What is your favorite dropzone and why?

Agreed, I have been privileged of jumping in almost 35 states, and 4 different countries. I got my first jump in 1986, and my last license C from USPA about 10 years ago. Never did my paperwork for the D license, I should have, but now that I have sole custody of a 15 year old, I chose to take a vacation until she is older. Blue skies!

It seems to me like a no brainer. Campbell there's Nashville. Never jumped there but it is close.

COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM, MSG(ret) Gene Paul Thacker, who started Raeford DZ and basically "wrote the book" on skydiving, died on 20AUG12 and is buried not too far from the DZ, next to his son. And you're right, all kinds of organizations jump there!
SFC Jack S., more skydiving lore!

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=thacker&GSfn=g&GSmn=p&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=137310308&df=all&

My favorite DZ near FLW is by far Skydive Kansas City, biggest plane nearby and great landing area. It is in Butler, MO has camping and has a king air.

Yes that does look like a big nasty swoop ditch. Did you guys ever use WDI's? Its been so long since my last jump I would want to go out with an instructor. There is an indoor skydive close by. I might run my daughter over there and do that with her just to see what I remember.

SPC David S., we always dropped a WDI at the beginning of the day. However, only a few people could afford their own high performance canopies. Even then, most of them were round, like Para Commanders and Papillons. A few guys had Strato Stars, but that was about it. Most of the club members were jumping 7-TUs, which were 28' USAF reserve canopies. We put out all students on Army T-10 paratrooper canopies. All that to say that forward speed and maneuverability was limited. The spot was critical and jumpmasters are fallible!
There was no tandem instruction back then. You had to make 5 solo static line jumps before your first solo jump and pull (hop and pop). The last static line jump and the first hop and pop had to occur on the same day.
When jumpers were making their 5 static line jumps, the j/m would hold their static line. If we saw them start to go unstable, we'd jerk the static line (called short lining) so the canopy would open more quickly and avoid a bad opening.
I haven't jumped since 31DEC76, and like you, I'd want an instructor, probably do a tandem jump. However, for a Hollywood Army jump, I'd strap on a rig and get on the plane right now! They were easy! Now I would have to tape and brace knees and ankles, but I'd go!
TSgt Hunter Logan
SFC Jack S., more early skydiving lore!

I heard of short lining for low altitude jumps like 500' range. High performance chute not a problem with this DZ. T-10 it would make it very interesting.

Skydive New England's Tiki Bar Boogie over Labor Day is constantly rated as one of the best boogies by blue skies. Also, after last year's tiki bar, was named the most naked DZ.

Where is Paraclete? That is cool that you jump anywhere you can. I do as well, not now, taking a break.

One tip I will give you, Skydive X Keys in NJ, has a plane full of jumpers that usually go to Puerto Rico in February every year. They are very military friendly, you may be able to hitch a ride...It is fun.

lol, I never met Smitty the jumper, sir. But did meet Bill Cole and some others that were the pioneers of the sport, not as old as Smitty of course. Bill Cole helped organize a halo from 25kFt in Toronto, night jump. It was a blast. I also got to jump from biplanes, and the famous and great B17. I believe that Perris still sometimes do the DC 9 if I am not mistaken, never had the chance yet, but willing to try. I think the King Air is my favorite due to the fast ascent!. BUt you know as well as I do, we definitely want to just jump. I am glad you survived the cratering from that era. Fairly common in our history. Be safe sir and thank you for your service and kind response.

SSG (Join to see), Smitty the Jumper actually came to Moton Field DZ, and visited with us for a few days. He signed my logbook on 20APR76 and his USPA number was A-636!
Sounds like the jumps you've made and a/c you've jumped are extraordinary! Did you go out of the bomb bay of the B-17? I got to go inside a B-17 once.
The aircraft I jumped with the fastest ascent was the Short SC.7 Skyvan. It would scoot. When we jumped Skyvans, they only had two "seatbelts". Basically, it was one long length of nylon seatbelt webbing that ran either side of the a/c. It went across all the jumpers on each side of the fuselage. Needless to say, upon rotation, the jumpers in back were holding on for dear life!
Many jumpers bounced in our day. One of our local jumpers died trying for some type of high altitude record. A female jumper bounced at Z-Hills the day before we got there in NOV75. Needless to say, the business about losing consciousness is total BS. We heard she screamed all the way to the ground. Absolutely horrible.
My USPA license was C-11083 and I became a USPA rated Jumpmaster and Instructor. I even got an FAA rigger certificate which is still valid to this day!
BTW, you're the one who's still serving, so let me thank you for your service!
SFC Jack S., more early skydiving lore!

Well, I don't think so, I am just an avid skydiver, I love to jump. Use inflatable boats, or bycicles, or just rolling out in a big human wheel and do a carpet ride, while flying safely. The B17 was a very expensive jump tab. I have jump for balloons a couple of times, and helos a dozen. I have just been lucky to be able to visit a lot of dropzones in my life time, the more places you go the more chances you get to try new equipment right? You guys were the ones that tried out the equipment. Now, the majority of injuries are due to stupidity and trying to do swooping. A very bad idea in a crowded airspace. I have already spent too much time avoiding the enemy trying to kill me, now, I don't want the aggravation that one of those 300 jump wonder tries to kill me because he thinks he is the king of the air. Mine, is C21636 (Have to check) haven't renewed it since 2011. I am old already. I am a coach, and as soon as I get the D license, undetermined yet as I am not jumping, I am getting my tandem instructor rating. I know what the feeling is that sir, about someone cratering. I have had my experiences as well, and even though I am losing my hearing, I can definitely know when someone "femurs" 100 meters away. Usually there is not much us, emergency personnel can do but to comfort the patient, hold their hands, or calm the people around them.

Eloy and Perris are great, just don't like the state.

Did you end up finishing AFF?

lol, I know that dz pretty well myself, as I used to go there. You miss the dz, you end up in a tree.

Roger, never been in start. Be safe and blue skies brother