SAVE THE DATE
OPERATION BLACK CAT VII- RCPT-USA wishes to honor all paratroopers past present and future as we continue to salute those who have come before.
Hosted by RCPT-USA
MAIN A/C- TBD
UH1 Huey Rides (TBD)- Contact Friends of Army Aviation to reserve your ride on a Vietnam era Huey Helicopter.
https://friendsofarmyaviation.org/foaa-event/palatka-ride-event-2/
Guest Speaker: TBD
Schedule of Event:
October 23- JM refresher (invitation only)
October 24- BPC and EAR course begins (0730hrs)
October 27-29- Open jump operations with C47 Tico Belle
October 29- Intentional Water Jump
All Current Jumpers - Event Registration Fee - $55 (Dinner at the hanger on Saturday, logistics, and t-shirt). Jump Opportunities: We will have several round jumps every day Friday through Sunday. C47 jumps will be $50.00 per jump, Caravan jumps are $35 per jump, Cessna 182 jumps are $25 per jump, reminder, students have priority. Chute rental is $50 for the entire event and repacks are $25 each. If you own your own parachute and plan on making multiple jumps a day, you are strongly encouraged to rent a second parachute to prevent delays due to packing.
Training is for members only, membership registration must be completed separately.
Basic Parachuting Course (BPC)-$750 Arrive NLT 0730 Tuesday 24 October, 2023 ready to train with all documentation on hand (Medical if required etc)- Training available to members only, to register candidates must join the team prior to registering for course. This 5-day course teaches the basics of jumping with a static line steerable round parachute. You will be instructed on the use of the SF-10A and MC1-1C parachute. Instruction will include equipment familiarization, actions in the aircraft, actions during descent, landing techniques, the basics of round canopy control, and emergency procedures. After completing ground training, you will conduct 3 jumps from a Cessna/Caravan and 2 jumps from the event special contracted air frame. The course price includes professional instruction, a reference manual, all jump fees, parachute rental, parachute packing tickets, and lunches during training. After completing the basic parachuting course, you will receive your RCPT-USA wings. Lunches are included on training days for students as well as event registration (see above) for the weekend.
Extended Airborne Refresher (EAR)- $350 Arrive NLT 0730 Tuesday 24 October, 2023 ready to train with all documentation on hand (Proof of Training, jump logs, Medical if required etc)- Training available to members only, to register candidates must join the team prior to registering for course. This 2 jump Refresher Course is for jumpers who have been to a Basic Airborne Course and have jumped static line round canopies, but who are not on current active duty jump orders, or who have never jumped with RCPT-USA before, and have not jumped in the last 180 days (or 18+ years!). This 3 day course runs congruently with the BPC and will update the jumper on current SF-10A parachute systems, jump procedures, and prepare them for 2 jumps at the end of the course from a Cessna/Caravan. The course price includes professional instruction, a reference manual, all jump fees, parachute rental, parachute packing tickets, and lunches during training. At the conclusion of the Extended Airborne Refresher the jumper is current and is free to manifest and jump at the event at the same cost as a strap hanger (jumps/parachute rentals/re-packs paid separately). Lunches are included on training days for students as well as event registration (see above) for the weekend.
Basic Airborne Refresher (BAR) - (Free Member Benefit) 27 October, 2023, Basic Airborne Refresher is for returning RCPT-USA members who have not jumped in the last 240 days but who have participated in RCPT-USA jump events in the past or for AD paratroopers who need cross training with SF10 and MIRPS-SLCP. This course will update the jumper on current SF-10A parachutes and jump procedures, to prepare them for a jump (not included) at the end of the course. This course is only for RCPT-USA members who have jumped with RCPT-USA or AD paratroopers on current jump orders. Jumpers are still responsible for the $50 event fee.
NOTE: Current SL steerable round canopy jumpers do not need to join the team in order to straphang at our events. Strap hangers must present logbook with proof of currency or you will not be manifested. Anybody desiring to attend the BPC or the EAR must be a team member. Join the team prior to attempting to register for a course. You must pay for event at time of registration or your registration will be cancelled after 15 minutes. In order to guarantee your slot in a course you must pay the registration fee. If the course you need is full, please register on the waitlist, if someone drops out and can not attend we will add new registrants from the waitlist.
Intentional Water Jump
- We are planning on closing the event 29 OCT 2023 with a water jump into the St John's River. Jumpers must be registered for Operation Black Cat VII Cost is $250. Fee includes team MC1 series main and reserve parachutes which will need to be washed and dried within 24 hours prior to repacking or risk being unserviceable. All jumpers will be required to wear a USCG approved personal flotation device. Jumpers are responsible to bring their own PFD. ALL jumpers for the deliberate water jump must have current (within the last 12 months) water jump training. RCPT-USA will run the wet canopy classes throughout the week, as time, personnel, and resources permit. No combat equipment. No helmets. Jumpers must wear shoes and clothes that are suitable for water activities (swim trunks or shorts), won't come off, or present a hazard in the aircraft or the air - so no swim fins or flip flops. Recommended jumpers not wear boots. Registration code required for registration for water jump. Registration code will be sent to registered jumpers when the manifest for the water jump is opened.
LOGISTICS:
Lodging options - Camping at the DZ (there is space for tents or RVs at skydive palatka- $5.00 nightly fee). Lodging options include Holiday Inn Express Palatka, 3813 Reid St, Palatka, FL 32177 PH# (386) 325-2500. Holiday Inn Express is 1 mile from DZ (if available ask for skydiver discount), Hampton Inn (Hilton) 100 Memorial Pkwy, Palatka, FL 32177 (386) 530-2420, Best Western 119 Hwy 17, East Palatka, FL 32131 (386) 325-7800, and VRBO/AirBnB have many decent houses around Palatka at great prices for the week. If we did not list a hotel, that hotel is not recommended for lodging.
Arrivals: Nearest airports are Gainesville (GNV) and Jacksonville (JAX). Let us know your flight plans, so we can help link up travelers for car-pooling to and from the airport.
Clothing: Any style military field uniform is fine, but you can wear any long sleeve, long pants, and over the ankle boot ensemble you like. Participants typically wear service specific ACU/OCP type uniforms as well as WWII style M1942 uniforms and flight suits. Suitable helmets include the Pro-Tec, Crye, Ops-Core FAST (ballistic and bump), Team Wendy, PT Alpha/Bravo; RCPT also has available ACH helmets for use. Airsoft helmets are not suitable for parachuting.