It was my fate to do 2 balloon jumps at Weston.I was very young,and the number 1(an officer!) refused,so down we went.I was next,and on the return up,I was-frankly-scared.Has anyone got any pics from the cage?

Also I understand that the balloon was replaced by a small aircraft,in later years.When was this,?

My last balloon jump was some years later at Hankley.On that serial there was one refusal,from a guy,already qualified for 2 years,so the device must have remained scary,at least in his mind.

Did 5 balloons jumps in day. I suppose if you left it a while before your next decent it may get to you.
Once qualified it was a court martial offence not to. I could not face the lads if I refused "AIRBORNE"

Originally Posted by muhandis89

Has anyone got any pics from the cage?

Does anyone recall the 'hat Sgt who blagged a lob @DZ alpha (sennybridge) in the mid 80's while stationed locally?

I've still got my Jump Balloon t shirt! Got quite a few pics of the balloon on my laptop at home, will post a few up when I'm back there.

As a Cpl in Depot Para in the late 80's we used to go down for the first cage of the day (and a few more usually). The Joes got a real beasting that day, 'Cpl full of sky'! Happy days.

I remember being on leave 94 when the ballon was up on Queens Avenue. just been out shopping with the mrs at Asdas, raced home and got inot green kit to do three jumps. no other reason than it was alovely summers day and civvies pay good money for it!!! We'd been drinking as well which probably added to my bravado that day and explained why on the first one did a proper aircraft exit that had the cage swinging like a good un. Nowadays I get dizzy looking up at scaffolding!!

I used to love that...being sat in the Naafi and seeing the balloon go up...leg it down the Ave and try and blag a jump. Happy days indeed!

Very cold-blooded, jumping from the balloon. As the orficer, I was first out of the first balloon of the course. Bravado led me to try to say something bold, but my voice wasn't really there. When I stood in the door, I managed to get my right arm across the reserve, but the left one wouldn't come. Fortunately, the wise old Flight Sergeant PJI ws following through on the controls and more or less put it in place for me.

The thing that amused me was the little hinged rod thing they fastened across the door while you went up - were they afraid you might fall out?

I have to say, I never looked forward to parachuting - though it was fine once into the aircraft, because there was plenty going on to occupy one's mind.

The nicest way to parachute was from the Wessex because the minimal headroom meant you did it sitting down, shuffling into the door on your bum. I did four of those one warm day at Barry Buddon and was amazed at just how tiring it was.

Why did the PJIs always think it was funny to say, just open the doors, let the wind rush in every time they unhooked the bar??? Wankers to a man!