Wingsuits and Safety Day

[jmfreefly 0]

I started thinking about extra things I should be doing for Safety Day, as a wingsuit flier. The stream of thoughts started with the hanging harness..

Myself, I am planning on getting in the hanging harness both with my wingsuit, and without, and practice cutaways.

With my wingsuit, I figure I would practice two cutaways, one without releasing my wings, and then a second, where I release my wings, and then eventually cutaway.

I have only had one instance where I have had to cut away my wings on a jump, and depending on the suit (and the rig), the cutaways may be slightly different than where you expect them.

By practicing cutting away with my wings in place, I am also training my brain to ignore the wings and just cutaway. (I also do this mental exercise on the way to altitude a few times).

Other topics that came to mind:
* Reviewing the wing lacing procedure (if you have had a cold winter and haven't gotten to jump the suit in a while)
* Talking about wingsuit flight patterns with the other wingsuit fliers, jumpers, and the pilot. (Ref: the various articles published here, and in parachutist, most authored by Scott Campos)
* Checking your wingsuit over completely, looking for wear/stitching issues (right Kevin? * Reviewing safety procedures in the air, like flatspins, single wing releasing, booties releasing.


Anyway, I figure I would start the thread. Anyone else have suggestions about wingsuit-specific safety day activities?

j

[piisfish 140]

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single wing releasing

on the birdman, do you have 2 cutaway handles ??

Maybe also flying/landing under canopy with the wingsuit (like if you can't take the booties off).

Realised the other day when under canopy with quite turbulent wind, that I would really hate to have to cutaway my main with wings open but legs still on, so I kept my knees stuck together and my feet crossed for the whole flight...

I never had to cutaway. I would like it to happen the first time without the wingsuit, if possible.

scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM

[jmfreefly 0]

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single wing releasing

on the birdman, do you have 2 cutaway handles ??

Yes, birdman suits have 2 cutaways, one for each wing. Thinking about flying with one wing released is for both a cutaway coming dislodged, but also zippers blowing out.

Not sure about Sfly, Mtr-1, crossbow,etc. suits, as I haven't inspected one in person. I guess there is no possibility of assymetric wings on these suits?

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Maybe also flying/landing under canopy with the wingsuit (like if you can't take the booties off).

Realised the other day when under canopy with quite turbulent wind, that I would really hate to have to cutaway my main with wings open but legs still on, so I kept my knees stuck together and my feet crossed for the whole flight...

I never had to cutaway. I would like it to happen the first time without the wingsuit, if possible.

Birdman suits have an optional LQRS (Leg quick release system), which basically opens one leg with a cutaway. This -pretty much- removes the issue of trying to land with both booties on (i.e. can't run). The suits without them, that would be a concern I guess. My advice is to PLF and roll it out if you had to.

As for that, what are people's hard decks for getting their suit undone? (at least the legs) I have in my mind about 1200-1500 feet, unless I am in good practice. Lower than that, I will chop my LQRS and just worry about setting up for landing.

Recommend, all the while after opening, to be assesing the winds, drift, landing direction,etc. while screwing around with the suit. Nice thing is that birdmen often dont have to contend with a lot of traffic, save for tandems and maybe other birdmen.

As for cutaways with leg wing, yeah, I figure they would suck. archarcharcharch. I bet that it would push you head down, even with your legs on your butt, given a bit of freefall.

Anybody experienced a cutaway like that? I would assume that is very rare unless there is canopy damage.

j

[piisfish 140]

the Sfly has a single wing cutaway handle, but if you dont pull it straight, or keep an arm really bet, you might release just one wing... or only partially cut it away... I think it can be possible to mal-cut...

scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM

[jmfreefly 0]

man, nobody else has thoughts on a wingsuit-slanted saftey day? I guess everyone on dz.com is jumping their wingsuits year round, eh? No layoffs?


j

[LouDiamond 1]

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I guess everyone on dz.com is jumping their wingsuits year round, eh? No layoffs?

UM, Yeah. Isn't everybody? You brought up some very good points and things to focus on especially if your not current on the suit. Everyone benefits from a refresher now and then. Best bet is to talk with your local BMI and arrange for a impromptu first flight course again with full kit on and go through all the motions on the ground. There are a few phrases that one can learn so that you can check to see if your suit is laced up correctly that are easy to remember for example.

"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required"
Some people dream about flying, I live my dream
SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING

[VectorBoy 0]

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man, nobody else has thoughts on a wingsuit-slanted saftey day? I guess everyone on dz.com is jumping their wingsuits year round, eh? No layoffs?


j

If its really cold Jari won't jump but the rest of us still jump year around.

[jmfreefly 0]

Well, Scott, even BMI's take layoffs sometimes.
Also, there are plenty of great wingsuit fliers with good knowledge that aren't BMIs.
I'd rephrase your statement to be 'get with knowledgable wingsuit fliers and go over your safety procedures -- if they are BMIs, that is just added benefit'. But your point is well made.

Another 'vaugeness' is the definition of current. For some folks not current is several months, others it is a few weeks.

I guess also a question that is ripe for a poll is: have you ever gotten in the hanging harness with your wingsuit on your rig?

j