skybill

Hey Willie V., 10-4 on Amy and Jana but as I recollect the other two were Alex C. and Annie Reinert as they won the collegiaates. Perhaps the Debbie and Pat were on for another meet?? PS Got the "original" "Flashpoint- Who are those guys?" T-Shirt!! SCR-2034, SCS-680 III%, Deli-out

Hi "5," "Morning wood" Got the T-Shirt!!!! And to add to the fray, "Flashpoint" Won the collegiates I forget which year "back in the 80's Annie Reinert, Alex Coseglio, I think Amy Pulliam and I forget who #4 was. "Got this T-shirt too!!" Anyone remember the "Flaming Athols" from Athol Idaho of course!!!! "The Studly Hungwells" yours truly, Tom Norton, Chuck Kight and Dave Hankins (our mascot Navy SEAL-"Studly hungwell!!") 1975 Conference Meet at Elsinore. Then there was "4-Play!!" Perris- back when!! Madam Sally and the Shy Hookers, from Elsinore. All ladys. The Elsinore Hummers, from Elsinore, how low can you go?? The beat goes on Part II. SCR-2034, SCS-680 III%, Deli-out

Hi Scary, Yea' Iknow what ya' mean!! Hi-Test DZ's rain skydivers like candy mints!! 'Ya gotta wear body armour onthe DZ!! 'Yer best bet is to fly into the hanger, they won't follow you in there!! Or will they?? SCR-2034, SCS-680 III%, Deli-out

Hi ACME, Read all the posts, good stuff. As for "Snatch Force" I believe it was in the 80's some time and I got the T-shirt in my archives!! As for "Cunning Stunts" another good one and you can't forget,"Snoots are for Toots!!" from Fla!! There was the "Chico Freako's" from Chico at the '75 Ken Roberts Memorial 10-Man meet at Davis, CA!! BTW Hook won!! That's Capt. Hook and the SkyPirates!! I was on the "San Diego Zoo" from San Diego and trust me, it was a zoo!! Good fun though. Then there was the "Chicken She-ites!!!" Who could forget them!!!!!!!?? The beat goes on!! SCR-2034, SCS-680 III%, Deli-out

Hey bro!!, 'Dat ain't pink, it's "Magenta" or what ever color that's 'pose ta' be!!!! SCR-2034, SCS-680 III%, Deli-out

Hi Gary, Sounds cool but a 172 is 4-place, yer payn' for 2 M-T seats every minute!! That's Y they made Cessna 150's and Piper Tomahawks!! The $ end is probably fair for todays economy but I shutter the thought that the same Cessna 150 that I rented for $15/hr wet at Long Beach Airpt. CA in1978 is still flying!! and now rents for $50+/hr!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hook up with Itllclear Harry Leicher (a post or two up the list) and you will get the best deal, learn more and spend less money!! (Bar none!!) My recomendation if you can, get your first 10 hours in a J-3 Cub or 7AC Aeronca Champ or the like!! Solo the thing if you can!! Then getting into a nose wheel plane will be "EASY!!!" Doing it the other way will be a bitch!! I learned in a 7AC Champ in 1962 and it was the best!! 3point and wheel ldgs are a blast!! By all means if your instr. doesn't kick you out of the nest (solo you) within 10 hours either you are a dufus or he is ,"Milking You Big Time!!!!!!!" (Bar none!!) Have fun dude and keep us posted on your progress!! PS, Got my Private SEL 06SEP79 at LGB CA from Jim Thurston (Check pilot) I flew out of Long Beach Flyers over in the SW corner of LGB by Old Dan Foley's place!! Those were the daze!! SCR-2034, SCS-680 III%, Deli-out

Hi Scary Larry!!, Yup, gotta be careful around the L/Z when the swooper-wanna-be's are trying to dig trenches!! Perhaps we should make swoopers wear rotating beacons (like on airplanes) so we can see'em landing!! The light will be a good reference point for the emergency vehicles too!!! Generally though, I just hang out till the swoopers from my load have crashed then make my approach to land. If there are any in the area when I'm getting near the ground, I just land out a bit, no big deal. Personally I think swoopin' is fun but suicide is best left for the terrorists, they're better at it. SCR-2034, SCS-680 III%, Deli-out

Hi OJ, I guess you can say that my first jump cert. is the first entry signed off by my instructor in my old blue PI log book!! 08MAY64 Southland Skydivers, Hammond Airport, LA. Got photos though!!!! SCR-2034, SCS-680 III%, Deli-out

Hi Ev, 'Nothing wrong, you just jump at Perris!! For as many jumps I've made at Perris I'd have to say that the winds are the some of the trickiest I've encountered. When you're landing from the south to the north accross the runwayfrom the pool on a typical summer afternoon there's that shear line that will kick your if you don't know about it!! You may have some more learning to do about flying your parachute or maybe I should say the relationship of you and your canopy in the "constantly changing" atmosphere you're in!! Onward!! We used to have a windsock accross the runway from the pool and another on the north side accros from the A/C parking ramp and watch people crash in the middle when the tails of both socks are sticking straight out pointing at each other!!! In the middle is that "shear line" and I've seen it do some doozies both to canopys landing and in the air. One day a couple of cases of beer ago Allen Richter and I were watching some landings over "the shear" here comes Johnny Dangerously at bout 4 or 5 hundred feet and his canopybucks and folds up like it's trying to pack itself!!! Down he comes!!! He cuts away, pulls his reserve and gets open with his feet about 50 to 75' above the ground!!! About 1/2 way thru this process I realize that it's him and that's the reserve I just packed for him a couple of days before!!! WOW!!!!!!!! You gripe about bad landings at Perris??? Any landing you walk away from (or crawl under your own power) is a good one!! Take into consideration not only your flying skills but also your enviornment!! Smooth dry air at a steady 5 knots from a constant direction only happens when we're not at the DZ!! Here at Raeford because of the wierd tree lines and DZ size we have a really great wind "Dragon" and it can really kick!! Ask conservative Kate Greiser how she got the plates in her leg!! Compliments of the Dragon. Don't be so hard on yourself about your landings. You're doing OK!!! Lots of good ideas in these posts too!! SCR-2034, SCS-680 III%, Deli-out

Hi JG, Well, I think everyone is guessing!! According to an old Scare-a-chutist article, I think it was "Parachuting Poynters" by Dan the man Poynter, a Pioneer Aerospace engineer named Jim Reuter "invented" the first practical "slider" for Ram Air Canopies!! According to the article, as I recollect, Jim said that Pioneer management charged him with the task of working on how to "Reef" a Ram Air. He noted that at the time, Scare-a-Fright had these rings and ropes things on the top surface of their ram-airs so he started looking "lower." He said that he was playing with a table napkin sliding it thru "a ring" (I think he said he used his wedding ring??" any way the idea of restricting the canopy by choking the lines with a group of rings afixed to a small piece of cloth and "wa-la!!" the slider!! As I recall the article showed a picture of Jim with one of his first workable sliders. Now I'm sure someone will go nuts and want proof so if you want proof, come to m house and dig thru my 40 years of "Parachuist" magazines I have stashed in boxes!! (Who said that Riggers are not Pack Rats??) PS Jim Reuter also invented the "Reuter Wrap" a cute little device that preceeded diapers on some Pioneer round reserves. However, that's another story. SCR-2034, SCS-680 III%, Deli-out

Hi Cheese!!, How Hot?? Well, Scare-us-Valley in the summer can get in the 100's,"But it's a DRY heat!!" I used to like the sauna efect there when I lived in so. cal!! But!!!!, start adding humidity and the comfort level goes to hell (no pun intended) in a hurry!! So there you have it. It's not just the temp. but the humidity too!! Hi temp and humidity also plays havoc on your landings as in both on the up scale increase your "density altitude" at your local DZ. If you need a better understanding of density altitude, ask a "Qualified Jump Pilot." SCR-2034, SCS-680 III%, Deli-out

Hi Scarry, Well, it's been less than a month so i guess I'm fairly "current?" Anyway, Over the years I've had various events curtail my jumping much the same as anybody else. eg. no $, bad weather, broken bones, being involved in the Indo-Chinese War, (that was good for two different interruptions although I did get to make a couple ofjumps during the last Cruise) and the beat goes on...... SCR-2034, SCS-680 III%, Deli-out

Hi Zep, You know something that the others don't!! You think you're a trashy packer but your rigs work. Lines sraight, shake it twice, stow the nose etc. you're good. These other jokers may talk the talk but their focus is out in space. SCR-2034, SCS-680 III%, Deli-out

Hi MM, How many "Gays" in the sport? Or is that "Gay" or "Bi??" Who knows? As for "Homophobes," depends on how far you take it?? I know of a couple of student jumpers, (we all worked for the same company at the time) who while on S/L student status expressed that they wanted no part of this "Relative Work" stuff as they were totally repulsed by "holding hands!!" with another man in freefall!!!! (grippers not withstanding!!!) I thought it a bit odd and blew off the trip. They never progressed past a dozen jumps and quit the company anyway. I've read of a few other people (men) with similar thoughts. Truth is sometimes stranger than fiction. SCR-2034, SCS-680 III%, Deli-out

Hi JB!!, Circa early 60's in the Deep South, Jump prices at Hammond La. were $3.50 to 7500' out of a cessna. Depending on who we got the A/C from flat rate or tach. time it averaged out. We hardly ever got to 10,500 or 12,500 in the cessnas especially in the summer!!! When Bob "The Stud" Munn from Louisiana Skydivers in Baton Rouge got the Howard DGA-15P (just like the ones at old Elsinore!) then Skydiving in the area made a quantum leap!! Still $3.50 to 7500' I forget what 10,500 and 12,500 was I think $5.00 and $6.00?? Back then 80 octane avgas was $0.42 / gal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not any more man!!!! Oh yes and for your car, reg was $0.29 9/10 per gal.!!!! SCR-2034, SCS-680 III%, Deli-out

Here kitty, kitty!!, The reason why I did not start this story out with ,"No shit there I was," Because the story is completely TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have it loged in my old log book, and my memory. Like I said, unfortunately, John Painter is dead, Rodriguez may still be in the Dallas, FWth. area?? Don't knowabout McKinnis?? As for Lt Gregory, I'd love to meet him again!! But this really happened!! Yes Kitty, No shit there I was. The story is really true!!!!! You have to take into consideration that some of us were doing this before you were even a twinkle in your grand dad's eye!!!! SCR-2034, SCS-680 III%, Deli-out

Hi Pseudo, Heheheheheheh,!!! Amazing at what we will do to get a lift in the "War Zone!!" Back a couple of skirmishes ago, "The IndoChinese War (Viet Nam to be exact) Iwas in Uncle Sugar's Canoe Club (Western Pacific Div.) and finding airsupport for Skydiving ops could be boom or bust. Fortunately in WESTPAC 70 I was on the USS Okinawa LPH-3 and we got to the Phillipines (Subic, Cubi Point) about the beginning ov June. So the first stop on my adgenda was the Parachute Loft at Cubi Point. "Hey guys, I just got in on the Oki Boat,, I'm the rigger and is there any Skydiving going on?? Well, some kid named Jim Rodriguez PRAN sporting a cast from the knee down, says, "yeah, we're doin' qual. hops for the SAR Team and we (Cubi Point Sport Parachute Club) are tagging the load, be here at 0630 tomorow. Man, was I stoked!!!!!......O.K. now you make me dig into my archives and find myold logs. It is my old PI Log #3 jump #401, 11Jun70, Castillejos, (down the road from Subic) RP. one of Maj. Massy's CH-46's, and we were having fun!! Just to fill you in, The USS America was in port too and this A-3 jock Lt. John Painter (who was also a skydiver and lurking the load was there too. John had about as many jumps as I had or here abouts and there was this First Class Cigar smokin Rigger from Cubi named McKinnes that was going to jump too. Last but not least, some cat named LT. Gregory USMC who had 15 jumps and had done a 15 sec delay was on the jump. 0600 we were at the loft and got it together to go jump. Hell, I was ready, I hadn't jumped in a month!!! I knew John Painter thru my navy rigger buddy Don Herbel so I knew he was "safe" as for the others, well, it's the luck of the draw. We go out to the CH-46 and the SAR crew gets in. We fly to Castillejos and land, Rodriguez gets out and sets up the L/Z we go up, drop WDI's and drop the SAR team. Painter is up at the front of the helo talkin to the pilots!! We cruise thru 3500' and we're still climbing. I nndge Mckinnis and ask him,"These helo pilots don't like to fly very high, what gives???" He just smiles. Well, I watch the clock and the numbers just keep gettin higher. I look at this cat Lt Gregory, USMC who has 15 jumps and the highest he has been out of an airplane is 4500' and nowwe're at 10000 and climbing!!! At 14,500' we're on jump run, Painter is spotting and starts yelling Go,Go,Go!! I'm by the ramp, Gregory is poised in a student exit stance and has no clue what's going on and we go!! I get stable and see Lt Gregory so I fly over and grab him for a 2 man hook up base and start looking for these other 2 geeks!!! McKinnis was in the "O" Zone and Painter wasn't far behind. As things would have it. Gregoryand I were the High Rolleers for the RW part of the dive!! This was probably the first 2 man hook up ever in the Phillipines!!! I claim that I was part of it unless someone else can come forth and show tha they were involved in at least a 2-way RW dive in the Phillipines prior to 11June1970!!!! Any takers?????? The above testament is true "So help me God" and Lt. Gregory who was in the 2-man with me!! Rodriguez and McKinnis I don't know where you are. Unfortunately, not long after we made that jump, John Painter and his crew got killed in their plane's crash somewhere in the Gulf of Tonkin. RIP John. I will never forget you and our last Skydive together. SCR-2034, SCS-680 III%, Deli-out

hI zON, Gotta check with my Lost Prairie buddy, Chandler? If he's going and Ihave the $$ and can snivvle the time off the job, I'll be there. It wil probably be a last minute call but who knows?? I still watch the tape of the 25thanniversary boggie and sit there spellbound!! SCR-2034, SCS-680 III%, Deli-out

Hi Andy, Old, hell!! Like Scotty says, We're F.O.G.s' (Fucking Old Guys!) {I'm sure there are some Old Girls! there too to throw their hat in the ring!!} After 40+ years I think I qualify to consider myself and Old Guy!! BUT I still jump!! (not as much as I used to but I jump!!) So There!!!!! I would love to have been able to do a pond swoop in a 28' cheapo 7-TU in 1964 but the canopys in those daze didn't have the L/D (know what I mean??) Nobody wears combat boots these daze except for the Airborne troops!! I love the technology we have today to jump!! Old, Hell!!, "You don't quit skydivin' cuz' ya' get old, No, ya' get old cuz' ya' quit skydivin'!!!!!!!!!!!" As far as making it to "Old Age" though, I think besides a lots of luck, being constantly vigilant for anything that may kill you plays a big part. Know your gear, have good gear, know how to use it and use it wisely!!! "your life hangs with your gear!!" SCR-2034, SCS-680 III%, Deli-out

Hi W-C, Yup, I was a "Psych" major!! (sounds like a title to a "B" movie! Any way, if you feel like that would be your groove, "Go for it!!" You can contribute much to the social consciousness of the universe as we know it!! Hopefully,you may hit on some deep unknown truth that can help us all!! Please keep us posted on your future endeavours. Just keep skydivin' !! Skydiving Psych majors are a breed unto themselves!!!!! When I went to San Diego State back in the early 70's, it was one thing to be a "Psych major," but when someone found out I was a Skydiver too, they woulld just walk away, slowly shaking their head from side to side!!!! .....I kid you not!!!!!!!!! SCR-2034, SCS-680 III%, Deli-out

Hi Sunny, Bowling, too much fun. I'm suppose to believe this is a real gig?? I thought bowling was for Whuffs??? SCR-2034, SCS-680 III%, Deli-out

Hi YB, Like Scotty, I'm a F.O.G. too and I plan on being around for a while. I like when people find out I Skydive and the start ranting,"SKYDIVE!!!! that's crazy, you can get killed, etc, etc et.al., how long you been jumpin?" I say,"41 years." and their jaw just works up and down and they don't know what to say. SCR-2034, SCS-680 III%, Deli-out

Hi Jas, Oh for when the saying,"No Sky Too High!" meant something. Ya' should've been there!! The only way to get "extra altitude" in the old daze was,"skin to win!!!!!" And I don't mean at the local strip club!!! SCR-2034, SCS-680 III%, Deli-out

Hi ZON', That's just too cool!! I've had the pleasure to tour "Sentimental Journey" B-17 one day at Orange County Airport Ca. I've seen several others do fly by's here and there at airshows!! The topping on the cake was the "Buzz Job" at Elsinore by the B-17 and the B-24 Liberator in 1995 when the armada got ready to go coast to coast to comemorate the end of WWII. We were hanging at Elsinore getting ready to dirt dive and I noticed these two vintage WWII airplanes (the B-17 and the "Lib") flying along the ridge line of the Ortegas. Then the "17's" engines picked up revs and it banked off heading twords us!! I run out to the runway yelling "BUZZJOB, BUZZJOB!!!!" and sure enough, they complied!! We mooned them on the way by!!! Kathy jacklin was on the radio and transmitted,"Aircraft overflying Elsinore for a gearcheck, we didn't really get a good look can you make another pass??" They were out over the lake and both did a 180 degree turn and came back!!!! We mooned them again!!! I know Rich Hayatt still has the photo's!!!!!!! And the video!!! SCR-2034, SCS-680 III%, Deli-out

Hi Fly, Don't know, just remembered a TV show from the 50's "SKYKING!!!!!" Well, if Kirby Grant can be "SkyKing!!" than I'm,"SKYBILL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" PS I remember watching him on my neighbor "Pumpy Jones'" 17" TV on Saturday mornings in 1951!!! {PS. This was way before you were even thought of!!!} Pumpy's dad flew DC-4's for some major airline outa New Orleans back then and airplanes were way cool. We even used to play "parachute" (me, Pumpy and his brother Garland) we'd climb the Mulberry tree in his front yard and "Bail out" from the lower branches about 6' up!!!!!!!!!!! How we never broke any bones I'll never know???????????????????? SCR-2034, SCS-680 III%, Deli-out