We had a "commo failure" between the DZSO and a/c. As a SIGDET guy I was mortified one of our radios didn't work until we heard the story. The DZSO took one look at the DZ and decided there was no way in hell we would jump that death trap. Credit for the jump and the AF had to pay for the plane ride? Winner, winner, chicken dinner. No one said a word to our guys about the "broken" radio.
National Airborne Day
- Thread starter Devildoc
- Start date
We had a "commo failure" between the DZSO and a/c. As a SIGDET guy I was mortified one of our radios didn't work until we heard the story. The DZSO took one look at the DZ and decided there was no way in hell we would jump that death trap. Credit for the jump and the AF had to pay for the plane ride? Winner, winner, chicken dinner. No one said a word to our guys about the "broken" radio.
Ditto
It was an old impact area. The other DZ was recently converted to an aerial gunnery range because of the many hazards along the way, some which killed a couple of 82nd dudes in the late 80's/ early 90's. Fences, ravines, power lines, etc. Apparently the DZ survey was old and/ or pencil whipped because I don't know of any other it could be certified.
This was at Camp Santiago, PR in '98. It would have been a daytime CE jump into a tight DZ from a 141 flown by the ANG unit out of Memphis and those guys SUCKED at dropping jumpers. We'd used them once before and they thought 150 kts was a death sentence for their planes. I don't know how we didn't bust panels because I think 150 is -1B's max opening speed (most personal parachutes are 150 kts, but it's been a few years, you know?)
That said, we never had winds greater than 5 kts on our jumps so that's a universal condition military jumpers experience. Dudes with a ground speed that's impressive on the Bonneville salt flats...we've all had those days.
A day late to the game, but happy Airborne Day to all the Airborne dudes and dudettes. Without you, I wouldn't have had a job, even if all I did with you cats was watch you or your toys leave (whether you be static line, MFF, a dozen or so CDS bundles, double ducks, an extracted FAARP platform).
I'm going to go consider my choices well-made and count myself lucky.
I'm going to go consider my choices well-made and count myself lucky.
Florida173
SOF Support
I only jumped the 141 a few times before they retired that frame, but I think it sucked at dropping us in general. Every single one of my jumps I'd consider weak and would hit the door if I didn't hit that angle perfectly right. Made the transition to the the Cadillac of the sky, the C17, so much nicer since we have a balcony of no wind outside that door.
100 percent agree. 4 -141 jumps and all of them sucked me out of the plane, I didn't jump, I was ejected and if you weren't prepared for it then yeah, door strike. I know my left side hit the trailing edge of the door once or twice. (somehow I only ever had the left door). I ended up "leading" the exit like I was skeet shooting.
They retired the 141? Most of mine were 130s, some 141s, a few Blackhawks and a chinook.
Devildoc
Verified Military
mid-2000s, broheim. I think 2006 or so?
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Box
Verified SOF
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- Mar 19, 2018
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One of the coolest airframes ever for an MFF jump is the C-141.
Somewhere at home (dating myself with this one) I have an old black and white photo of an MFF ramp exit from a C-141. Listening to that thing whistle and hum as it opens at altitudes makes it one of the coolest........................
Somewhere at home (dating myself with this one) I have an old black and white photo of an MFF ramp exit from a C-141. Listening to that thing whistle and hum as it opens at altitudes makes it one of the coolest........................
SpongeBob*24
Verified Military
Jump number 9 for a young PFC sponge was from a 141.
It started at Fort Campbell, KY and ended on Sicily DZ. It was summer, and we in-flight rigged so every drop of camo had sweated off because our unit could never afford aircraft with working air conditioners. It was a short flight because I don't think we ever slowed down after take off. So whatever the cruising speed is for a C141, I think that was also the speed when the green light came on.
Once I got under canopy, I remember thinking "what just happened?"and felt pain instantly, which was rare due to the adrenaline rush. On the ground I found out from my TL that it was normal to feel like you got ripped apart after jumping a 141 because it was a Jet and in my 20 yr old brain it made sense.
I also remember that EVERYTHING HURT ALOT!!! If I didn't say that already.
It started at Fort Campbell, KY and ended on Sicily DZ. It was summer, and we in-flight rigged so every drop of camo had sweated off because our unit could never afford aircraft with working air conditioners. It was a short flight because I don't think we ever slowed down after take off. So whatever the cruising speed is for a C141, I think that was also the speed when the green light came on.
Once I got under canopy, I remember thinking "what just happened?"and felt pain instantly, which was rare due to the adrenaline rush. On the ground I found out from my TL that it was normal to feel like you got ripped apart after jumping a 141 because it was a Jet and in my 20 yr old brain it made sense.
I also remember that EVERYTHING HURT ALOT!!! If I didn't say that already.
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