Here is a story that I have not read here, but I know it to be as accurate as I can recall because I lived it. Back in the late 7O's the Southern Cross Parachute Center was operated by George Kabella and his wife Betty in Downsville, Maryland (George's first location, not Chambersburg as opposed to what I read in another thread on this site). At one point George has this Antonov brought in; I believe it was identified as an AN-2. It was a bi-plane with a large red star and experimental painted on it in a couple of places. It was a great addition the drop zone, which to that point had as many people as George could cram into a load on an old civil air patrol “Beaver”. I had between 150-200 jumps, at the time of this story, on my first rig which was "state of the art": a Wonder Hog with three ring release, a Strato-Cloud and a 26' Lo-Po reserve. The scary part of this story involved my 8th ride in the AN-2. On takeoff straight out from the run-way an oil line or something went unexpectedly wrong and the engine began to smoke and went out. The pilot tells everyone they needed to get out. The plane was loaded with fuel and as you might expect the pilot was not keen about landing a plane fully loaded with fuel and a bunch of skydivers in a corn field. There was only one component that he was capable of deep sixing (us). This ole boy who was setting at the cock-pit door literally climbs over my head and at least seventeen others to get to the back door. At this point my altimeter was showing just above 500 feet and my young mind was racing through the calculation, "this rig on my back opens within 550 feet at terminal velocity" so needless to say my tail was in close communications with my brain trying to figure the next step. The ole boy who climbed over my head did not get out of the plane. Apparently, the story had it that he was in a similar problem down at Z-Hills in which he rolled out of a plane, onto the runway, that failed on takeoff, this ole boy spent months recovering in the hospital and apparently several others in the plane were severely injured or burned with the plane. Whether that is true or not, I cannot confirm, but what he did that day I can. This man had quickly conceived the idea to stand at the door and "static-line" everyone on the plane by holding their pilot-chute as they jumped. I got out under that big beautiful blue canopy and as I was reached up to release the toggles I landed in the field before that could be accomplished. A few on the plane landed on Downsville Pike, one boy bounced off of a church roof and while there were a couple of broken ankles and legs everyone survived. I never did learn how that ole boy at the door took care of himself, but he was safe on the ground when the story telling started. Since that experience, I have counted that as the only time I had to actually jump out of a plane to save my life. The AN-2 glided into the corn field and was out of operation for a few months. Cubans had to be brought in to repair the plane (they apparently had a great deal of experience with the Antonov because of their close relationship with the Soviets). While, I have hundreds of great stories, as many of you do - this was my scariest experience. I am looking forward to getting back into the sport; I took a bunch of years off to get some things done, like law school and starting a practice, raising some kids and the like. However, last month I had my license reissued (C-13630) and look forward to heading over to Chambersburg or down to Orange (daughters and granddaughters live in Charlottesville). Hope to meet many of you. Mac
