gregpso

It's distressing that I have to write this, but historical accuracy demands it. I have been skydiving for 35 years, and I am as big a fan of Bill Booth as anybody, and in no way do I mean to denigrate him or his contributions to our sport. But he did not invent the skyhook. He may have redesigned it for skydiving rigs, but the first MARD system was invented by Mark Hewitt, on a base rig called the Sorcerer, and Bill knows this. Credit is deserved where credit is due. The inventive idea in the Skyhook is not simply the idea of hooking the cutaway main to the reserve bridle. It is how to do this in such a way that the connection releases and gets out of the way when it is not needed, but stays connected when it is. A little history. If you will look at the beginning of our "Skyhook Promotional Video" (#2 on UPT's website) you will see video evidence that I started working on MARDs in the early 1980's. The reason the skyhook didn't come out until 2003 was that it took me all those years to work out all the problems that need to be solved before such a device would be safe enough for sport jumping. During the 80's and 90's I designed and jumped several primitive MARD's, but none of them worked well enough to satisfy me. The Sorcerer system came out during this time period, but required a hand deployed reserve pilot chute, had no automatic release system, and wouldn't work with spring loaded, ripcord activated reserve systems. As has been noted elsewhere on DZ.com, I included mention of the Sorcerer in my patent application. Some of my first devices involved pins and loops similar to the Sorcerer, but these systems weren't reliable during rapidly spinning malfunctions. You see, the MARD connection pulls on the reserve bridle near the midpoint, which means that it is pulling on both the bag and the pilot chute. If there is a lot of horizontal speed involved (spinning malfunction), then the pilot chute often generates enough force to prematurely release a simple pin/loop system, which will release as soon a the pilot chute loads at all. I needed to work out a system where it took a lot more force from the pilot chute to release the MARD connection in a partial malfunction than in a total malfunction. This is where the Skyhook lever/cam design came in. It is designed to require 5 times more force from the pilot chute than the weight of the packed freebag (25 - 60 lbs.) if you have a partial malfunction, yet release with a force of between 4 and 8 lbs. if you have a total malfunction. And it has to figure this out instantly, with no input from the jumper. The lever idea worked well, but there was one more serious problem to address. Simply - What happens if the RSL side riser releases BEFORE the non-RSL side riser. This is a bad situation even with a "normal" RSL, and has resulted in several deaths due to main/reserve entanglement. But with a MARD, the situation practically GUARANTEES a fatality. I was stumped, so I put the Skyhook on a back burner for nearly 10 years. Then one day I was discussing the problem with a young engineer I had hired straight from Georgia Tech. After thinking about it for a moment he said," Why don't you simply connect the RSL riser to the cutaway cable leading to the other riser? I was stunned. There was the answer I had been looking for dropped right in my lap. The young man's name was Kyle Collins, and that's how the Collins' Lanyard, a necessary component of ANY MARD system was born. We had a working model that day, and you will notice that it is his name, not mine, on the patent. So I put out the Skyhook immediately right. WRONG. I didn't want to put two new reserve related systems at once, so I fitted all of my existing and new tandem rigs with the Collins' Lanyard. I then waited the requisite 5 years to see if the Collins' Lanyard worked as expected. It did. Then, and only then, was I ready to release the Skyhook. The whole process took nearly 20 years from inspiration to implementation, but I think the result was worth it. yes it was worth it Bill Thanks for doing it !! I tend to be a bit different. enjoyed my time in the sport or is it an industry these days ??

Bill I too want to thank you for inventing skyhook ... unfortunately it trashed my jumping adventures in Australia as I promoted it heavily on Aussie forums. Result banned at Skydive Nagambie (you should have seen the look on the CI's face when I asked "are there skyhooks on the student rigs?) That was the beginning of the end for me though certainly not the only factor.. I then got accussed of being sexist cause I warned woman about the attention they would receive in a male dominated sport. Would I do it again ? YES YES a thousand times YES Bill you can PM me and I will supply my bank account details for the royalty check for australian sales. LOL This really is my last word. I started with skyhook post and I finish with skyhook post I tend to be a bit different. enjoyed my time in the sport or is it an industry these days ??

Look I am not slandering Don or Skydive Nagambie I was disappointed he chose to tell via email I was banned from AFF. The fact is Don and crew run a great dz and I have never said anything to the contrary. They looked after a knucklehead like me for many jumps and kept me safe. For that I will always be grateful. It ended badly which is unfortunate. I loved Don and still do and thank him and his crew for what he did for me. So I have ended my posts with a positive. Now please cancel my account. I tend to be a bit different. enjoyed my time in the sport or is it an industry these days ??

I have now retired and as far as I am concerned Australian skydiving can get fucked.(except Ralph and his DZ) and I am sure the feeling is Mutual. . particularly at Nagambie But the last word I will share is some of the dumb things I heard at the DZ 1. "Just cause Don Cross demands I have an AAD at Nagambie does not mean I have to turn it on" !! 2. " I now have over a 100 jumps. I disconnected my RSL " (When I asked why he could not answer) I enjoyed my time but it ended when I was banned from AFF by the CI at Nagambie. He did not even have the balls to tell me face to face... he emailed me (after me spending $5000 at his DZ) This despite no safety breaches etc. apparently I over researched everything. So farewell a great pleasure for me and you too. I tend to be a bit different. enjoyed my time in the sport or is it an industry these days ??

Reading about Mr Hohendahl I keep thinking What a life well lived !! Still jumping and enjoying life at 72. The comments about how good a man he was tells it all. Bravo that man !! A life well lived indeed All the best to his family and (many) friends I tend to be a bit different. enjoyed my time in the sport or is it an industry these days ??

I did 3 AFF jumps there. After Skydive Nagambie owner Don Cross banned from AFF. Ralph the owner of Australia skydive took me on and it was the experience of a lifetime. Very very friendly Drop Zone. Great aircraft great vibe. Thanks ralph. 5 out of 5 stars.

I did alot of tandems there and a few AFFs but got banned from AFF by the owner Don Cross. For what ? asking too many questions! I have seen manifest there being very rude to new jumpers.(thankfully not to me) Definite Clique (esp a few female jumpers who seem to think they can chose who is welcome and who is not) and they are only low level employees.

even better a mard /skyhook I tend to be a bit different. enjoyed my time in the sport or is it an industry these days ??

Glad you are still there Bill. AS you know my jumping career was trashed in melbourne Australia cause i kept asking "is there a skyhook on the rig" Do not jump any more but still support your invention. I tend to be a bit different. enjoyed my time in the sport or is it an industry these days ??

Well done mate !! or as we say in Australia well bowled !! I tend to be a bit different. enjoyed my time in the sport or is it an industry these days ??

nothing I tend to be a bit different. enjoyed my time in the sport or is it an industry these days ??

That was deep. thanks for sharing. Enjoy your course. I look forward to reading your full report. Where are are you doing it nagambie ? I tend to be a bit different. enjoyed my time in the sport or is it an industry these days ??

just saw you photo squeak. Funny I always thought you would look like Clive Palmer... but you do not. Still inventing rocket ships to the moon or whatever you do. last post on here by me.. had to get one more shot in. Good luck to you squeak it was fun GW I tend to be a bit different. enjoyed my time in the sport or is it an industry these days ??

Beautifully Done !! keep going I tend to be a bit different. enjoyed my time in the sport or is it an industry these days ??

You got some good karma goin' there. . . Yes very very lucky and something I feel gratitude for every time I think of skydiving.. which is often . Ralph is an amazing man one of the true gentleman in the world I tend to be a bit different. enjoyed my time in the sport or is it an industry these days ??

Brillantly done.. keep doing what you are doing ~!!! I tend to be a bit different. enjoyed my time in the sport or is it an industry these days ??

Hope you enjoy it Ray I am sure you will !! I tend to be a bit different. enjoyed my time in the sport or is it an industry these days ??

I did 19 tandems in Australia and never thought of tipping. I suppose should have put money on bar $20 or so for Wokka etc. I just never thought of it. Tipping is not the custom here in Australia as it is in the USA (believe me I noticed the difference when I was in the USA recently). but in hindsight I should have give my many TIs something more than a thankyou and strong handshake. Did put $50 on the bar at Australian skydive but Ralph the CI there was so generous to an idiot like me he gave me 2 free (yes free) AFF jumps. I should have put alot more than that !! I tend to be a bit different. enjoyed my time in the sport or is it an industry these days ??

Like all things in life we get bored if not challenged. In my limited and uninspiring jumping career I did 19 tandems and all were good but by number 19 the yawn factor was starting. Moved to 5 Aff jumps and it was great until intervening factors of my own doing ended it all.(not an accident or being dangerous or anything.. just me becoming known (rightly so) as a fuckstik) My point is I doubt you will get bored if you follow the licence path and always keep learning and discovering new skills. there is so much to learn and so many nice folk to meet and do in the sport. I hope you enjoy it and excell !!! I tend to be a bit different. enjoyed my time in the sport or is it an industry these days ??

RSL ??? I tend to be a bit different. enjoyed my time in the sport or is it an industry these days ??

plus 1 look what happened to me re internet posts made enemies for life of those I never met personally ! get hatemail world wide now. done well have I not NOT !! I tend to be a bit different. enjoyed my time in the sport or is it an industry these days ??

Yep a great innovator.. do not forget the sky hook a device that got me into trouble for openly supporting it. Many people bagged me for supporting it and ultimately got me banned from a DZ. (being too much of a smart ass I suppose) but then I was banned via email and never even got the courtesy of a proper explanation. But back to thread Well done Mr Booth thanks for the inventions. As president of the Tandem passengers association of Victoria (Australia) my association has a no skyhook no jump Policy.(for dooms) I clearly remember jumping without 3 rings etc in the early 80s... boy/girl (so sarah is not offended) are things better now. Thank you Sir (Bill) I tend to be a bit different. enjoyed my time in the sport or is it an industry these days ??

what he said I tend to be a bit different. enjoyed my time in the sport or is it an industry these days ??

what the rest said. I have done 2 AFF first jump courses. Both taught me if in doubt chop ! also told one must trust the reserve or no point in jumping!! You did that you did well.. well done that man/ woman !! I tend to be a bit different. enjoyed my time in the sport or is it an industry these days ??

Bridgewater run by Ralph (Australian skydiving) and Skydive Nagambie run by Mr Donald CROSS are both excellent DZs with turbine planes. Nagambie is closer to melbourne about an 1 hour 20 minute drive Both DZs go to 14000 feet Closer still is Commando skydivers but i think they do not have a turbine. I tend to be a bit different. enjoyed my time in the sport or is it an industry these days ??