oldboldpilot

Haven't jumped in years, but still real interested in the sport. Hats off to whoever put this site together!

I never jumped with Steve but did fly for him once in a while. Nick Piantanida was probably the most famous (to us older jumpers) person I ever jumped with. Last time I jumped with him was at the old PI DZ in Lakewood New Jersey. Three of us exited a c182 from 12.5k. Nick was spotting, and he put us way the hell out. We didn't it know it on the way to altitude, but Nick was jumping an experimental rig called a Barrish Sailwing. (This was pre-squares) Nick landed in the peas. Me and the other guy landed in the woods. Ha, ha. I was really pissed at him at the time. A few weeks later, Nick was in a coma after his face mask blew out at 57k during his third high altitude record attempt. He never woke up.