Operation Black Cat IX
RCPT-USA and Skydive Palatka proudly wish to honor all paratroopers — past, present, and future. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Korean War, a pivotal conflict often called the “Forgotten War,” but never forgotten by those who served or the families who endured its cost. This gathering brings together veterans, first-responders, patriots, and friends and family to recognize the courage, sacrifice, and resilience shown during this critical chapter of history.
Main Aircraft: C-47 Tico Belle
Guest Speaker: TBD
Foreign Jump Wings:
RCPT-USA is honored to host HONDURAN and PERUVIAN Guest Jumpmasters at OBC IX (Friday & Saturday). The $50 foreign wing registration includes the wings and a certificate worth framing. The registration allows us to cover the transportation & lodging of foreign Jumpmasters. This fee does not include parachute rental, your jump/lift ticket, or event registration. OBC IX event registration is separate and required. Students are not authorized to jump with foreign JMs until the completion of their course and are responsible for all additional jump fees.
Freefall: There will be freefall opportunities with Skydive Palatka.
Schedule of Event:
- 27 October 2025 (Monday) – Jumpmaster refresher by invitation only.
- 28 October 2025 (Tuesday) - BPC and EAR course begins (0730hrs).
- 31 October - 2 November 2025 (Friday-Sunday) - Open jump operations with C47.
- 1 November 2025 (Saturday evening) - Dinner and awards ceremony.
- 2 November 2025 (Sunday morning) - Water jump into the St. John's River.
Online registration for OBC IX will close 19 October 2025 and in-person registration will be available during the event.
Straphangers:
Are expected to register for the event. The $60 registration fee includes Saturday night dinner and award ceremony at the hangar, event logistics, and a t-shirt. Jump opportunities will be available Friday through Sunday, with multiple round canopy jumps each day. Parachute rental through RCPT-USA is $50 for the entire event, and repacks are $30 each. If you plan to bring your own parachute and make multiple jumps daily, we strongly recommend also renting one to avoid packing delays. Please note that our students have priority, and Straphanger jumps will not begin before noon on Thursday, October 30, 2025.
Jumpmaster Refresher (JMR):
This is by invitation only and individuals are expected to arrive NLT 0730 Monday, 27 October 2025. There will be no student or straphanger walk-ons authorized Monday.
Basic Parachuting Course (BPC):
Students must arrive no later than 07:30 on Tuesday, 28 October 2025, ready to train with all required documentation (including medical forms if applicable). This 5-day course provides instruction on round canopy static line parachuting using the SF-10A and MC1-1C parachutes. Training covers equipment familiarization, aircraft procedures, descent and landing techniques, canopy control, and emergency procedures. Students will complete three jumps from a Cessna 182 and two from our special event aircraft. The course fee includes professional instruction, jump fees, parachutes and packing, helmet, and lunches. After five (5) jumps BPC graduates will earn their RCPT-USA wings and become straphangers, with BPC fees covering registration for OBC IX (excluding additional jumps and packing). Dinners down at the drop zone each evening allow you to spend time with new friends and are a big part of what makes RCPT-USA “More Than Just a Jump.”
Extended Airborne Refresher (EAR):
Students are expected to arrive no later than 07:30 Tuesday, 28 October 2025, ready to train with all required documentation (proof of parachute training, jump logs, and medical forms if required, etc.). The EAR training course is available to members only and you must join the team prior to registering for course. The EAR course is a two (2) jump refresher for jumpers who have already attended a Basic Airborne Course, and the following applies: have not jumped a round static line canopy within the last two years, or, are not experienced with steerable round canopies, or, have not jumped a round static line canopy with RCPT or another recognized organization (NATO military, ADT, LJT, X-35, etc.) within the last 5 years.
The EAR course is also suitable for qualified freefall jumpers wishing to transition to round static line steerable canopies. The EAR course runs concurrently with the BPC and will update the jumper on current SF-10A and MC1-1C parachute systems, jump procedures, and prepares students for two (2) jumps from a Cessna 182. The course price includes professional instruction, all jump fees, parachute and parachute packing tickets, helmet, and lunches during training. At the conclusion of the EAR course you automatically become a straphanger and your EAR course fees cover OBC IX event registration, but not additional jumps and packing. Dinners down at the drop zone each evening allow you to spend time with new friends and are a big part of what makes RCPT-USA “More Than Just a Jump.”
Basic Airborne Refresher (BAR):
BAR is offered to already qualified round static line canopy jumpers who are either current military round static line canopy jumpers who need to be trained on the MIRPS-SLCP Reserve, or who have not jumped within 240 days and ALL of the following applies:
- Have jumped round static line canopy within the last two years, and
- Are experienced with steerable canopies, and
- Have jumped with RCPT or another RCPT recognized organization (NATO military, ADT, LJT, X-35, etc.) within the last 5 years.
This brief course updates jumpers on the current SF-10A canopy and jump procedures and the MIRPS-SLCP Reserve to prepare them for jump operations (no jumps are included with BAR). BAR Jumpers are still responsible for the straphanger event fee.
NOTE: Current round static line canopy jumpers do not need to join the team in order to be Straphangers at an RCPT-USA event, however, anybody desiring to attend the BPC or EAR courses must join prior to attendance. Please join the team prior to attempting to register for a course. You must pay for the 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 cannot attend we will add new registrants from the waitlist.
LOGISTICS:
There are multiple lodging options in Palatka, Florida. Camping is authorized at the Skydive Palatka drop zone (DZ) and there is space for tents and RVs for $5.00 nightly fee. Lodging options also include the Holiday Inn Express Palatka, PH# (386) 325-2500 (if available ask for the skydiver discount); the Hampton Inn (by Hilton), PH# (386) 530-2420; the Best Western, PH# (386) 325-7800; the Quality Inn and Suites, PH# (386) 328-3481; Crystal Cove Resort, PH# (386) 325-1055; and options from VRBO/Airbnb include houses around Palatka at great prices for the week. If we do not list a hotel, our members have determined that hotel is not recommended for lodging.
Arrivals: the 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.
Homework: If you are interested in looking over RCPT-USA documents and SOPs they can be found on the website in the Member Documents area https://rcptusa.org/members.
Clothing or Uniform: Any style military field uniform is appropriate for jumping with RCPT-USA. But you must wear long sleeves, full-length pants, and over the ankle boots while training and jumping. Participants typically wear service specific ACU/OCP/BDU uniforms, WWII style M42/M43 uniforms, and flight suits. Suitable helmets include the Pro-Tec, Crye, Ops-Core FAST (ballistic and bump), Team Wendy, PT Alpha/Bravo; RCPT has a limited number of helmets for use. Airsoft helmets and magnetic chin-straps are not suitable for parachuting.
ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST COMPLETE THE RCPT-USA AND SKYDIVE PALATKA JUMPER PARTICIPATION WAIVER and EQUIPMENT USE POLICY. A LINK WILL BE IN YOUR CONFIRMATION EMAIL ONCE YOU REGISTSTER. FOLLOW THE LINK, READ CAREFULLY, AND COMPLETE. INCORRECT WAIVERS WILL NEED TO BE REDONE.
RCPT-USA reserves the right to refuse service to any person, Member or Non-Member at any RCPT-USA event.
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