Dave Crouch has informed me that we have T-Shirts which may be purchased from Manifest during the meet. He has also informed me that we will have the OLD BAND is back. The Old guys who play Old Farts music. So no need for ear plugs this year.

Dave also told me that the retailers of our sport are pulling way back on their generosity towards donating prizes and such for the raffle. So in place of the normal raffle, there will be one name drawn from each manifest load and the winner get's his/her/their jump for free. This will happen with each and every otter load and is only good for boogie participants who have paid the boogie fee. They have done this before and everyone loved it.

The food will be provided by the same folks as we've had in previous years and of course there will be a couple of kegs of beer for all the particpants.

As a side note from me, your dear and devoted webmaster, I am going to put out a plea for all participants whether jumping or not, whether you stay for the music or not, whether you eat the food or drink the beer or not, to pay the boogie fee to help out with the finances. It is costing $2000 JUST to get the airplane there and back and that is over and above the price of the jump tickets. If you all join in and participate in the boogie fees Dave just might break even. Maybe...... Please help. It's worth $20 just to camp for the night.

For any additional info regarding Skydive Taft or the boogie you may find them on FB at www.facebook.com/skydivetaft

Until then, be safe and have fun.

BSBD Larry

I am Rachael Newell, Bill Newell's daughter and the administrator of Bob Buquor Memorial Star Crest. Last week the website went down due to the server. I am currently waiting for the host to release the content of the website in order for me to bring the the site back up. Hopefully the content will be released soon.

We have a face book page please look us up and like us.

Rachael

Gone For Ever?

I have met and jumped with hundreds of jumpers down through the years and became fast friends with many. To my dismay, too often, I found myself wondering about Joe or Sally or numerous others who disappeared from the local D.Z. scene. Gone; never to be seen again.

When Luis Melendez Jr. photographed the Worlds First 10 Man Star he too disappeared a couple of years later. After 46 years, one could assume he was dead. No, this famous photographer is very much alive, and he will join us in Taft on June first. He is as good looking as ever. Welcome back, Luis.

Brian Williams SCR-8 SCS-0

This is definately one for the books. This guy get's more ink than anyone I know besides Pat Moorehead. Here is our beloved Air Trash member "Bullitt" Bob Denton in all his glory and we're not talking just skydiving. Check the link below for the story on our very own Silly Tit number 230.

Skydiving in his Seventies – “Bullitt” Bob Denton

Reporting for the Northwest Chapter,
Pete Hill

Just got back from Spokane, Washington where my son, Reece competed in the USA Boxing National Championships. Reece won the Bronze Medal and is now ranked #3 in the nation in the "Elite Men's" Light heavy-weight division. He is now on "Team USA" and will be representing the United States in international tournaments.

I know this posting has nothing to do with skydiving (other than Reece is also a skydiver), but, I just can't contain myself.

PROUD POPPA!!
Chet

Our most dignified Air Trash member Pat Morehead has done it again. He just won the hit & rock event at the POPS Meet in Lake Wales, Fl. A remarkable feat all things considered. Even though he may have been practicing for 40 years it's one very tough task to be competitive with today's members!

On a similar note, Pats better half Alicia continues to maybe being an imposter, joining the SOS group & attaining an all SOS eight man award. How can all this be? By my calculations Alicia is what, barely 40 now?

Congratulations to the Moreheads!

Don V

Hi All,

Looks like we're going to have a great turn out again this year. This will be our 5th year in a row. To save confusion, we'll continue to refer to this annual event as simply: The Grumpy, Gimpy Old Farts With Attitudes Taft Boogie.... What's fun is that each year more Old Farts tribes come join in on the antics. Aside from Air Trash, we usually get a turnout of Arvin Good Guys, Latin Skydivers, Old River Rats, Rebels, etc. This year the SRA is planning to come join forces too.... YAY!!!

You may have noticed that the dates are a little different this year. We normally do this over Memorial Day Weekend. BUT.... We were unable to get an Otter from Perris this year because of an event that they have scheduled for Memorial Day weekend. So this year we are going to do it on June 1st and 2nd.

Please help spread the word. All are welcome!!! Make phone calls to those who may not have internet access. Also, those planning to attend should Email Larry Walsh at mobiltec@gmail.com to add their names to the sign-up list. Larry will continue to update the list as names are received. Not only is it fun to watch the list grow, but in addition, it will help Taft DZ owner Dave Crouch get a head count of how many folks to expect this year....

Normally there's a 20.00 boogie fee which includes a catered dinner from Maria's Kitchen, a keg or two of beer, & the house band. Naturally, you are welcome to bring your own personal ice chests stocked with your favorite cold adult beverages, food, etc. etc. Also, don't forget to bring your lawn chairs, portable tables, lawn shades, etc. etc.

Below is a list of local motels. You might want to make reservations early. Also there is a map for local reference. Here is a link for the Taft DZ.

Click Here For Lodging In Taft

As always...."Old Farts Are The Best Farts".....

Reporting for Air Trash News,
John Bull

John Bull receives his 36 hour freefall badge from Eike Hohenadl at Perris Valley Skydiving in Perris California. Quite an accomplishment for the old coot!

From the heart of our bottoms we say HIM! HIM!...................

John, Randy and The Webmaster.

Lyle Cameron Jr. reports that Dan B.C. & Dave Chrouch have finalized the date for this year's Taft Old Farts Bash. It will take place on June 1st & 2nd. Reason being.... this time around there's something going on at Perris dz over the Memorial Day weekend, necessitating Perris dz to keep all of their fleet home. So... this year's Taft Old Farts Bash will be moved to the first weekend in June. If anyone is interested in doing the mystery gag gift exchange, wrap up something small & ridiculous, which has a general Old Fart theme... such as... old ripcords, etc. (use your imagination) & deposit it into the box which will be provided. As always, bring lawn chairs, EZ-Up shade coverings, etc.

Air Trash webmaster/webmeister Larry Walsh will provide a sign-up list & keep it updated, so that way folks can monitor the list from time to time to see who's planning to join in on the antics.... This year's "Grumpy, Gimpy Old Farts With Attitudes" Boogie will be dedicated to the memory of: Bill Newell SCR-3!!!

It has been suggested that we all bring any Bill Newell memorobilia you have so we can set up a display in the main Hangar. Bring what you can. And bring folding tables and table cloths if you can.

LONG LIVE THE "WILD WILLIE NEWELL" MEMORIES!!!

Reporting for Air Trash,
John Bull

Pat Works

I am proud to announce Air Trash was Awarded RW Council's Certificate of Merit Award, only the 34th such award granted since it's inception in 1972. A high honor, well earned.

The purpose of Freefall Relative Work Certificate of Merit award is, "to recognize and express appreciation to individuals who actively promoted relative work so that it would grow internationally." Congratulations to Air Trash for this significant achievement!

Pat Works

Info and History:

RW Council's Certificate of Merit Awards

"In recognition of Outstanding Services rendered to Freefall Relative Work, this Certificate of Merit is awarded with the Gratitude and Appreciation of all Relative Workers to...AIR TRASH

In 1972, RWunderground issued the first Certificates of Merit. This special award was conceived of to recognize and express appreciation to individuals who actively promoted relative work so that it would grow internationally.

By RWunderground's last issue in 1976, 33 individuals had been singled out for the award. Nominations were submitted by relative workers themselves.

Former recipients of the RW Council's Certificate of Merit:

1972

Lowell Bachman (Para-Gear, Chicago); Chuck Embury (Parachutes, Inc., Orange Mass.); Joe Garcia (A-1 Unlimited, Calif.); John Higgins (The Chute Shop, Flemington, N.J.), all for their contributions of equipment and cash which permitted the national championship team that year, Jerry Bird's All-Stars, to attend the World Meet and turn the rest of the world on to large-star and sequential relative work.

Skratch Garrison, chief judge of the first national championships for 10-man competition and author of the first national rules governing 10-man; Bill Newell, founder of the Bob Buquor Memorial StarCrest, Ted Webster, organizer of some of the first major relative work competitions and an RW philanthropist, and Dan Poynter, then Northeast conference director and editor of The Spotter.

In addition, a special award was made to Jonathan Livingston Seagull and sent to author Richard Bach with a letter describing how Jonathan's thoughts on flying and excelling have inspired freefall relative workers.

1973

Members of the Jerry Bird's "All-Stars" 10-man team which enthusiastically promoted relative work to competitors at the 1972 World Meet, with wide acclaim. For many, the All-Stars demo jumps, including 10-man star to line to two 5-mans, or a star to snowflake with the outer five tracking away, was their first glimpse at the new phenomenon called "large-star relative work." Team members included:

Jerry Bird
Chuck Wickliffe
Ron Haun

Bill Stage
Rich Piccirilli
Bob Westover

Tom Phillips
Jim Fogelman
Sam Alexander

J.R. (Rod) Murphy, of South Africa, and Eilif Ness, of Norway, both members of the CIP relative work subcommittee of the FAI, and instrumental in developing and organizing 4-man and 10-man competition on the international level. Bob McDermott, U.S. Army Parachute Team, chief judge of the 1973 U.S.A. National Championships, and one of the host officials at the World Cup of Relative Work in Fort Bragg, N.C. James F. (Curt) Curtis, active competitor and long-time member of U.S.P.A.'s Board of Directors, who helped push relative work competition to prominence at the national and international level.

1974-75

Jerry Bird, roving ambassador for relative work, the only individual to receive the award twice. As captain of three national champion teams ("All-Stars" - 1972, "Columbine Turkey Farm" - 1973, "Wings of Orange" - 1974) he has done much to influence the popularity of relative work wherever he goes. He has organized large-star loads, SCR loads, and training sessions for groups of relative workers in other countries, including drop zones visited after his participation in international meets. In addition, he has helped other teams at international meets with tips on organization, ground practice, exits and other suggestions for improving the quality of RW competition.

Six outstanding and world-recognized freefall photographers:

Andy Keech, from Australia. His beautiful book "Skies Call" attests to his unique talent for capturing the unusual and the beautiful in relative work parachuting. Andy lives in Washington, D.C.

Ray Cottingham, from Long Beach, California. His breathtaking aerial photography of sequential relative work, as performed by jumpers in Seattle and Casa Grande, turned a lot of people on to a new way of looking at relative work. Ray has been shooting freefall film for a number of years.

Carl Boenish, from Los Angeles. He is perhaps the best-known of all freefall photographers - his beautiful shots are seen in all parachuting magazines, posters, postcards, etc. He shot the 26-man World Record Star in 1972. He produced the popular film, "Masters of the Sky." He has shot thousands of feet of film of relative work, and has also turned his camera on hang-gliding.

Jerry Irwin, from Delaware. He is not only a well-known RW photographer on the East Coast, but a very promotion-minded one as well. His shots have found their way into the general media (newspapers, magazines) where they help create a favorable impression for parachuting among the general public.

M. Anderson Jenkins, from Whittier, California. He shot the World's First 20-Man Night Star - a remarkable photograph. He has been shooting relative work for a number of years. His photographs have also found their way into the general media.

Peter Bottgenbach, from Germany. He is probably the most well-known European freefall photographer. He filmed the first World RW Cup at Fort Bragg; his photographs grace the pages of many European parachuting magazines.

1976

Al Krueger, "Captain Hook," who captained his 10-man team of Sky Pirates skillfully for more than three years, culminating in their winning the National Championships in 1975 and then, the First World Championships of Relative Work at Warendorf, Germany, in an unforgettably hard-fought victory. Al, a fair-minded and thorough individual, is a supporter of international competition and a spreader of good will. He has always been willing to contribute his knowledge to others.

B.J. Worth, captain of the U.S. Freefall Exhibition Team which turned-on the world's imagination with sequential relative work at Warendorf in 1975, has been a steady contributor of level-headed thinking to the growth of sequential relative work.

Matt Farmer, an avid progressive-thinking relative worker, is honored for his willingness to help others learn as much about progressive relative work as he knows. Matt, author of numerous "how-to" articles on sequential, ranging from 4-man to 20-man, can always be found wherever the good sequential RW is happening.

Hank Ascuitto, a creative rigger and enthusiastic supporter of competition relative work, was the first to turn out really lightweight gear that was reliable. He has contributed a lot of the innovative thinking that characterizes RW gear today. Others have made lightweight canopies and container systems, but Hank's Piglett II was the first to make lightweight gear popular and practical.

Sam Brown, captain of the "Rainbow Flyers" 4-man Team which has been the winner of two consecutive world 4-man events, is an enthusiastic competitor and promoter of the 4-man relative work event. The "Rainbow Flyers" began as a fun team and grew into a tough competitive team, proving that hard work and consistent effort pay off.

Bill Ottley, an avid supporter of sport parachuting in general, has devoted untiring effort to the improvement and growth of relative work on an international scale. Bill, former vice president of USPA and a member of the current Board of Directors, is a level-headed supporter of both competitive and fun-jumping relative work.

* * *

There are many who continue to support and contribute to the healthy growth of relative work. If Certificates of Merit were still being awarded, there would be several deserving recipients.

"Thank you" is a sweet sound to anyone. Recipients of these Certificates are special people ... people who have given of themselves so that all of us who participate in the sport may benefit. We are all served by their positive efforts on our behalf.

The RW Council
Pat works