lurch

Are you a birdman or a precision guided munition? Pulling numbers like that with those body specifications means you are seriously kicking ass, man, out the door you top my weight by a whopping 120+ lb but still get within 30 mph of my own best low cruise. I bet flying with you is FUN. Here at PSC we got a TM name of Rich, flies a V-1. Rich is at least 6'4"+, built like a basketball player and has a fucking HUGE wingspan and the V-1's megasize wings only exaggerate the effect.... The B-52 of birdmen, if you will, hell of an impressive sight in flight. Flying Dreadnought. I been saying for awhile now we could mount little birdmen on his wingtips and launch them like missiles. Rich the mothership. When we get more birds he'll make an awesome centerpiece for big flocks, one giant white suit surrounded by a bunch of little birds buzzing around. Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Thanks, both of you. Just illusion. Kickass suits, somehow my GTI is starting to look a bit old fashioned. I swear if and when I've got a vastly superior suit I'm going to have my GTI framed or something. Either that or pass it down to some new bird needs wings. B Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Ok what is up with the visual warping here. I'm eyeballing the various phantom pics here and the orange pumpkin one looks like legwing is way smaller than a GTI, top of the arch seems to leave the legwing's highest point between the knees like a Classic, way small legwing. Looks like it would be very frustrating to fly for me, no toe-feel and no shinwing segment. Then the other DSC pic with the blue suit laid out flat looks like legwing is much bigger reaching all the way down to the heels. Which is it? Poorly fitted suits? Camera angle illusion? What? Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

That one rules, don't it? The water texture is just enough to take it over the edge to realism... I get ground rush just looking at it. Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Huh? Well, no shit... you're at it already? AFF? WOOHOO! You didn't mess around, man. One day you're saying you'd like to be one of us someday, shortly thereafter you're acting on it and making it happen. With that kind of determined action you'll have a set of your own wings in no time... " be able to share flight with you guys one day." "one day" might not be as far off as it looks from here.... once you get going, a few jumps under your belt, things tend to speed up. I think "one day" might arrive a lot sooner than you think. For some reason I'm surprised....after a few years in the sport I've noticed out of every 100 wannabes who say "yeah I'll do that someday", for most of em someday never comes, you're lucky if one in a hundred ever even tries AFF, let alone becomes a Birdman. Congrats on getting started, rock on! It WILL change your life, living out your wildest brightest fantasies does that. Split a cloud with you sometime soon, man. Expect a warm welcome when you show up at Skydive Pepperell, eh? First time you surf a cloud, you'll howl, too. Another new bird on his way up....FUCK, YEAH! Welcome to the flock. Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Bill, I'd like to respectfully suggest that your comparison is invalid. " And if that ever came to pass, and a US soldier drove his Bradley into an enemy fortification, killing himself and taking out ten enemy soldiers - we'd call him a hero. " Yes we would. But that is not what the slammic fundies are doing. If you wanted to be fair, you'd alter that statement a bit, more like... " And if that ever came to pass, and a US soldier drove his Bradley loaded with explosives into a recruitment office in a manhattan shopping mall killing himself and taking out ten enemy soldiers and over four hundred innocent men women and children" - we'd call him an abomination, hunt him down and execute him. In fact, we already did that. Timmy Mcveigh ring a bell? In the islamic world, this behavior is usually applauded and called heroism or martyrdom. This particular incident is considered an outrage by arabs because of the poor targeting. They don't give a shit if a fundy self detonates in an Israeli mall or teeny-bopper discotheque taking out 2 soldiers and 400 children because hey, they DID bag a couple soldiers among all those dead jewish children... This time they're outraged because Zarqawi has apparently lost what little care he had for "his own" and apparently did not care if he bagged a couple hundred innocent islamic arabs along with a couple foreign infidels. That kind of defines the borderline between warfare and sheer atrocity. If Zarqy (not to mention palestinians, etc) limited themselves to military targets they'd probably have a lot more support and be seen as a lot less psycho. I've read stuff from both sides and its like they both try to outdo each other as to who can be more evil...what the Israelis do to the palestinians is atrocious...If I were a palestinian I'd be doing everything I could, to kill Israeli SOLDIERS... Not detonating explosives in malls trying to kill as many kids as I could. If the US was invaded conquered and occupied by, say, China, that wouldn't change. Psycho is psycho no matter the religion or nationality or situation used to justify it. I'd be part of the resistance, trying to bag as many Chinese -soldiers- as I could. I most specifically would NOT detonate explosives in neighborhood malls slaughtering hundreds of innocent people and justifying it by claiming it was an ok target since some chinese soldiers sometimes go to the mall. Sad thing is Jordan didn't deserve this, dammit, so far as I know it is the only country in that neck of the woods that has been trying to get its shit together... Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Rasmack. That is the coolest website I have ever seen. -b Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

I can't I have to shuffle my canadian sister... Tame my dead computer... Salvage my hefty cat.... Throw my yiddish friend... Jump my dead chicken.... Bury my deadly underpants.... Bury my new cat... Study my burnt donkey...? Theres a certain strange logic that shows up, you push the button enough times.... Punch my missing burrito!!!! Fuck yeah! . Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

For a laugh, try dropping him till he winds up stuck in a bowl shape or clump of a few balls, then click on him and yank down, you'll stuff him through the gap between balls... its awesome. Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Vyle: Not only is it quite appropriate this is the best place you could have decided to offer those images. Stunning work, gimme a shiver just looking at some of em. I'm amazed at the accuracy and flightlove in them....they do not look like illustrations done by a non-birdman. They look like I feel when I'm flying. Thank you for putting them up. I think its unanimous, the wingsuit pilots you were inspired by are inspired by your work themselves. Got any more female birds? Pic A is awesome, and if I added a faceplate HUD and a neck deflector on the back of my bonehead Havok helmet I'd have the helmet off pic B, or close to it... Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Where? Everywhere, if you know how to look. How do -I- foster it? The pay it forward thing seems the best way to put it. The species could use the backup and theres always a shortage of Light-side jedi. Pull over and offer a ride to a guy with a dead car by the side of the highway. Fix things when people are stuck. Shoot video for some newbie for free just to light em up. It was done for me, and so now I do it for others on occasion. My video is lousy anyway I could use the practice. Let people into traffic. A good one, and cheap too. Smile big and wave back when some tiny tot waves at you from a vehicle or in a shopping line or something. They're still under the impression the world is a friendly place full of nice people. Why spoil it for em? There's plenty of time to get hurt later. Step in when you see someone getting picked on. We got this kid packs in the hangar, only 16 and he got his parents to haul him to Canada so he could jump. Is that awesome or what? Really, really wants to jump, bad. Already has his own rig and everything. Kids got balls. Some packers were giving him a hard time. Not in fun either, but harsh. Saw the kid sitting by himself later looking crushed. I know how that feels. Talked to him for a bit, then talked to the others, put a stop to it. Kid is off to a hell of an early start, he'll make a world-class legendary skydiver in time with that kind of determination if people show him some fucking respect. His name is Christian. Remember the name-you'll be seeing it plenty in Parachutist mag in years to come. Race and class barrier? I fucking ignore it. No such thing. I got a black coworker, nice guy, just never said much to him cause at work I keep to myself. Guy seemed all nervous, asked me for a ride, car was broke. I wound up hauling him to work for a couple weeks till he could get a new ride. He's trying to raise a couple kids, 3 weeks of taking cabs'd have hurt him plenty. Didn't cost me jack shit to prevent major bullshit for him. The sick part is some people would actually think I was being extra-magnanimous or something just cause he was black. Fuck that. Its cause hes a PARENT. He offered gas money. I turned it down-I wasn't going more than a couple miles out of my way, didn't cost me shit, shouldn't cost HIM either. When the world changes for the worse its often a huge thing....wars, floods, whatever. Improving the world, on the other hand, is usually done in small doses, but its cumulative... -B Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Nightingale: I understand quite well. Personally I refuse to pledge allegiance to anything, or any gods. I first expressed my will in the matter in 5th grade by standing quietly when everyone else did but refusing to participate in what I saw as mindless group-response rote-recital. I despise group behavior... So I just stood there, said nothing and didn't do the whole fake patriotism hand over heart crap, for which I was promptly physically attacked by some shithead in my class who, apparently feeling he had the will of the classroom behind him granting him authority, loudly commanded me to put my hand over my heart, NOW with the rest of us and recite the pledge like I was supposed to. I declined. The individual immediately charged across the room and attacked me. Angered, I dropped the sonofabitch with a kick to the kneecap after taking a punch to the head as punishment for failure to comply. Ah, the land of the free...yeah right. In school I took a LOT of flak as well as physical attack for refusing to participate in collective behavior. You all probably remember the rules in school, self-defense is forbidden, I resisted and hit back, ergo I am fighting, ergo I must be suspended. Needless to say I've had little but contempt for most administrative structures since then. And nothing but contempt for people such as my attacker who just can't stand individualism disobedience or nonconformity. I still feel outraged every time I think about that one. Who the fuck did that little shit think he was? The class patriotic morality enforcer? -B Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Thank you. You're quite right. I should have been more specific. That is what pissed me off about his post. Anyone who uses alcohol, ever, no matter how discreetly or responsibly, denied a license and kicked out of college? The "picked the wrong guy" comment, although usually used in an ominous manner was not intended as such. It was intended to emphasize I'm about as far away from a drunk driver as you can get since alcohol is not a major part of my life and I can count the number of times I've been drunk in my life without running out of fingers. I suspect he didn't think his own post through very much either... same penalties for alcohol as for drugs? Sure, ok... get caught with a beer go to jail, get caught with a 6-pack you get a felony trial for posession with intent to distribute. The more you follow the logic the funnier it gets. Or unfunnier since all it does is point out the psychosis of most drug laws, but nuff said. Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Brief sidetrack... WOOHOO! I just got 44 on my own GTI. Neptune claims a 198 second freefall but I think its fucked in the head cause the video comes up a few seconds shy of 198. Still a kickass flight. Taya, if you stop by here again I might be able to give you a good run for your money. We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread hijack. Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Hmmmm. When did I say I drive home right after 3 beers? For that matter when did I say I thought I'm ok to drive after 3 beers? You picked the wrong guy to deliberately misinterpret. I consider myself ok to drive...3, maybe 4 hours AFTER those beers. When I got drunk a few weeks ago I was quite happy to be put to bed in my jeep with a sleeping bag a glass of water and much laughter from my friends. Even so trashed I can't stand up I still know better than to get behind the wheel. I always have. Left the DZ a few hours after sunup, totally sober, feeling fine. I've never driven with so much as the tiniest buzz, ever, in my life. Simple rational self-interest. I like my jeep WITHOUT bits of human stuck in its teeth. Besides, killing people with your car is rude and uncivilized. I practice what I preach...do you? Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Busy looting. He'll be back later. Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Wow... You desperately want a police state don't you? Just won't be happy till you have a breathalyzer installed in every car, iron controls imposed on every human being eh? What an amazingly diseased mind. I consider myself a nondrinker most of the time. I get drunk about once every few years, (just did a few weeks ago to the vast amusement of all my friends, you know who you are) occasionally have 2-3 beers by the fire after a days jumping and according to you I'm a danger and shouldn't be allowed to drive. I hope I never wind up walking the same DZ or in the same plane as you. No way can I trust a mind that sick. Repeat after me: War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength. Feel better? Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

There is, but it ain't those old fashioned stiffnecked bubblehead aliens. Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Hey, I resemble that remark, Mr. Cordia. Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

There is no such thing as a wasted wingsuit flight. I've had some uneventful ones where I didn't even have a plan just soloed out like "I'll just fly around awhile just for the fuck of it." I'm timid about barrel rolls so I might throw in a few, work on my (very poor) technique. I don't really go for times anymore... I just do flights where I just want to relax and hang out in the sky with no canopy and sometimes it winds up being that long but its not the point anymore. Besides once you do 3 min a few times it goes from being a goal to being no big deal. Now I'm all about teaching the new birds here all about getting as slow as they can so we can ALL have long flights... But I find flying with others at twice the descent rate I'd do alone is a blast... so I don't care if they can do slow too. I'll admit I occasionally think about the uniqueness of birdman status, allow myself a bit of pride, how many people alive can do what I just did kind of thing.... I'm sure the number of 3-minute birdpeople alive could all fit in a small room but after awhile that doesn't really matter anymore either... On to the next new thing, too much to learn to honk your own horn forever about each new skill... Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Whoa. Africa? It'd be awesome, but I unfortunately must be enough of a realist to admit to myself I'm not likely to be passing through that neck of the planet anytime soon. Disappointment is somewhat mitigated by the simple fact that theres now enough birdmen around that we actually have a flock, and today I went up with a certain Matt B, for his first wingsuit flight and it rocked! Got 2 docks on him although the second was more like a grabasstic shoulder check, it counted. New Birdman!!! Woooooooo!!!!! I'm pretty sure I got in some flights with the dirty Russian at some point but the glare off that appalling yellow suit of his makes it hard to tell. Went up with Murphy and got my first ever sustained dock, 100% rock steady relative for at least 5 seconds. For me thats a milestone, theres been so few times I had another bird to fly with, all I knew was slowflying. We keep this shit up we're going to be able to fly a 4 bird docked formation. I got an awesome video of flying with Rich, could MPEG it and send it somewhere with his permission. I still owe him a copy. The vampire suit is unreal, Rich has the archangel look down solid. Rich seldom has time outside working jumps, he's had the thing for awhile now but only just got a chance to fly with him now. After the first flight where I demonstrated my intelligence by forgetting to turn on my camera and thus failing to record my first flight with him, a sudden fairly short notice sunset load became available. I'm like lets catch it. He's like nah don't wanna be rushed. I'm doing instant mental math, plane's not landed, actual gearup time, all our shit is right here ready to go... I'm like start right now we wont BE rushed. Hes like your right. Didn't take much persuading...Poof. He was instantly ready. Resistance is futile. Maybe its just me but I think he might be hooked. And now we got birdmen all over the place. Hell yeah. Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

And do they do anything for him? Measurable improvement? Just jumps em for the feel? What effect if any do they have? I know you can get some nice hard lift on your hand, you stick your arm out the car window at 70, that same thrust pushing up on you ought to cancel out a few more pounds worth of gravity if you're flying...but flying palms-down spoils the airfoil by pointing my elbows back instead of up... I get much better flight with palms vertical thumbs pointed straight down which is counterintuitive as all hell, the gains in efficiency outweigh the impact of not having my hands as additional surface area. Go figure. Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

No shit? The effect appears halfway through the blast event in the video which led me to believe it was caused by the blast....first the flash, then as everything is illuminated the lines become visible. I thought it looked artificial as hell, too regularly spaced, but figured maybe it was an electrical thing where its borders and spacing were defined by some kind of exotic electrical or EMP effect along the flat shockwave plane. Thanks for the answer, it wasn't what I was expecting. The video itself should give you the creeps, many different angles, closeups of what the blastwave does to a house, (instant toothpicks) a heavy propane tank looking thingy, (makes the hull of the tank actually flap and ripple like it was a flag, not made of solid steel.) ships, (erases them. Just erases them.) Its fascinating stuff, I think because its the only time you'll ever see cosmic scale forces unleashed on the surface of a planet. The overall impression I get is its just the wrongest thing you'll ever see. You're not supposed to be able to erase the local reality. I got the video from www.big-boys.com, kinda like bangedup or ogrish, a freaky video website. I'll warn you they won't allow you to download it, they use that shit where windows media pretends its part of your browser, disables the save-as functions and tries to keep you from keeping what you view. I was able to hijack the video and save it anyway, the user restriction scheme isn't too bright, the file just gets downloaded to cache and renamed into a text file. I kept it just by looking in the cache. You just watched the video and theres an 8.5 meg text file with a name thats just numbers (for opera, oprOGF85.txt for example...I don't know about I.E. ) in your cache now that you can't open that wasn't there 5 minutes ago before you watched the video. Figured thats got to be where the file was stashed. Copy and paste it elsewhere so it can't get flushed with the rest of your cache, then rename the file nuketest.wmv and presto, instant saveable movie. I could email it but you gotta have room for at least 9-10 megs. Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

Son of a bitch. I own a GTI and the best I could manage was 46. I had to borrow Nik's SF3 to get 44 out at jumptown a few weeks ago. Half the DZ has told me theres a birdlady in town who can match my best and whose presence I've missed by minutes due to work scheduling. I wanna fly with her! And now our night jumps got clouded off today and the weekend is hosed due to too much clouds. AAAAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!! Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.

...I'm working on it. Got a new project now. Webbed gloves, perhaps with itty bitty airfoils, see if I can't play with some wingtip vortexes, stuff em under the wing make em do something useful. I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing which means I have no preconceptions and therefore a decent chance of getting somewhere interesting. Or just wasting a lot of time and looking foolish. Pick one. If anybody's already thoroughly explored this area feel free to PM me and tell me to piss off cause you been there done that and it don't work. Or not. Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.