howardwhite

Highly doubtful. He was born in Orange, MA and lived there all his life. HW

A reminder that this event is coming up in a couple of weeks. For more info on what's happening and who's coming, go to http://www.skydivereunions.com/ HW

Nah. I wouldn't consider "Gary gore" a piece of equipment. If you went that way, you would have to talk about "Derry slots" and LeMoigne vents. Some minor rig manufacturers also included their names in the name of their rigs. For what it's worth, Jacques Istel wrote me the other day: "I remember the "Gary gore" when as a very small boy (perhaps 4 ?) he cut a piece of a parachute we were designing. We of course adopted his cut and the "Gary gore" was born." HW

No. HW

Gary Pond, D-6969, died at home at 7:20 a.m. today of cancer. Gary was an active instructor, video person, pilot, and participant in significant skydiving records. As president of Jumptown, he energized the construction of the DZ's facilities and programs over the past 15 years. Gary's father was Nate Pond, D-69, a member of the 1956 US team which competed at the World Meet in Moscow. Nate was the first manager of the Orange, MA, Sport Parachute Center and Gary was the last. Gary's mother, Nona King , was a member of the women's accuracy team at the 1962 world meet in Orange. So Gary was essentially brought up on a drop zone. He gave back much to the sport which was so much a part of his life. And when he was very young, he cut a hole in a canopy being modified for student use; the resulting modification was forever after "the Gary gore." He is survived by his parents, his wife Diane, two daughters (and their husbands, both active jumpers) and three grandchildren. Services will be announced later. This is just a first notice; more to come. His passing, though anticipated for some time, is devastating to his family, his many friends, and the U.S. skydiving community in general. HW

The magazine went out of business, but the bookstore is still operating, AFAIK. I've sold some books to Truffer since then. http://www.skydivingmagazine.com/storeintro.htm HW

When we're getting on the Otter and deciding about exit order, it's "belly" vs. "sit." That seems to work in practice. Who cares what you call it. Just do it. HW

Already noted in another thread here. HW

I've got a bunch of stuff, but it will take a day or so to get it together. Stay tuned. The Peru trip was documented in National Geographic. I know at least two other people who were on the same expedition. I'm trying to get them to reprise the event, so far without success. HW

Did it look like one of these? HW

And speaking of Teddy Mayfield... http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/news/cityregion/24367930-41/mayfield-faa-1994-eugene-license.csp HW

Van Pray Jr., who's on here as vpjr, has made several. You can reach him at www.aerialtransport.com/ HW

Like this? (It's not me.) HW

I almost never see pilot chute cap art any more. Dave Rickerby contributed in a major way to this genre. This is a photo from the collection of the late David Hersey, whose life we celebrated in snowy New Hampshire Sunday. HW

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2051665&id=1165457622&l=83f37e1ecc

Here's a picture of a PC12 at Empuriabrava. Can't see the left side, but it doesn't look as if it's a jump plane. I've talked to several PC-12 pilots over the years. Unless something has changed, it's not certified to fly with the cargo door removed. HW

Because the big cargo door is structural, meaning it is an integral part of the airpfame and can't be removed for flight. HW

These are pictures from a 1930 German article (which was linked on the dz.com German page.) Interestingly, the story uses the term "Taucher der Lüfte," which I guess can be loosely translated as "skydiver" -- the earliest use of this term I've found. HW

But it's only $12.95 (US). What could possibly go wrong? HW

Well, that was quick. HW

That's the tag line on this ad from Sky Diver July, 1963. Anyone ever see one in real life? HW

Hah. That's Cam Haley. He's just a happy guy; did well at the collegiate nationals. So where's the picture of me butt-sliding on the snow? HW

couple more from the same issue... The caption on the first one says: "Steering lines coming from two points on each side of the four-slot modifications. Lines run to the center line, join again before running down the center line to the toggle knobs of front and back risers." HW

Sure. Lots in mid-60s Sky Diver mags. Lyle Cameron, its editor, was a big XBO fan boy. The XBO was on the cover of the July, 64, issue and the attached pic was an ad on the back cover. and.. I'll scan and post some more pix soon. And, BTW, Cameron wrote in almost equal praise about the Barish Sailwing, which he saw about a year later. As to the PC, if memory serves, Pioneer first saw its market as a towed parasail. I'll check on that, too. And I last saw Teddy Mayfield at the Old Farts reunion in Salt Lake City in 2008. HW

As noted earlier, the canopy is identified as a Multi-Cell from Jalbert. That is all I know about it. HW