ManBird

Yuri probably sees mid to upper 50s on the Classic as dropping like a rock. :) "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Ouch. Hope you have something to borrow in the meantime. You will love your S3. Just be sure to take it easy on your first few jumps. Otherwise, you and your suit will take turns flying each other. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Yeah, that is Loic's design, based on the Crossbow. It seems to be quite improved over the Crossbow, namely in materials used. I'm still thinking, especially from what I saw in the mountain swoop video, the whole single wing design is more float than flight... relaying more on surface area to stay aloft than its aerodynamics (though the MTR-1 has incorporated more aerodynamic features into the design than the Crossbow ever had). Hmmm... wingsuits, then tracking pants and BASE pants. Well, I guess competition breeds progress, but still... hmmm. Do these really even do anything? http://www.matterclothing.com/basepants.htm "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Yeah, the S3 sort of gives you this feeling that the entire sky belongs to you. You look at where you want to go, and you get there... fast. Gives you a lot of time in the air, as well. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

What are you flying now? Regardless, the thing is seriously kick ass. You'll notice a big increase in forward speed than even the Skyflyer 1. The fall rate will come as you build up the strength to fly it. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

You mean http://www.matterclothing.com? Aiding and abetting, eh? I'd be interested in flying one, but I don't think I'd fly it enough to lay down $960 for a suit that I can't even get customized. If that much money is going to a wingsuit, it'd be to whatever comes next from the BirdMan camp. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Both. I've never actually jumped a Classic or Classic II (though I'd like to). My first WS jump was on the GTi. It's the perfect mix of safety, forgiveness, and performance. The performance envelope is huge, you can safely take on aerobatics (and instability as the case may be at first) and have no trouble getting your hackey. Once you've got it dialed in a bit, you'll be able to keep that GTi up with Skyflyers on a flocking dive, without them compensating their flight very much (I do about 52 down on my GTi, and most flocking dives involving skilled Skyflyer flyers are kept around 50 - 55, though their forward speed does outweigh the GTi's rather significantly). I'm pretty dang sure the GTi will stay with you all across your skyflying career. You have to fly it differently than the Skyflyer/S3 in order to max it out. It's an entirely different sensation that you'll return to even after you get into the bigger suits. I still do. Definitely steer clear of the Skyflyer or S3 until you've put, at a bare minimum, 50 jumps on a GTi or Classic. They are beasts that will bite your ass if you don't know how to fly them (but they are also your best friends when you figure them out). "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

http://www.bird-man.com (The DNS may still be resolving. Some people will still see the old site for a few days) "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Hey, Yuri, any theories on airlocking? I think they could genuinely accomplish what is trying to be accomplished with the mylar... keeping the wing's shape. I do think the mylar would help with exits a wee bit, as you get a little more surface area to catch earlier on, but the difference for BASE exits would probably be marginal. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Ah, I see. Easy. Definitely have to get some lighting in there for my night jumps this Friday. Thanks! "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Yeah, makes sense. One of the theories, as mentioned in the first post, would that it may cause the suit to become floaty... looks like others believe. I don't think it would distort the wing nearly as much as is claimed on here, especially since your body is acting as a rigid frame to prevent this. I don't think the wing can "overinflate", thus increasing the profile and inducing drag, thus reducing performance. I just think there would be quicker inflation. Still interested in knowing if they've played with airlocks at all. It can't be denied that an inflated wing performs better than a collapsed one. Kevin: Thanks for the tip, I'll take a look at where the GloSticks may be inserted. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

I bought mine without instruction, and I still managed to make skyflying my principle discipline. I recommend instruction at some point, though, to make sure you're flying it right. I waited too long to get mine. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Fuckin' A! "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Exactly. I'm thinking a whole new realm of objects. Not that I'm jumping any right now... but I'm working on it. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Yeah, I was thinking Vengeance, but when it really comes down to it... it would just be a winter canopy. I love doing hop and pops and high pulls, but wingsuiting always takes the lead. I still want something a bit less docile (not that my Sabre 120 is really even docile), but wingsuit friendly at the same time. Also, it must be made by PD. :) Sabre2 seems to be the match. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Aw, yeah... "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Do you mean inlets across the "nose"? Because a parachute's cells definitely aren't open on the "other end". A "nose", or inlets all the way across the bottom definitely would do no good (that's why the inlets are in the sleeve on the S3), and would just deform the wing. I'm not talking about major transformation, I'm simply talking about allowing the air to flow into the wing faster, and then stay there. The amount of inflation and the profile would not change at all. As evidenced by the Skyflyer 3, more air flowing into the wing, faster, allows for more inflated and pressurized time throughout your flight, thus getting you into the "spot" faster, and holding you there longer. It's just that if you do slow down enough, like after a swoop/dive, you sort of hit a wall because not as much air continues to flow in. Air escapes, thus losing pressure inside the wing, which results in greater pressure on the wing from the outside, which pushes the rest of the air out, totally deflates the wing, now we lose pressure on top of and under the wing, and then forward speed goes, and therefore lift goes, and then you explode. OK, so you don't explode, but does the prior sound familiar? It's also what happens when a canopy collapses. Airlocked canopies, while not completely collapse-proof, have a much better chance of staying inflated and therefore pressurized, therefore giving you a sustained flight... even at slow speeds, be they horizontal or vertical. Plus, I spelled repercussions wrong. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

All speeds are TAS, and I'm a total ProTrack whore: Belly: 127 Track: Delta: Just swim trunks: 118 Pants and longsleeve shirt: 105 Freefly suit: 98 Flat: Just swim trunks: 103 :) Pants and longsleeve shirt: 87 Freefly suit: 76 (have sustained under 70 on a few dives) Freefly: HeadDown: 170 Stand: 170 Sit: 155 Wingsuit: GTi: Backflying and aerobatics: 68 Flocking: 58 Solo: 52 Skyflyer: 46 Skyflyer 3: Backflying: 62 Flocking: 50 - 55 Solo: 30 - 44 (really depends) WS/canopy RW: 39 Swooping: 160 - 0 (shuts the ProTrack off) Speed: 240 (only did a few, 247 was my best) "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

In the sleeves, not on the sleeves. I was referring to the inlets at the top of the ribs inside the sleeve, not the deflectors on top (in regards to the S3). And I'm only referring to the inlet at the armpit that cross the first cell (and part of the second) on the front/bottom (depending on how you're looking at it) of the wing on the GTi. I wouldn't make this mod to my S3, anyway. The S3... my precious... we won't hurts it... er... Edited to add: The deflectors on the arm wings are not turbulence preventers, as there is nothing in the way to cause turbulence there (though they would smooth the air out if something was there). They route air from below and infront of the wing to the top of the wing, thus putting pressure on it, thus balancing the pressure a little more (the Bernoulli effect). The rear deflector, while having this same effect, is the one that inherently reduces turbulence, which would be coming off of your rig. I need head deflectors on mine, or perhaps a type of hood. My head is so non-aerodynamic. Also adding that the deflectors have everything to with pressurization, the inlets have everything to with inflation... airlocks would be aiding the inflation, and maybe some deflectors on the arms (and angled on the thighs perhaps?) would aid in pressurization. Turn that GTi into a whole new beast. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Have you tried lengthening your brake lines and moving your diving loops up? If there isn't any conflict between the two, you can front riser turn to double front and hold in there for quite some time. The Sabre 2 has a big fat performance envelope that ranges on up to some serious swooping. A Sabre2 107 is most likely my next canopy, though, I do still really enjoy my Sabre 120. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

True. That's why I think one possibility is that it would turn it into a "floatier" suit. But on the other hand, I look at the ProTrack charts, and the inflation of the wings (namely at the ends) and see the amount of time it takes to decrease the fall rate from say, 60 MPH to 50 MPH, and it seems a little long. That's why I'm thinking airlocks. After a good swoop, your wings lose pressure, deflate, and your fall rate increases dramatically, then you have to fly for a good six - ten seconds to get your fall rate back. But what if you swooped, got a nice low fall rate at the end, and then didn't lose pressurization? Your burn off of forward speed would drop you a bit, but recovery would be much faster with your wings already inflated/pressurized. Ever seen an airlocked canopy get cutaway? It still flies without suspended weight, because it maintains pressurization. I've watched my wings, even on my S3, deflate after a swoop. On the S3, the inlet is larger (plus there's the inlets in the sleeve), and repressurization happens significantly faster than on my GTi. Still just in theory stage. I e-mailed Robert. If anyone's the authority, it's him. Edited for spelling. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Exactly my thoughts. I've heard a number of people ask why wingsuits inlets on every cell, like a parachute. It's because wingsuits don't have suspension lines, and the inlets would distort. Maybe just thin, strong materials to form a few "gills" or "bars"... just enough to hold its shape, while letting as much air in as possible. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

What would the repurcussions be, if any, to removing the mesh from the inlets on a wingsuit? I'm considering doing this to my GTi to improve inflation time. Would I also lose air quickly? One negative might be the possibility of dirtying up the suit on the inside, but I could live with that. I may even stitch in some airlocks, provided I can acquire the proper materials. This experiment would, as I see it, either leave the wings more rigid throughout the flight and perform better, or it might just turn it into a "floatier" suit. I'm not entirely sure how significant the difference would be, either, but when you really look at it, the mesh covers a lot of real estate on the inlets. Is there some really big aerodynamic feature I'd be killing if I made this alteration? It feels like I'm missing something big. Edited to add: I could also be cool like Kevin and get glowsticks in my wings for night jumps (which are coming up this Friday). "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Yes. Edited to add: If you've seen the movie "Happiness", the term "BM" is a whole lot worse. "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click

Now no one can say that there isn't a picture containing both Jari and a confederate flag... http://www.interone.net/gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album19&id=ack "¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click