kevin922 0 #1 June 25, 2002 Well the whole crew from skydiving.com including Jari from birdman were hanging out at Orange this past weekend demoing birdman suits and whatnot. I decided I'd try one out. Jari did the 30 - 45 minute ground class with me and away we go. I was a little worried about the suit.. i had heard all kinds of things about how peopel had hit the plane on exit, how cutaway procedures were different and whatnot... I found out through the class however your cutaway procedures are the same, there is no reason to cut the wings on a malfunction (unless somehow the wings are interfering with the malfunction?) - you have enough movement to cut and pull with the wings in tact. Anyway, so there we are Jari in the door me (i'm sure looking petrified) looking back at him.. ready, set, go ! away we went I arched spread my wings and away I was. It was unbelieveable.. i've already forgot the true feeling because so much was going through my mind... practice pulls were scary, after I'd go for the hackey and act like I threw out I'd then do a nose dive.. which was kinda scary... I also was not jumping my camera helmet which meant no audibal for me which was another thing that threw me for a loop.. I pulled about 500 feet below my pre-determined altitutde but that was all good since it came out to be around 4,500. I found out arching is very important with birdman suits and I definately wasn't arching enough. Unfortuntely I only had time to make 1 jump, I wish they had the suits at my DZ so you could rent them. I guess I'll have to wait until I get a new job that pays worth a flip so I can buy one because they are great. If you have enough jumps and Jari is your way, try them out they are fun. He didn't get close enough to me to talk to me, but one of the other jumpers who jumped with him said they were talking in freefall! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nws01 0 #2 June 25, 2002 Congrats Kevin. I can't wait to have my first jump. Oh and BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRR! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkymonkeyONE 4 #3 June 25, 2002 Welcome to the flock. Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MiataDRM 0 #4 June 25, 2002 I was up at Orange playing all weekend...I was walking around jealous of all who demoed the birdman suits...oh well, there is always next yr for me! I got to watch Jari while in freefall buzzing around (I was under canopy)...the suit looks so graceful in flight & fun w/ a fall rate of 42 mph! In case anyone is wondering they "recommend" a min of 200 jumps...so, I only have 95 more to go! I'm a Pschydiver! Majdi E. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #5 June 25, 2002 It looks cool...but I think you guys can have that shit...... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kelly 0 #6 June 26, 2002 congrats kev! i did some rolling around with the birdman suits.. unfortuantly it was when i was closing Yuri's rig thanks to everybody out at orange.. i had an amazing time. felt like i was at home before i even got there. i think i finally found my home.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Macaulay 0 #7 June 26, 2002 How was the opening? ;) What canopy are you flying? Just curious. - Mac Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
effinjump 0 #8 June 26, 2002 Rob TonnesenRob Tonnesen "And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom" -Anais Nin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
