sky-pimp 0 #1 November 16, 2005 hi just a newbie asking a question ... got my eye set on a bit of bird man , but what skills should i have under my belt before i go down that path and what suit do ya start with YeHaaaaaaaaaaa Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phoenixlpr 0 #2 November 16, 2005 Getting more jump/freefall. Correct me, I think you should have more than 500+ jumps for wingsuite. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sky-pimp 0 #3 November 16, 2005 thanks ,,,,,,,,,, emmmmm can ya tell i'm new on hear ,,, just found a wingsuit forum .. da YeHaaaaaaaaaaa Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dragon2 2 #4 November 16, 2005 I think in the UK it's 500 jumps, however if you're very current (100 jumps in the last 1 to 1 1/2 yrs) and have at least 200 jumps, most wingsuit instructors from other countries will teach you. I think you need to have those jumps recorded very well (logbook, video) to be able to jumps a wingsuit in the UK after doing the course, probably also depends on which DZ you are. ciel bleu, Saskia Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tdog 0 #5 November 16, 2005 Quotegot my eye set on a bit of bird man , but what skills should i have under my belt before i go down that path and what suit do ya start with There are a lot of threads that already discuss this, but they might not take into consideration the Prodigy by Phoenix Fly, which is different than the rest... My first few wingsuit flights were on the Prodigy... The idea of the suit is that you can still reach your handles and toggles without unzipping anything... (But I am 6'3" 210 pounds with wide shoulders and long arms, so even with XL, I did some unsnapping to comfortably reach the toggles after deployment). Because the Prodigy is much less complex, I know some WS guys will be willing to take you under your wing with less than 200 jumps, but at the same time, the suit really does fly... My first WS flights were pretty intimidating even on the "simple suit"... The two things that "hit me" on the first day... 1) My altimeter twisted on my wrist a bit. I could not see it very accurately and did not have the skills to over rotate my arms or reach back and fix it... So I used my eyes and came within 500' of where I wanted to deploy. I knew I could not use my internal body clock, because I was not in freefall, and I never trust my audible as a primary (especially when it could be confused at less than average freefall speeds) 2) Navigation. I was on a full skyvan load at a boogie. I had a very specific flight line to fly that was prearranged with my instructor and the other WS on the plane... Well, I flew that plan... And next thing I knew I flew the whole distance of the airport and still had 1/3 of the skydive left... I was flocking with someone, and knew another group was near by so changing the plan would not be the best thing to do... I had to come up with a plan B... So, do you think you have a calm enough mind on a skydive to handle new challenges that come with a wingsuit, and the skills to know your altitude without looking, know your canopy well enough to know when you can make it back or where you can land out, and the ability to have faith in your stability to pull a completely different way (which was easier than I thought, but at the same time very intimidating)??? It might feel like AFF all over again, but you won't have someone there to pull for you.... I think you might very well yourself know when it is time to try on a suit... And, for the record, not that I recommend it, I know people with your jump numbers who were very current and received instruction, who jumped the Prodigy with great success... So I would find a local instructor, and let them take you under their wings... They might tell you to wait a while, or maybe you will be flying sooner than you think... The good news is that there are some more options for novices out there... T. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tso-d_chris 0 #6 November 16, 2005 Quotehi just a newbie asking a question ... got my eye set on a bit of bird man , but what skills should i have under my belt before i go down that path and what suit do ya start with Tracking shares many similarities with skyflying, and is a good way to prepare for future WS flights. Seek advice regarding pulling in a track. If you are not flying horizontally, you are just falling down! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
