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MSHappyCampers · 12-10-2020, 12:15 PM

Any old worn-out skydivers out there?

YC1 · 12-10-2020, 01:14 PM

Not me. There would be 5 guys with lots of scratches and bruises trying to push me out of a perfectly good airplane. The plane better be on fire too!

I built, test flew, and then flew all over but never ever carried a chute. I would have considered a balistic one but no way to install on the aircraft I built.

I have flow ultralights and encountered engine out landings and that is about as exciting as I want to get.
I heard of too many fatalities in Lodi Ca and other places.

Alan_Hepburn · 12-10-2020, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YC1

There would be 5 guys with lots of scratches and bruises trying to push me out of a perfectly good airplane.

This old paratrooper says "There's no such thing as a perfectly good airplane"!

I have taken off about 40 times in various military aircraft, and landed twice in those same aircraft! With that said I've had no desire to do it as a civilian - the Army paid me to do it; why should I turn around and pay someone else to let me do it?

Jubilee 45 · 12-10-2020, 02:28 PM

Why, Joe?

He who hesitates inherits the earth. Hooyah!

MSHappyCampers · 12-10-2020, 04:46 PM

Come on now, I can't be the only crazy one on here!

I started skydiving back in the 60's and busted up my left leg really bad in 1968 on my 152'nd jump. I loved every minute of it and would have probably had several hundred jumps by that time if money hadn't been so tight. I asked the doc how long before I could jump again. His reply was "whenever you're ready to break that leg again!". He really boogered up the leg, leaving the bones overlapped and 3/4" shorter than the other leg. As much as I loved the sport, I didn't want to go through that kind of pain again! I was in a cast from my ankle to my butt for 6 months!

I took up flying after that!

tundranurse1 · 01-07-2021, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers

Any old worn-out skydivers out there?

I made friends with the skydivers Team Fastax out of Middletown Ohio 11 years ago before my grandson died of a terminal brain tumor at 9 years old.

I became close friends with them & even jumped with my daughter to do an “ash drop” with the skydivers to spread my grandson’s ashes. These men and women did so much for my grandson. I am forever grateful to them.

They are an interesting group of people.....funny, passionate, caring, adrenaline junkies.

I then did emergency response/ first aide at Start Skydiving drop zone. I saw accidents by professional skydivers & I would never jump again. I’m chicken. Lol

Jubilee 45 · 01-08-2021, 07:01 AM

Navy Special Warfare. I jumped through the 70’s and 80’s. I was a parachute rigger and jump master.

MSHappyCampers · 01-08-2021, 09:33 AM

I never wanted any part of the military jumps from 1200 feet or so! We opened at 2500 feet so we had a few seconds to take other action if the main chute failed!

Alan_Hepburn · 01-08-2021, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers

I never wanted any part of the military jumps from 1200 feet or so! We opened at 2500 feet so we had a few seconds to take other action if the main chute failed!

Training jumps were at 1200 feet, except when we jumped from the Huey choppers - those were at 1500 feet. Combat jumps were from 800 feet so we would be on the ground faster! When you consider that our old T10 chutes took 400 feet to fully open it sure didn't give us much time to resolve any issues! Fortunately I never had any issues when I was jumping...

Jubilee 45 · 01-08-2021, 03:05 PM

Safer than driving through Portland or Seattle.

MSHappyCampers · 01-08-2021, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jubilee 45

Safer than driving through Portland or Seattle.

Or Atlanta!

JFXG · 07-19-2021, 10:50 PM

Just flew ‘em, Joe…. never jumped out of ‘em!

Arch Hoagland · 07-19-2021, 11:36 PM

You guys are crazier than a Hoot Owl.

carybosse · 07-20-2021, 06:34 AM

Made 3 static line jumps, hoping to overcome my fear of heights. Didn't work. Made from 3000 feet. Had an issue on 3rd jump, had my fingers on the releases to dump my main and go to the reserve, but resolved the issue and floated on down.

Been in a glider and a helicopter (not to skydive, of course). Only thing in that arena I still haven't done is hot air balloon and a blimp. Doubt I ever do either.