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1998 D.Z. REPORT SLOVAKIA 98 by Mike Brownridge. Jumping with the International Airborne Society http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLOQ0ra6fr0 Youtube video We met in Vienna and the next day travelled by mini-bus to Bratislava in Slovakia. The journey is about two and a half hours. We went directly to the accommodation where we changed into our jump kit and then went to the DZ. The DZ is very large and flat with no obstacles on it. There is a grass runway the same as the one in Estonia. Having been shown the equipment and carried out ground training, we were kitted up and boarded the aircraft. This was the very worthy AN2. The pilots were a couple of really hard looking guys and they could really fly the aircraft. The way they were throwing it around the sky was almost like an aerobatics display. It was very hot and the humidity was through the roof. The DZ was very hard and although the canopies had steering capabilities everyone said the ground seemed to come up faster than usual. There was a free-fall competition going on at the same time. The free-fallers were using a beautiful twin turbo Chech aircraft, big and fast. It seems that in Eastern European countries because of the lack of facilities the military and civilians seem to share the DZ as we saw in Estonia. The first jump was not spotted to well and we landed well away from the building. As I was walking back the Antonov landed and as it was taxiing back it stopped to pick me up. First time I have ever thumbed a lift on a DZ. We carried out two more jumps that evening and the next day after a display by the Slovakian Special Forces we did two more. The Slovakian Special Forces have a really good parachute training tower. It covers everything. Exits, check canopy, all round observation. Lowering of equipment and finally a very fast P.L.F . Its the best parachute training equipment I have seen. The main parachute system is the Slovakian OVP68. This is very versatile. It can do one static line jump, then the parachute can be rigged for a delay opening as the Soviet D5 and D6 and then for your third jump it can be rigged for free-fall. After a monumental pissup we moved by train to Lucenec. We arrived late in the evening and went by bus directly to the airfield for food and sleep. The next day it rained from dawn until 2pm. Then the skies cleared. We pushed the plane out of the hanger and were in the air by 3 pm. Again an AN2. There is a bitumen runway but the DZ is where ever you happen to land. There is a small strip of grass between the hanger and the accommodation block and the runway and after that its agricultural land. We did three jumps that day. I landed once in a Sunflower field, once in a turnip field and once on the grass. The first jump there was very low cloud and spotting was difficult. Apart from the usual bruises and basic aches and pains the downside was one of the guys broke his leg on his third and last jump. The food was a good and plentiful and everybody got on well and had a good time. Most the group were Americans apart from the two Brits. Three of the Americans had been on the Estonia trip. We had another monumental piss up before returning to Vienna via Budapest where we spent two nights. Very interesting city. The hotel was excellent and it must be one of the cheapest cities in Europe for eating out.
Ed note Delete "Piss up" Insert "Had a jolly good time"! Thanks Mike for a very detailed report. Obviously a well organised trip and well recommended to anyone who would like to jump in that part of the world. The Slovakian trip was an International Airborne Society event . They are based in the U.S.A and organised by Berni Hasssenbein. Berni is a wings collector and should be contacted direct for his catalogue. If you would like to know more about their forthcoming events contact Berni on Fax. (901) 366-1141 e-mail. Iashq@compuserve.com or write to INTERNATIONAL AIRBORNE SOCIETY 1725 B MADISON AVE. SUITE 18, MEMPHIS, TN. 38104-6402 USA. ______________________________________________________________ By Bob Ellis (Para REME retired)
first found out about this at Beltring 1997. A display gave me the name of one, Roy Mobsby, ex Para Bde and mad keen Parachutist. Several phone calls late, each of a minimum of ten minuets (Can he talk?), had the outcome of me signing up as a member of Pathfinder (Roys group.), and for his first course. This was to be at Texel, in Holland, at the end of April. What really sold me was the opportunity to jump a DC-3 Dakota. Saturday 25th April
Bob Ellis I decided to travel by Eurostar, and rail, to Holland. So 0630 hrs found me at Ashford International Rail Station awaiting the 0715 from Waterloo to Brussels. You have to check in 35 mins before departure, much like an Airport, which is what the station resembles. The train arrived in good time. There was not many people aboard so I could move down the train from my allotted seat to find Roy Mobsby and Dave Sewell from Canada. A fairly uneventful journey to Brussels, just getting to know each other and Roys war stories (They are better than his jokes..!) .At Brussels we changed to a Dutch intercity to Amsterdam. (Double deckers no less) .We then changed again for Den Helder. Unfortunately, none of us having travelled this route before meant we got off at Den Helper Zuid. That meant we had to wait another 30 mins for the next train. A short bus ride from the station to the ferry later. We paid our ticket and a a bit extra for the ferry taxi. This is a good arrangement, for 7 Guilders you can get anywhere around the Island of Texel. The Taxi took us to the Prinz Hendrik Hotel, our home for the week. Our accommodation was actually wooden chalets (The cheapest option) but at least they had electricity. We met some of the others on the course, Dave Mathieson from Southampton. Lee McDowell, Andy Hampton and Adrian Simms, all from Ulster.
Sunday 26th April. Breakfast was at 0800hrs. The beer from last night made my mouth feel like a "Badgers Armpit". Bread with cheese and ham was all that I needed. We had to be at the airfield for 1000hrs. After we'd all negotiated our bikes (Holland remember), we eventually arrived at 1015hrs. It was a 25 min bike ride. The day was spent ground training and being taught how to exit the aircraft, safety points, chute control and parachute packing.. Back for a leisurely dinner and some time in the bar. Monday 27th April Up for 0800hrs again. Oh! My head and mouth and body Today we got to the airfield for 0915. There followed a bit more ground training, collection of chutes and then wait. We were jumping from an AN2 (A large, former Soviet biplane). It would not be ready till mid-day, partly because there was no pilot
Shortly after 1200, a teenage looking lad arrived and announced he was the pilot. The staff got the plane uncovered, run up the engines and we loaded up ready for take off at 1300hrs. After what seemed an eternity, with an increasingly dry mouth due to apprehension (or was it fear..?), we were off down the runway and up. Were loaded with two "Sticks".. Five Italian Carabinieri , and seven Brits. Roy is last man with the video camera. He has to hand the video to the pilot at the last minute, run down the aircraft to catch the rest up. The door is opened, the first Stick stands, hooks their static lines to the overhead cable in the fuselage. Then to the door "Go" shouts the dispatcher, "Go!, Go!, Go!, Go!, and the Carabinieri leap out in turn. The plane then banks round for another run We stand up, hook up and then Number 1 is in the door. and out. We all step into the abyss.. my exit was unstable, my left did not get to my reserve and therefore I spun left.. This caused the rigging lines to twist. I had to kick out of it...the training worked after all. The next thing is to look for the DZ. Now where did the airfield go? Ah! There it is, on the ground..! I start steering to land near the cross. Estimate wind direction, judge height, then the ground starts to come up fast. Turn into wind, feet and knees together.. bump.. roll.. A good landing. Deflate the chute, no injuries.. wait. My shoulder hurts. I must have landed on it. Harness off, field pack the chute and then walk to the assembly point. hang on! My left hand is grazed,, theres burns on the inside of my wrist. Damn! I must have done it on exit. It was dressed at the centre and I then prepared my chute for the next jump. It turned out there was lots of time. We all noticed the planes engine struggling on the way up unfortunatly it had blown a plug which now had to be stripped and replaced.. The next jump went well for me ,unfortunately Dave Sewell injured his knee on landing. Regrettably that put him out of action for the rest of the course. The weather closed in after this and we finally got back for dinner at 2030. After the meal we all went to the bar to watch the video of the days jumping. During the dinner, whilst being entertained by Roys jokes ,two masked men, who later turned out to be Lee and Adrian, performed a hostage rescue of the rest of us by capturing Roy and dragging him outside. Much to the amusement of some of the other guests. Shame no one had a video at the time. Tuesday 28th April. To the airport by 0900. We got in three jumps to complete the course. Adrian did a good impression of a triple tuck on his fourth exit but his landing was good. The last drop was us five Brits and two Carabinieri . Angel , the crazy girl dispatcher said "lets make it fast guys" to which we all agreed with relish. All out at 1 sec Intervals or less in one pass. Wind was getting up by now so a fast landing was inevitable.. No problems though. We finished knackered but highly chuffed.. We all had three chutes packed which we had taken off the shelves for speed. We ran out of time leaving four to do on Thursday.. The centre staff apreciated the help to tidy up.. where did all those Carabinieri go? This was of course good PR for Pathfinder. Roy had to leave by midday leaving money for the rest of the course to get their train fares to Arnhem Wednesday 29th April. A prompt start for the ferry at 0930. Caught the 1005 train to Arnhem. Changed trains at Utrecht apparently because of a bomb on the line. Arrived Arnhem at 1300. Quick snack at the station then a bus to the Airborne forces museum. A very moving experience. Bus back to the John Frost bridge then the last possible train back to catch the last possible ferry. Late dinner then to the bar. Thursday 30th April. It was decided to have a packing race, Ulster against the rest. Ulster got the best time 13.04 mins. Practice makes perfect. A presentation of our wings was made by the chief rigger, Hans. This included a half wing for Dave Sewell for his cheerfulness under the circumstances. The paperwork was slightly mixed up.. Wrong photo on the wrong licence. However it was sorted out by a very nice girl in the office and everyone was satisfied. My God the girls are pretty here. Back for dinner and silly jokes time. It was the Queen of the Netherlands birthday and there were very big celebrations and huge bonfires. They are very patriotic . To the bar again and then bed. Friday 1st May Home for me. Made the 1135 ferry with Dave Mathiesen who was staying over in Amsterdam for a Saturday flight. The journey to Amsterdam was spoilt by some idiots playing with mobile phones, beep, beep, beep,. Again, very attractive women on the trains. Dave confessed that he nearly scored with Janet from the Dutch Airforce (I think her job was bump starting C-130 Hercules!) Dave's comments was "Lovely pair of. The train to Brussels was scruffy. It must have been Belgium. At first I thought I was on a provincial. I grabbed all my gear , bumped into a refreshments trolley, to be told I was on the right train.. As we got closer to Brussels the women got less attractive. Arrived Brussels at 1630. Had to wait for my scheduled Euro star.. I hate waiting. Finally we could board then by 1840 I'm back in Blighty. Thank God!. Summary To summit up, it was a good course. The Dutch were nice people and the food and beer good. However, it was a shame the Dakota was unavailable. Perhaps I will be luckier in South Africa next winter. I will be saving my pennies. Bob Ellis ______________________________________________________ PATHFINDER MEMBER JUMPS WITH INTERNATIONAL AIRBORNE SOCIETY MOSCOW
This was an impressive trip organised by the International Airborne Society of Memphis Tennessee USA. There were 21 of us on the trip, 3 British ,2 Germans, I Belgium and the rest were Americans. The European contingent arrived at various times throughout Monday 23rd of February and were met by representatives of the I.A.S. Monday night was spent in a moderately priced hotel in the suburbs of Moscow and on Tuesday morning we returned to the airport to pick up the Americans. We then went by coach to Velesove, a military airfield about 2 hours drive from Moscow. In the summer the drive we be somewhat less but this was Russia in the winter. Stark bare trees, ice and snow covering the countryside. We were allocated our accommodation which was basic but comfortable and quite warm although the showers were a bit prehistoric. We were given a tour of the facility which was good. The drop Zone was under about two feet of ice covered with a light dusting of snow and surrounded by a forest of what appeared to be very tall Silver Birch. Our meals were taken in a cookhouse which would be very familiar to anyone who has served in the British Army. The food was good and plentiful and there were no complaints. They had a good bar where they sold excellent Russian beer and various military items. The next day, Wednesday we started our ground training. This comprised both ground training and canopy familiarisation. We were divided into two groups and were in separate buildings. Each group had two instructors who were first class. We fitted three parachutes. 1 D-6 and 2 D1-SUs. we were supposed to do one jump in the afternoon but as the wind was blowing about 25 knots we did some extra ground training instead. Everyone was a bit anxious as that only left Thursday for the parachuting as we had to be at the Russian Paratrooper Officers Military Academy in Kyazan on the Friday morning.. Almost miraculously Thursday dawned with hardly a breath of wind and the jumping was on. The first jump was made from 900 meters from the AN-2 using the D-6 parachute. On this parachute the static line just deploys the stabilising drogue leaving the Parachutist to deploy the main chute by ripcord from anything between 3 to 6 seconds. The Russian do not use the red and green light system. Two loud blasts on a klaxon is the command to stand up and move to the door, two more blasts is the signal to start jumping. I must say I preferred it. The AN-2 was fitted with skis. Our 2nd jump was from a Mi-8 helicopter using the D1-SU which is strange as this is the low level parachute. We jumped from 800 meters from the door at the front on the port side of the aircraft. This door is very small. Then we had lunch. Nobody wanted to eat as the adrenaline was still flowing and the wind was starting to pick up again, but the Russians insisted. After lunch was the big one. A jump from the height of 100 meters. Only 3 people opted out which left 18 of us to complete the low level jump. One of our instructors, Boris, jumped with us so in my aircraft were two sticks of five jumpers. As we came in on the jump run the ground looked so close. I was in the second stick and so watched the first stick leave the aircraft. It seemed that no sooner had the last man jumped ,the pilot banked the aircraft to port and you could see all the canopies spread out on the ice below.. Then it was out turn. Exit, check canopy, feet and knees together and down on the ice. We all said it was about ten seconds from aircraft to ground. The best thing was that the only injury acquired was a bruised shoulder.. After a monumental party we moved to Kyazan which was a formidable facility, visited what is probably the best airborne museum in the world and finished up with a trip to Moscow, a fascinating city which would be well worth a visit anytime. An excellent trip in all respects and one I shall repeat if the chance arises. One thing, these trips are for qualified military parachutist only. by Mike Brownridge. ED. Comment "Jump Hog". _____________________________________________ THREE Sgt. INSTRUCTORS from 2nd (N.I.) Batt. ACF. GO AIRBORNE.
Sgt Instructor Adrian Simms, Sgt. Instructor Andrew Hampton and myself set off from Northern Ireland in the early hours of Saturday the 25th April 1998 to attend the Dutch Military Parachutist Course in Holland. We arrived on Texel Island at approximately 1330. As soon as we arrived we had to get changed into combats to begin ground training. There were three other British jumpers on the course, two ex regular soldiers and one currently serving in the T.A. There were also eight Italian soldiers on the course with us. To pass the course and gain your Dutch wings all you have to do is complete five static line jumps with a round parachute from a AN-2 Antonov troop carrier. We managed to complete by Tuesday thanks to good weather. The jumping was exhilarating, once you hit the ground you wanted to go back up again. I knew what it was like as I had jumped before in Northern Ireland, but Adrian and Andrew did not know what to expect. They both passed the course and enjoyed the experience. If we had not passed the course due to bad weather or mechanical failure then we would have had two years in which to return and complete the course at no extra cost. At Ground School we were taught exit training, parachute landing falls, parachute theory, emergency procedure, steering the parachute and how to pack it. The last subject had us all worried and after the first jump it took four of us over two hours to pack one chute. On the Thursday we had to return all the parachutes back to the packing store. These had to be repacked first and so we had a private competition. We paired off, Andy and myself were partners and completed our chute in 13 minuets 4 seconds. The whole course was very safe at all times, the centre was very professional and the instructors helpful and friendly. Because we finished the course early we managed to fit in a trip to the Airborne Forces Museum at Arnhem. I would highly recommend the course to anyone who was interested. A good time was had by all. We hope to fit in the Estonian course next time round. By Sgt. Inst. Lee McDowell E Company 2nd. (N.I.) Battalion A.C.F. _____________________________________________ A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT ANGLE ON OUR USUAL COURSE Texel By Shug
After arriving very late in Amsterdam to catch
our train to Den Hag, my bud and I decided that rather than take a room for
the night get some sleep and arrive at the station in peak condition, we
would much prefer to stay up all night drinking and engaging the Amsterdamians
in some light banter. We befriended a couple of working girls who on
refusing to pay us for services, decided to knock off work (it was very
late) and take us to their local pub. We had a lovely time engaging the
girls in banter and telling heroic lies. We were enjoying ourselves so much
we forgot to make time for the journey from the pub to the train station.
Two very drunk scotsmen besting a 15
minute run in Kilts must have looked a picture to the Amsterdamians
heading for the early shift must have looked quite bizarre, but we made it
and proceeded to crash out on top of our Bergans
i the isle of said train for the journey up to Den Hag. I remember
a train guard nervously asking me if I could roll under the seat to sleep as
the passengers were finding it quite tough to climb over said m8
and me. We duly obliged. Cant really remember
much of the ferry journey but a local
thief/taxi driver very kindly took us on a tour of the island before
dropping us off several guilders lighter
at the hotel. After dumping our gear we made our way to the DZ.
where we met Ron Visser. Ron introduced
us to the course and our class mates before going to find out if we were
allowed to Jump in our Kilts. On returning and providing us with an
affirmative we started training. On our course were a high ranking ex
airborne medical officer from NZ, an ex 10
Para Londoner, big Marky,
and a mad ex marine cave diver type from Newquay,
a very mysterious wee guy dressed all in black from somewhere he didn't want
to say, we were sure he was MI5-6 because
he was the kind of guy you never saw coming, or going for that matter,
even on a DZ., usually appearing on
your shoulder with a quiet word out of the blue to frighten you, a
mixed bag if ever there was one.
Ron provided us with the necessary work up and we
were ready to go. Unfortunately it had
been raining for some days before our training had been completed and the
runways were too soft for the allocated jump ship, the Cessna Caravan,
which we were reliably informed would get stuck in the soft ground. We were
naturally slightly miffed, having spent our time being bored waiting
for the weather to improve. Ron had an idea and apparently phoned a mate up
north who brought down a lighter aircraft for us to start our Jumping.
Unfortunately it was a bit of a paraffin budgie
and only meant for 4 people. That didn't worry us too much and after
one of our number, a qualified pilot (the NZ
medic) did some maths and much chin
rubbing, the pilot agreed that by dumping some fuel and weighing everyone,
he could take off with 4 jumpers. We enplaned,
Im sure last man out was upside down at
take off, it was the only way we could get him in. Being 1st man out I
noticed the wings looked slightly curved in an upwards direction as they
took the load at take off. I also noticed a few nervous glances between our
pilot and our female dispatcher, followed by something in dutch
and a rather maniac laugh as we gained height. On command I stepped out
heroically on to the wheel strut, only to be blown straight back into the
aircraft, my only excuse is Iv never jumped off an aircraft wheel before and
wasn't initially aware of the effort required to get into position. My
fellow jumpers assisted me back out with some well chosen words and much
laughter and there I was, dangling under the wing with my now modified Kilt
flashing my bits. On looking back into the aircraft I noted our Pilot
and female dispatcher howling wit laughter so much we had to go round
again to make the DZ. rather than drop me
in the sea. By the time we came back to running in my bits had reacted to
the cold air and the dutch crew were in
tears. On the command, I dropped away, gave em
a big arch and wondered at what they were laughing at, I could hear their
laughter over the noise of my chute deploying. It seems I did it back to
front, gave a big arch 1st, then dropped away, which would explain the very
loud clang as my head hit the underside of the wing before I dropped
away. I still admit, it was a wonderful start to the course, everyone agreed
and we successfully dropped two Kilties
and the MI5-6 guy and our Snr
Army medic officer. Given it was the end of the day, and the paraffin budgie
driver ha to get the aircraft back before
his boss found out, jumping for the day was over and we retired to the Hotel
for refreshments. There we met the rest fo the Jump school, various far too
handsome dutch free fall types, and a
whole course of German officers and there wives who were there on a 'Jolly,'
anyone else see the irony in this. Apart from two German armoured
officers a more miserable bunch you woudl
be strugglign to find.
We had a lovely evening in the jumper
friendly hotel bar and managed to piss off the owner. Now we were standing
in front of an 8 by 4 sign, that is with our back to it, when one of our
fellow jumpers decided lighting a Amsterdamian
herbal cigarette would be ok, there were
no other people in the bar by this time but us and the owner
On lighting said herbal ciggie
the bar owner went nuts, his outburst became the motto for the rest of our
time in Holland. "This is totally unacceptable, cant you see the
sign" , he bellowed in his very dutch
accent, what sign said our party and on pointing over our shoulders we noted
the sign. No smoking of cannabis allowed in this bar! In two foot high
letters! Oh how we laughed, excepting the owner of course!
Next day the runway dried out and we got to play.
We found the German Jumpers had been allocated the same aircraft as us but
we got to get out of it before they did. We found they had a different
approach to jumping than we did. Our style involved much laughter,
hysterical at times where's theirs seemed a much more subdued, concerned and
timid affair, Their rather frightened responses to our laughter only served
to make us laugh more. The Dispatchers were happy with us because when it
cane time to switch on, we did and became the professional Jump nuts
required to make safe exits and landings. On out 1st run in on the Cessna,
we were howling with laughter right up till we got the stand by, we arranged
ourselves as instructed and dropped 5 guys in one pass, quick and safe.
Every one bar Mark landed on the dz
safely. Mark landed just outside the DZ.
in some very lumpy recently ploughed fields and broke his ankle. Our Medic
officer wa dispatched to check him out and accompanied him to hospital, and
treated him when they arrived. Marky
spent the last few days of the course out his nut on a concoction
of medication provided by our Medic. he didn't do any more jumps but advised
us he was fine and still enjoying himself, "Im
higher than you guys and I don't even need to leave the ground" he told
us.
After debriefing by Ron Visser
, who advised us he liked our sense of humour
and tolerated it because we were safe in the air but advised us to be a
little more sensitive to the germans
given a few of em wanted to go home
because we unsettled em in the aircraft
with our banter. We religiously agreed with Ron that we were having the
affect he described and immediately advised him we choose to ignore his
advice.
We got to know a couple of the Germans a little
better over beers and continued to enjoy the fear obvious in their mates
faces every time we jumped. The Ant was out of commission but the Cessna was
a joy to jump, big, powerful and it allowed us to drop 5 in a stick every
time. Watching the other Jumpers wrestling with their inner demons in flight
wasn't expected, but was clearly a bonus
I was struck at how quietly professional the
staff at Texel are. They made us very welcome and seemed to enjoy our
company and banter. They never seemed pissed off at our banter and joined in
when they got the chance. Training was excellent, not rushed and paced
perfectly. Ron Visser , our loady
was a blast, relaxed, confident and capable not bad for a guy who's lost
more than one limb. Accommodation was basic, clean and fit for purpose and
the Hotel was 1st cass, The bar and its
staff were wonderful, when asked when they closed of an evening, they
advised us, when you leave.
Ill be back as soon as I'm allowed to travel
outside Britain again.
Blue Skies and safe landings
Shug
________________________________________________
To comment about this page or the site, Email the Pathfinder webmaster Nick@pathfindergroupuk.com (Click link) Copyright 2007 Roy Mobsby. All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2007 Roy Mobsby. All Rights Reserved. for permission to use any of the pictures including (any and all reproduction), articles, text or layout contact Roy Mobsby pathfinderuk1@aol.com or contact the webmaster nick@pathfindergroupuk.com legal action may be taken for the unauthorised use of any material in this website |
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| PATHFINDER MEMBER JUMPS WITH INTERNATIONAL AIRBORNE SOCIETY IN MOSCOW | ||||||||||||||
|
THREE Sgt. INSTRUCTORS from 2nd (N.I.) Batt. ACF. GO AIRBORNE. |
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