Mbranch202

Larry Gossler was the person responsible for introducing me to Skydiving. He was a member of the Ten High Bunch when I first met him at a job site in Tampa. We both worked in the Telecom industry installing new equipment. Larry took me to lunch one day in his Van (VW In think) and all of his skydiving gear was in the back. I remember asking "what's all that stuff?". I met him at Z-Hills that weekend and watched the Ten High Bunch make practice jumps. I was hooked.. But I was only seventeen and had to get Mom and Dad to sign a waiver. Larry kept a watchful eye on me while jumping and on the job. I will always be grateful to Larry for being the kind person he was to me and many other fellow jumpers and telecom workers.. Mike Branch NSCSA #7

I knew a guy at Z-Hills called Crispy. Story has it, that Tony Patterason gave him that name after a Pink Floyd concert at Tampa Stadium... Mike Branch NSCSA #7

Larry Gossler, Jim hooper, and Tony Patterson Mike Branch NSCSA #7

I weighed 135# and busted my ass unless the wind was blowing about 15 knots.. Mike Branch NSCSA #7

In the spring of '74, Gary, Jaybo, Bob Favreau, and Brent McClarty brought Mr. Douglas to DeLand and strarted working on it to be a jump plane. Bill Booth brought a rig he had built. It was a back rig with a wrap-around pilot chute released by a "plastic coated" ripcord. It was thin. With that and a poptop a jumper would be thinner (front-to-back) that with a Security piggy back. A few weeks later Bill showed up with a piggyback version. I think it had the thru loop comming from the reserve pack tray. That idea, of the pin flaps being pulled toward the pack tray, was the begining of the end of the rigs that resembled a refridgerator. As far as Buchman's rig, Mike Ladd had the first one I saw. A nice piece of equipment but I don't remember if it was that year or the year after. Also in the spring of '74, Himalayan Rope (sp) stared jumping at DeLand, I seem to remember a Twin Beech but both brain cells may not be co-operating with each other. I was a member of the Himalayan Rope (Tony Patterson, Steve Fugleberg, Jay Boynton, Dan Steger, Larry Gossler, Helen Frazer, Mike Branch, Steve Noonan, Bobby Wilson, and one I cannot remember. Twin Beach was flown from Atlanta each weekend. Twin Beaches were used for the '74 ten man event.. Not ten WAY!!! Mike Branch NSCSA #7

I remember having one of the first wonderhog. Had the plastic ripcord that would break if it got nicked. I think before the 3 rings were out. I remember buchman trying the wrap which was on both eagles that I owned. I never had to try them out. So anyway, I'm not 100% sure which was first... Just going by my history.. Mike Branch NSCSA #7

I owned one wonderhog and two Buchman Eagles. The wonderhog was first by a least a year... Mike Branch NSCSA #7

I would always opt for the "survival kit" myself.. I think Weird Max had his own version of said kit also... Max's cost was around 10 bucks as well.. What was the "survival kit"? South American agriculture products, matches, and a quarter for the pay phone when you found one.. Mike Branch NSCSA #7

I would always opt for the "survival kit" myself.. I think Weird Max had his own version of said kit also... Max's cost was around 10 bucks as well.. Mike Branch NSCSA #7

I was glad to see the photos of some of the original Z-Hills RW jumpers in Jerry's bar. I wasn't one of the original guys, but I sure got to jump with a lot of them.. Mike Branch NSCSA #7

Middle seventies I think.. I met him 1976.... Mike Branch NSCSA #7

Photo of Stickman Mike Branch NSCSA #7

Scott Staples.. If you hear from him pass my contact info along to him... Mike Branch AKA Crispy 863.797.5218 Mike Branch NSCSA #7

Finally found a photo of my T-Bow, thanks to Cheryl Brown and her Kodak 110 Mike Branch NSCSA #7

To bad about the Skiing accident. Not a good way to spend the spring.. Mike Branch NSCSA #7