goldwing

One Lake Geneva DZ was located adjacent to the drag strip which later became a race track (now defunct) south of town. I believe it closed after the principle owner Connie O'Rourke was killed doing a Santa jump. I'm told by the former operator there was another DZ just South of Big Foot Beach operated by I think the Whitings. I vaguely recall seeing a sign near the road with a parachute canopy on it. Not sure if it was advertising or a caution sign for motorists. You haven't lived until you've almost died"

Rainbow Magic is the one, just wish I could download it. You haven't lived until you've almost died"

Anyone have the film/video of Mirror Image at Pope Valley from 1978/79 on DVD? Background music was Steve Miller's "Swingtown". You haven't lived until you've almost died"

A couple other Navy PR's and I tried modified this canopy at NAS Kingsville, TX in 1969. Rate of descent tolerable, it sufficed until a real PC was purchased. You haven't lived until you've almost died"

I believe Nick rig was setup without a pilot chute. Pud was attached directly to nose of canopy. Someone can elaborate on this for sure. You haven't lived until you've almost died"

She was a classy lady. Somebody's gotta have some pics of jeannie to post here. You haven't lived until you've almost died"

Laredo Skydivers Laredo, TX circa 1968-69 Short lived DZ just South of Elkhorn, WI late 1970's might have been a Trevor Busst enterprise? You haven't lived until you've almost died"

I made a bunch of jumps with Laredo Skydivers 1968-69 during my Navy days. Mike Fernandez D2104 Stuart McCurdy D1132 You haven't lived until you've almost died"

Very unlikely as the Air Force had them installed on all BA-18m, 22 chutes. The supply system had them by the ton. You haven't lived until you've almost died"

Jesus Christo, can't this topic be buried once and for all!!! You haven't lived until you've almost died"

I bought a second set of Gold Wings in the early 90's and they were made of thin metal with no rings, needless to say I was disappointed in USPA. Once in a while the older silver wings will show up on eBay. You haven't lived until you've almost died"

Nice work, wish more of us "older" jumpers would document their experiences. Gotta be some great stories to tell. I would suggest more pictures to help add visual interest to the snext part of the story. You haven't lived until you've almost died"

Yeah, so I didn't have the formula/history sheet in front of me when I typed it. I think I got a few years on you mister and I was there too 1970-84. You haven't lived until you've almost died"

Sky Knights SPC - Tarantula Fizz - shot glass consisting of: 1/3 sharp ginger brandy, 1/3 Tequila and 1/3 Tabasco. Slam the shot, put the glass down and say "That's a Hearty drink" You haven't lived until you've almost died"

My information on Switlik is over 20 years old. True every manufacturer may have had variants authorized. Most of today's recipients are ejections from nodoubt fast jets. Many Navy parachute lofts had a Caterpillar Club board with the names of those pilots who had bailed/ejected. I remember one at NAS Glenview, IL. As a Navy rigger I had one of my chutes used during an ejection. It was a heady moment when the pilot stopped by the shop to express his gratitude and deliver my beverage of choice. I've heard a reserve ride out of a single engine, formerly twin engine D-18 Beechcraft at 1000 ft. AGL has been documented and approved. You haven't lived until you've almost died"

Doc, That small screw back Caterpillar Club pin is legitimate. Similar to what is currently being issued by Switlik. The authentic WW II era ones with documentation go for big bucks now days. See my other post for other examples. You haven't lived until you've almost died"

I believe the Switlik Parachute Company still issues Caterpillar Club membership. During WW II many parachute manufacturers offered their own variation of Caterpillar Club awards and/ or pins that indicated a person saved themselves using that company's parachute. You haven't lived until you've almost died"

Here's the scenario of those Navy Rigger Schooll jumps. We practiced packing the very chutes we would use several times under the watchful eye of the instructor staff. Did hours of PLF's. On jump day, the winds had to be all but calm. Altitude 3200 feet, six jumpers per stick with instructors front back and middle. Equipment: 28 foot unmodified canopies with lines towed in looks and no deployment bag/sleeve. Instructors had modified double L or TU canopies. At altitude we lined up near the door, one hand on main ripcord (cross chest pull) and the other hand protecting reserve ripcord. When told GO it was out the door feet together, count to three and pull. That my friends is what is known as a "Confidence Builder". Never jumped a Lakewood but made a few more with the Navy Club at Lakehurst before graduation. You haven't lived until you've almost died"

Some great old photo of exits and gear from the day. Particularly intersting to me were the images from the Navy Parachute Rigger School provided by on of the former instructors. My first jump was a freefall at Lakehurst with my class. Those images brought back some vivid memories and I downloaded a bunch of them You haven't lived until you've almost died"

You might be thinking of Jack AKA "Wildman" Wallace from the milwaukee area. He was seriously injured in an industrial mishap in the late `70's - early `80's. You haven't lived until you've almost died"

Does the rumor of a contestant giving a BJ to a judge sum up the deternination of the wet T-shirt contest winner? You haven't lived until you've almost died"

I think the Nationals were held at Olathe, KS back in the 60's and the Navy might have done some jumping as well at the Naval Air Station there. You haven't lived until you've almost died"

The horn trio was the "Hey Brothers" horns, the guy who twirled the trumpet and did spins was the late Bob Blanchard, he died in the `90's during a tandem jump in Wisconsin. Bob was a free spirit, great musician and excellent skydiver. You haven't lived until you've almost died"

Also from a long time ago. Was a Navy Rigger at NAS Kingsville, TX at the time. LT. John Painter, my first J/M crashed after take off from the USS Oriskany in 1971 and was declared MIA along with the other four crew members. He was aboard the Oriskany a year after I was. My first jump was a freefall at Navy Rigger School NAS Lakehurst, NJ February 1967. Yeah, I had a helluva time at first. You haven't lived until you've almost died"

SEAL members came from just about any rate and I suspect the had their own NEC (Navy Enlisted Classification) code once they were qualified as SEALs. Most Navy rates didn't have an NEC unless you had a unique qualification. Some patches related to Leap Frogs and their predecessors. You haven't lived until you've almost died"