Pendragon

It's about 2 weeks 'til April 1st. You're a bit early. -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Ahh, you're too kind. Anyway, I can't help it. It's a sad affliction - completely untweetable. [that was poor, wasn't it? ] -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

So, is it some nerdy thing to like Stroop Wafels? Actually, they were rather nice. Thanks to all the Italians (and the Dutchman ) for making it so fun, even if the weather wasn't on our side so much... I'm sure I'll be back! -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Due to unforseen circumstances, I would like to add that I will be gracing you all with my presence... Looking forward to it!

I think part of the reason development has stalled is simply that people still want to buy all-round wingsuits (for sunset chill-out, flocking, distance, time, acro etc) and it's getting to the point that innovation and step-change in one of those modes is having a significant detrimental effect on the other characteristics. When the market is ready for highly-specialised wingsuits, they will be developed. The closest we have at the moment IMHO is the V-1 for BASE - partly because there is a specific market there. -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Me too! I'm coming! Hopefully there's somewhere for me to roost/perch at night? -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

I would only add that it helps to ensure that your AAD is turned off. Otherwise, the security personnel can see this funny box with a lead coming out of it connected to a live display with numbers looking as if they've counted down to something. A friend of mine was questioned in Madrid (albeit briefly, fortunately) because of this. -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Looks like a great head-down training tool to me! -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Those wingsuit pilots that keep landing off probably don't know what they're doing. Unless there's particular constraints being imposed (e.g. at boogies) on the direction of wingsuit flight, there isn't any good reason I can think of. -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Depends what you're climbing. Anyway, I'd like to go back to Faber's comment: Does anyone have any views on how true this is? I'm curious to know how much altitude is lost (or time taken to deploy; although I think this may give a slightly different answer) for a given canopy type over a range of sizes and wing loadings: has anyone ever compared this? -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Nice one! I did hear that some whuffo thought that the 3 tall pipes coming out of the new Arizona wind tunnel were, in their own words, "a skydiver catapult". Maybe such thoughts aren't quite so far fetched after all. -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

You have also to remember that all wingsuits (BM and PF) are made in the same factory in Slovenia and that Slovenian factories have extended shut-down periods for holidays. -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

If it's guaranteed, non-stop jumping you want, it has to be Eloy. If you're not doing 8 jumps a day there, you're not getting it together. Just returned from there myself: 108 jumps in 2.5 weeks

Matt - come and find me when you get to Eloy; there's some piccies you need to see... -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Can't seem to be able to edit the original post. However, they're all gone... Sorry -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

I take it you won't be wanting to come round for dinner one night then as I am not part of the wingsuit group Liz Oh damn... Have I put my foot in it again? ...and I so loved helping you cook. -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

I thought you were going to be too busy freeflying to care about wingsuits? I prefer the company. Besides, I've fallen for my V-1. -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

I might have one or two spaces available in a team trailer which I have from the 15th December - 1st or 4th Jan. PM me if you're interested. Priority to wingsuit pilots. -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Have you ever been hang or paragliding? Paraglider experience is definitely helpful as you already understand how a canopy flies (albeit a different kind), how to flare and have a good understanding of a landing pattern - also in fields that you didn't scope out before launch (if going XC). Powered fixed-wing flying is, however, quite different - whilst some pilots make good landings under canopies almost from the beginning, others do not. I have experienced both. However, being a good paraglider pilot doesn't mean you can start swooping a high-performance canopy just yet... Richard -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

For the high-altitude loads, will we have to book slots before we get there, or is all this done on arrival? -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

I fail to see how you came to that conclusion. Ground launching has a lot in common with paragliding (it's effectively how paragliding started, not some new thing that's just appeared). BASE is not about a long canopy ride, but if at the top of a cliff face, I would expect that an understanding of valley winds and turbulence would be as valuable to any jumper as any paraglider pilot. -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

I'm not sure about the Sabre2 configuration, but 2 characteristics of the Pilot that I noticed that would contribute to soft openings are: - HUGE slider (it really was massive on my 150) - Nose inlets are angled downwards at quite a steep angle Some people I know will only jump PD canopies. That can be just a preference thing. Each manufacturer produces canopies with different characteristics. At the moment I have a Safire2 129; before that I put ~330 jumps on a Pilot 150. The Sabre2 will, at moderate/high wingloadings, will swoop quite well (from comments I've received from other canopy pilots that own them). It dives more in any turn that an equivalent Pilot and Safire2 at any W/L. -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

I managed 50 jumps in 1 week when I was in Lillo in July. Make of that what you will. I rather liked the place. It's also worth staying in the former monastary (the only hotel in town) as it's a great building. Richard -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

Tom, Isn't what you're observing here unsurprising? Canopies have "wash-in" (angle of attack at the tips is higher than in the centre - stops you canopy turning into a bag o' washing during turbulance). Wouldn't this make pressurisation at the tips occur first, hence the depressurised centre towards the tail? Ordinarily, surely this wouldn't happen quite like this, since the pilot chute would pull the centre up, helping in its inflation. Here, the canopy is effectively reinflating from a stall, not a depoyment as such. Thoughts? Richard -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13

I guess you jump at Langar, so talk with some of the Birdies there. It certainly helps to be proficient at the following: - Tracking - Back flying (good recovery position should you get into difficulties...) When tracking, make sure you have good awareness, both of the heading and your position over the ground. Practise exits in the track position, with both arms by your side and your feet together. Experiment with putting your arms and legs into a wingsuit position after exit. Another thing you can practice is a wingsuit pull; it is different as you need to reach back with both arms. Exactly how you do this is up to the individual. Speak to a birdie to find out. It's worth trying after any jump, ready to build up some muscle memory. For a suit, you won't want anything with wings that are too large, they are less forgiving for beginners to launch, and more difficult to fly and reach for the pull. Excellent first (true) suits would be: - Phoenix Fly Prodigy (comes in 2 halves) - Birdman GTI - Birdman Classic (although don't buy one!) I would even add the S-fly Expert to that list as it's also easy to fly. In addition, there are other suits, like the S-fly Access which are also great as an introduction, as you can just let go of the wings. Personally, I was in Eloy, very current, did about 8 jumps on a Classic 2 then jumped a Skyflyer. I certainly wouldn't recomment a Skyflyer for you first few jumps though! You need 250 jumps in 18 months (or 500 total) for the UK. It is a guideline, but no CCI would ever let anyone with lower experience levels than this jump a suit unless they had wingsuit experience gained elsewhere (US, Spain...) Don't think you could go somewhere, do 5 jumps and come back and fly a suit if you are under the BPA recommendations though. If you came back with 15 or so, that would be a different matter however. Hope this helps! Richard -- BASE #1182 Muff #3573 PFI #52; UK WSI #13