pyke 0 #1 August 21, 2003 Okay - so I'm bored at work and wishing I were somewhere else right now.....BUT: the thought just occured to me and I thought I'd throw it out there... can you (is it possible) to FF in your suit?? What about collapsing the leg wing and using it as sit fly suit (of sorts)? Or even a camera suit?? Anyone experiment with this idea for $hits and giggles?? Do tell..... In the age where you need a suit for almost every darn aspect of the sport - what kind of versatility do these suits have? My random thoughts for Thurs. afternoon! Kahurangi e Mahearangi, Kiwi, RB #926, AFF-I, FAA Snr. Rigger, RN/BSN/Paramedic Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #2 August 21, 2003 Saw a video a while back of a guy doing a HD dive in a birdman suit, I *think* it was a GTI...--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kinaa 0 #3 August 21, 2003 Here is the movie with some HD in wingsuit. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
blair700 0 #4 August 21, 2003 Yo Pyke!!! I saw the same video I believe AggieDave is speaking of, can't remember where, but I do remember some comments about it regarding the beating your wings take. The flyer appeared stable with no problem, but the suit looked like it was going to shred. The wings were'nt really inflated, they were flapping like a mofo. Hope this helps, if you want to freefly in the GTI, just overamp a barrel roll...or 2 Later Blair Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diablopilot 2 #5 August 21, 2003 I've been head down in my ClassicII and my S3. It's hard to do, as your speed increases you need to close the wings up, as they have a tendency to REALLY drive your body around the sky. Left 6-8 seconds after the last person on a tracking dive, HD to the fomation, hit about 165mph, flared out and zoomed past the leader about 40 feet up, with 50 mph or better closing speed, and still did less than a 60 mph average for the jump acording to my ProTrack!, What fun. *Don't try this at home!---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ManBird 0 #6 August 21, 2003 I've flown headdown for almost the entire dive a couple times, and got up to 160 MPH (about 5 - 10 less than my normal headdown speed), with all the wings open, and could probably go faster with the wings collapsed. It's hell on your wings, though. Prepare to lose some of your stitching. I've seen and attempted sit/standflying, also for shits and giggles, and it's possible for a handful of seconds. I know one guy that tried skysurfing while wearing only a wingsuit top (don't know if he butchered a suit or had it custom made), and reported very poor results. Lots of spinning, as you can't perfectly line everything up."¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LouDiamond 1 #7 August 21, 2003 Yes it can be done. I watched B2 do it on her 2nd flight out in Eloy and again in WFFC. She can do freestyle shit it the suit that makes you go WTF over? Of course you fall out of the sky like one of those dirty belly/FF freaks I've seen her hit stands, HD, layout twists and some other funky shit. But then again, she is Betsy, you mileage may vary"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required" Some people dream about flying, I live my dream SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pyke 0 #8 August 21, 2003 Dude - that video ROCKS!!! I can see its possible, but you're right Blair - his wings were flapping like mofo!! I can see how much fun it would be to get right above a tracking dive...then open and wave ......goodbye!!! Thanks for indulging my afternoon mental wanderings!! Kahurangi e Mahearangi, Kiwi, RB #926, AFF-I, FAA Snr. Rigger, RN/BSN/Paramedic Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VectorBoy 0 #9 August 22, 2003 At WFFC after the last jumper exits Mike mullins king air he puts the thing in a head down attitude. I tried to follow in my S3 wings completely collapsed. I was stable but it wasn't long before even my collapsed wigs were beating themselves up pretty bad and he had doubled my earthbound speed. I opened and swooped away. It was amazing visually for a few seconds. He had a young lady as a ride along in the very back seat near the door and for once I was jealous of the folks still aboard the craft after jump run. There was some "G"s pulled there, at least initially. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkymonkeyONE 4 #10 August 22, 2003 You can call it "freefly", "freestyle", "lawn dart" or whatever, but like the boys say: it's incredibly hard on your wings and seams. I did a mad head-down dive in my S3 at Rantoul to catch someone and I can tell you that I thought my arms were going to rip off when I pulled out of the dive. Vne was reached for sure. It took some time for me to get my wings inflated fully, yet I was pulling some major G's as the wings were flapping like a motherfucker. I much prefer to throw barrel rolls, front and back loops from full flight. Snappy moves that don't lose much altitude are what make me happy. Still, I understand that other people have different ideas of "fun". Chuckie Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
leroydb 0 #11 August 22, 2003 hey chuck didnt you and bobby jump out after a tracking dive and catch them?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
kimgriffin 0 #12 August 22, 2003 I've done a sit in my old Skyflyer - was pretty easy. Beware: keep your arm wings symetrical. I got myself spinning faster than I intended by bringing in one arm. But, won't be freeflying in my S3 any time soon (except for needing to go headdown to catch someone). The suits are designed to FLY like a bird, not fall like a greased anvil. I'm with the other guys... the fast stuff is not great for your wings. The BM suits are made with excellent workmanship but they are not designed for the stresses of freeflying. Why would you want your skydive over in less than a minute anyway??? I love it when I'm still flying and I can see the freeflyer from my load getting ready to land. (Not that I'm opposed to FF - it can be fun too - but just hard to learn and over so damn fast.) Have a great weekend Birdies... ~Kim-Kimberly Griffin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pyke 0 #13 August 22, 2003 Quote(Not that I'm opposed to FF - it can be fun too - but just hard to learn and over so damn fast.) Precisely why I've yet to take it up....I like freefall - NO - I LOVE IT!! So, why take up a discipline that makes it go by so quickly!!! Not against it, but just not "into" it yet!! Kahurangi e Mahearangi, Kiwi, RB #926, AFF-I, FAA Snr. Rigger, RN/BSN/Paramedic Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bbarnhouse 0 #14 August 23, 2003 The attempts at FF in the suit was only to see what could be done. Yes it was fun to push the envelope, but it is hard on the suit. It was also a good demonstration of how to recover should one be in a combat skydiving situation. Cheers All! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ManBird 0 #15 August 24, 2003 Took the suit headdown today and ProTracked it. I had my first flat spin during the pullout, and it really shows up in the chart. Wearing the PT in my front pocket. Dove to about 160 MPH, began the pullout and went to carve it, but over-rotated and spun, then fixed it and continued on."¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ManBird 0 #16 August 25, 2003 Chart attached... annotated it a bit. You'll notice that the flat spin didn't change my general velocity. By the time the spin was over, I had the same fall rate that I would have had without it. Somewhat of a testament to ability to perform aerobatics without the eventual fall rate loss (even though these "aerobatics" weren't intentional). I'm borrowing an unmodded Eclipse with Crossfire 2 until I get my new main (Sabre 2) and my rig back together, so I'm spending a good ten - fifteen seconds burning off forward speed before deploying. Not something I want to do on every jump, but I must say, it works very well. I've had nothing but excellent openings with this setup, though I still highly recommend against, especially for those just starting out."¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
