Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sdd.hp.com!hplabs!hpcc05!hpcc01!gregory From: gregory@hpcc01.HP.COM (Kim Gregory) Newsgroups: rec.skydiving Subject: Re: Helicopter Jumping Message-ID: <4190001@hpcc01.HP.COM> Date: 26 Jun 91 03:29:27 GMT References: Organization: HP Corp Computing & Services Lines: 26 Barry, When I was in the military, jumping from helicopters was part of my job description. I also belonged to a jump club on base (Clark AB, R.P.) that got to use military aircraft when they were available. I always enjoyed jumping the choppers for several reasons one of which was the relative silence and feeling of really falling. Another was that we could get to altitude quickly and thereby were able to make several jumps in minimum time. The choppers that we jumped were Sikorsky HH-3/CH-3 models. Occasionally, we jumped Hueys. I was told that it cost Uncle about $1200/hour to keep the HH-3 in the sky. Generally, only the *very* wealthy or the government agencies are the only ones who can afford to own helicopters. BTW, that was 1974. As an aside, I once jumped with a visiting Army general who had only been jumping for 8 months. He had logged 800 jumps. Yes, I turned green with envy. I said, "That's a lot of jumps." He said, "I have my own helicopter." --K. Norman "Schwarzkopf" Gregory {only general illusions of grandeur}