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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!houxm!vax135!petsd!pesnta!hplabs!hp-pcd!kas
From: kas@hp-pcd.UUCP (kas)
Newsgroups: net.rec.skydive
Subject: Re: Additional Boogie Tales
Message-ID: <41800039@hpcvlo.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 25-Sep-85 20:50:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: hpcvlo.41800039
Posted: Wed Sep 25 20:50:00 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 30-Sep-85 01:30:12 EDT
References: <41800036@hpcvlo.UUCP>
Organization: Hewlett-Packard - Corvallis, OR
Lines: 43
Nf-ID: #R:hpcvlo:41800036:hpcvlo:41800039:000:2847
Nf-From: hpcvlo!kas    Sep 25 16:50:00 1985



Dane,
     I remembered another adrenalin-pumping "jump" story.  On one of the DC-3's,
one engine seemed to be developing a slight miss.  It wasn't bad, but it was
noticible.  We made it to altitude with no problem, however.  On a later load,
I managed to get on the same plane, only this time the engine began to miss
VERY noticibly shortly after takeoff.  Within a minute or two, the engine
threatened to quit altogether!  Everyone on board began saying their prayers
while putting on their helmets and gloves (it was so hellishly hot in the 
planes that most of us didn't put on helmets and gloves 'till we got to ten
grand or so -- admittedly not a very smart practice).  We were just barely
struggling through 1500' when the word was spread to prepare for an emergency
exit.  Hearts were a-poundin'.  Then, to make matters worse, the pilot yelled
back, "NO, DON'T JUMP!  WE'RE OVER WATER!"  Seems we were over a lake south of
the airport.  By the time we cleared the water hazard, the pilot had gotten
the engine running a little better, so he announced that we should all sit
tight, and he would head back to the airport.  We all squished up real tight,
leaving the back half of the airplane empty.  Surprising how "small" you can
get when all your cards are on the table.  Nobody could breathe, but that was
OK, 'cause we were all holding our breath, anyway.  Well, sure enough, the 
pilot made it back to the airport, and made a perfectly smooth landing to boot!
We all crawled out, breathed a sigh of relief, and got in a different plane.
Later, the tale I heard was that the pilot had intended to run one of the fuel
tanks dry on a previous load because of a suspected leak.  He forgot that the 
tank hadn't run dry yet, and that he hadn't switched to another (fuller) tank
for takeoff.  It took awhile for all the air to get sucked out of the fuel
lines when the tank ran dry, and he suddenly remembered to switch to another
tank.  By the time we landed, I had noticed that the engine seemed to be 
running just fine.  
     Hey, I just got your message with the rodeo dive description, and the
memory joggers.  I LOVED your rodeo dive ideas!  Sounds like more fun than
any one person is entitled to -- so I'll have to try it!  I haven't jumped
since the boogie, because I sent my (new) canopy back to the manufacturer for
repairs.  It has always had a built-in left turn which could not be removed
by simply adjusting the control line length.  While at the boogie, I talked
to the Precision Parachute representative in the equipment tent, and he said
they would fix it for free.  That was several weeks ago, now, and I still 
don't have it back.   Hmmm...I wonder what's taking so long.  
     Well, I gotta go rescue the babysitter from my kids, so I'll answer all
your memory joggers in the next chapter.  Bye for now!

							Ken


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