of the latter.

NickD

Hi Nick,
'Still a month till St. Pat's day 17MAR, "Green Beer!!!" "The Reading of the 'Names'" a tradition at "Big Harry's" every St Pat's Day,Paul "Big Harry" would put an old fashioned "Irish Wake" in memory of all his(and our) friends and patrons that have passed on. Paul would take the stage with "the List" and Peanut,Paul's drummer, would ring the bell behind the bar when a name is read. My late wife Peggy's name is on the list. I will be there.
For anyone in the Fayetteville NC area, "Big Harry's" 3030 Ft. Bragg Rd. across the street from the Cadillac Ranch.

"Interesting observation" about the sport!! I concur.

I have that issue in my archives too!!!!!!!

Hi Pat,
Yup, you got it!! I recall down at Otay, Don Whilldin used to mention that about the Floyd Smith-Les Irvin connection. A relative of Floyds', Prevost Smith (I believe he was Floyds' son but am not sure??) had a shop out by Santee. Whilldin also had his shop near by. Otay? remember Otay, back in the day of Jim McDonald's "Borderlands Air Sports Center!!"

billbooth

Niki;

I wouldn't be where I am today (chuckle) without all those test jumps you did on stuff no one else would jump.

'Having worked with and jumped with Bob, I couldn't help but have a good laugh when I read that!! Bob, I'll be in NC for St. Patrick's Day the "Reading of the 'Names'" at Big Harry's Tavern. I'll be in touch.

Hi Nat,
You have your "List," which I might say is a good thing. But just beware, behind your "smiles," yours and his, lie "Your Demons!!" That is the "List" you will have to do major battle with!!

Hey Flibby!!!,
You Got It!!! Not the same dive but "Close!!" That photo has to be a couple of years later, look at all the "Whilldin Rigs!!!!!"( I see at least 3) When I got my SCR 80% of the guys still had belly wart rigs! But that "Dirt!" That Otay Dirt!! like the current Country song says,"Makes you wanna' build a 10% down white picket fence house on that Dirt!!!!" BSBD!!

Now yesterday here in La., the 23rd of DEC was the 42nd anniversary of my "Official" SCR dive at Otay, Ca. in 1972, Went pin with Jim Gerardin Base and Got the 10-MAN!! Time sure flies when yer having fun!!! 'Got # SCR-2034. a couple of weeks later, 07JAN1973 at Otay we were doing an SCR dive for Ed Pettit and figuring the entry order on the ground after the dive I came in 8th!! I yelled,"WOW!, I got my SCS!!" That was 2 cases of Beer on that dive!! My # SCS-680. Man that Beer sure tasted "Good!!!!!!"

Hi Fast,
Last few years it's been Country, Classic Country, Southern Rock and Blues.
Funny how when I grew up here in La., WNOE in New Orleans was Top 40 Rock and some years ago they went "COUNTRY!!"

rdufokker

When I hear "the Gulch" I always think of Ma Death.

Hi rdu,
"Ma Death," Dana Hanbury.
III%,

Hi JP,
To start with, what John said. The part about the "coil spring" effect of the 308 and 304 stitch is on it. If you're running a full tilt boogie shop then a bar tack machine is handy. So is a 304 and 308 machine. If you don't have a big operation and don't need all that heavy artillery there are other options. 'Back in '77 (don't do the math, it'll scare you!) I found a Singer "Fashion Mate" machine in a sewing shop in Long Island NY!! It's all steel parts, heavy and built like a brick sh*t house!! 'Does fwd, reverse, straight (301) and zig-zag (304)!! Works great with "E" thread!! 'Think I paid $75.00 for it back then!! 'Does great 304 bar tacks for lines!! 'Still have it and it runs fine!!

airtwardo

Hi Bill !

The real 'problem' with the Green Star Express IIRC, was that it wasn't the most comfortable rig going.

It was like a sheet of plywood on your back stiff.

The not so wise 'inside trick' was to stitch rip the threading that held the reserve risers down over the pack tray...loosened things up and let the yoke spread a bit.

That threading unfortunately was what held the risers to the harness...

Hi Jim,
'Bout as close as I ever got to a Green Star was lookin' at their ad in "Spotter" mag from the NE back when. 'Never liked "slaved on risers." Most all current (I think) rigs have the reserve risers come down the harness and become the main lift web to the leg straps as one continuous piece. Would be interesting to see the drawing (blue print) of the set up. Just like "Tapewells" they're history!!
PS, did ya' ever find that Orange handle "Hook knife??"

Hi Skypup & all,
Heard the stories too. As for the dude bouncing at Otay (O-die) he was not the one who yelled "Take Pictures!!" Rick Mazie was teaching the FJC and saw the whole thing and according to Rick when the guy realized his situation he was yelling something more to the effect of,"Oh Jesus, Oh Jesus....!!!!" Some Brits at a Perris Turkey Boggie told the story of a bounce back in UK where the dude went in just across the runway from the packing area and was heard to yell,"Take Pictures!!" right before he bounced. I think it was the Ducks' end farm road freefall club jumpers that told the story.
Pretty much right on about the Green Star rig. Never saw one up close so I don't know how the reserve risers were configured but they sounded,"Sport Death!" Sorry I don't have one of Bullet Bob's "Sport Death" T-shirts but I do have a Monty and Link Sport Death Skullcrest from Ghoulidge in my archives!
Yeah The Gulch and Ghoulidge are now history. Most all of the USFET are still around and still tellin' the tale. Pat Works chronicled a lot about those daze on "Air Trash" "Blast from the past" go read it!
I Don't know if there's more to it but from the Gulch the line goes,"They ignored the Ground that Cardinal Sin, Monty Bounced and Link went in."
Like a lot of those WWII training bases the runways were set up in a triangle form, ala the Gulch. The triangle formed by the runways was called the "Devil's triangle" and all loads were spotted over the center as nobody was to have bounced "inside" the triangle. The guy who hit the asphalt was probably the closest.
Never seen the "Arm" up close but did see the first B&W 8x10 glossy photo or two at Perris or Elsinore or both. Several stories prevail about the arm. Anyone know for sure it's history??

Krip

***WTF?

Why do you even know about this at that age?

Freeakky!

WAG

WW2 movies or WW1.

Interesting drawing I remember drawing pics of WW2 bombers in grade school with the bomb bay doors open and bombs away. Wonder what the teachers thought.

These days much worse. Hi Ripper,
Funny thing you should mention that??? Kids will be kids and we all did stuff like that back when in school,,,,,,,,But NOW!!!
Like the kid that ate the pop tart into the shape of the state of Idaho and the teachers freaked out saying it looked like a gun and now......he's a felon for life!!!! Guns, airplanes, bombers with the bomb bay doors open, parachutes, cowboys & indians, you name it we drew it on our lined notebook paper!

Like you said, these daze, much worse!! Fortunately Fla. Gov. just signed a bill into law restraining school administrators from coming down on kids for being kids!! It's called,"The Pop-Tart Law!!!"

Hi Steve and all,
I'm at a loss for words.............. I remember the good times in AZ back when.....The New Years' eve "Hancock Hotel" parties!! 'Still have a bunch of the T-shirts in my archives!! Jumping at "Ghoulidge" was always the best. Fly on Charlie.

Xtremeopal

Any body know where I could get a "skydivers eat their dead" t-shirt from?

Hi pal,
If that was a particular shirt?? No, but the one to be on the lookout for is any old "Rickerby" especially the one with a bunch of Ghouls with toot snorting straws sitting around a hugh mirror with what is obviously cremated human remains and although there is no caption the "Implied" one is,"SKYDIVERS SNORT THEIR DEAD!" Got that, dude??

PS, Besides that one, another favorite Rickerby I have is the Beech 18 exit shot!!

Hi dEd and all,
Since it's still 08MAY 'guess Ill do a thread bump or whatever. It's scary enough when I got up this morning I realized that it was 50 years ago today that I made my First ever Parachute Jump!! Yup, 28' double L, 2800', Milt Nobels Cessna 170, Hammond Airport, La., Southland Skydivers, Numan Gill B-1929 was my instructor/ jumpmaster. Good Fun!! And here it is 50 years later. Time sure flyz when yer havin' Fun!!