Skydiving and Popular Mechanics

[AggieDave 6]

Received my copy in the mail yesterday. Felix is on it with a large story about his altitude record attempt. Previously there was another jumper wanting to land his wingsuit in a giant ramp-funnel. Both of these have attempts have been discussed at length on the forums here; however, what I wonder is how did 2 jumpers get on the cover with in months of each other. The next question is if this is positive exposure for our sport or if this will further push the idea of skydiving to the fringe of "crazy" for most whuffos?

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[skyjumpenfool 2]

Ahhh! My two favorite things....

Birdshit & Fools Productions

"Son, only two things fall from the sky."

[mutumbo 0]

Giant ramp funnel? to theoretically land one without a chute or what? Kinda confused there sorry.

Thanatos340(on landing rounds)--
Landing procedure: Hand all the way up, Feet and Knees Together and PLF soon as you get bitch slapped by a planet.

[Andy9o8 2]

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is positive exposure for our sport or if this will further push the idea of skydiving to the fringe of "crazy" for most whuffos?

Seriously, I don't think it makes a difference, since most whuffos think any and all skydiving is crazy anyway; they don't bother to differentiate between Brand X or Brand Y. I've been around the sport on & off going on 35 years now, and it's always been that way; and most whuffo comments I hear today are no different than what they were back when a "flare" was the bell-bottoms on your jeans.

[Southern_Man 0]

I don't think it makes a difference either. I am a runner, most people who don't run think I am crazy for running marathons. Most people think I am crazy for skydiving.

Not me, I think marathoning and skydiving are both great activities. I do, however, think that ultra-marathoners and BASE jumpers are a little off

Crazy is in the eye of the beholder.

"What if there were no hypothetical questions?"

[AggieDave 6]

That's exactly the plan, to "land" a wingsuit by flying into a large funnel that ramps out to slow the deceleration. Sort of like a huge slide at Wet 'n Wild.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[brucet7 0]

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That's exactly the plan, to "land" a wingsuit by flying into a large funnel that ramps out to slow the deceleration. Sort of like a huge slide at Wet 'n Wild.

That is kind of cheating. Shoot, if you built it right you wouldn't need a wingsuit. Just make it real tall, real wide, and watch for splinters.

POPS #10623; SOS #1672

[riggerrob 643]

Correction, most of the public solidified their opinions of parachuting in the 1930s ... when barnstorming barkers had to play up the danger in order to collect a reasonable purse.

Since most of the general public admit they do not have the courage to skydive, they cling to any excuse (e.g. you are all crazy) rather than admit their fears.

Ergo, the general public does not differentiate between BASE, wingsuit, tandem, etc.

[mutumbo 0]

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That's exactly the plan, to "land" a wingsuit by flying into a large funnel that ramps out to slow the deceleration. Sort of like a huge slide at Wet 'n Wild.

DUUUDE, that sounds awsome!! Id totally do it! What could possibly go wrong!?


wait, you probably have to have jumped a wingsuit once or tiwce right? Anyone got a suit i can borrow?

Thanatos340(on landing rounds)--
Landing procedure: Hand all the way up, Feet and Knees Together and PLF soon as you get bitch slapped by a planet.

[billvon 3,107]

>The next question is if this is positive exposure for our sport or if this will
>further push the idea of skydiving to the fringe of "crazy" for most
>whuffos?

Given that even fatalities result in more student starts, I'd say it's an overall positive (if your criteria for 'positive' is more tandems, AFF's and jumpers overall.)

[grimmie 186]

Felix and Jeb on the cover of "Popular Mechanics"...how ironic. Neither one of them know how to change the oil in their own cars.

I think it's pretty good exposure for skydiving.

Look what effect the young "Evel's" jumping over crazy things and throwing in some flips and tricks have had on mortorcycle sales.

[jumpwally 0]

Ok..I understand that,,,but so what ? Its an assisted event, now land on the grass next to the runway....that might be something to talk about,,,,for a week and then so what ?

smile, be nice, enjoy life
FB # - 1083

[billvon 3,107]

>Its an assisted event, now land on the grass next to the runway....that
>might be something to talk about,,,,for a week and then so what ?

Well, that's true of everything in skydiving. Build a 400 way, talk about it a few weeks, and then - so what?