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Geek Culture / All The Way...

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KeithC
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Posted: 21st Sep 2011 14:43
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Always wondered if there were any fellow paratroopers patrolling the boards here? I was in the 82nd Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, Ft. Bragg/N.C.

Here's a good video of what I used to do. No offense to anyone in the 101st (dope-on-a-rope); but Air Assault's a school....Airborne's a job, hooah.



-Keith

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Defy
FPSC BOTB Developer
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Posted: 21st Sep 2011 14:54
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Now we're talking.. Good vid, hardcore.
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KeithC
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Posted: 21st Sep 2011 15:03 Edited at: 21st Sep 2011 15:06
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That's a C-130, loaded with 60 paratroopers (and a Jumpmaster stepping out on each side at the end of each stick, with one more checking the door for any "towed jumpers"). I've jumped a C-130, C-141, and C-5 Galaxy (with a heavy drop load of fuel blivets and a Hummer).

At school we jumped about 1250 ft.; at Bragg we jumped 800 ft. You only have a few seconds to pull your reserve if the main doesn't deploy; after that your velocity will be too great for the reserve to make much difference.

I have 22 logged "exits from an aircraft, while in flight".

-Keith

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xplosys
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Posted: 21st Sep 2011 15:51 Edited at: 21st Sep 2011 15:54
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Quote: "No offense to anyone in the 101st (dope-on-a-rope); but Air Assault's a school....Airborne's a job, hooah."


No offense taken. Kudos to you for all you do.



506th Inf Bn, 101st Air Assault(dope-on-a-rope)
Brian.

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KeithC
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Posted: 21st Sep 2011 18:43
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Lol....well somebody has to ride in the helicopters.

-Keith

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xplosys
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Posted: 21st Sep 2011 18:49
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Quote: "well somebody has to ride in the helicopters."


It beats ground pounding by a long shot
After 3 years of being "straight leg", it was a welcome change and a lot of fun. I never had the urge to jump out of a perfectly good airplane though. I don't know why.

Brian.

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KeithC
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Posted: 21st Sep 2011 18:50
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Well; we were never accused of being "smart" now, were we? lol

-Keith

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Inspire
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Posted: 23rd Sep 2011 06:58
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Hey, this may be a dumb question, but as somebody who is terrified of heights, does anything ever go wrong when jumping out of a plane like that?

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KeithC
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Posted: 23rd Sep 2011 07:11
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All the time.

-Keith

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Fallout
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Posted: 23rd Sep 2011 10:31 Edited at: 23rd Sep 2011 10:36
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@KeithC

Very cool video. I guess you have to all pile out so closely behind each other to make sure you land as close together as possible? Also, do you get different chute deployment jerks depending on how you bail out? It looked like some of the guys who kept their feet to the wind would've had a more comfortable time than the ones who tumbled about.

@xplosys

Wicked. I bet in combat those pilots are bricking it at the moment where they have to hover motionless while you lot get you arses down the rope. What's the procedure when they see someone pointing an RPG at them and you guys are half way down the rope?

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KeithC
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Posted: 23rd Sep 2011 14:29 Edited at: 23rd Sep 2011 14:37
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We're actually spread out pretty far by then (plane's going quite fast...depending on what plane it is, went A LOT faster in the C-5). Each DZ was a few miles in length. Yes; how you exit determines quite a bit. If you watch the guy who stepped out and spun a bit, you'll see his chute opened just a slight bit later than most others. Happened to me once while on a night jump...but it took a few seconds longer than that to open...NOT fun. The opening shock is about the same, no matter your position coming out of the door; though it definitely varies with plane type. The C-5 jump was like having 2 opening shocks at once!

You'll also notice that there are paratroopers jumping out on both sides of the rear of the plane. The jumpmasters try to alternate their exits, to keep them from "bumping" into each other (happened to me once; you just have to slip away). Also; in the first sequence, just below the static lines, you'll barely see a green light that turns red after they're all out. That light is what tells the jumpmasters when it is a go. It's turned on and off by the AirForce crew. It could also be turned on if there's issues on the ground or air, etc. We had jumps scratched (cancelled) due to various issues; such as lightning (we have clearance to jump in the rain though), high winds, plane malfunctions, etc. We even had one cancelled because there was artillery flying over the DZ! You'd think they would have coordinated that. That would have been an interesting jump! lol

Just as I'm sure Brian is proud of his 101st brethren; I'm proud of what my brothers and sisters in the 82nd do everyday....all the way.

-Keith

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xplosys
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Posted: 23rd Sep 2011 15:01
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Quote: "I bet in combat those pilots are bricking it at the moment where they have to hover motionless while you lot get you arses down the rope."


Lucky for me, I never had to find out, but everything ramps up in combat. In training they take the extra time to go by the book and follow training safety procedures. Funny though, I found this mostly being enforced in the states. In Korea we flew by the seat of our pants, sitting on the floor or standing on the skids. The pilots never hovered at all - anywhere. It's all up to the crew chief, and I think many of them we flew with in Korea were Vietnam vets.

Brian.

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MrValentine
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Posted: 28th Sep 2011 01:55
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shear Envy, wish I could do something in the forces... but a birth defect prevents me I think... same reason that prevents me from getting a driving licence, but nobody understands it...

I blame Chernobyl for it to be honest... but I could be wrong...

So you guys could be called out on a whim now right? I believe that is the standard rule governing military urm... personnel... right?

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KeithC
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Posted: 28th Sep 2011 05:40
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I have 12 total years of service logged (8 Active, 4-ish Guard); can't be called back in, though I might go of my own accord someday...depends on numerous things.

-Keith

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xplosys
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Posted: 28th Sep 2011 05:46
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Quote: "I have 12 total years of service logged"


Same here. Besides, they don't want a cranky old man like me. I can go through 3 or 4 lieutenants before breakfast.

Brian.

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Rain Man
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Posted: 28th Sep 2011 11:58
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Quote: "Always wondered if there were any fellow paratroopers patrolling the boards here?"


I was in XVIII Airborne Corps at Bragg and 75th Ranger Regiment at Benning. It was quite a while ago, though. I was in when it was hard . (Do they still say that?)

Ten minutes to Wapner.
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KeithC
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Posted: 28th Sep 2011 13:30
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I had a Chief at Bragg (CW1 at the time), that was former 75th Ranger. He went through Ranger School before those guys died in Florida of hypothermia. He told me they used to break ice when crossing water back then. I always had to have his Hummer heated up for him when he was ready to go somewhere....he said "Caldwell, after going through that; I promised myself I would never be cold again, if I could help it. And Airborne....I can help it." He was probably one of the best Chiefs I ever had; was a huge guy too (couldn't roll his sleeves up in the summer...arms were too big).

-Keith

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Wolf
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Posted: 28th Sep 2011 15:56
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Quote: "I never had the urge to jump out of a perfectly good airplane though. I don't know why."


To be honest, I would give a lot to experience it. However, there is no way I ever could.
Maybe normal parachuting from a civilian plane one day



-Wolf

Matter is energy condensed to a slow vibration, we are all one consciousness experiencing itself subjectively Theres no such thing as death,life is only a dream,and were the imagination of ourselves.
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