DickMcMahon 0 #1 November 18, 2005 FROM A NEW ZEALAND NEWS SERVICE ... Engineer Bob Harris has created Skyboard, a sleek personalized skydiving glider which might be the next big thing in extreme aviation sports. "This is new generation aviation, the ultimate prolonged skydiving experience. I believe its potential in the world of extreme sports is huge and it's not hard to see that a craft that can reach speeds of 280kmh, can stay airborne for 20 minutes, and that can be easily transportable to launch height could have military implications, too," Harris said. Skyboard took flight on October 25 from 10,000ft as Australian test pilot and skydiver Paul Smith were released from a helicopter. Smith, a veteran of nearly 12,000 parachute jumps, and who has flown more than 25 types of aircraft, was ecstatic. "My hands were shaking afterwards, not from fear but from sheer excitement," Smith said. Skyboard is a 1.7m capsule in which the pilot lies face down with hands free for working the controls. The pilot uses elevator controls to fly the glider before making a wheels-down or parachute-assisted landing. Picture attached _________________________ Website: Dick’s Stuff Maybe the reason skydivers party so much is because at the end of the day they're glad they survived jumping. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
leroydb 0 #2 November 18, 2005 Quotewheels-down or parachute-assisted landing. wheels down? as in no parachute?Leroy ..I knew I was an unwanted baby when I saw my bath toys were a toaster and a radio... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Arkady 0 #3 November 18, 2005 That looks only slightly expensive.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davedlg 0 #4 November 18, 2005 That looks a lot like the "switchblades" used in the most recent Bond film. There is a thread on here somewhere about them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sebazz1 2 #5 November 18, 2005 How many slots does that take up on the plane? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
highfly 0 #6 November 18, 2005 On the footage on the news last night in NZ, the "pilot" ditches the skyboard and free falls and dumps his normal parachute. The skyboard is on some aad which releases a chute and then floats to the ground. To be honset it wasnt that impressive. It looked a little unstable in the air. See the thread in General skydiving disscusions www.myspace.com/durtymac Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DickMcMahon 0 #7 November 18, 2005 Sorry ... didn't know this was already posted in the General Skydiving stuff. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
highfly 0 #8 November 18, 2005 No need for apologies. ............Just yet www.myspace.com/durtymac Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
