skybytch 273 #1 March 28, 2003 This is the story of a rig with bad juju. Or maybe it's good juju - you be the judge. Many years ago I knew a guy with too much money. He bought two rigs - both Vector II's - so he could be on every load. He'd done 500 jumps before the first anniversary of his first jump - at a two Cessna 182 dz that ain't too shabby. He got a Vector tandem rating and had done several hundred tandem jumps when he blew it. He took a first time jumper up using a Strong rig, couldn't find the handles fast enough and got the reserve open about a half second too late - they impacted just after line stretch. His passenger died, he survived with some nasty injuries. RWS understandably yanked his tandem rating shortly thereafter. After he recovered he decided that RWS was mean so he sold both his Vectors and bought a Racer. This is really the story of one of those Vectors so I'll stop talking about him now. One of his Vector's ended up being bought by a guy just off student status. "Sparky" had about 100 jumps when he decided to push it and go for the "C field" instead of landing safely in the field on the other side of the road. Bad decision. He ended up striking the powerlines that run alongside the road (thus earning the nickname "Sparky"). The burns seriously messed up his legs; he survived but would never walk again. The rig survived pretty good though. No damage to the container, the Cypres was okay, just a few holes in the main that were simple to patch. Shortly after his accident the rig was sold to another guy just off student status. This guy had put a hundred or so jumps on it when he went up to follow his sister out on an AFF jump. They never made it that far; the Cessna 182 crashed shortly after takeoff, killing everyone on board except him. This time the container didn't make it; between the crash and the paramedics super scissors, it was trashed. But the guy wearing it not only survived the crash, he came back to the sport as soon as he recovered. So. Either this container had some bad juju attached to it that caused it to be involved in two accidents... or it had good juju attached to it that allowed the two people wearing it during those accidents to survive. Personally, I'd call it bad juju... what do you think? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dreamsville 0 #2 March 28, 2003 Maybe it helps to ask how it happened, if you know the system needed repairs (how sound is it?). Beyond that, I'm not very superstitious. |I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane. Harry, FB #4143 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
christoofar 0 #3 March 28, 2003 Bad juju. Whoever wore it had something bad happen fairly soon after they got it! ____________________________________________________________ I'm RICK JAMES! Fo shizzle. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jmpnkramer 0 #4 March 29, 2003 I would call it BAD JUJU!!! Although you could also look at the other aspect of it and say that it was just in the wrong place at the right time. I mean Sparky made a bad decision. You should always land where you know you can not where you think you can. The other individual was just unfortunate. A plan can go down at anytime. We skydivers rely a great deal on our pilots. Many people have no clue what it takes to keep it flying. They only get upset when it isn't. Anyway jut my personal thoughts. Blue Skies & Safe Landings, KRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMER!!!!! The REAL KRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMER! "HESITATION CAUSES DEATH!!!" "Be Slow to Fall into Friendship; but when Thou Art in, Continue Firm & Constant." - SOCRATES Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BMFin 0 #5 March 29, 2003 Not nice things to read.. On the other hand you could see it as a lucky rig : Wont matter how bad you screw up, it saves your life. (none of the rig owners died in this story) Im glad I have an embroided "don´t" - "jinx it" in the handles. Just to remind me not to Jinx my luck.. No bad juju for my rig I hope.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymama 37 #6 March 29, 2003 Quote the Cessna 182 crashed shortly after takeoff, killing everyone on board except him. Definitely good juju. She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man, because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
markbaur 0 #7 March 29, 2003 QuoteHe took a first time jumper up using a Strong rig, couldn't find the handles fast enough and got the reserve open about a half second too late...Cypres?Mark Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Islandcool 0 #8 March 29, 2003 Quote I'd call it bad juju... what do you think? BAD JUJU! Growing up in Hawaii we had some superstitions that no one would mess with. Of course there is always that car that 2 owners had died in that no one would ever buy no matter how cheap. I need to sleep with the lights on nowEd Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkySlut 0 #10 March 29, 2003 Screw all that bad juju-good juju stuff. I jump a canopy *velocity* that someone hooked themselves in on. I feel amazing under that canopy. landing in the center of the peas every time. I actually feel some sort of weird connection with it. When I am done jumping it, I am going to cut it up and stuff it into a teddy bear and give it to his mom for a keepsake. I dont buy into all that stuff. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #11 March 29, 2003 I know of a rig someone died in (heart attack) that every time I saw it it freaked me out since the last time I saw it on him was as I was doing CPR on him. I totally believe in the bad gear Juju, but as long as its not bloody I don't see an issue with someone else jumping it.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,446 #12 March 29, 2003 The only rig that I personally know someone bounced in that was sold, ended up in the possession of someone else who ended up bouncing. Not in that gear, but still it's in the things that make you go hmmm category. I'm one of the least superstitious people out there, but it'd have to be awfully cheap for me to buy gear that had been bounced in. Of course, my brother and his family lived in a house where the previous inhabitant had committed suicide, and they got nothing but cheap rent out of it... Wendy w.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sunman 0 #13 March 29, 2003 QuoteScrew all that bad juju-good juju stuff. Well said. There's no juju, just good decisions and bad decisions. Then there's coincidence. That's it. I'm in control of my own "juju". -Sunman Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #14 March 29, 2003 QuoteCypres? 1992. Not required for tandems at that time. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Clownburner 0 #15 March 29, 2003 I'm with you - the only fate is whatever fate we create for ourselves.7CP#1 | BTR#2 | Payaso en fuego Rodriguez "I want hot chicks in my boobies!"- McBeth Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NightJumper 0 #16 March 29, 2003 Sounds like everyone should have skiped the Vector and gone stright to the Racer Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
betzilla 56 #17 March 29, 2003 this sounds like a classic case of glass half empty/ glass half full. If I had to pick though, I say it has good juju. Yeah, definitely good juju. If were the guy that survived the plane crash, I would have had what was left of that rig bronzed. And if it DID have good juju. at least it took itself out of the rotation by being snipped off the accident victim that last time. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slotperfect 7 #18 March 30, 2003 ju·ju Pronunciation: 'jü-(")jü Function: noun Etymology: of West African origin; akin to Hausa jùju fetish Date: 1894 1 : a fetish, charm, or amulet of West African peoples 2 : the magic attributed to or associated with jujus ##################################### am·u·let Pronunciation: 'am-y&-l&t Function: noun Etymology: Latin amuletum Date: 1584 : a charm (as an ornament) often inscribed with a magic incantation or symbol to protect the wearer against evil (as disease or witchcraft) or to aid him ##################################### GOOD juju! Arrive Safely John Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,446 #19 March 30, 2003 Quote: a charm (as an ornament) often inscribed with a magic incantation or symbol to protect the wearer against evil (as disease or witchcraft) or to aid him ##################################### GOOD juju! Ah, but if it puts you in harm's way just so it can protect you, doesn't it make it Munchausen's-by-proxy juju or something? What's the syndrome that causes nurses or doctors to cause crises in their patients so they can save them? Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndyMan 7 #20 March 30, 2003 QuoteWhat's the syndrome that causes nurses or doctors to cause crises in their patients so they can save them? You got it right on... Muchausen syndrome by proxy. Althought, I thought it was mostly exhibited by parents, not doctors and nurses. _Am__ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
betzilla 56 #21 March 30, 2003 Munchausen can be exibted by the actual patient too, in an attempt to get attention (but they really make themselves sick). Munchausen by Proxy is when the Parent makes their kid sick so they (the parent) can get attention. Poor people, it's so sad. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Squeak 17 #22 March 31, 2003 Good juju or bad juju, OR BOLLOCKSit's an inanimate object You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky) My Life ROCKS! How's yours doing? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jerm 0 #23 March 31, 2003 hmmm... buddy of mine pounded in the last year at Quincy on a swoop-gone-bad, got messed up pretty bad. Another buddy of his was wearing at least one piece of his gear (helmet that i know of... maybe rig) the next season when he smacked in.. both ended up with broken backs and then some.. Landing without injury is not necessarily evidence that you didn't fuck up... it just means you got away with it this time Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jceman 1 #24 March 31, 2003 Quote hmmm... buddy of mine pounded in the last year at Quincy on a swoop-gone-bad, got messed up pretty bad. Another buddy of his was wearing at least one piece of his gear (helmet that i know of... maybe rig) the next season when he smacked in.. both ended up with broken backs and then some.. That sounds like Pudge. "Pudge" was the name given to a canopy I used to own, a Spectre 210 , Cobalt w/cells 3 & 5 Turquoise. It was the one I was using when I hooked myself into the ground and shattered my femur. I put it up for sale as i knew I would need a larger canopy when I got back in the air. A friend of mine decided to demo it and on her 19th or so jump on it, failed to flare and broke both her femurs.After that it went out to Square One and was sold to someone. I haven't heard if it had sated its lust for bones or not. Any help here, Lisa? Faster horses, younger women, older whiskey, more money. Why do they call it "Tourist Season" if we can't shoot them? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve1 5 #25 March 31, 2003 Is anyone else getting skeered reading this post? I kinda enjoy telling scary stories, but I don't like listening to them......Steve1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
