gemini

Thanks to all who served specially John Sadler and Billy Bolton who didn't come home with the rest of us. xin loi ban toi. toi nho ban. Blue skies, Jim

1. Pink and Teal NEON madras patterned clothing. I hate that at the concerts I go to! Guess the concert business is dying too. And bowling nights! Have you looked at their clothes? 2. Aircraft constructed at least a decade before I was alive. Let's see a new 182 costs $400,000 and a new twin otter will be in excess of $3,500,000. I can pick up a well maintained "older" cessna for $75,000 and an Otter for $1,600,000. Makes sense to me to go with the older airplanes since they carry exactly the same number of passengers and meet all skydiving needs. 3. The insistance that any gathering of more than two or three skydivers is called a "boogie". It's just a word! We have Skyfest, had the Freefall Convention, Gatherings, Reunions, Flocks. Callling something cool, grooy, hot, rad doesn't have anything to do with the industry per se. Just the age of the jumper(s) who designed the ad, event, etc. Blue skies, Jim

got mine too! this is gona' be fun... Blue skies, Jim

Let it go. He probably can make your life more miserable and expensive than you can his. Give the laptop back with all data intact except any personal data. Plus you may not know the whole, real story. Blue skies, Jim

Get out while you can. This sounds like a classic control freak and more often than not, turns into an abuser. Change your locks, move or whatever, but get out now. Blue skies, Jim

Registration is now open on http://www.bigways.com for the first POPS 100-Way State Record Regional event to be held March 20-22, 2009 at Skydive Deland, Florida USA. Blue skies, Jim

Blue skies, Jim

Thanks Kolla. Nice work so far. Blue skies, Jim

According to the Utility Aircraft Corp website: PAC 750 (New) 1,290,000 Caravan (New) 1,700,000 Caravan (Used) 750,000 King Air 90 (Used) 300,000 Super Otter (Used) 850,000 Caution should be used when comparing these numbers. The webpage does not show the year of the quotes and a used Caravan is currently selling for around $1,000,000 and an Super Otter is selling for around $1,600,000. Blue skies, Jim

Both registrations go directly to Jen. Bigways.com is only a link to the Skydive Perris CSR page and form. Blue skies, Jim

link was active Friday night. This one will fill up fast. Blue skies, Jim

I used to love to fly standby when I was in the Army. I always got a seat and very often in first class, flight attendants were very friendly and I met several who were from my hometown. Blue skies, Jim

Fear isn't always generated by the right...just ask the Russians what it was like under Stalin. Blue skies, Jim

Another one for the SOS group. Next is Dennis Anderson from Spaceland. Blue skies, Jim

Not exactly SCIFI, but the worst movie of all time was something like ATTACK OF THE KILLER CHERRY TOMATOES or something close to that. You could see the wheels under the tomatoe and sometimes the rope they were pulling it with. Terrible acting. We used to watch it once a year at the UT Student Union. Blue skies, Jim

I concur with Gary...well worth the money. Quality on some leaves a lot to be desired, but considered that all the original masters were lost we are lucky to have these copies. Here is the basic story line in the 10 episodes I have watched so far: Skydivers are good guys and wear white. Skydivers ike to fight. Skydivers always win. Skydivers always get the girls. Blue skies, Jim

Welcome Nathan. When you are ready to try for your SCR let me know. I'm the old guy wearing a hat! Jim

I post them when I find out about them.

There is always a group of skydivers hanging around after dark on the weekends drinking beer! We just don't have the volume of parties we used to have with Scotty Carbone. (Who can do that every night?) The Anvil Brothers throw a great BBQ and party, the deli does specialty suppers, and the dz will bring in a keg for special events. Then there is the SCR ceremonies where the maggots buy the beer, and...whoa, I am getting out of my comfort zone here!!! Blue skies, Jim

Here is a little more background on Singlaub... This is the same General Singlaub who as commander of forces in Korea, gave a speech at West Point that included a point that the forces in Korea needed to be increased due to North Korean incursions across the DMZ. Upon his return to Korea, Singlaub received a order to immediately return to DC to meet with President Carter. Singlaub, who had his family with him in Korea, left the next day and met with Carter who fired him for "Taking a political position different than that of the President", and was forbidden from returning to Korea to get his family. The "political position" paper issued by the White House which military officers are obligated to follow was later proven to be a forgery that was not written or issued until Singlaub had already left West Point and was on his way back to Korea. Clinton lied and ruined the career of a career soldier who had an untarnished record up to that point. It's no wonder he went rogue! I would have too. Blue skies, Jim

Yep, was on the Spaceland crew that year! Still jumping are Hooper, Brittney and me. Conway is deceased and the rest are not around anymore. It was a one of the great boogies! Blue skies, Jim

Not an attorney, but in Texas even if a parent signs a waiver, another "interested party including the state" can sue on behalf of the minor claiming the parents were negligent to waive the minors rights. Who wants to step into that trap? Blue skies, Jim

All the POPS regional events used the same basic formation and it is almost the same formation as last year's record. The formation was not complex at all and is one of the more simple big way formations. There were several areas where jumpers from multiple planes merged onto their radials, but this occurs in most formations over 100 ways. There were a lot of problems this year that could not be overcome in 10 jumps. Usually after a weather delay jumps do not go well and that certainly contributed to the problems. Next, it took 5-7 jumps before the 30-way base completed which meant that the whackers and anchors never got any practice docking until the end. On Sunday there were numerous approach collisions on the way to the formation. On one jump there were at least three collisions that I remember. The kind of stuff that you don't expect in such volume from experienced big way jumpers. Numerous times an incident was caused by or included a long-time experienced big way jumper who had been very consistent, and competent in the past. Finally some of the jumpers were inexperienced big way jumpers. They had the jump numbers and years in the sport, but had not done 100-ways. Even though they were recommended, it was quickly obvious that they were missing some of the big way skills necessary for a 100+ way. The jumps were not bad and significant progress was being made on each jump. At the end, whackers were completing although there was still a lot of movement and instability. It was apparent to the captains as early as Friday evening that we had a very different group this year even though a large number or even a majority were on the record in 2007. Some of the changes needed for 2009: Big way camp and 100-way experience for all jumpers. (The days of the long-time POPS record jumper who is not current or only jump during bigways appear to be over as well.) Format change to a four day event to build in a rain day. Better mixing of solid, experienced jumpers with lesser experienced jumpers in all areas. Blue skies, Jim

Now that the camp is over, don't forget to register on http://www.bigways.com for notices and on-line registration requests for future big ways. Congrats & blues! Blue skies, Jim

Everyone at Spaceland is ok and all the trailers survived in the hanger. Lots of steel flexing and shaking according to those who stayed during the storm, but very little rain. Back in operation today (Tuesday). Blue skies, Jim