flash 0 #1 August 14, 2002 Does anyone have an idea of the attendance number at Rantoul? Can't wait till next year! Gravity powered...Air cooled! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,069 #2 August 14, 2002 Around 2500 when I left. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #3 August 14, 2002 Wow.....that place is gonna be extra crazy when the attendance gets back up to 5000 or better!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rhino 0 #4 August 14, 2002 With the canopy traffic that was already up in the air?!?!? Doubling that would be a nightmare!!! lol Last one to the swoop pond is a rotten egg!! lol Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #5 August 14, 2002 QuoteWith the canopy traffic that was already up in the air?!?!? I really don't remember the traffic being that bad. I mean...I remember looking up and seeing lots of canopies but when I was in the air it never seemed like much traffic. I had to do some risering now and again to beat other traffic down but it never seemed too crowded to me....I always landed right where I wanted to...and always on the risers. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
councilman24 37 #6 August 14, 2002 It'll never get to 5000 if they can't get the 727 there when it's "confirmed." That was a big draw for lots of folks both this year and in the past. But with weathered out, no jet when people expected it, no jet when people didn't expect it and now no jet when it was "confirmed" they might as well give up even trying. Reading the letter on the WFFC site they (the jet) didn't have insurance yet the week of the convention. Doesn't sound confirmed to me.I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #7 August 14, 2002 Yeah..I didn't think the traffic was bad. Much better than I expected. The main landing area was a little crowded on the ground at times, but the air space was pretty clear (except when jumping the Herc). Of course I'm comparing to X-Keys which has pretty high traffic to start. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #8 August 14, 2002 Oh... the FAA gave its blessing this year which was always the roadblock, that or finding an operator willing to let us use it to jump. As Don said.. he never expected the insurance to be canceled on us. And post 9/11 getting insurance on a short notice is next to impossible. I've heard it from a few people that saw Don calling all over the world for 12 hours trying to get insurance for either the jet or the Connie. Even Loyds of London would'nt touch us... that says something there.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildblue 7 #9 August 14, 2002 next year they should have a little shuttle going from the spectator landing area to the tent city area. I think a lot more people would opt to land there, and un-congest the main areas.it's like incest - you're substituting convenience for quality Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #10 August 14, 2002 I am about sick of hearing the little bitches whine and cry about the jet!!!! Don tried.....it didn't work out. If someone else thinks they can do better STEP UP TO THE FUCKING PLATE!!!!! How someone can pay $59 for a place to camp, the entire fleet of Skydive Arizona super fast planes, Mullins King Air, several Casas, C-130, hot air balloons, Rod's 412, an acrobatic bi-plane, free beer , a band for the entire convention and still whine like children I'll never know. WTF does it take to please people these days. I thought that boogie kicked ass. I had a blast cause I was there with my friends. If it had been a single 182 DZ and I was there with my friends jumping I would have still had a great time. JUST STFU already!!!!!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,106 #11 August 14, 2002 QuoteI am about sick of hearing the little bitches whine and cry about the jet!!!! Don tried.....it didn't work out. What don't you understand about the word "CONFIRMED"? "Fool me once; shame on you Fool me twice; shame on me" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
konradptr 0 #12 August 14, 2002 If they get 5000??? They will be lucky to ever get 2500 again... The letter that was posted for the 727 said that "we apoligize that we couldn't enter into a contract, because we are both unable to find an insurance carrier that would cover teh plane and liability, etc..." The problem isn't teh two fatalities earlier in the week, and it isn't the insurance backing out. If insurance was an issue, what was the deal with the C130? Why didn't Don contact their insurance carrier, since they didn't seem to have a problem with allowing a large transport catagory aircraft to carry skydiviers. And the fact that it took two days to get the fax out, and Don knew that it wasn't coming, but waited until a couple hours before it was to arrive just to keep people there??? Also, I was there, and I am a pilot. I really can't imagine that either one of the runways that they were using would be able to safely take off a fully-loaded Boing 727, much less land it. Every vibe that I got from being there was that it was never coming. Confirmed means confirmed, and there was never even a contract signed... ------------------------------------------ Getting banned isn't that bad...... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #13 August 14, 2002 I'll be back Jet or no Jet. IMO the boogie was that good! If you want to see the contract... email Don. The one he presented to the webmaster (that I'm proud to have met) was enough to convince Micheal that the Jet would be there.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
konradptr 0 #14 August 14, 2002 If I wanted the entire fleet of Skydive Arizona planes, I would have gone out to Eloy, (which is closer) and paid $17 a jump instead of $18, and not the $59 registration. There is a reason that Don Kirlin has 6 L-39 Dolphin jets. Paying $59 for shitty bands that nobody wants to listen to, free Miller beer, which is about as tasty as Pabst, and having to rent a golf cart for $40 a day just because everything was so poorly laid-out for the RV camp doesn't sound great. Confirmed means confirmed. I could have gone to Lost Prairie, but I wanted to jump the jet, which was confirmed for several months. I could have taken a trip out to Deland during the convention, for $12 jumps, but I wanted to jump the jet. I could have gone out to Perris again, and jumped there for $14.50, but I wanted to jump the jet. The C130 was cool, but there was nothing there that I couldn't have jumped other than the B412 and C130, if I went out to Eloy. As far as the CASAs go, you can have them, they climb about as quick as a loaded Cessna in Denver... I am not in the loop, but I feel, as many other people feel, that they were lied to and deceived about the jet, just to keep them there. The fax didn't come out for almost two days after it was recieved, hoping that people would stay. And it wasn't announced until a couple hours before it was supposed to arrive. And that would be if it could safely take off and land at Rantoul as it is... So as far as STFU about the jet- NO!!! I spent a lot of time and energy driving out there, thinking about the jet. As happy as I am that I saw all my friends from other DZs, I could just as well have planned trips out there... ------------------------------------------ Getting banned isn't that bad...... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sunshine 2 #15 August 14, 2002 QuoteI'll be back Jet or no Jet. IMO the boogie was that good! Me too!! I was a little disappointed that the jet didn't come, but i had so much fun anyway. Where else could i meet and hang with so many cool peeps. We had balloons, the chopper, C130, biplane, and "normal" jump planes. Overall the WFFC rocked. ___________________________________________ meow I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scottbre 0 #16 August 14, 2002 Ok, you've made it abundantly clear that you're pissed. Now move on. "Your mother's full of stupidjuice!" My Art Project Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jfields 0 #17 August 14, 2002 I definitely see both sides of this issue, even though I wasn't there. Whether Don Kirlin has 6 Dolphin jets or one beat up skateboard doesn't matter. It is his business. The issue that I have with this is delivery on promises. Especially after prior jet snafus, I would think he would have all his ducks lined up before putting it into the "confirmed" category. Pilots, backup pilots, insurance, backup insurance, etc. Each year that big-draw aircraft don't show, more people decide to go to other events. Either they are closer, cheaper, or more convenient in some other way. When planning to take leave time and spend a lot of money going to a major boogie, people expect to see what is advertised and have things run smoothly. Eventually, people complain in the most effective way, by spending their money somewhere else. Once people go to other events, they have fun at them, and wonder if the WFFC is really worth it. All that said, I have already blocked time on my calendar for next year's WFFC. I made my travel arrangements, started my jump ticket fund and persuaded my wife to let me go, which is the hardest part. I plan to be there, jet or no jet. For me personally, that isn't the big draw. It is the chance to meet people from this website and get some quality "newbie" load organizing. The jet (or Connie) would just be a bonus. But I won't expect to jump it, (confirmed or not) until I am leaving the door on jump run. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jessica 0 #18 August 14, 2002 QuoteIt is the chance to meet people from this website and get some quality "newbie" load organizing. The load organizing was top-notch! I eschewed the specialty aircraft for the most part so I could afford to spend more jump tickets in Tent 4 with billvon and his ilk. I learned a LOT. And meeting fellow .commers was very, very cool. I'll be back to WFFC, no question. I had a blast.Skydiving is for cool people only Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,069 #19 August 14, 2002 >The load organizing was top-notch! Thanks! We had fun too. At least I got to jump with you once . . . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skyjames 2 #20 August 14, 2002 Yo! Billy, Where the hell were you while I stood in line for a chance to jump (err I mean out jump) your butt? Huh! You and Amy decided to compleatly ignore that SKYJAMES was there, a force to be reconed with Never you mind, D. Jan took it upon herself to entertain me. 1st she asks how many jumps I have... I err here and say 14. She reconizes a billy joke when she sees one. "Oh by the way, did you see that joke some guys played on Bill one year" she asks? Oh well, blew that one. Had a good time, might be back .. that is, if Don DOES NOT say a Jet is really coming! After the jet was xled ... btw I got a copy of the memo and went to manifest to ask if it was really true the Jet had been scrubbed. The looked at me as if I were trying to start a riot act. Told me they heard no such thing, when I presented the memo to the "Manifest girl", her jaw dropped and she went to the back room. Upon returning she said Don would be making an announcment shortly... where was I, oh yeah ... after the jet was xcled it was like all the snow birds in Florida migrated back north. Befor the xcling you couldn't walk across tent city, after the xcling you could drive the golf cart across it with ease. 'nuff of this, had a great time despite no jet. scare-de-kat! james "exit fast, fly smooth, dock soft and smile" blue skies "exit fast, fly smooth, dock soft and smile" 'nother james Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #21 August 14, 2002 We were discussing tackling Bill off the ramp and taking him on a Head Down jump..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WFFC 1 #22 August 14, 2002 QuoteReading the letter on the WFFC site they (the jet) didn't have insurance yet the week of the convention. Doesn't sound confirmed to me. Don't forget the rest of the story...It's too long to post here, but yes, the Jet was confirmed when I posted it and now I'm going to take flack for the Connie and the Jet. So be it. I was sitting in Don's trailer at the convention when he did get three confirmations on three other jets, but they could not get the insurance to cover the plane for jump operations. Lessons learned - Maybe next year. Michael Webmaster Michael@Freefall.com----- ~~~Michael Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rhino 0 #23 August 14, 2002 At least their is one specialty jump I haven't made that I might be able to do next year :) cool!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildblue 7 #24 August 14, 2002 isn't insurance what sank the jet last year? Jusr curious, I don't really care - I had a good time anyway. And I seriously doubt Don announced it without truely believeing it was going to be there. Shit happens, wipe your ass and move on.it's like incest - you're substituting convenience for quality Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #25 August 14, 2002 QuoteI got a copy of the memo and went to manifest to ask if it was really true the Jet had been scrubbed. The looked at me as if I were trying to start a riot act. Told me they heard no such thing, when I presented the memo to the "Manifest girl", her jaw dropped and she went to the back room. Upon returning she said Don would be making an announcment shortly... As one of the "manifest girls" I can tell you that none of the three of us at the manifest window had any clue about the jet not showing up until that copy of the fax was shoved in front of our faces. The dropping jaw was legit and heartfelt. As for "Don will make an announcement", you didn't really think that one of us would be willing to make that announcement and take the heat for it, did you? I did appreciate the fact that only a few "people" felt it neccessary to take their disappointment out on those of us who had nothing to do with it other than manifesting or selling tickets. The majority of people I talked to who were there were having a great time anyway and, while bummed, weren't going to let no jet screw up the rest of their boogie/vacation. The high speed Casa and C130 passes (225 mph out of the C130!!!) and the reduced C130 ticket price for the Saturday sunset load did a lot to make those who stuck around happy that they'd done so. Yes, you can jump Otters, Casas, and King Air's anywhere, but there is no other boogie where you can have that much fun with that many other jumpers for that long. Expect to hear me on the PA again next year. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
