[MRCG] Parachute Mobile AM mil surplus radio jumps on Sat Oct 11 2014 over Byron CA in conduction with PACIFICON ARRL conference

[Boeing377 via MRCG]

We are going to try again for Parachute Mobile HF AM contacts using a BC 611 aloft on Saturday October 11, 2014. I will exit at about 13,500 feet and deploy my chute within about 5 seconds to give maximum hang time for QSOs. This time a trailing wire antenna should give us a better transmitted signal compared to the stock telescoping whip used last year. More details will follow as Pacificon approaches. 

Did some practice jumps with radio gear last Sunday. Here is a video of my first landing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiiHs_OtGJA If you look closely at the 4 second mark you can see a chest pack with lots of gear, APRS, telemetry modems and xmtr, GPS, HTs, recorder etc. GPS showed a 30 MPH final approach speed. Gear down, flaps full.

See my flight track at aprs.fi http://aprs.fi/#!mt=roadmap&z=11&call=a%2FAF6IM&timerange=3600&tail=3600

Any ideas for antennas other than a trailing end fed long wire? It will need to be be jettisonable so I don't inadvertently drag it over any power lines if I have land off the DZ.

It would be great if some AMers and mil radio folks would show up at the DZ http://www.bayareaskydiving.com/directions.php with gear that can work 3885 KHz AM. We will have our Parachute Mobile ham ground crew there and visiting hams (with or without gear) will be warmly welcomed. 

Some very special QSL cards will be issued for AM contacts.

Please stay tuned.

73
Mark
AF6IM
www.parachutemobile.com