skyjumpenfool 2 #1 January 3, 2009 History of Sugar Alpha? Tell us what you know… After some conversations on another post and some really nice PM’s, I’ve decided to start this post. I’ve done some research (links below) and have not come across much info. I’m looking for any and all information about the DC-3, Sugar Alpha. Especially from those that were on the plane when it lost an engine at the FB Convention. Please post any pics and as many facts as possible. I’m interested in all the “Legends” as well as the facts. For instance, I heard that it crashed a few years after the FB incident??? Is that true? I thought this link was interesting… Can’t wait to read the book. http://www.sugaralpha.com/ http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_view_flat;post=3431452;page=3;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;mh=25;Birdshit & Fools Productions "Son, only two things fall from the sky." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gadget 0 #2 January 4, 2009 clickyhttp://www.sugaralpha.com/ http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_view_flat;post=3431452;page=3;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;mh=25; If people from Poland are called Poles, why aren't people from Holland called Holes??? My logbook Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
howardwhite 6 #3 January 5, 2009 Exit shot HW Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davidlayne 5 #4 January 5, 2009 QuoteExit shot HW My guess is over King's Island Ohio.I don't care how many skydives you've got, until you stepped into complete darkness at 800' wearing 95 lbs of equipment and 42 lbs of parachute, son you are still a leg! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
howardwhite 6 #5 January 5, 2009 What would make you guess that? Actually, according to the label, over Z-Hills. HW Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davidlayne 5 #6 January 6, 2009 QuoteWhat would make you guess that? Wasn't that aircraft the jump platform for the daily demo into King's Island in the mid '80's?I don't care how many skydives you've got, until you stepped into complete darkness at 800' wearing 95 lbs of equipment and 42 lbs of parachute, son you are still a leg! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites JSBIRD 1 #7 January 6, 2009 That timing would probably fit David. The previous owner, Steve Moran, was killed in a T28 crash in 83-84. His widow sold the bird shortly after. 359"Now I've settled down, in a quiet little town, and forgot about everything" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites fastphil 0 #8 January 8, 2009 Here's a couple of old pics from my memories trunk... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites mccurley 1 #9 January 8, 2009 I still think DC3s are the greatest looking aircraft. About 6 weeks ago One flew right over my house in Tauranga with a Texan in formation.!!!! Damn near wet my pants Watch my video Fat Women http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRWkEky8GoI Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites skyjumpenfool 2 #10 January 9, 2009 Quote I still think DC3s are the greatest looking aircraft. About 6 weeks ago One flew right over my house in Tauranga with a Texan in formation.!!!! Damn near wet my pants On the east side of the Oshkosh Airport, there's some kind of Airframe Restoration Facility with a huge DC-3 Boneyard... Might be related to the EAA?? Anyway, there are DC-3 and C-47 shells everywhere. They really were handsom aircraft. Lots of charactor!Birdshit & Fools Productions "Son, only two things fall from the sky." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites JSBIRD 1 #11 January 9, 2009 That sounds like Basler...where they turn piston powered DC3's into TUBINE BEASTS! BASE359 "Now I've settled down, in a quiet little town, and forgot about everything" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Skydive2 1 #12 January 10, 2009 I heard is still sitting on a Ramp in Fremont OH. Has been there since the early 90's. The owner was killed this summer in a aircraft accident, so I guess its future is in question Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites howardwhite 6 #13 January 10, 2009 QuoteAnyway, there are DC-3 and C-47 shells everywhere. Like this one, at Skydive Chicago. HW Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites JSBIRD 1 #14 January 10, 2009 Quote .... clip .... The owner was killed this summer .... clip .... Another one? Wow, Sugar Alpha must really not like humans! 359"Now I've settled down, in a quiet little town, and forgot about everything" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites usedtajump 1 #15 January 11, 2009 Wow, looks like the Lady's luck ran out sho 'nuff. Jumped it quite often in Dallas before Doc moved it to IL. Don't quite remember the story but isn't that storm damage? Kind'a sad to see Sugar Alpha all faded out and so lonesome looking by herself on that ramp. The older I get the less I care who I piss off. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites jumpwally 0 #16 January 12, 2009 Any idea what a plane like Sugar Alpha is worth in that condition ?smile, be nice, enjoy life FB # - 1083 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites CReW 0 #17 January 16, 2009 Wonder when the first skydives were made from her. Made my first from the BIG airplane in North Vernon Indiana 1975. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites BillyVance 34 #18 January 16, 2009 QuoteWonder when the first skydives were made from her. Made my first from the BIG airplane in North Vernon Indiana 1975. "Uhaul"?? What was the story behind that? Just curious."Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites WGore 0 #19 January 17, 2009 A couple good friends of mine were on the Kings Island team and they would jump that thing every evening and there were 4 or 5 of them on the airplane.GUNFIRE, The sound of Freedom! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites CReW 0 #20 January 19, 2009 I can think of a couple reasons but the truth is I'm sorry to say I don't remember. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites howardwhite 6 #21 January 28, 2009 Another picture of UHaul, a Massachusetts team at Z-Hills in mid-seventies. (It's a screengrab.) (Back row, left, is Lew Sanborn.) HW Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites piper17 1 #22 January 29, 2009 Gee, Howard, there are a lot of faces there that I recognize from the very distant past! Now...the names are a different story!"A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition"...Rudyard Kipling Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Jim_Hooper 4 #23 January 29, 2009 HW - 'Uhaul' generates a spark, but, like Mowrey, I'm suffering severe synaptic resistance to putting names to faces (save for Lew, of course). I'm sure it couldn't have anything to do with the passge of time. Hmmm. Nyaaa... Hoop Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites howardwhite 6 #24 January 29, 2009 I can name them all. (Of course it helps that Skip Kniley thoughtfully captioned them when he made the movie from which this is stolen.) The team was named "The Tailfeathers of Orange," in tribute (?) to Bird's team, "The Wings of Orange." (Note that several people are jumping Bird "Ripoff" reserves.) HW Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Skydave103 0 #25 January 29, 2009 Quote Wow, looks like the Lady's luck ran out sho 'nuff. Jumped it quite often in Dallas before Doc moved it to IL. Don't quite remember the story but isn't that storm damage? Kind'a sad to see Sugar Alpha all faded out and so lonesome looking by herself on that ramp. Lady's Luck ran out in '02 (I think) one of that area's afternoon storms. The wind gusts were clocked at 100mph!! LL was tied down with 3' augers the were just ripped out of the ground. If it wasnt for the tree about 40' behind it would have been across the road and over the hill. Picnic tables were wrapped around trees, the river raft tailer was moved off of it's blocks, lots of trees down etc. I don't think any of the rv's/trailers were damaged. I've seen hurricanes that did less damage! Always good times at SDC! LifeshouldNOTbeajourneytothegravewithawellpreservedbody,buttskidinsideways,cigarinone hand,martiniintheother,bodythoroughlyused upandscreaming:"WOO HOO!! What a ride!!!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Prev 1 2 Next Page 1 of 2 Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
JSBIRD 1 #7 January 6, 2009 That timing would probably fit David. The previous owner, Steve Moran, was killed in a T28 crash in 83-84. His widow sold the bird shortly after. 359"Now I've settled down, in a quiet little town, and forgot about everything" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fastphil 0 #8 January 8, 2009 Here's a couple of old pics from my memories trunk... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mccurley 1 #9 January 8, 2009 I still think DC3s are the greatest looking aircraft. About 6 weeks ago One flew right over my house in Tauranga with a Texan in formation.!!!! Damn near wet my pants Watch my video Fat Women http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRWkEky8GoI Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skyjumpenfool 2 #10 January 9, 2009 Quote I still think DC3s are the greatest looking aircraft. About 6 weeks ago One flew right over my house in Tauranga with a Texan in formation.!!!! Damn near wet my pants On the east side of the Oshkosh Airport, there's some kind of Airframe Restoration Facility with a huge DC-3 Boneyard... Might be related to the EAA?? Anyway, there are DC-3 and C-47 shells everywhere. They really were handsom aircraft. Lots of charactor!Birdshit & Fools Productions "Son, only two things fall from the sky." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JSBIRD 1 #11 January 9, 2009 That sounds like Basler...where they turn piston powered DC3's into TUBINE BEASTS! BASE359 "Now I've settled down, in a quiet little town, and forgot about everything" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skydive2 1 #12 January 10, 2009 I heard is still sitting on a Ramp in Fremont OH. Has been there since the early 90's. The owner was killed this summer in a aircraft accident, so I guess its future is in question Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
howardwhite 6 #13 January 10, 2009 QuoteAnyway, there are DC-3 and C-47 shells everywhere. Like this one, at Skydive Chicago. HW Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JSBIRD 1 #14 January 10, 2009 Quote .... clip .... The owner was killed this summer .... clip .... Another one? Wow, Sugar Alpha must really not like humans! 359"Now I've settled down, in a quiet little town, and forgot about everything" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
usedtajump 1 #15 January 11, 2009 Wow, looks like the Lady's luck ran out sho 'nuff. Jumped it quite often in Dallas before Doc moved it to IL. Don't quite remember the story but isn't that storm damage? Kind'a sad to see Sugar Alpha all faded out and so lonesome looking by herself on that ramp. The older I get the less I care who I piss off. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpwally 0 #16 January 12, 2009 Any idea what a plane like Sugar Alpha is worth in that condition ?smile, be nice, enjoy life FB # - 1083 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CReW 0 #17 January 16, 2009 Wonder when the first skydives were made from her. Made my first from the BIG airplane in North Vernon Indiana 1975. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 34 #18 January 16, 2009 QuoteWonder when the first skydives were made from her. Made my first from the BIG airplane in North Vernon Indiana 1975. "Uhaul"?? What was the story behind that? Just curious."Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WGore 0 #19 January 17, 2009 A couple good friends of mine were on the Kings Island team and they would jump that thing every evening and there were 4 or 5 of them on the airplane.GUNFIRE, The sound of Freedom! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CReW 0 #20 January 19, 2009 I can think of a couple reasons but the truth is I'm sorry to say I don't remember. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
howardwhite 6 #21 January 28, 2009 Another picture of UHaul, a Massachusetts team at Z-Hills in mid-seventies. (It's a screengrab.) (Back row, left, is Lew Sanborn.) HW Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
piper17 1 #22 January 29, 2009 Gee, Howard, there are a lot of faces there that I recognize from the very distant past! Now...the names are a different story!"A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition"...Rudyard Kipling Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim_Hooper 4 #23 January 29, 2009 HW - 'Uhaul' generates a spark, but, like Mowrey, I'm suffering severe synaptic resistance to putting names to faces (save for Lew, of course). I'm sure it couldn't have anything to do with the passge of time. Hmmm. Nyaaa... Hoop Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
howardwhite 6 #24 January 29, 2009 I can name them all. (Of course it helps that Skip Kniley thoughtfully captioned them when he made the movie from which this is stolen.) The team was named "The Tailfeathers of Orange," in tribute (?) to Bird's team, "The Wings of Orange." (Note that several people are jumping Bird "Ripoff" reserves.) HW Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skydave103 0 #25 January 29, 2009 Quote Wow, looks like the Lady's luck ran out sho 'nuff. Jumped it quite often in Dallas before Doc moved it to IL. Don't quite remember the story but isn't that storm damage? Kind'a sad to see Sugar Alpha all faded out and so lonesome looking by herself on that ramp. Lady's Luck ran out in '02 (I think) one of that area's afternoon storms. The wind gusts were clocked at 100mph!! LL was tied down with 3' augers the were just ripped out of the ground. If it wasnt for the tree about 40' behind it would have been across the road and over the hill. Picnic tables were wrapped around trees, the river raft tailer was moved off of it's blocks, lots of trees down etc. I don't think any of the rv's/trailers were damaged. I've seen hurricanes that did less damage! Always good times at SDC! LifeshouldNOTbeajourneytothegravewithawellpreservedbody,buttskidinsideways,cigarinone hand,martiniintheother,bodythoroughlyused upandscreaming:"WOO HOO!! What a ride!!!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
