Post by parajag on Aug 8, 2017 8:49:26 GMT -8
RCPT-USA members Dave Hamilton, Marthinus van Schoor and I attended the Leapfest International Airborne Competition in Kingston, Rhode Island, 1-7 August 2017. The competition is hosted by the Rhode Island National Guard and has been held since 1982. It is open to active and reserve US and foreign military jumpers on current or permissive jump status.
The concept of the competition is that jumpers exit from a CH-47 Chinook helicopter in teams of 4 using MC-6 parachutes and attempt to land as close as possible to one of three Xs formed of VS-17 panels. The times of each team member to run to one of the panels after landing are tallied and the team with the lowest time wins. Awards are also given for the fastest individual time.
In addition, opportunities are afforded to jump with the foreign Jumpmasters and earn their respective country's airborne wings.
I have wanted to do this competition for years. Dave and I were invited as alternates for the South Africa team. I was able to do the competition jump when one of the regular team members had to sit out due to a sore back. I didn't win any prizes, but I landed safely which is what counts most. In addition, I did a straphang jump with the foreign jumpers, and jumped for both German and Italian wings, a total of four jumps for the week. Dave and I also got in a 14,000 foot skydive at a nearby drop zone.
It was indeed a festival of leaping, probably the most fun I've had jumping since Normandy. I'd even dare say the CH-47 beats the C-47 as a jump aircraft. I look forward to hopefully doing this event in the future.
Dave jumped in his 42s which was a big hit. Everyone loved it.
cdn images
cdn images
The concept of the competition is that jumpers exit from a CH-47 Chinook helicopter in teams of 4 using MC-6 parachutes and attempt to land as close as possible to one of three Xs formed of VS-17 panels. The times of each team member to run to one of the panels after landing are tallied and the team with the lowest time wins. Awards are also given for the fastest individual time.
In addition, opportunities are afforded to jump with the foreign Jumpmasters and earn their respective country's airborne wings.
I have wanted to do this competition for years. Dave and I were invited as alternates for the South Africa team. I was able to do the competition jump when one of the regular team members had to sit out due to a sore back. I didn't win any prizes, but I landed safely which is what counts most. In addition, I did a straphang jump with the foreign jumpers, and jumped for both German and Italian wings, a total of four jumps for the week. Dave and I also got in a 14,000 foot skydive at a nearby drop zone.
It was indeed a festival of leaping, probably the most fun I've had jumping since Normandy. I'd even dare say the CH-47 beats the C-47 as a jump aircraft. I look forward to hopefully doing this event in the future.
Dave jumped in his 42s which was a big hit. Everyone loved it.
cdn images
cdn images