8-way Record

A group of women did the first all woman 8-way star at Elsinore, CA on July 28, 1970.

A strange quote from Parachutist says "The tireless organizers decided that if there was enough time and light left at the end of the meet, the girls would be allowed to have a go at it." Things were definitely different back in the 1970's.

Diane Bird and 3 photographers were in the Howard. The rest of the women boarded the twin Beech. The ride up was tension-filled until Patty Croceito found some lipstick in her jumpsuit. The women then played out the 'girl role' and made them pretty for the upcoming camera jump. The pilot Gus got a great big gaudy pair of lips painted on his cheek.

The planes reached 13,500 feet in formation. Jean Schultz had smoke and primed it as they turned onto jumprun. Linda Padgett spotted the load through the thick southern California haze.

Schultz pulled her smoke open and exited the plane (no floaters were used back then). Everyone followed out the door.

Jean Schultz and Laura MacKenzie made the base pin hookup in 15 seconds. Sheila Brody Scott docked third. Ann Gardiner made the star a 4-way. Diane Bird made the fifth dock. Luena Garrison and Linda Padgett came in 6th and 7th. Patty Croceito finished the formation.

They broke the star just above 3,000 feet.

They all landed to cheers from the observers on the ground.

John Randall, Ray Cottingham and Carl Boenish filmed the dive.