Jump Training

[Tom Odom]

We lost one to a Mae West--reserve entanglement; hit the ground like a watermelon.

This was the same jump that as we started take off roll, a civilian Cessna did a surprise downwind landing right in front of us. Our pilot did a stand on the brakes reverse engine stop and we went back and started all over again.

I had more than 100 civilian jumps when I went through in 1974 so I had a framework to measure things against. The others were less fortunate or maybe luckier depending on how you view things.

Blood on the risers is not just a drinking song,

Tom

[Bob's World]

The best jump school stories EVER are those told by Donald R. Burgett in his classic "Currahee." Blood on the risers indeed.