St. Louis Arch BASE Jump
Calistrat, Andy
cups designed for moving large glass plates. It took just over two
hours to climb and the jumper reported excellent adhesion the entire
way up.
The jump went perfectly including a stand-up landing in front of the
camera. Unfortunately, the film is now in police possession; turns
out the camera man had an outstanding warrant for unpaid traffic tickets.
He is currently being charged with "filming without a permit" and
disorderly conduct.
The Jumpin Dude
Eric Perozziello
>The arch is made of stainless steel. The jumper used two $50 suction
>cups designed for moving large glass plates. It took just over two
>hours to climb and the jumper reported excellent adhesion the entire
>way up.
>
>The jump went perfectly including a stand-up landing in front of the
>camera. Unfortunately, the film is now in police possession; turns
So does this mean it's being shown on the news? Anywhere? anybody?
>out the camera man had an outstanding warrant for unpaid traffic tickets.
Oh my, better lock that villan in solitary confinement :^)
Douglas R Puchalski
>In article <16SEP199...@uhdvx3.dt.uh.edu> 0644...@uhdvx3.dt.uh.edu (Calistrat, Andy) writes:
>>
>>The jump went perfectly including a stand-up landing in front of the
>>camera. Unfortunately, the film is now in police possession; turns
>
>So does this mean it's being shown on the news? Anywhere? anybody?
Aw, come on! Showing that sort of blatent disregard for all social
standards on television would only encourage others! Just like they
won't show someone on TV if they run on to a football field or something.
Besides, I would get no jollies out of seeing his landing. Now, the
climb up, and the rest of the jump, on the other hand...
BTW, how do you all feel about jumps like this (illegal BASE jumping
and the like)? I mean, no one can say it's *good* for the sport. Do you
think it gives skydiving/skydivers a bad rap, or is the public (and the
media) smart enough to just blame the individuals?
--
Doug Puchalski Death to all smileys
dr...@cd.amdahl.com Who ever said they were perfectly good airplanes?
dpuc...@engin.umich.edu
Rob Wheeler
climb to the top of the Gateway Arch and then parachuted 630 feet to the
ground could face misdemeanor charges, officials with the National Park
Service said Tuesday.
A man who identified himself as John Vincent, 25, eluded authorities
at the scene of Monday morning's jump, then contacted several media
outlets to describe his feat before leaving town.
Two radio traffic reporters flying in a helicopter were among those
who saw the man on top of the arch before he jumped. However, Vincent
sold photographs he snapped himself atop the arch to the St. Louis Post-
Dispatch and a local television station.
The traffic reporters, pedestrians and startled motorists on nearby
highways saw the parachutist leap and land safely in the grass around
the structure. Witnesses said the jumper then ran to a waiting car near
the Mississippi River and fled the scene.
The arch is part of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial on the
St. Louis riverfront, which commemorates President Thomas Jefferson's
Louisiana Purchase and the country's westward expansion. The 630-foot-
high stainless steel monument symbolizes the historic role of St. Louis
as the ``Gateway to the West.''
Vincent earned national attention in May 1991 when he parachuted from
the top of the World Trade Center in New York City. He said charges
filed against him for that jump later were dropped.
Vincent said it took him more than two hours to climb the arch, using
two rubber suction cups to ascend the north leg. He said he moved the
suction cups one at a time, while placing his feet in stirrups suspended
from the cups. He said he reached the top Sunday evening.
The construction worker from New Orleans described himself as a
licensed pilot, climber and avid parachutist.
Park Service rangers arrested two St. Louis area men at the scene and
said they apparently were Vincent's accomplices. Officials also said
charges may be filed against Vincent.
Robert Church
>BTW, how do you all feel about jumps like this (illegal BASE jumping
>and the like)? I mean, no one can say it's *good* for the sport. Do you
>think it gives skydiving/skydivers a bad rap, or is the public (and the
>media) smart enough to just blame the individuals?
>
My god you're right. At this rate skydiving could someday be considered
dangerous by the general public. I can see it now. A college student calls
home and tells mom that he/she is going to jump from an airplane this weekend.
Instead of the usual "that's nice, be sure to wear something warm" we may
someday hear "isn't that dangerous, I heard something about someone jumping
from an archway so you'd better reconsider".
Well, you asked.
--
*********************************************
* bob church *
* bch...@oucsace.cs.ohiou.edu *
* D-8195 NFS #27 *
Doug Puchalsi
>My god you're right. At this rate skydiving could someday be considered
>dangerous by the general public. I can see it now. A college student calls
>home and tells mom that he/she is going to jump from an airplane this weekend.
>Instead of the usual "that's nice, be sure to wear something warm" we may
>someday hear "isn't that dangerous, I heard something about someone jumping
>from an archway so you'd better reconsider".
Come on, Bob. I'm not talking about the public's perception that the sport is
dangerous. It is. Most people think it is. We try to make it safe. The base
jump shows the public that skydiving is safe more than it shows that it's
dangerous! But Hasn't there been a lot of discussion about the daredevil image,
of jumpers drinking and passing a joint around on the climb to altitude, and the
fact that that is not a good thing?
If the general public has a bad image of the sport, the we're not going to get
much pity when we fight for airport access, or resist efforts to close the DZ.
--
Doug Puchalski Death to all smileys
dr...@cd.amdahl.com Who ever said they were perfectly good airplanes?
dpuc...@engin.umich.edu Aren't they all just hard landings?