ODA-14 and Dskydave

[blueskies14k]

I know this isnt an SF question, but I was curious--Do yall guys still jump, and if yes what is your home dz? I try to hit a few DZs a year and its nice to maybe know someone there.
blueskies to both

[dskydave]

I worked at skydive greensburg and jerrys skydiving circus in Indiana for several years as a static line instructor/jumpmaster and vector tandem instructor. I have 2 teenage daughters to keep an eye on so Im taking a break right now. Im not qualified to jump my canopy anymore either. I have a 90 sq ft icarus that sets my hair on fire. I was on the Indiana and ohio large formation record teams in 99. I think the record still holds at 78 way. I have about 1000 or so jumps and 13 hours of freefall. 3 spinning malfunctions under that icarus, 1 pilot chute in tow as a student and a midair collision jumping a huey a bragg. The guy on the other side of the chopper was alot bigger than me and caught me under bird. He was laying on top of my canopy and kicked free. Skert the bejesus outta me. Hell it scares me every time I jump. I think thats why I like it so much. Not to mention the spectrum of society you meet. Be safe, do a gear check (twice)


Dskydave

[blueskies14k]

Cool man. I feel Like I am sitting around after a sunset load a swapping stories over a Corona. That is one of the best parts about sky diving. I have around 600 jumps give or take twenty. I have lost my log book a few times. Dude, thats a small canopy. I jump a saber2 150 and I am 185lbs and its fast enough. I have jumped with some guys from airspeed, and skydive arizona is the best. They have packers everywhere that can pack your chute if your lazy in about four minutes for 5 bucks. Two twin otters going up back to back all day--20 jumps a day easy. I have two chops, one line over and one broken lines. Only went to the hospital once. In AZ this chick kept showing her tits to the pilot and he kept taking us higher--I think I got hypoxia, but it was the Fuc*ing dust devil I landed in that hurt. But oh well. Dude, I wanted to go to the world free fall convention up there but i didnt because I suck. Its not that far from there right? Blueskies DUDE

[ODA-14]

I know this isnt an SF question, but I was curious--Do yall guys still jump, and if yes what is your home dz? I try to hit a few DZs a year and its nice to maybe know someone there.
blueskies to both


Made my last jump (Halo) the day I retired. I'm planning to make a jump for my 65th birthday.

I used to SkyDive with a guy called Steve Snyder (D-5) at Cameron Air Park in NJ back in the early 60's and kept up SkyDiving while I was in the Military and until I retired. Most of the guys I jumped with had D licence numbers in the single and double digits. In my log books I've got Jacque Istel (D-1) Jim Arender (D-13) **** Fortenberry (D-18) Loy Brydon (D-38) M.C. Coleman (D-96). Bobby Richardson (D-727) was one of my Team Members and went on to become center CSM, CSM Henry "Hank" Belton (D-633) was a jumping buddy too, and the last time I saw him at the GB club he made me swear that I'd never show my first log book to any of his buddies because he didn't want them to know he was so old! Jumped with some of the Knights who were later killed in a DC-3 Crash in NC, Ohare, Carista, Torrealba and Hrebnak. Some other guys I used to SkyDive with on weekends at Ft. Bragg was "Ken" Sisler (MOH) and Walt Shumate (Who was also one of my team sgt's at one time)

[blueskies14k]

ODA,
your log book is more of historical document then jump log--awesome! Sorry about some of your buds who burned in-its kinda the nature of the beast. I havent been around the jump world very long(5 years) but I have also lost a buddy or two. Alot of non-jumpers dont realize that once you leave the plane you have a 100% percent chance of death unless you save yourself. its kinda weird thought-huh? I appreciate the responses guys. Thats the beauty of the sport--people from every walk of life, socioeconomic backgrounds, ages, male or female all hanging out with a common interest---I love the quote "my drinking club has a skydiving problem"

[SIGdude989]

You guys make it sound fun as hell, I wish I had a chance to give it a try...guess I'll have to wait till I get into the military.

[dskydave]

You dont have to wait. Its affordable for most everybody. Most static line courses are less than $200 and there are dropzones in every state. Dial 1-800-skydive for a dz near you. Have FUN!!!!

[blueskies14k]

AFF can be expensive. Its about $1500. BUT--I had some people in my AFF class that learned how to pack parachutes and did so on the weekends, they paid for their jumps this way. They were also lightyears ahead of us because they were excellent packers and they made alot of friends who would jump with them after student status. They also got some huge breaks in video work and instruction because the instructors were no longer instructors but friends--and who charges friends full price?