chuckakers

Gotta side with Lumi here. Ballunar Liftoff is one of the hidden "vibes" treasures that skydiving could use more of. Low key, fun-way competition, killer pool party on Saturday night, and the best vibe in skydiving events ever!!! Last minute entries permitted. Chuck

Oops - Larry Hinson has corrected an error in my post. Under the "new" rules, a C license will get you in! Hope to see ya'll there!!! Chuck

TALENT SEARCH - NEW PLAYERS WELCOME!!! It's once again time for the Ballunar Liftoff, an incredibly fun event held at Houston's Johnson Space Center. This year's Liftoff is August 27 - 29, and we want to see you there!! We invite you for RW, CRW, or Freeflying. Our jumps will be made directly onto NASA's Jonson Space Center grounds!! Since this event is technically a demo, everyone must qualify to be on the invitation list (D license, square reserve, USPA membership, and approval by a team Captain). And of course once again this year, we'll have the famous (or infamous) pool party at Rich Delgado's beautiful home just down the street!! For those who have not participated before, let me inform you that this is one of the coolest events you'll ever attend - just ask anyone who's played with us!! The focus is on low-key, fun competition (for the RW folks) and clean CRW, and VRW. This event has become a Gulf coast tradition and has a "reunion" feel, even for first-time participants. If you're interested, please read on. The following is the official mail-out to past players, complete with event details. THIS EVENT HAS LIMITED SLOTS. PLEASE REPLY A.S.A.P. TO GET A SPOT ON THE LOAD!! If you have any questions, e-mail or call me (832-630-1213), or contact a Captain listed below!! You Are Invited to Manifest for ... 20-Way Red, White & Blue RW, CRW, & Freeflying OVER NASA! An All American Skydiving Competition and Demonstration! Ballunar Liftoff 2004! An Invitational Demonstration Skydive Event! This year's event will feature... The Skydives - 20 Way Complex Competition Relative Work Skydives! You have joined a list of 80 of the BEST skydivers you know! Soon you will be drafted (like high school dodge ball, pick'en teams) to join your Team Captains on the Red, White or Blue skydiving team. This free draft should make each of the teams very competitive and challenge the Captains to plan, organize and lead their team to victory in the NASA Skydiving Competition Demonstration! We'll be making three competitive jumps each day! And, there will be prizes for the winners!* All loads will be staged out of Ellington Field. All jumps will be made over NASA's Johnson Space Center, with landings adjacent to Rocket Park. And there’s… Exciting CRW Jumps for you CRW Dogs & Freeflyers Special Loads! The Event - Bringing Skydiving to the General Public ! The Ballunar Liftoff Festival is a not-for-profit (Its Official - 501C3) event dedicated to the promotion of Space Exploration and Aviation. Over 80 Hot Air Balloons flying in BFA competition, The Red, White, & Blue Skydiving Competition and Demonstration, The 20-Way + Progressive CRW, Hang Gliders, Vintage Aircraft, ParaMotor's and much more will thrill the general public! This year we expect over 100,000 people to attend the event! GREAT NEWS… General Admission to the event is only $10 per car load and parking is included at NASA’s Johnson Space Center! August 27, 28, 29, 2004 * A Safety Meeting and Registration on Thursday August 26th, at the Sea Brook Beach Club, 3345 NASA Rd.1, (281)326-5819. (It is not necessary to attend this meeting to participate but you must manifest to participate in the event.) * Event Registration will be held Friday August 27th, at the Holiday Inn NASA (1300 NASA Road One) from 3:00pm - 5:00pm. A Friday Night Steak Dinner at Space Center Houston will be provided for each registered skydiver. The Dinner starts at 4:30 and is over at 6:00 some come early! Here's when you find who your team mates are and start your dirt diving! If you would like to bring a Guest to dinner, please fill out the form below and add $10.00 to your check. * Friday Night includes.... Meet your Team at Space Center Houston, have a great dinner and head over to NASA’s Johnson Space Center for Dirt Dive’s and A Hot Air Balloon Glow! * On Saturday and Sunday for the Jumps we will meet at the festival and travel by bus to South West Services Company at Ellington Field. Each Team will have a different jump schedule but there will be at least three hours between your jumps, giving plenty of time to enjoy the festival and work on your dive plan. The first jump for the Red Team is at 9:00am into the Space Center. We plan to make three jumps a day, Saturday and Sunday. (Note: The festival closes at noon on Sunday, so we might accelerate the jump schedule!) Video dudes will shoot each jump! They will be your team mates throughout the competition. The video dudes must get the jump for your team to score. There will be no re-jumps for any reason, YIKES! At least one USPA certified judge will judge the competition, and video playback will be shown to the general public at the festival site and on the air-conditioned buses for post diving. (There are no protests and the Judge is always right!) * To support our Skydiving Event at the Festival, the Red, White, and Blue Teams will be sold to Corporate Sponsors. WE STILL NEED SPONSORS to provide the Uniforms (shirts & caps) and Prizes!! If you think you might know an organization interested in gaining the publicity of sponsoring a team, please contact Al Saylor at (281)435-8586. (We still need Team Sponsors for everyone to get Uniforms and Prizes!) Great Party Plans are in the works! All participants will receive V.I.P. passes to Space Center Houston and all events that are a part of Ballunar Liftoff 2004! Be prepared to do the "demo stuff", hand shaking, autographs, talking and mingling with a LARGE CROWD, kissing babies, etc. We will be providing a covered packing area, Busses to take us back to Ellington, riggers and packers on site, free drinks all day during the jumping and much more! Visit Our Web Site at http://www.ballunarfestival.com What you need to do to play is... This is UNBELIEVABLE!!! $16.00 JUMPS ! 1. Send a check for $121 to reserve your slot. That's a $25 registration fee and six (6) $16.00 jumps. Make your check payable to Ballunar Liftoff Festival, Inc., and send to Ballunar Liftoff Festival - Skydiver Registration, 1201 NASA Road One, Houston, Texas 77058. 2. Add $10.00 to your check if you want to bring a guest to dinner on Friday Night. 3. Indicate if you want a packer reserved to pack your rig. Packers will be packing for $6.00 per rig. 4. Mail your check made out to Ballunar Liftoff Festival Inc., to: Ballunar Liftoff Festival - Skydiver Registration 1201 NASA Road One Houston, Texas 77058 5. Your check must be received by August 10th to reserve your slot. Please note that this is an invitational event for D-licensed Skydivers. We are fortunate to have an excess of skydivers interested in participating in this event. You have been selected from a list of qualified skydivers and we need you to confirm your slot as soon as possible by sending in your check. If you can not attend, please e-mail [email protected]. 6 . Make sure your Square Reserve is in date and that it has a seal. These jumps have been approved by the FAA and are considered Demo Jumps. We will be ramp checked by the FAA. Do to the nature of this event hook turns will be strictly forbidden. A map to Ellington Field, the Space Center, hotel information and the final details of the location of the Safety Meeting and Registration will be mailed to you following our receipt of your check. This is going to be an outstanding invitational event with some great skydivers attending. We look forward to seeing you there!!! Blue Skies, Al Saylor Brad Lambert Larry Hinson Chuck Akers Bill Runyon Bryan Moffett Manifest Now! Send your Check for $121 And this Registration Form to : Ballunar Liftoff Festival Inc. Skydiver Registration 1201 NASA Road One Houston, Texas 77058 Hey! I ______________________________, would like to play! Enclosed is my check made out to Ballunar Liftoff Inc. for $_____________. I would like to bring _______, additional guests to Dinner on Friday Night. I have enclosed an additional $10.00 per guest. (Circle One) Yes - I would like to have a packer. Packers will be charging $6.00 per pack job. ( No Guarantees) No - I don't need a packer. Name:______________________________ Address:____________________________ City, State Zip:______________________ Hm #_______________________________ Wk #_______________________________ E-mail:______________________________ USPA #_____________________________ D License #__________________________ Number of Jumps:_____________________ Largest Formation:____________________ Circle One > RW CRW Freeflyer T-shirt Size___________

this is a pretty big place. where ya goin' in tejas?

YES!! Everything is still a GO!! The party supplies are in the making (my kitchen is now filled with 500 jello-shot cups), the booze is bought, the kegs are on reserve, and the booze luge is ready! Bring friends..and aspirin.

Hey everyone, Well, we’re now less than a month away from the Skydive USA (SUSA) Reunion Boogie, so I thought this would be a great time for an update. Please read to the end, as there’s been a lot of developments. In case you’re not aware, the SUSA Reunion is being held at Skydive Spaceland June 24 – 27, as a chance to get gulf coast jumpers together for a weekend of great vibes, fun skydives, and a Skydive USA style party!! We threw some pretty mean gatherings at SUSA, and this time around we intend to take things to a whole new level!! After all, I don’t have to clean the place or answer to the mayor!! Now on to the update. Eric Harper has been confirmed as our RW organizer. Eric is a very talented and respected skydiver. More importantly, he’s great fun to be around and organizes awesome skydives!! On the crazy side of things, we are also planning some novelty jumps like hoop dives, pylon races, etc. These will also be organized jumps, so just bring a desire to have fun…oh yeah, bring your rig too. The helicopter and balloon are now confirmed. Call the DZ to schedule jumps. There are limited slots, so make your reservations NOW!! You want entertainment – we got it! We have secured a killer band for the party. My good friend Stacy Steele has assembled some of the best professional rockers in Houston to blow the house down. This is NOT a garage band – all these guys play major venues in Houston and beyond. There’s even a chance that Ty Tabor of “Kings-X” fame may join in. By the way, the band members are making tandem jumps that afternoon, so they’ll be on quite an adrenalin buzz all night! That should take care of the rock. The drop zone is going to set up a big screen (or maybe even a giant projection screen) T.V., and we’d love to see everyone’s SUSA videos. Bring ‘em all (even those embarrassing first jump vids, yikes!). We’ll make sure they get returned at the end of the weekend. Same goes for pictures and albums. I’m putting one together, but yours are needed too. Knowing that our parties can get a bit out of hand, the folks at Spaceland have offered the bunkhouse for everyone free of charge! First come, first serve, but there’s plenty of floor space as well, so nobody has an excuse for driving after partying. Besides, you can’t drive if you can’t make it to the car!!! And now here’s some important stuff. WE NEED PARTY SPONSORS!! As the old SUSA jumpers will remember, we used to charge a boogie fee to offset the costs of throwing the party. Between the band, the booze luge (with the associated booze, of course), jello-shots, kegs, etc., our little gatherings get quite expensive. The DZ doesn’t want to charge a boogie fee, so instead we’re looking for sponsors to help with the party costs. We did this at last year’s Ballunar Liftoff party with great success. The bottom line – 100% of all sponsorship dollars will go DIRECTLY and EXCLUSIVELY to the party, and the more dollars we raise, the bigger the party will be!! All sponsors names will be announced and listed on a sponsor board prominently displayed during the boogie, and if we get a big enough sponsor, we’ll give you the naming rights for the party!!! (c’mon all you business owners, here’s your chance to be our party hero). Delia and I are contributing the first 50 bucks. I am keeping the running tally of all donations, so e-mail me at [email protected] or call 832-630-1213 to make your contribution. One last item – Saturday is not only party day, it’s also BRING A TANDEM DAY! As with past SUSA events, we encourage jumpers to bring friends, family, and co-workers for a thriller day and a killer party. Everyone you bring will be under the SUSA Reunion group, so the group rates will apply. If there are folks you know that have expressed an interest in jumping, this is definitely the event to bring them to!! That’s it for now. We’ve been looking forward to this event since the last load at SUSA, AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!!! Blue Skies, Chuck & Delia Akers

I know Gerry, but haven't seen him since he left the Ft. Hood SPC years ago. If you find him tell him I said hello! Chuck Akers

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Looking for Wendy's e-mail address. Thanks! Chuck Akers

Hey Everyone, We are now just a month away from the Skydive USA (SUSA) Reunion Boogie, so I thought this would be a great time to give you an update and a reminder to clear you schedules!!! We are really looking forward to this event and to seeing and jumping with everyone!!! We are going to get started on Thursday June 24th. We would really like to see as many of you out as possible to get things fired up. The ladies are going to be doing ladies-ways that day!!! Even if you can’t get out for the entire day, please come by for a sunset load (and subsequent beers of course). We’re also going to hit a local eatery Thursday evening and we’d love to have you there – even if you can’t make it for jumping. There will be organized loads all weekend. Eric Harper is scheduled to organize, so expect to have a great time!! We have a helicopter lined up and maybe a second!! Same with balloons. I will let everyone know when we start taking reservations. We have live music on tap for Friday and Saturday nights, and the legendary (if not infamous) Saturday night party is shaping up nicely. REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR “BEST” BAD TROPICAL SHIRT FOR THE PARTY!!! For those who have never been to a SUSA event, the Saturday party is not to be missed!! Don't take my word for it, ask those who have attended...if they can remember it!! Also, in classic SUSA tradition, everyone is encouraged to invite friends, family, and co-workers out for tandem jumps and the Saturday night party. As the SUSA jumpers will remember, bringing folks for first jumps AND the party always proves very popular and definitely makes the experience special for the newbies. This event is no exception. If you know folks that want to jump and attend the party, have them make a reservation for the 26th – afternoon is preferable for party attendees. I am taking RSVP’s for the first 50 Booze Luge Shots!! The first 50 to e-mail me get numbers 3 thru 50…I’ve reserved the first 2 for Dee and I. This is also being e-mailed to our lists, so these will go fast. Just to make it easy, e-mail [email protected] to RSVP your shot! Also – and this is ultimately important – we need YOU to help spread the word about this event. PLEASE forward this to your skydiver e-mail list. Yes, I know this will create a lot of repetitious e-mails, but we want everyone to know about the reunion, and our e-mail lists are not current. Thank you for your help in making this event successful. We are so excited and hope to see everyone at the SUSA Reunion. This is going to be a great weekend!! The Akers Family Chuck and Delia Akers & Heather and Justin Price

Not to pick on SDC's record, but you're assumption of the jumps to deaths ratio there is wrong. Try comparing SDC's ratio to some other "high volume" DZ's like Skydive Arizona (arguably the busiest DZ in the world), Perris, Deland, Elsinore, etc, etc, etc. I have no problem with SDC - just trying to stay with the facts. Chuck

[replyThe people getting killed during low panic turns are not the hookturners - they know how their canopy reacts to a low turn. Check your stats Bill. While I agree that some people get hurt because they were not prepared to make a "bailout" type turn (obstacle avoidance, etc.), you are waaaaay off to say that the people getting hurt by low turns are not hookturners. Intentional low turns by hookturners account for a big percentage of low turn accidents. Not good hookturners mind you, but hookturners all the same. Chuck hookin' hard and swoopin' long

The board in question can not require an airport user to provide insurance that is not available, and may not restrict airport use on such grounds. They may require "like kind" insurance - meaning if they make the flight school or FBO carry general liability insurance then they can make the skydiving entity do the same. This "slip and fall" policy is readily available through a variety of sources and costs less than $1500 per year in most cases. Additionally, the USPA 3rd party coverage insures against damage caused by a jumper, so that should not be a good arguement from the board. It sounds like what they are trying to make the DZ obtain is liability insurance to cover getting sued by an injured jumper. If that is the case, the DZ has a very strong arguement since no such insurance exists. An intricate knowledge of and ability to recite the federal regs on this issue can make a HUGE difference in the outcome. The local FSDO can guide you through the regs if needed. CA

Nah, that would be "frap" - as is "frap hat". I thought Biff was part of the Harvard skydiving team. "O.K. Biff, you and Muffy build the base so Edmond and Penelope can dock".

Although it's no longer open, Skydive USA (Houston area) was probably one of THE most after hours DZ's in the history of the sport. I remember a visiting jumper saw some guys carrying in the party supplies one evening and asked what special event we were getting ready for. "Sunset" I said. If you want to revisit the Skydive USA party experience, might I suggest you come to the SUSA Reunion Boogie, June 24 - 27 at Skydive Spaceland! We are planning an outrageous party Saturday night! Chuck Akers former DZO Skydive USA a.k.a. "the porn dz"

...gear for demos. Smoke brackets, streamers, pyro rigging, etc.? Chuck

My wife threw out my copy of skydiving that had the superbowl jump article in it. I'm looking for the organizers of that jump. Contact info apprecited! Chuck Akers Houston, TX 832-630-1213 Thanks!

thanks bro BTW - Hope to see you at the SUSA Reunion!

Hello jumpnuts, My lovely wife threw out my copy of skydiving that had the story on the superbowl jumpers. Can anyone tell me who organized that jump? I want to contact them as well, so any contact info is certainly appreciated. Thanks Chuck

So exactly how did you come up with the subject line "skydiving gatherings"? Have you been "gathering" with the Flynnster?

No - the 24 - 27 are the correct dates. Be sure to be there Thursday and Friday (24-25) for the ladies-ways!!

That's funny, the Pope saw it and replied simply "It is as it was". Don't get me wrong, I'm not a Catholic. But from what I know of the Pontif, he knows his stuff. But now that I think of it, you didn't offer any names of your "biblical scholars and historians" did you? Chuck

Russell, are you going weird on us...I mean...weirder?

You are invited to participate in the "Ladies-Ways" June 24 - 25, kicking off the Skydive USA Reunion Boogie at Skydive Spaceland June 24 - 27. This is also a tryout & warm-up for the ladies TEXAS state RW record 2 weeks later during "Skyfest", also at Skydive Spaceland. It's all part of the SUSA Reunion Boogie weekend - not to be missed by anyone!! Chuck & Delia Akers SUSA Reunion Boogie 832-630-1213 or more info

Dear Fellow Skydivers, I am writing today with very exciting news. THE SUSA REUNION BOOGIE IS ON!!! The date is set for June 24 – 27 at Skydive Spaceland. Yes, that’s four solid days of boogieing SUSA style! Talk of a reunion began almost immediately after Delia, the kids, and I closed Skydive USA in 2001 and left the DZ business. To be honest, I think everyone really just wanted to know when the next killer SUSA party would be. We did develop quite a reputation for our little gatherings, and this one should get completely unreasonable since I don’t have to clean the place or answer to the Mayor. But seriously, Skydive USA was a very special drop zone. The jumpers embraced the true spirit of our sport – the connection of souls and the sharing of incredible experiences with the coolest people on the planet. That seamed to be at the core of everything we did, as it will be at the reunion. Please consider this your personal invitation to attend an event to be remembered. Here’s the scoop………. Thursday and Friday – Organized REUNION JUMPS!!!!! Let’s commemorate SUSA by getting old friends together for some low key, high fun-factor jumps with an emphasis on our own brand of nostalgia. Here’s a tip: schedule off work NOW!!!!!!!! Thursday evening – dinner out, location T.B.A. Thursday and Friday – LADIES-WAYS – what better way to get everyone to the DZ early than to get the ladies to the DZ early? We’ll supply the organizing!! These jumps are also a warm-up/try-out for those wanting to participate in the ladies state record 2 weeks later at Spaceland during Skyfest!! Now that I think about it, we may set a record ourselves! Friday evening – cocktail party and live acoustic music from Stacy Steele and company…bring a bottle to stock your personal bar. Cocktail mixers and beer provided. Saturday and Sunday – organized RW, CRW, and Freefly jumps all weekend!!! We’re also working on a balloon and helicopter, so watch for more information on that. Saturday night – OK, this is gonna ROCK. The climax of the weekend – Saturday at sunset. Join us for the PARTY – the BEACH PARTY – the Hawaiian BEACH PARTY!!!! OK, ok, a SUSA PARTY!!! LIVE MUSIC, KEGS, JELLO-SHOTS, REVEREND RICK’S BODY SHOT CONFESSIONAL, WORLD RECORD “WHARTON WAVE” ATTEMPTS, AND of course THE BOOZE LUGE!! IT’S A LUAU so bring your WORST HAWAIIAN SHIRT TO WIN PRIZES!!! Sunday A.M. – recovery breakfast, coffee and breakfast munchies for everyone walking, crawling, or otherwise able to move Sunday – more organized jumps and the “Survivors Party” near sunset. Location TBA??????? We hope you’ll make plans to be there for our first reunion boogie. And don’t think this event is only for old SUSA jumpers. Come share the experience. By the way, you can help make this event a success by forwarding this message to your skydiving friends. THANKS!! Chuck and Delia Akers SUSA Reunion Boogie 832-630-1213 for more info