dan0kun 0 #1 March 31, 2005 what is the meaning for slapping / bumping hands with every jumper on the plane before the door opens? One in four people have mental illness. If your three friends are okay, then it's you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #2 March 31, 2005 Quote what is the meaning for slapping / bumping hands with every jumper on the plane before the door opens? "Good luck, have fun and goodbye if one of us doesn't make it."--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve1 5 #3 March 31, 2005 I didn't see anyone do this in the 70's. I'm glad to see this becoming a tradition now. In a way it brings us all closer together, every jump.....Steve1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #4 March 31, 2005 Quote "Good luck, have fun and goodbye if one of us doesn't make it." Quote WHAT?! You mean it's not about everyone wanting to touch a 'Sky God?' They do the EVERYWHERE??? It's not just about MEEEE?!?!? ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
calledisrael 0 #5 March 31, 2005 can i ask a dumb question? (yes, i am a student) and i know it may just be local tradition. on our plane, we don't touch 'hands' but touch two fingers to everyone within reach. is there a reason for that? do most people? it's very ceremonial - i like it alot. just curious. life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all. (helen keller) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,534 #6 March 31, 2005 I don't remember seeing it in the mid-80's. When and where did it start? On rowdy days, we'd sing "Shall we gather at the river" during takeoff. Of course, exit counts took longer too "one potato two potato three potato four five potato six potato out the fucking door" 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
wartload 0 #7 March 31, 2005 Geez ... were you at Louisburg then? That's the first place I heard the potato count, but I think it might have been before the 80s. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,534 #8 March 31, 2005 This was in Houston, in the very early 80's. It's particularly memorable because we were doing girly jumps one afternoon, and the guys on the pass before us gave the same count in a falsetto 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
kelel01 1 #9 March 31, 2005 I was told it means, "Have a good jump" (palms together), "and don't forget to pull" (the point). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RogerRamjet 0 #10 March 31, 2005 Quote I don't remember seeing it in the mid-80's. When and where did it start? On rowdy days, we'd sing "Shall we gather at the river" during takeoff. Of course, exit counts took longer too "one potato two potato three potato four five potato six potato out the fucking door" Wendy W. Gee, in a 1000 jumps in eight years, I only ever heard 3, 2, 1, go! ... I like your (their?) count much better The only signs I saw going around in the '70s were people "bagging" each other. You just didn't want to be bagged! Anyone remember that? ----------------------- Roger "Ramjet" Clark FB# 271, SCR 3245, SCS 1519 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #11 March 31, 2005 Or how about... "HEY ASSHOLE!" ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #12 March 31, 2005 Quote Or how about... "HEY ASSHOLE!" I got one of my tandem students to yell that at about 12K two weeks ago. She thought it was the coolest thing and I got a kick out of my tandem student being so motivated about skydiving. Sort of like another student I got to yell "Get 'Er Done!" on exit a couple of weeks ago as well.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eUrNiCc 0 #13 April 1, 2005 Quote Or how about... "HEY ASSHOLE!" SAFETY BRIEFING!Egad, A BASE life defiles a bad age. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slug 1 #14 April 1, 2005 Quote I don't remember seeing it in the mid-80's. When and where did it start? On rowdy days, we'd sing "Shall we gather at the river" during takeoff. In the 70's in Ks We used to sing "Off we go into the wild blue yonder, Clinbing high into the sun"...... If I remember correctly Glad we're still getting older toR.I.P. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PROGRESSIVE 0 #15 April 1, 2005 When I started skydiving, everyone would yell on que, "blues skies..black death," during take off. I thought this was hilarious, especially jumping at Cooledge in the early 80's. When I recently got back into skydiving I got the impression that was frowned upon. Initially I was caught off guard when I'd get my helmet on and start checking my handles, and going over the dive in my head on jump run, everyone would start getting all touchy and feely...its like, don't bother me, I'm thinking! No one did this hand slapping when I started skydiving in 79. Now, everywhere I go, I just bite my tongue and slap the hands, or snap the fingers, or some combination there of, with some other shmuck that's about to huck themselves out of a perfectly good airplane. Back then, blowing a low hook turn meant getting the wind knocked out of ya. Times have changed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr2mk1g 10 #16 April 1, 2005 The one I've almost always been party to is a dragging of the palms across one another, then a knock of the knuckles, then pointing at each other. I’ve been told that this is a mimic of your reserve drills...ie: "peal, punch, pull". But what do I know... I certainly wasn’t there at the inception, just what I’ve been told. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JeffSkydiver 0 #17 April 1, 2005 I agree with you Progressive. I'm trying to get used to it to be friendly etc., but, at least for now, as I'm getting used to jumping again after 23 years off - I wish it would all happen in the boarding area, or after 1000 feet when the helmets and seat belts come off - not right before exit. On a 13.5 jump, everyone starts moving around at about 10 k or so, helmets, gloves, equip checks etc etc. I did for awhile too then found that I'd be ready way too soon, then the ritual, after which I would check myself anyway because of all the moving and shuffling around on the plane. Now, since I mostly do solos or 2 ways, I'm usually out last or right before tandems & AFFs. I try to wait until all the ritual is done, then do my 10 point check, goggles, helmet and pin check. I'm not out to change anything - I WILL get used to it. It's just right now, it's a little bit of a distraction only because of WHEN it's done. jt* Let's all do this safe enough that we can still do this in our 90's. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #18 April 1, 2005 Quote everywhere I go, I just bite my tongue and slap the hands, or snap the fingers, or some combination there of, Quote LOL! I hear ya...More physical contact than I usually get without dinner and a movie. Couple weeks ago, a guy sitting next to me pulls off his glove and studies his hand for a moment... Sticks a couple fingers into the face of someone across from him and asks... "This smell like BUTT to you??" For some reason no one wanted to do the finger snappy thingie with him anymore!! I'm gonna have to try that! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggermick 7 #19 April 1, 2005 Quote When I started skydiving, everyone would yell on que, "blues skies..black death," during take off. I thought this was hilarious, especially jumping at Cooledge in the early 80's. When I recently got back into skydiving I got the impression that was frowned upon. Initially I was caught off guard when I'd get my helmet on and start checking my handles, and going over the dive in my head on jump run, everyone would start getting all touchy and feely...its like, don't bother me, I'm thinking! No one did this hand slapping when I started skydiving in 79. Now, everywhere I go, I just bite my tongue and slap the hands, or snap the fingers, or some combination there of, with some other shmuck that's about to huck themselves out of a perfectly good airplane. Back then, blowing a low hook turn meant getting the wind knocked out of ya. Times have changed. It kind of makes me uncomfortable. I feel awkward doing it because I'm never sure exactly what I should be doing. Old school I guess. Mick. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hottamaly 1 #20 April 1, 2005 Quote Or how about... "HEY ASSHOLE!" WHAT? Skydiving gave me a reason to live I'm not afraid of what I'll miss when I die...I'm afraid of what I'll miss as I live Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve1 5 #21 April 2, 2005 I had a jumpmaster in the Army who had a habit of saying, "F--- God and stand in the door!". (How's that for being touchy feely!). Everyone expected to see him struck dead by lightning, but it never happened. Another jumpmaster I knew would give you the boot if you took too long in the door. A friend of mine landed with shoe polish all over the back of his fatigues. We got a great laugh out of that. Maybe Army jumpmasters, back then, just needed a little sensitivity training....Steve1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stratostar 5 #22 April 2, 2005 Hell I just thought they had boogers on the fingers and were trying to get them off. ~you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
itllclear 1 #23 April 2, 2005 Quote When I started skydiving, everyone would yell on que, "blues skies..black death," during take off. I thought this was hilarious, especially jumping at Cooledge in the early 80's. . In 1986, a group of jumpers had about half the seats on a Mexicana DC-9 leaving from Tijuana to Mazatlan. On rotation, someone yelled out "Blue Skies" and got the traditional response. The whuffos on board were somewhat puzzled. Harry"Harry, why did you land all the way out there? Nobody else landed out there." "Your statement answered your question." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stratostar 5 #24 April 2, 2005 We used to sing "Off we go into the wild blue yonder, Clinbing high into the sun"...... If I remember correctly (quote) That's because you guys watched the gyspy moths over and over and over and over, just because hackman did it into the mic on T.O. you know life imitating the arts. ~you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slug 1 #25 April 2, 2005 Quote We used to sing "Off we go into the wild blue yonder, Clinbing high into the sun"...... If I remember correctly (quote) That's because you guys watched the gyspy moths over and over and over and over, just because hackman did it into the mic on T.O. you know life imitating the arts. ~ Hi SS Damn so that's where it came from BTW "back in the day" we only got to see the movie Gypsy Moth's in the theatre once. Pre VCR's,& DVD's, Waivers wind tunnels,cell phones, computers, pocket calculators...... what were we talking about Maybe thats why we forgot where that song came from. Off we go into the wild blue yonder, Clinbing high into the sunR.I.P. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
