ManBird

Kundalini is fucking stupid. It's closer to so wacked out religion than exercise. Total bullshit. We'll, I guess it isn't bullshit if that's your religion, but it won't give you what you want out of yoga. You basically sit on the ground for a few hours pretending a snake is climbing up your spine. IMO. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

True ninjas don't need their eyes. Get two eye patches. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

The rider can have quite a bit of control, actually (especially with BirdMan Pantz ). As to jump numbers, it's hard to say. I would just ask the people who've been jumping with him or her to determine if they're heads up enough to stay relaxed and stable through the whole process. And if they aren't a dolt through the dirt dive, then they're probably good to go. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Totes. That one and the "first" thing. I rarely say "first" in any conversation. I also accidentally say "slot" a bit. I went to the movies last night and asked if any "slots" were left. Wouldn't have even noticed if the ticketperson didn't ask what I meant (which is dumb -- "slots", "seats" -- close enough, dumbass). "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

It's about damn time some good comedies came out. "The Anchorman" was freaking hilarious. If you liked the first few years of Will/Parnell/Wells, etc, when Adam McKay was lead writer on SNL, then you'll love this movie. NO plot. I hate comedies with plots. They spend half the movie being funny, and the other half trying to resolve a plot that sucked to begin with. This movie is just absurd from start to finish. The laugh to running time ratio was exceptionally high. For another nearly plotless film that uses more subtlety and highbrow humor, check out "Napolean Dynamite". Great movie. It's funny in the same way that "Rushmore" was funny, but the two movies can't really be compared otherwise. "The Anchorman" draws more laughs, but often reaches low to get them. Whereas "Napolean Dynamite" can be appreciated as a good film. I highly recommend both for anyone that's getting sick of the Lorne Michaels formula. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

I like the cut of your jib. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

I wondered if anyone read that. Mr. Germain's post and the ensuing responses totally squashed my post. For you jerks that didn't read it. Here it is: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1126414#1126414 You're welcome, jerks! "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Damn right! Bring a tube of caulk and a revolver. I'll bring the camera. I've got some ideas swirling around. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Nice! Assuming you got your S3, right? "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

As far as I know, you are the only person that thinks it's a suicide. From the perspective of myself and others, 99% do know the facts, and 1% wants to think otherwise. Nothing against you, man. I'm just saying that we don't agree on this point. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

What I've always done is shake my head "no" when I want the rider to leave. I then bring in my wings to get closer to what the rider's fall rate will be when they leave. Then they push/roll/backflip off without issue, and I go back into flight. If they want to leave earlier, they shake my rig by the yoke. I got to be the rider for once this last weekend. It was really damn fun! I was amazed at how easy it was to control the pilot like a machine. BirdMan Pantz definitely helped with that. Felt like playing a video game. I don't know if a flat spin has to start on your back, but that is generally where it ends up. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

No. You fucked up. You're going in. You'll love it. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

I can see the next self-inulgent video now: "When I put on my stuntmonkey uniform, I feel like God is dressing me with his feet..." "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

For those of you who have had flatspins, at what part of the skydive or BASE jump did it (or they) happen? Check all that apply. Post other details if you've got 'em. My goal here is to identify when a flatspin is most likely to occur. I've only had one flatspin, and that was on a looking-down-at-the-rest-of-group exit. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Uh... that's not Dan, and I don't think the bird is IN his lines -- maybe further back. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

This time last year, I would have recommended against the S3 for a first suit. However, there are a lot of experienced S3 pilots now that have learned a lot and shared a lot of information. Therefore, I feel the training and knowledge is available to bypass the "suit progression system". I think some of my fellow BM-Is will disagree with me on this, but i might be surprised. Regardless of past experience, there always seems to be at least some "instability phase", where you're at the biggest risk for flat spinning or flopping around like a sheet of plywood. For some, it's one or two flights. For others, it's a dozen or so. This is what we mean when we say that the suit will "fly you". And it will. If you don't fly the suit, it will do as it pleases. Fly it with the same attention that you would if you were to downsize your canopy dramatically. IMO, if you... - are very current (like at least 40 jumps per month, and probably have at least 400 or 500 jumps) - get trained up on the increased stability issues and flat spin recovery by an experienced S3 pilot - accept that you will encounter stability issues and maybe a flat spin during the instability phase - plan on dedicating a lot of time and jumps to your wingsuit - fly a docile canopy and use an AAD during the instability phase - are ready for a wild ride ...then you'll probably do just fine in the S3. I've trained or taken people up in S3s that had less then 10 flights. Yes, they encountered instability. One person even had a flatspin. However, they had the training to quickly regain stability. With some feedback based on both what I saw in the air and what I heard from the pilots on the ground, these issues went away pretty quickly. It's not that big o' deal if you do it right. Hook up with a good coach to get past the instability phase, and you should be OK. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Not exactly. To get the slowest fall rate, the suit needs to be flown in a "stalled" position. Think "upside down bowl" or lying on top of a giant ball. Think of flying a canopy in 3/4 brakes -- deflect your "tail" in the same way. It maintains the airflow/surface area to keep you up, but "thickens" your profile to cut back your forward speed. The longest delays I've ever had (over 180s on several occassions) were accomplished in this "stalled" flight. It's also an easy (non-strenuous) position to maintain. However, this ruins one's glide ratio if there is little or no tailwind around. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Yeah, they should put us con artist, drunk, cigar smoking skydivers on instead. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

"Embiggens is a perfectly cromulent word." Very nice pics... YET AGAIN! "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

That is a very thin canopy. No stabilizers! Crazy. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

HAHAHA!!! Rad. I'm stoked that you'll be up here! What area? We have to get together and exchange recipes, clothing, girlfriends, and looks of both hope and disgust. Either that or grab a beer. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Good idea. With a wingsuit, it's pretty easy to rack up the minutes. Between tracking and wingsuit jumps, I've been doing about 25 - 35 minutes every weekend so far this season.

Dude, don't go changing your story. You tracked down that bird's family and ate it. The family -- you ate it. Just admit it. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

That's so rad. Are the final standings posted anywhere? "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Really sucks. I've met some cats from the Seattle crew at SDO and DW's memorial. Very cool people. When the info becomes available -- bad exit? "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click