Day 1--It was a busy day the the hangar, though!!! Would you believe that 18 of the current team members made not one, but two jumps today, the first day of jump school!!! I don't have any pictures, but when Sharon and I were heading for the hangar in the afternoon, we saw the second jump from town!
While the students got a start in the pit, the classroom, and at the packing tables, the team members also got started on projects around the hangar, such as expanding the chow hall to accommodate our growing organization. A total of 48 students and team members were on post for dinner tonight, and this is expected to grow to well over 100 before the end of the school!!!
The aviation section has been working on our second C-47 type aircraft (Boop B Doop was built as a DC-3, but later received the "barn door" style cargo door and cargo floors that are usually found on military C-47's). They have received back the a rebuilt carb for the right engine, and plan on installing it in the next week. It's only a two-barrel, but believe me, this thing is BIG!
Here are a few pictures from day one; they are hosted on photobucket in the interest of time.
Shake out after the second jump.
Students learning parachute operation and packing
New carb for Boop B Doop
Day 2--It was a nice day in Western Oklahoma. The students continued with the various aspects of their training (time in the pit, procedures in the aircraft, classroom training, drag training). The team members focused on their assigned projects, including parachute packing, prepping the area where we will expand the chow hall, aircraft maintenance, the day to day KP (we eat very well thanks to Michelle J. and the KP crew). I've posted some pictures below:
Students in the classroom
Boogie Baby prepped for door exit/aircraft procedure training
Michelle, Dan, and Brian getting lunch ready in the kitchen
Paul, Brad, and Ray working on Boop B Doop
Prep work on the chow hall expansion
Day 3--Another warm, if slightly breezy day in Frederick. The students focused on PLF's, suspended agony/procedures training, door exits, and classroom work on manuvering for landing locations. I'll let the pictures do most of the talking.
Students doing a little marching training
Harness training
Time in the PLF pit
Door exits
Boop B Doop Maintenance
Chow hall expansion progress, and hangar cleanup
Day 4--I just caught the end of the day, but it was interesting. The current team members made another jump this evening, with the students on hand to observe from the drop zone. I had the opportunity to take some air to air photographs and video of the process!
Jumpmaster inspections on the ground
Our C-47 "Boogie Baby" in flight
Stand in the Door!!!
Go!!!
Video
Day 5--This was a critical day for the students; they were tested on both their theoretical and practical knowledge and skills prior to the beginning of the jump phase. Any student who can not pass any of the tests will not be able to proceed to the jump phase. As of 7:30 pm, some students were still in the testing process, primarily reviewing their practical knowledge of procedures while under canopy. The team members made great progress on a number of projects, including the chow hall expansion, improving the "main entrance" to the hangar, and working on the flight operations office. However, the biggest milestone of the day was a test run of the Wright Cyclone engines of our DC-3 "Boop B Doop" after a period of heavy maintenance. We will soon have the opportunity to do formation jumps with our own aircraft! There is a video of the engine start below!
Day 6--The students have entered the jump phase! We were fortunate to have a relatively calm morning, and a period in the evening with low winds and good conditions for jumping. The students who moved into the jump phase each completed three jumps; we also had a member of the previous jump school, Stan Leland, who was able to complete the final two jumps he needed to earn his wings! Congrats Stan! Many of the team members also had the chance to get in more jumps. By my rough calculations, we've already had 132 total jumps, with 92 training jumps by team members. I once again had the opportunity to take some shots from a chase plane; these are featured below:
WWII Airborne Demonstration Team HQ; this is the former Sub-Depot of the WWII Frederick Army Air Field.
Students and team members loading up for an evening jump
Headed for the DZ
Coming in for landing
Day 7 and 8--As usual, during the rush to get everything ready for Open Hangar Day, I didn't have a good chance to post updates. Bringing everything up to speed, the students got their final two jumps on Day 7, plus another full flight for team members. The final numbers were 14 students graduated, 236 individual jumps between team members and students, no malfunctions, no reserve pulls, no jump injuries. We had two team members who reached the milestone of 50 jumps (all with the team); they were Tom Boyle and Steve Gomez. Jeese Hicks reached the milestone of 100 jumps between his military and team jumps. Congrats to everyone!!! It was a cold and windy Open Hangar Day that didn't permit jumping, but we had a excellent crowd (especially considering the weather) who along with the team members had the opportunity to interact with a dozen WWII paratroopers who were on hand!
Some of the tabletop displays
WWII Veterans at the graduation ceremony
Team Members in formation for graduation
Graduating Class
Short video showing our C-47 "Boogie Baby" in flight during the school
Day 9--I went out to the hangar this afternoon; by the time I got there (3:30 pm), everyone had headed for home. It was a great school, and it's always very strange to go out there after all the activity to dead silence. You can almost hear the echoes of the recent history, as well as the WWII history of the facilities. I've got just a few photographs of some of the hangar improvements that took place during the week.
Chow hall expansion area; with some paint and trim, we'll be ready to take down the existing wall between the expansion and the current chow hall. Thanks to Connie and all the help he had over the week!
New drywall and paint in the "main entrance" area
Flight operations office. Dave Brothers and his wife spent days removing the old paneling, cleaning, and painting the flight ops office, as well as Dave flying "Boogie Baby", and his wife working in the chow hall!
Adjutant Sharon Bennett with her assistant Sarah doing some "end of school" filing in the office
Hope everyone enjoyed the updates on the progress of jump school. We of the WWII ADT are proud to have the opportunity to Remember, Honor, and Serve the Veterans of WWII.