The111

I agree with all your points, Lisa. However, things like this are what I'm asking about: While I would not discuss that with a student, I would gladly discuss it with you. There would be nothing wrong with you and I comparing our EP's and explaining to each other why we use them (sidenote: I changed EP's when I had my first cutaway at 50 jumps and used my new EP's correctly at 210 jumps). But would this hypothetical conversation between us have been acceptable when I had 300 jumps? 200? 100? 50? 25? My question is basically when can the "no holds barred" conversation begin? www.WingsuitPhotos.com

I have a very good friend who may be going through AFF soon. I am guessing he will tell me about his jump experiences and maybe even ask for advice. Because we are so close, I am anticipating that I will actually be tempted to answer his questions or try to give him little pointers. But I am planning on following the advice I've heard so many times and referring him to his instructors. However, once he graudates AFF and starts doing solos... say he keeps asking me questions then, is it ok to answer? Or what if I get a coach rating and make some 2-ways with him before he gets his A license? After he gets his A license? 30 jumps? 40, 50? When is it ok for me to treat him like an "adult" jumper and have open conversations about things like landing, mals, EP's, or anything else he might ask? The same way we all do with each other on the DZ and on these forums. www.WingsuitPhotos.com

If he went to the ER it's actually pretty average (not saying I agree with it). I went to the ER twice last year, was only there for 2-3 hours and nothing major was wrong. I saw the bill and both times it was like $2300 (insurance paid it... I would not go to the ER if I didn't have insurance unless I was really dying). www.WingsuitPhotos.com

#3 - The old in-and-out www.WingsuitPhotos.com

Are you the guy from France who hurt his ankle in the Skyvan at DeLand? If so I remember you.

I don't BASE jump but I have been following this thread and have been doubting it from the start. And also I have been surprised by how many big names on this forum are buying it. I could be wrong, but something about the whole thing seems sketchy... www.WingsuitPhotos.com

We share something in common - I'm also aspiring toward wingsuit BASE one day. I'm not there yet but I'm a little further down the journey than you. Knock out your AFF, make some more jumps, and then come join us in the flock! As someone else pointed out, it is possible, with all the right variables (good pilot skills, body type, suit) to sustain speeds of 40mph, or even below. I'd guess 30mph is doable by certain people in certain suits, or who knows, even better! I always thought 40 must be close to the limit, but just recently sustained 36mph for half a minute myself, and I know there are people with slower suits (sugar glider!), better body types (taller, skinnier), and better skills than me. On the other end of the scale, you can get up to 200mph and beyond in a dive. Average speed for a good flock (group dive) is somewhere between 60-80mph. Those were all vertical speeds. Lateral speeds of 100mph or even more are probably possible. I've heard stats quoted that the S3 can sustain 2.5+ GR (glide ratio), and the V1 can maybe sustain 3.0. And most importantly, it is really really fun. www.WingsuitPhotos.com

So teakettle = head? www.WingsuitPhotos.com

Which is about the weirdest phrase I've ever heard. Where the hell did it come from? I'm not putting my ass anywhere near a teakettle... www.WingsuitPhotos.com

I have no idea what you mean... (see attachment) We're on the same page, Kris.

THE GRADUATE! For me classics aren't really classics because they were before my time. But I hear about them and watch them and enjoy them. :) The Graduate is by far one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. "That sounds like a pretty half-baked idea to me." "Oh no, it's completely baked." www.WingsuitPhotos.com

Hey, you weren't supposed to hear that! www.WingsuitPhotos.com

I'll admit I don't know much about the rules of competetive swooping, but for some reason or another I was under the impression that swoopers had to stay within a certain distance of the ground through the entire swoop? Or is that just for the entry gates? On a sidenote, cool swoop and interesting technique (won't pretend to understand it any more than that). I am curious how high he went though, it was hard to tell from the perspective of the video... www.WingsuitPhotos.com

Kris, I agree with you, as I said earlier, that spending all your jumps chasing numbers will not make you a well rounded flyer. And if that's all you do for a long time after your first WS, you will have to LEARN how to flock, and it may be harder than if you had started flocking earlier. BUT, the simple act of making a slow jump does not mean you have to unlearn something after that jump. Different skills in skydiving are not exclusive. You can know how to do two different things and only do one at the given moment. An example: many people can excel in RW and WS, while very experienced RW jumpers who try to get into WS often have a hard time getting rid of their arch. Saying they have to "unlearn" RW is sort of, in my opinion, an inccurate way of saying they need to learn something new. They can still keep their RW skills in their back pocket. In the same way, it's inaccurate to say slow flight in a wingsuit will have to be unlearned. As a sidenote, cupping air (slow flight) is not only useful for number chasing. Ever been first out of a plane full of jumpers? Ever fucked up an exit? Ever been taken out in the middle of a flock and found yourself 1000ft low? When you are low on a flock, it is very useful to know how to get back up.

He was asking about the PC100, and other cheaper alternatives. I think you just pointed him toward something very not cheap. Also, the HC1 does not have 3 CMOS. Only 1. www.WingsuitPhotos.com

I win! You are right though Tom, I should have said "one of the first things we point out" about wingsuit flight. I do usually talk about distance covered, glide angle, and CLOUD SWOOPING first. :) But inevitably ONE of the first questions I get is "how long is your freefall?" www.WingsuitPhotos.com

Respectfully, I think that is a loaded statement. "Learning to fly" has many aspects, and slow flight just so happens to be one of those aspects, and takes skills of its own. I know, because I am not the best at slow flight (just did my new best of 155 seconds this weekend but most people with my experience/build can do much better). I do agree with the sentiment that focusing ONLY on slow flight will make you a poor all-around flyer. But I do not think there is anything wrong with working on that skill if you want. There's no shame in desiring a "long" skydive - admit it, when we describe wingsuits to whuffos (skydivers), the first question we answer (or info we volunteer) is usually how long a flight can be. Currently I'm very happy with my flocking skills and am working on acrobatics and slow flight when I get a break from flocking. EDIT: With regards to "cupping air", that is not how I achieve slow decent rates in my S3. If I try to cup air I usually stall and start picking up speed. I basically make my body straight and then roll my shoulders, chest, and hips (a tad), and tuck my chin. I know this technique works because I've had sustained speeds (40 seconds or so) around 36mph. I just don't have the energy to hold this position for a whole jump! www.WingsuitPhotos.com

Scary Perry told me this past weekend that he recently got 3:45 from either 14k or 14.5k, I think, in his V1. (saying that Scary Perry pulls low is an understatement, btw ) www.WingsuitPhotos.com

That's an interesting way of asking for $10,000,000. www.WingsuitPhotos.com

And terminal velocity for a piece of gum is...? www.WingsuitPhotos.com

I agree with Jeth and Jimmy that for a first timer, it maybe could be an issue. But hey, they are already taking a risk with their life, and if I was the TM I'd say, "as long as you're aware you might flip out and choke on your gum, and you're ok with that, chew away". I don't think it's a huge deal. I've made many wingsuit jumps while chewing gum. It helps me relax.

Even if this concept does somehow create a significant improvement in near-stall flight (which I am a little doubtful of, but I will keep an open mind), the following logic is dangerous thinking. Somewhat along the lines of "with the introduction of AAD's, we can all join big ways that we couldn't before". I agree I would not like to be vibrating in flight though. Maybe if we all go flying when it is very cold, and we are shivering (vibrating) very hard, we can fly our suits much slower? The "film" idea, on the other hand, I think could be a much better thing for both us and airplanes... www.WingsuitPhotos.com

As everybody else said, good job saving yourself. Since I don't know much about a skysurf setup, how exactly does a cutaway work? From the video it looks like you used your right hand to activate a handle near your hip. Is that right? And I'm guessing that normally cuts away both feet simultaneously, but in this case the first one was cut away early by your friend snagging the actual cable itself, and not a release handle. Is this right? Just want to make sure I understand what I am seeing in the video.

I stand corrected. www.WingsuitPhotos.com

Smartest thing I've ever heard a non-jumper in a government type position say. Wish the rest of the population was this smart. www.WingsuitPhotos.com