Leaderboard

Hi Keith, Re: I sit on several veterans committees and, 1) many of us just learned of this ourselves not long ago and it angered us, and 2) we're working with the VA, DoD and DHS to get the message out in a formal process. Good for you; and, bless your pea-picking little heart. Jerry Baumchen

That's what you were saying, but not what you meant, there is a path, but there's not a path that's clear, which is what I was talking about, but it's not a law. It's OK; we got this.

Bust the ZERO!!!

Bonnie and I do, but we won't admit it. :)

The key to the biggest flares is 1) building up a lot of total speed, and 2) efficiently converting that into a flare. This is an example of a huge flare with 314ft of altitude gain: I think it's most useful to look at the speed polar: What this shows is (1) building up a huge amount of speed by diving aggressively. (2) continuing to dive but increasing the horizontal component of velocity. (3) as smoothly as possible exchange airspeed for lift. (3) begin going up. (4) maximum upward velocity 45 mph. (5) top of the flare, when vertical velocity hits zero. If you flare too hard, or if you break it up into "phases" between 2/3/4, you will lose more energy and not gain as much altitude. Also if you flare too gradually, you will bleed off speed due to drag and not gain as much altitude. It's a balance. Interestingly on this track, (2) has more total speed than (1). I actually think it should be more efficient to not go quite as vertical as that jump, and short cut the transition from 1 to 2. The main thing is to maximize total speed before the flare, but if you can do the same total speed at 1:1 glide as when vertical, then you're in a better position to start the flare.

Looks like great fun. As far as I can tell, the Mr Bill passenger needs next to no skills so I can’t see any more issues with a B license jumper doing it vs. someone more experienced, but then I did once freefall a 121ft bridge in Wales so I wouldn’t take my judgement and run with it :)

Meh, I don’t see anything in the SIM against a B License jumper doing a Mr. Bill and then using said B License jumper as a paper weight or dropping them off on the back of a wingsuit. It seems as safe as a regular Mr. Bill and safer than doing CRW with a B-License holder - which is typically seen as perfectly acceptable. Have to admit, that video is pretty bad ass.

Great article on this in the Parachutist: https://uspa.org/p/Article/rating-corner-what-the-is-a-rating-renewal-seminar-anyway-1 From the article: