JumpUpMyAss

This is a decal I came across in my jump stuff. I got it from my friend Leo Orlowski. How old is it? What year(s)?

Comrade Boris - no one told me not to land with half brakes. Typical small DZ night jump - PC's, light sticks and Manship on the right. Notice the beer can under his altimeter.

I can't think of jumping without memories of Manship. I knew him from 1975 on. In 1995 he and I got back into jumping when when went up to Gainesville and made a jump at McBrides place. Theres only one Tom manship.

I bought an early Para Plane from Tom Manship in 1975 and the reefing system was on the top of the canopy. The entire top surface was a battle scarred with burns, rip stop tape and patches. It packed up as big as a suitcase - but it was a 'square'.

I jumped a buddie's short-lined PC 7 years ago at 220 lbs. This how a fat boy does a plf.

I see your point. Parachute jumping is still an activity that requires more than the average person is willing to risk. That in itself attracts a common personality trait that all jumpers, old and new share. From a 52 year old perspective: As far as your generation compared to the 'new' generation? Jumpers then defined the sport, now the sport defines the jumpers. Hey man, that was HEAVY! I need to go lay down now.

I remember watching guys like you when I started jumping 1975 and thinking to myself 'these guys are nuts'. The days of the 'Super Cheapo'. At that time I could not understand why your generation was so interested in messing with their canopies. Now I look back and realize it was a 'transitional period' in sport parachuting that will never happen again (atleast not in my lifetime). Jumpers today don't think like you guys did (and still do). They don't have to anymore -everything is already invented and readily available for a price. I don't know if its was better or not back then but it was sure interesting to watch. I wonder many jumpers today would consider modifying their main with ideas they themselves thought of and then test jumping it? It all changes when its 'your ass' in the rig @ 7200 ft. I'll bet it was the same at every drop zone in the country to some degree 35 years ago and a sign of the times. If you 'ain't got it then it hasn't been invented so you gotta make it yourself - knock yourself out'

Too cerebral for me. I think some people are just wired from birth to do scary shit - just because. Especially boys who grew up in the 50's and 60's - hell the neighborhoods were full of them. If you ever heard these words from your Dad as he drove you to the Doctor " Damn it son! what the hell was you thinking?....." then you're one of them.

Russ, This is what I was thinking of. When Jack Shelley and McBride ran it in 1977, before Bob was there. If you pulled low he made you do a static-line line jump on a T-10 with all the trimmings. Ingo Patella and Me.

I guess I can't be a jump master until I can recognize what the hell I'm looking at. I was thinking of GCSPC -I forgot Bob trained that way at Mansfield. I better go check my reserve for one of those springy things.

The three static line students don't look too enthusiatic do they? Stevens Cutaway System - guaranteed to slap the side of your face or knock out a tooth if you cut away! Yep, I learned on the old military method of hand deploy too. Makes sense on a slow speed malfunction like a line over or Mae West. I wonder what it was like on a tumbling, terminal pull? Can you say 'accidential opening'?

I agree brother. I'm not sure we recognized it then but it was some care-free times for sure.

Heres another one Webb took of Mansfield in 1977. The fence was electric so Don Stephens and I persuaded Ron Nichol's little son to piss on it. It shocked his little pecker. He screamed so load the jumpers heard it on jump run. I talked to Ron several years ago in Gainesville and he said his son is 6'5" /240 and on a mission to find us. Seems he can't get an erection unless lightning strikes. Hey kid...... is it too late to say 'we're sorry'?

Mansfield about 1979 or 1980. When I think of DZ's this is how I picture them: trailer, trash, beer, 182 door, etc. Check the the names on the Manifest board. L-R. Paul Wangler, Anita Wangler, Kyle, Me. Webb, you were the only guy i remember taking pictures back then - thanks(??) Fuller

Thanks for the info - I came across their names in my logbook and wondered about them. I remember Bob took his job fairly seriously running the DZ ( normal for today but a rarity in the 70's) and Ralph impressed me as an experienced jumper willing to jump with anyone -anytime. You know how it was back then - students had to start at the bottom of the food chain and work their way up hopefully to be eventually accepted by the 'real skydivers'. You were lucky if someone took a little interest in you and showed you some stuff. Otherwise you were left to your own. I remember my first cutaway was a 'rite of passage'? The old outlaws had me so brainwashed that I was actually happy when my first square jump on a Sled functioned and I cutaway to a chest mounted 26' Navy in a Super Pro rig. John Harris came up to me afterwards, stuck a beer in my hand and said 'you're a skydiver now'. Sounds corny 30 years later but looking back it wasn't a bad system really and much different than today. Seems like there's a license and a rating for everything now. Back then it was simple: if you had a C License (and were the least drunk) you were a Jump Master. If you had a D License -you were a mini-god and could do anything to/with anyone/anywhere/anytime. Gold Wings? - you were a GOD. You progressed up the chain by 'events'. First PC jump, first spot, first cutaway, first square, first demo, first anything. In doing so you gained experience and the acceptance from the others jumpers. I guess thats the bond we all felt that may missing at today's DZ's. There were a few years there where jumping was all I had - and all I wanted to do. Eat, drink, jump, chase pussy. I don't know if it's missing really but it's different. So I was determined to get off student status -no matter what it took. If only to get away from the old chest mounted reserve with no pilot chute. I never did warm up to the idea of 'pulling and punching'. Just some thoughts.

Anyone know what happened to Bob Woeste, Dan Hall or Ralph Hartman? They ran the GCSPC in Decatur, Texas in 1975?

Fred Elsner. I haven't heard that name in 22 years. Where is he now? How did he die? Who killed him? Fred are you out there?

Doc, Having trouble attaching the photos. But you were there so verify this: Fast descent, thud, whomp, 'what the fu.." Better now. Who's next? The late-great Manship runs up to me as I am daisy chaining lines: 'Fuller - you crazy son-of-a bitch!'

I jumped this short-lined PC about 6 years ago. My weight then was about 220 and it had been cut 42". Date of manufacture is 1967 and custom 'Falcon' pattern - unique. As you can see by the pictures - the rate of descent was very high.

I understand. I had the most fun jumping in 1975, '76 and '77 it seems. I was young, skinny and could see a knat's ass at 100 yards. Now I'm old, fat and can't see an elephant's ass at 10 feet. The old jumpers then probably felt the same way about us so I guess that's the way it has to be - time moves on. As far as fatalities , the older jumpers will understand this because it's the way we all used to think: 'Shit happens' and 'Fuck him, he ain't my brother'