ARmy Rumour SErvice

Originally Posted by Higgs_bosun

Need to take care here...my wife is ex WRAC and was the staff car driver of Bob's boss in Aldershot.

Ah! 'nuff said...!

Whatever - Bob was an excellent parachutist, and taught me a lot on my instructor's course..

Originally Posted by Alec_Lomas

Dennis B, God Rest him. That particular photo was taken to show the then 'new' patrol Bergan was was due in to replace the canvas material one and the replacement reserve parachute reserve in 1970. I can't recall if the reserve was of GQ or Irvine manufacture.
The white coloured top of what aircrew referred to as a 'bunny suit' can be seen tucked over the windproof sleeve. As for the gloves, let's not go there. They were adapted from the ski world and a few of the team, had issues when trying to 'cutaway'. There were difficulties in gripping the one& a half shot capewells; getting the thumb into the wire ring while under pressure became a bit of a drama. They were subsequently binned.

The Guards Independant group - Dennis, Smudge, Ossie & Dinger - good memories. PCAU RSM had head staggering moments at our dress.

Good memories I hope, not forgetting the ring leader, Ken C... I'm hopefully meeting up with the usual suspects later this year, sorry Dennis will not be there.

Dress code was never a strong point in our outfit, nor haircuts but often being selected as crash test dummies for some new bit of gear was not a problem either. I remember some very heavy landings testing a 28ft lo-po steerable from the balloon at Hankley. They were later sent to be used for water jumps only I understand? Typical.

Originally Posted by HE117

'Kinell mate - that takes me back..

B4 pack, KAP 3, Accuracy boots and paracord tied to the foresight..

Dennis doesn't have his legs through the shoulder straps on the Bergan.. presumably it didn't work in this configuration?

Having had a few hours to cogitate on that photo, I now recall it was taken for an Irvine publicity project. It's not a KAP3 it's the Irvine Hitefinder which was an 'overhauled' upgraded version of the Russian designed KAP 3. Thank goodness we found some of their kit worth cloning.

Doubtless Dennis hadn't considered that 42 years after the day, some web site gent would spot his error. Knowing Dennis, he would have reasoned as it was only for a PR shot he couldn't be arrsed to do it correctly. The Bergan securing straps are slack as well. The photo was taken on the perri-track at RAF Abingdon. ATDU has just morphed to JATE and the para trials team (JSFTT) were under the command of JATE.

Originally Posted by HE117

'Kinell mate - that takes me back..

B4 pack, KAP 3, Accuracy boots and paracord tied to the foresight..

Dennis doesn't have his legs through the shoulder straps on the Bergan.. presumably it didn't work in this configuration?

Equipment on the front was very stable, French style...I've no idea why this was not used by everyone? Of course the Pau boots were useless for military applications... do you remember the 'wedgies' too, used for style and accuracy?... you would not want to tab further than off the DZ in them.

I have the front and rear shots of this photo shoot somewhere..no doubt you would spot a few more anomalies.

As I recall, piggiebacks started to appear in the early 70s... Mac McQ used to always use a black crossbow rig with a Pap or a PC in it - bloody huge thing, but was useful for instructing as the reserve did not get in the way of static lines etc..

I have a feeling that the piggyback thing was started by the Golden Knights in the late 60s?

I have to say I didn't get one for some time.. In my PC days I had a wedge back with a wrap round poptop front mounted reserve. The "big idea" was to have a thin a pack as possible so there was a short a distance between the base and the last man for speed stars - always a bit academic in an Islander...

When I got my first stratosplat, George S made me a mini wedge for it...

Originally Posted by Alec_Lomas

Having had a few hours to cogitate on that photo, I now recall it was taken for an Irvine publicity project. It's not a KAP3 it's the Irvine Hitefinder which was an 'overhauled' upgraded version of the Russian designed KAP 3. Thank goodness we found some of their kit worth cloning.

Doubtless Dennis hadn't considered that 42 years after the day, some web site gent would spot his error. Knowing Dennis, he would have reasoned as it was only for a PR shot he couldn't be arrsed to do it correctly. The Bergan securing straps are slack as well. The photo was taken on the perri-track at RAF Abingdon. ATDU has just morphed to JATE and the para trials team (JSFTT) were under the command of JATE.

It's about time you got to work on a book Alec...

Originally Posted by HE117

As I recall, piggiebacks started to appear in the early 70s... Mac McQ used to always use a black crossbow rig with a Pap or a PC in it - bloody huge thing, but was useful for instructing as the reserve did not get in the way of static lines etc..

I have a feeling that the piggyback thing was started by the Golden Knights in the late 60s?

I have to say I didn't get one for some time.. In my PC days I had a wedge back with a wrap round poptop front mounted reserve. The "big idea" was to have a thin a pack as possible so there was a short a distance between the base and the last man for speed stars - always a bit academic in an Islander...

When I got my first stratosplat, George S made me a mini wedge for it...

I actually meant the 'wedgie' jump boots... they were lightweight and more streamlined than the 'Divers boots' but squares killed em off anyway... Trainers were cool and rigs were being developed, smaller/cleaner, much better. We had piggy backs for a couple of seasons because they were free...I think you are right, the Golden Knights started the craze. . PCs Paps..Stratostars...I had a Pathfinder for a while but it kept blowing panels. After jumping Clouds, there was no going back eh... Mac McQ...another blast from the past. Amazing stuff.

Never mind all that, look at his rifle