Skydiving

Skydiving Indiantown, FL (Note jump plane descending in upper left corner)
Bill Rhonda

The Idea

At a young age I saw an article about skydivers doing back flips in free fall in the Sunday Parade magazine, an insert in the local newspaper. I tried to discuss this with my father who said, "Your Nuts!", but I ran around for hours pretending to be in free fall and doing flips.

The First Jump

1st Jump T10 Near Tampa, FL
T10

One of the glider students at Lenox Flight School was also jumping and suggested that I try skydiving. I replied I could only do it on my day off. He talked the crew at Parachute Ranch, near Tampa, to agree to teach me on a weekday 07/29/75. I believe the owners' name was Mac McGraw. It was a static line course using a 35' T-10 with a "TU" modification, and a large arrow on the ground for canopy control. The main canopy releases were "2-shots' and I just knew in my head I was dead if the main did not open properly. I enjoyed the jump a lot but could not afford nor schedule another jump. I did two more static line jumps there (01/01/1976) during one of my trips back and forth from school and working for Lenox Flight School in Florida.

Indiantown, FL

Early Freefall Jump with Plenty of Adrenaline Flowing Indiantown, FL
Adrenaline

Many years later I was managing the glider operation for a summer in Indiantown, FL. Across the runway was the notorious skydiving operation of Pop (Paul) Poppenhager. After observing for some time and noting they did not have too many accidents and only one or two reserve rides a weekend, I made an appointment to take the 1st jump course when the summer and my management responsibilities ended.

I made my 1st free fall jump on 09/23/1979. "Smitty" Carl Smith was my instructor, a very thorough and methodical man. He needed to be, as Pop ran a non-USPA approved 1st jump course that did not involve static lines nor instructors jumping out with you. He was way ahead of his time, AFF and tandem jumping was not yet invented. After the jump my excitement was high and I knew I was hooked, the sun was setting but I asked if I could make another jump. Well they knew they had one on the line and said yes as they reeled me in. My life was changed and I do not regret a moment of it.

UPDATE:

Please follow this link to see some of Pop's comments on the accuracy of my memory and a little about how he and his family are doing.

Later I worked for Pop as a Pilot, Jump master and Instructor. The last day for South Florida Parachute Inc. at Indiantown was 06/29/86, when Pop finally gave up on his son, Paul, who was running the business after his retirement. It was a sad day and I remember looping the Beaver (4x) on the way down from the last load. After all they couldn't fire me could they? I didn't want to land but I was running out of gas and daylight at the same time. There were a few more outlaw jumps out of various aircraft at Indiantown after that, and I'm proud to say I may have been a part of them, but SFPI was no more.

As always, things have changed with time. An accuracy "out" (too far to bother measuring) went from 300 ft to 20 cm and the crowd changed from outlaw motorcycle gang types to yuppie's.

I'd do it all over again to eternity if it was possible. I pray my daughter will never show an interest.

Accomplishments

Some of the parachutes I have Flown

.
T10 Delta
T10

Para Commander
1st Parachute I owned, Para Commander

Para Planer
1st Square Jump, Pop's Para Plane

Cloud
Strato Cloud

Cruisair
Cruisair

Vulcan
Vulcan

Cloud Delta
Cloud Delta

Thunderbow
Thunderbow

Sierra Lopo
Sierra Light

Eiff
Eiff Classic

More information

If it sounds like skydiving is for you please contact the United States Parachute Association.

From my experience, the real dangers of skydiving are to your bank account and your social life.