Spooky52

No, I started my 20 years of jumping at Ft. Lee, VA in 1963. After that it was at Yolo County, CA and Antioch, CA (Perry Stevens old place) for most of the remainder. I did start a club at ElCentro, CA in the late '60s. The last two jumps I made were "illegal" jumps from a C-130 at Suffolk County, VA in 1983. I was one of the Loadmasters on the aircraft and we were dropping the Navy team from Norfolk for practice. I took my gear and was sitting there packing my Strat when a Lieutenant came over and asked if I would like to make a jump with them. I looked at him as if to say, "I'm not even going to dignify that dumbass question with an answer" and talked the Aircraft Commander into it by slightly bending and stretching the rules. Got into a bit of trouble for it later when some butthead old Lt. Col. overheard a conversation on a crewbus and went running to Standardization and Evaluation. Oh well, it was fun. I've still got my Strat and have thought seriously about going and doing it again. All I need is time and money, at the same time. If you know how many guns you have - you don't have enough!

I have a question for all of you. I've been out of jumping for quite a while now (30 years) but I still have a place for the sport inside. I am working on my Will and would like to have my ashes scattered during an ash dive. What is the protocol for that? Is the surviving partner pay for the jumps of those participating or is it done during a regularly scheduled jump? I just want to be able to put appropriate instructions in my will and my current partner has never even been around skydiving. Thanks, in advance, for any information you can provide. Please limit your replies to serious comments and leave the BS elsewhere. Thanks. Jim Chandler D-4501 If you know how many guns you have - you don't have enough!

Looks like a lot more than 1000 feet to me. Canopy ride was way longer than a T-10 at 1K. Still interesting though. When I was jumping rounds, nobody was even carrying movie cameras. If you know how many guns you have - you don't have enough!

That was old 1950's black and white, probably 16mm, footage. There would be no sound on it. I recognized Prime Minister Nehru toward the end but the rest were just a bunch of political figures. I didn't see a single skydiver in the whole thing. If you know how many guns you have - you don't have enough!

RATS! Well I had to leave when I did. As it was I got home right at midnight and had to get up the next morning, eat breakfast, wash the car and drive to Las Vegas. Maybe I'll get to see you guys again in two years. I think I got to meet you while I was there, but I met so many people it's hard to keep track, especially at my advanced age. :-) Thanks, John. If you know how many guns you have - you don't have enough!

Went to the Old Friends Reunion and saw a bunch of really great people. Of course, Arcadi was a late/no show. I had to leave at 5:30 on Saturday to get back home (415 mile one way drive) so if he showed later I missed him. Did see Perry, however. He looks pretty good. Naturally he has CRS (Can't Remember Stuff) like we all do. Saw Corrine Manverse (now Chapman) and she still looks good. I had been thinking about Merle McCoy, as he was the one who shot the roll of me in freefall (I shot a roll of him as trade) and who was the first one I saw? Good ole Merle. I want to thank John for turning me on to the event. After 33 years it was good to re-connect with some of them and to meet others. I even saw George Morar's daughter, Lori. Last time I saw her she was about 12 and had a nice little business at Yolo taking pics of students and selling them. Thanks again, John. You made my year. If you know how many guns you have - you don't have enough!

Good for you! You saw something you wanted to do and you did it. Have fun on your next one. If you know how many guns you have - you don't have enough!

Sad news, indeed, Pat. While I don't believe I ever had the pleasure of meeting him in person, his name was certainly well known and he was one of the "heroes" of skydiving. May he rest in peace. Blue skies, Gene If you know how many guns you have - you don't have enough!

Did you do the Navy test jumps at El Centro? If so, when were you there? I was at El Centro from Nov 68 until April 1970. I was in the Air Force side of things. Jim If you know how many guns you have - you don't have enough!

That may well be. I came up with the system while working on my Rigger license at Perry Stevens loft. Did all the sewing and rigging myself and had never seen the Jalbert system. The pilot chute bridle used a solid woven nylon line that I found in the loft. Worked great. I'm a little concerned about using the Strat again because I've blossomed to 205 from 195 and the manual, as I recall without digging it out, said that the gross weight was about 175. After reading some of the comments here about some of the heavier jumpers having no troubles, I just may go ahead and do it. I still haven't figured out what caused the canopy to stall that one time but I am constantly reminded of the day when my foot gives me Hell. If you know how many guns you have - you don't have enough!

Yeah, it would. I worked for Perry for a few months running the DZ during the week and packing student rigs, when I wasn't freezing my ass off and once in a while Norm would want to make a jump, bare feet and all, so I'd fly the 182. What ever happened to him? Last I heard he was at Z Hills, I think (a long time ago). If you know how many guns you have - you don't have enough!

Congratulations, Bill. I'm sure you enjoyed every second of it. I, too, am approaching that time of my life. It's been almost 30 years since my last jump (seems like only yesterday) and am getting the bug again. The biggest thing holding me back is the distance to the nearest airport (Perris or Elsinore) and the amount of cash necessary to get to make another. They want me to go through a "training" program and make a hop and pop first. That adds up fast. One of these days I'll do it. I still have my Stratostar and am not too far off the gross weight. :-) I'm happy that you did it. Now you won't go to the big drop zone in the sky thinking, "Damn! I should have done it". Blue skies. Jim Chandler D-4501 Apple Valley, CA If you know how many guns you have - you don't have enough!

Anyone here ever a member of the FLSPC? I was there from Jan 63 until Apr 65. Made my first jump, first freefall and quite a few others there, all free using Army Beavers, Otters and CH-21 flying bananas. I remember MSgt Roger Hale, D-48, SSgt Travis, Maj. Anderson (who went on to the Golden Knights, Verlin Glen, D-8 and a few others. I'll always have fond memories of the club and it's clubhouse in the old hospital area. Just wondered if anyone knew when the club was closed or had any memories of it. If you know how many guns you have - you don't have enough!

This is probably a tad late but I started skydiving in 1963 at Ft. Lee, Va and got my Private in 1967 at the old Vacaville Glider Port just before I went to Vietnam. Returned and started a skydiving club at El Centro (jumped at Holtville) and talked an aircraft salesman into letting us use a NEW Aerocommander Lark. This was the equivalent of a Cessna 172. Imagine trying to fly jumpers with a 172 in the El Centro summer. I was the only pilot we had most of the time. Also flew a few loads at Antioch in the mid/late 70's when Norm wanted to make a jump. Haven't jumped since 1983 and haven't flown in three years. It's just too expensive to rent these days. If you know how many guns you have - you don't have enough!

I know it's probably a bit late for this reply but it was Chief Master Sergeant (USAF) George MORAR (no e) until he retired and went hippie on us, dumped his wife and shacked up with a 19 year old and he ran the operation out of a red Ford van, not a pickup truck. How do I know this? I was there, jumping with the Travis AFB Club, which George ran until he retired. I was also in the same squadron as he was. Just setting the record straight. :-) If you know how many guns you have - you don't have enough!

After the first couple of jumps with "ropes and rings" I converted mine to a system that I designed. Started off with a plain slider and found that it was still pretty stout on opening, which is NOT fun with a camera on your helmet. I installed a long bridle line that went through the canopy and attached to the slider. When the ripcord (pre-throw out days) was pulled, the pilot chute took off and deployed the long bridle, which pulled the bagged canopy off and let out the suspension lines. Once the canopy was in the air the pilot chute slowed the slider down enough for a nice opening. No sharp snatches, just a gentle sitting up position and slow opening. After opening I would pump the braked a couple of times to bring the slider down and I was good to go. Never a malfunction with the Strat. I still have it and at times get the urge to drag it out, re-pack the reserve and go make one. The only thing holding me back is the cost of the "re-training" I'd have to go through in order to do a freefall. Oh well, maybe one of these days. If you know how many guns you have - you don't have enough!

Thanks, John Jim If you know how many guns you have - you don't have enough!

Thanks, John. I sent Perry and Larry Facebook messages. I also sent, in a round-about way, one to Corinne Manverse (Chapman). Where and when is the Old Friends Reunion? I hadn't heard of that. Jim If you know how many guns you have - you don't have enough!

Hi Pat: You brought up some nice memories. I remember "Norton" (what ever happened to him?) and Steve. I also jumped a Strat. Mine was gold and black. I did a lot of air-to-air photo work and jumpmastering at Antioch. Even flew a few loads before I wrecked the 182 and 206 taxiing in one day. That was in my slightly "lighter" days (195 v 205) and I was even able to slope soar the back side of the bowl a couple of times. I was up in that area a couple of weeks ago and stayed in Concord overnight but couldn't make myself go out and see to old DZ area. The GoogleEarth pics are bad enough. I was flying my Strat on a demo at Oakland Army Terminal in July of 1979 when I stalled it at about 50 feet on the second jump of the day. I took the brunt of the landing on the ball of my right foot. Put the navicular over to the outside of the foot. Was in surgery that night and spent 9 days in Letterman Army Hospital and a bunch of weeks in a cast. Not the most fun time of my life. I hope I can catch up with some of the other people who jumped at Antioch on here. If you know how many guns you have - you don't have enough!

Damn! Now there's a name I haven't heard in years. Knew Larry at Antioch. I know the DZ is now homes but what ever happened to Perry Stevens? Jim Chandler D-4501Quote If you know how many guns you have - you don't have enough!