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S.O.S. Skydivers Break Pennsylvania Record
On 28 May 2006 nine S.O.S. (Skydivers Over Sixty) jumpers set a Pennsylvania record.
It was the first time they had jumped together as a group and missed the first attempt by
0.5 seconds. There were several things not in their favor besides being the first time in the
air together. The Chambersburg DZ's King Air was out of service and the owner (J.R.
Sides) had to scramble to borrow a plane from Crosskeys, New Jersey. That King Air
was configured for tandem jumps with two seating benches installed. This left less than a
two foot width isle for the jumpers to exit single file. The door was smaller, but probably
the biggest drawback was NO outside floater bars, creating a "no-show" exit except for
the photographer. It was a 9-way freefly formation. The pilot was fairly inexperienced on
this type aircraft and he was able to give us a slower exit speed and some extra altitude on
the second attempt. Since no one was able to float and no base was pulled off, the exit
time was further reduced by passing a "hot" signal being passed from the last man before
the exit count, which prevented stringing the group out. The second attempt was
successful and complete at 7,000 feet. Several experienced jumpers stated "you did it the
hard way and it was well earned".
Seven members of the record jump were members of the Maytown Sport Parachute Club
and another attempt at breaking this record is planned for July 2nd. The King Air was
previously owned by Elvis Presley.
Submitted by Ty Zellers (D-1068 POPS-2000 SOS-900)
Photo by Jim Griffith
Left to right:
Danny Michewicz, Kenneth Plankenhorn, Terry Crowe, Ty Zellers, Dave DeWolf, Bob Atkins,
Chet Shorts, Earl (Rocky) Radabaugh, John Fitzgerald
Additional information:
Organizer: Bob Atkins (POPS# 4507 SOS# 987)
Jump experience as follows:
- Bob Atkins - 12 yrs. - 3,300 jumps
- Chester Shorts - 37 yrs. - 1,400 jumps
- Earl (-Rocky-) Radabaugh - 53 yrs. - 2,000 jumps
- Kenneth Plankenhorn - 19 Yrs. - 3,300 jumps
- Dave DeWolf - 44 yrs. - 11,800 jumps
- Danny Michewicz - 23 yrs. - 1,500 jumps
- John Fitzgerald - 19 yrs. - 800 jumps
- Terry Crowe - 42 yrs. - 4,800 jumps
- Ty Zellers - 43 yrs. - 4,200 jumps
- Total jump experience = 293 yrs. - 33,100 jumps
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This page is about skydiving and sport parachuting. Freefall and jumping out
of planes and balloons is included. You might consider that peripheral interests are skydiving
equipment such as parachute canopies, rigs and harnesses, jump suits and alimeters, goggles
and helmets. People looking at this page may also be interested in skydiving videos and
freefall camera work. Free flying and canopy formation events and records are
part of the sport too, as is classical and sports accuracy.
The interest is not regional and has a world wide appeal, so it is of as
much interest to skydivers in Australia and New Zealand as to parachutists
in Europe and the USA. Age is no barrier, except that to join the Parachutists
Over Phorty societs you have to be older than forty and similarly with the
sykdivers over sixty, jumpers over seventy and jumpers over eights societies
This page is not about music or pop groups, bands. It is not about pop-tarts or picnics,
lollipops, popsicles or other confectionery, cookies, candy or sweets. Ignore POPS .
It has nothing to do with CDs DVDs or records. Tandems are not particularly relevant either.
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