skybill

Hi Krip,
The "Pea Gravel" stories abound. Back in the daze of round canopies and Iron Men, down wind landings for the paint can lid in a 15K breeze, broken bonez and what-all, thank the First Jump Fairy for putting the thought in a jumperz head," Hey guyz, how about 'Pea Gravel!!'" 'Remember going to a jump meet at DeRidder, La in Dec '63 (right before I started jumping) and all they had for a target was a plowed up area!! 'Don't remember anyone getting carted off to the Ortho but there was some hellacious landings!! When Southland Skydivers finally got going at Hammond La., we put in a 10 meter pit (5m from disc to the edge) "DON'T MISS!!" then later it got expanded to 30meters!! (15 out from the disc!!) Nice soft washed river peagravel!! Good stuff!! When Leon and Prissie moved the DZ from Hammond to Covington, they took the peas with them!! So reported Prissie!! Those were the daze. Now, out at Raeford, the "Peas" have been replaced with a "Tuffet!!" Wherez "Miss Muffet????"

Nataly

OK, I was just clicking through different links on youtube and ended up on this (warning to all Piers Morgan haters: contains Piers Morgan!):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2btKEnfuA4


I don't know how much you can stand to get through since everyone is talking at the same time but the question he poses made me think:

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Why would anyone need an AR-15?

(Or any other automatic or semi-automatic weapon or a magazine that can hold more than a handful of rounds...)

It's a good question... Why *would* any civilian need these? (Other than the obvious: they're fun!!!) The US bans other weapons that have far less potential for harm... Would banning these types of riffles (or high-capacity magazines - or both) actually reduce mass murders? The argument being that law-abiding citizens (ie: people who have legally purchased these) are not the ones committing crimes in the first place... So banning these only punishes law-abiding citizens... Truthfully I don't know... I honestly can't think of a reason you would really *need* one, but I'm not convinced banning them would *actually* make people safer...

Thoughts?

Hi Nataly,
Who is going to be "Safer" the person with or without the gun?? As the old sayin' goes,"God created men, but Colt made them 'Equal!!!!'" We tend to think we live in a "Sanitized" society with a false sense of security. After all, when confronted by criminal activity and "Seconds" count, the police are only "Minutes" (sometimes hours) away!! So when Guns are Outlawed, only Outlaws will have guns!! When you find yourself in the middle of a "Gunfight" I'm sure you would like to be "Armed!!" BTW the AR-15 has been callled the "Evil Black Rifle" (EBR) by the Hoplophobic Comunity, however, like your Stiletto 120 or the like, the EBR comes in a variety of "COLORS!!!!" Anne Barnhardt has one all decked out in "P-I-N-K!!!" How cute. Just think, you can get one to match your canopy!!!

Hi Rob,
Funny thing you should mention that!! My stack of mags went back to '64!! I kept a bunch from my early years and some "Specials." Gave the rest to Kate and Tony at Raeford. Let the newbies see what the Sport was like "Back When!!"

crotalus01

A similar (or possibly the same) picture is on the cover of Skies Call 2 (I think the cover but it may just be on the inside ).

Hi c.t.,
The plane on the Skies Call is a Lockheed 10E. The plane was last owned by Gene Paul Thacker and Bobby Frierson 1/2-1/2. The plane was at Bobbys' place and an engine caught on fire. As the story told by Gene Paul at the bar at Raeford was that Bobby called him and told him about the fire and said,"The plane caught on fire and 'Your Half Burned Up!'"

Our good friend Dave just passed away this morning from brain cancer. I'll post more later.

Blue skies Dave, Fly on.

Rest in Peace Laddie. 'Just rememberin' the "Good Times!" You are now among all of our friends in the Eternal Star. Blue skies to ya' buddy. I'll never forget your "Cowboy Coffee!!"

councilman24

Just show a newbie the size of the 3 door and they'll piss their panties.

Hi Terry,
Hahahahahahaahahahahhahah!!!!!!!!hehehehehe,ROTFLMFAO!!!!!! Never mind the "3 Door," show em' a "Beech 18 Door," the round one not the cargo door!!!! and a bunch of jumpers in French Boots, Pioneer double zipper jumpsuits, Bell Helmits, B-4 Backpaks with ParaCommanders and a T-10A Chest reserve all "behind" the door getting ready to do a "10-MAN SPEED STAR!!" Hehehehehe!!

Hi airdive,
Let's go,"Freak Flyin'!!" 'Seems like yesterday only I don't wanna' do the math an' figger' out how long ago it really was?? Time sure flyz' when yer' havin' fun!! 'Didn't even know till I saw the movie the first time, that's "Sweet Sally" flyin' up an' doin' a side dock on me an' she's geekin' the camera!! How many faces do you recognize in the movie that are no longer with us???? Too many have gone on.

Freak Brother 1495

BigMark

Anyone have a picture of the original bomb shelter after the last party? (holy crap what a night)

Hi Mark,
'Yup, I do!....Now, where is it???? Somewhere in my "Archives" I'll have to do an extensive search but it's there!! The photo is of a bunch of us outside by the pool. Good Times, Craig "Sarge" McDonald got his
Air Trash Hat, lots of "No Sh*t stories!" and on.

In Reply to OW6 and a few others,
'Remember, I think it was Yohn Aarvick's '3 from Cal Shitty and Scare-us-Valley, back at the door it had a dozen or more "stickers!!" One I thought fit the spot just right said,"Lead, Follow or Get Out Of The WAY!!!!" I don't want to do the math and figure out how long ago this was, I'd get scared!!

Hi John,
Just think what would have happened to Douglas "Wrong Way" Corrigan on his return to CONUS had he performed his famous flight today?? 'Read the articles elsewhere and was not really surprised. Remember, all the "Airspace"from a couple of hundred feet "Upward" is "Controlled" by the "Feds!!" Just thinking about the $$$$involved is extensive. Consider the $$/Hr. for the jet circling above, the co$t/hr for all the other vehicles as well as the pay/hr. for all the personnel???? Hmmmmmmm????$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$! Our Tax $$$$$ at work??? The dude gave a plausable explanation for "NOT" opening his flight plan as he was following major roadways etc.... 'doesn't matter anymore!!!

Hi Jim,
Funny you should mention that,"Beer always tastes better on the DZ than anywhere else in the world!!" I concur.
As to,"Why Jump?" To the person who has never.....I can only say if I have to explain it, you would never understand.

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Long ago and fat away I found a better way. I had a student frozen on the step. I climbed out next to him with the intend of hip checking him off the plane. He had both feet firmly planted on the step. I was trying to get my foot planted next to his on the step and leaned over and said "Excuse me." to him. He moved over. And he was gone. I did that a few times after that and it never failed. It always amazed me how polite people were.

Hi JW and all,
Funny how that goez!!......'Back in the day....before someone "invented" the Pilotchute assist device (either a velcro strap or breakcord tie between the S/L and Pilotchute) the S/L would just open the pack and hopefully the P/C spring did it's job!! 'Hangin' around the old Southland Skydivers DZ at Hammond Airport, La. one day, R.L. Tycer D-339 (I think??) was tellin' a story 'bout a S/L student hangin' strut on the old Red Howard at DeRidder, La. a while before. Said R.L.,"He froze up on me an' ah' said,'Ah' gotta' do sumthin' 'Bout that!!....So ah' pulled his Static line......'Instant Gone!!'".....I believe that Howard is long gone but the students' fingerprints were still imbedded on that strut!!!

Hi G-03,
Buddy you proverbially,"Hit the nail on the head!!" Thanks and spread the word far and wide!!

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The gun debate is obviously quite polarizing and I suspect that no one is converting members from "the other camp". In fact, the word divisive might be better suited than polarizing....let's talk about violence.

I'm sure most would agree that violence in nearly all cases is a "bad" thing, but I think if we dig deeper into the issue of violence as opposed to gun violence the discussion would be much more nuanced and provide greater understanding between the parties.

For example, I can pretty confidently state that we can all agree that killing 1, 2, 20 innocent children, by any means, is a case of unacceptable violence. When is violence acceptable?

Is violence an acceptable means to defend oneself? What about property?

Is it ok to use violence preemptively in order to defend oneself, others or property?

Is it ever ok to use violence for some reason other than the defense of life, liberty or property?

Are there special licenses for violence? By this I mean, it's ok for person A to use violence in a particular situation, but it's not ok for person B to use it.

Is violence a bad thing? If so, are there any cases where depictions of violence, real or imagined, are wrong?

For the most part, i'm sure we can all agree that guns are efficient and fairly readily available tools for violence...some more so than others. This is the debate, but should it be the focus of attention or should the core issue of violence be?

Are we (Americans) as a society more violent than others? And if so, why?

I would really like to avoid the discussion of guns, as it's kind of boring at this point and I'm finding the discussion about violence much more interesting.

If anyone is interested in making it more interesting we can turn this into a drinking game. Mention the word "gun" and you have to drink.

Let's step out of the box folks.

Hi MP,
First off,"What is 'Violence????'" According to the American Century Dictionary 'Violence is 1. being violent, 2. violent conduct or treatment and ...#3. unlawful use of force!!!!! And above is the definition of "Violate," which I think is here the term "Violence" is derived, (disregard, break, treat profanely and last but not least, "Desecrate!!!") So come at me with a weapon,"Gun, knife, meat cleaver and or baseball bat," and I respond to you in kind defending my carcass from getting my bodily fluids leaked all over the ground, "Who's being 'Violent????'"

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Hey Sky Bill,

The OP (propblast) asked me if I knew anything about it.... threw me for a loop, never heard of it.... now I know why...LOL Seem this chappy has scored one of his own in a sleeve or something or other....

Me thinks we need to see some photos!

Oh yea... me thinks you might lose some of the kiddies in translation...

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Showup at scare-us-valley when Airtrash is in force and maybe they will let you see one up close!! Play on Sweet Gypsy's, Play On!!!!!!!

Propblast, now you know why I told to you post it here, some old fart (said with all due respect & well wishes SkyBill) is bound to know the answer...

Hi Strat,

"Scare -us-valley aka "Perris Valley" easy enough but what the whatever. kinda goes back when we were fearless and facietious (hope I spelled that right)

Hi SERE,
Do you mean Robert "H.V." Pope of the old Navy Lakehurst Patachute Club back in the mid 60's????????? I was at Rigger's "A" School back then and remember him well, would be fun to drink some beer and tell some lies with the old fart!!!!!

Hi Blast,
"Sparrow" RW/PC spinoff by Sandieggo rigger don whilldin back in the early thru late 70's. roger worthington(Corranado Bridge Base Jump #1) and ed locknut still have one in their gear bag!! Showup at scare-us-valley when Airtrash is in force and maybe they will let you see one up close!! Play on Sweet Gypsy's, Play On!!!!!!!

Hi Ripper and Lisa,
Open rigs in airplanes!! Closed one of my own and 2 others!! Fortunately I'm a Rigger so things like this are just another day at the office. BTW it's a lot easier in big airplanes like Otters and DC-3's. Coupla' times to get the guy on the last load, after we were up, we cleared a path up the center and packed his rig on the way up!! Sometimes ya' gotta' do what ya' gotta' do!! For details, bring beer,...lots of Beer, "COLD BEER!!" I'll explain. BTW ya' can toss in a bottle of Crown too!!

Hi Shay,
Once upon a time I had an old Dajango Dragonfly with about 1500 jumps on it. On its last jump it ripped a center cell bottom skin from the B to the D line attach point. Flew fine, turned OK and flying along with others in the air with me I could tell my rate of desent wasn't out of hand. On the safe side I landed in the peas (at Scare-Us-Valley) and although a bit brisk if i was in the hard pan i'd still be OK. One thing, as far as rips are concerned, unless you try doing some hard spirals or the like to increase the load, the rip isn't going to continue unless you have some really rotten fabric. Cut away if you want, personally if the canopy is flying fine, rips, bullet holes and or whatever, I'd land it. Someone may have swapped out your reserve with a bunch of old Chicago newspapers when you wern't looking. Oh well at least you'd have something to read on the way down

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Carol Clay has achieved 12 DAYS of free fall time.

Freaking awesome! And for anybody who's wondering, that's 288 hours of freefall time.

Hi Bill,
288 hoursx60minutes per hour=17280. If every dive was a 60SD from 12,500'. So go figure??

Hi bry,
Because they are afraid of what is on the other side of the door, because they are afraid of...letting go. If you've been around the sport for awhile you read,"A Moment of Immortality" I won't say who wrote it, those that have read it will know, those that havn't, ....will. 'Says it all.

Hi Jim,
Thanks for posting about Gene Paul. 'Known him since I started jumping. Fly on Gene Paul, fly on. That "Star" up there just grew one bigger.
'Not much else for me to say right now, just fly on Gene Paul, Fly on.

Hi Mike,
Different place, same album. Funny you should mention Brubeck's take 5 and Blue Rondo......Gene Paul and skydivin'.........'Was out at the old Hammond Airport yesterday.....'Hangin' out in front of the "old Terminal Building," our old hangout back in the late 60's. Nice hot Blue sky Louisiana day....just right for skydivin'....Was rememberin' when right above the Saturday sky would be filled with Parachutes. One jumper saw a spectator by the fence line with a camera,"Hey, take my picture when I'm commin' down!" "Sure, what color is your 'chute??" The jumper said,"Orange and White!!"

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Naw, just from time to time you realize it IS a risky thing we do sometimes, and you stay vigilant to try to minimize the risk.

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~and then ya take a long hard look in the mirror, contemplate wasted youth, list failures and unfulfilled dreams. Maybe look up at the sun and realize we're nuthin ' more than insignificant bugs on a rock...

Then twist another fatty, pencil the reserve and head to the DZ 'cause fuck it...what's the worse that could happen?






Ummm...or is that just ME?!

Hi Jim,
I'm with you on this one.

SCR-2034, SCS-680

III%,
Deli-out