Bodyflight.Net

I did find the 2 year olds pic very cute.. reminded me of when Lexi first started learning to fly when she was 2 years old.. now of course we have to ORDER HER DOWN from 30+ feet AGL or I will have a heart attack... but hey... I knew it would happen at some point ya know??

that's cuz I don't live in the UK, and I don't skydive much at all... and "someone" put a link in there to the "other" forums, and the conversations have simply died off since then... but if it got busy and there was a place for me.. I would register! Promise

Gary, Hi... the trampoline is NOT at the pool... although on a side note.. we did use a trampoline at a pool for gymnastics training once upon a time. How else could you feel secure about a back triple and being caught by some other girls???!! On topic... trampoline can help you in alot of ways.. learning timing, layed out & tucked flips... simply learning how to take momentum & energy and turning it into a maneuver... as in the tunnel you should not be fighting the wind but allowing it to take you. With a trampoline you can learn maneuvers in a slower format... not rushing into anything and learning to balance your whole body.. it forces you to take the momentum and use it at once.. instead of trying when it's just not there... pool.. I used a swimming pool early on to practice belly turns and back turns. When you are floating in the pool on your back or belly in a stable flying position.. similar arm & leg movements will generate the momentum to begin a turn... and when I flew I visualized moving the water with my hands and arms... really helps...also it's a great place to practice a basic head up arch... keeping your head out of the water and allowing your body to float... and then practicing turns... it will help you keep from dipping your shoulders which is a typical beginner thing and you will learn to keep them square and on heading. gyro ... has no one here used a gyro?? I mean.. pilots use them, astronauts use them... and near as I can tell most of us Aeronauts use them too. Ever heard of the principles of Bioflight? Basically you'll be using pitch, yaw & roll, much like an airplane.. identifying these axis and learning to turn around them and on them. A gyro can do just that.. while many people get in and let the ride operater spin you.. I do not. I have learned to use my 3 axis to propel the gyro practicing rolls, spins, turns and flips.... it will teach you to follow through with one maneuver before transitioning to the next and it will also teach you that your transitions can be fluid and not forced. The momentum again will take you through to each maneuver. Not to mention that it is great practice & training for your vestibular system. It teaches you that one maneuver must be complete before the next.. also teaching timing, flow & balance. And how to take the energy from one and blend it into the next. Crucial skills to a good tunnelrat well... I'll leave it at that... most of you are probably thinking.. wow she IS way out there but that's ok.. us carnies like it that way

I thought everyone knew about that forum! Have had it bookmarked for some time

can't believe it's not been said!!!! I used a trampoline & gyro ALOT & a pool to practice flying when I needed to and couldn't fly alot.... that's what I was taught...

your right about the backpressure I think at one time (SVO pre-upgrade).. the fans when they got backed up would just bog the whole thing down... and everyone in the chamber would drop.. just from the outside wind providing resistance on the exhaust...and I think diablo the mph on the gusts would be relative to the airspeed being used/the speed coming out is fairly slow.. it doesn't take much presure really to inhibit it but the last times I was in SVO they had ample airspeed to make up for it when it would drop..but I'm not a fan of constantly changing speeds..again why I favor an open air blower.. constant speed no fluxuations unless you change them with the controls. I love the idea of one where the cross wind doesn't affect the column.. but isn't wall to wall...maybe like... a huge wind break/fence around the whole thing! certainly would create tons of advertising space still gotta be outside of course

30/30ish/50ish can't imagine dating someone much younger... or screwing someone much younger... younger than I am is still kinda well.. YOUNG! Men develop nicely in their very late 20s and early 30s.. this is a favorable time to play with them I think. :)

pm me a shipping address... and I'll do just that.. as soon as I make one anyway

fish. that's hilarious.. can I turn that into a Tshirt please?

Hey Paul! You know we'd love to feature all that on the Network so please let us know! A press release or even just putting it on the calendar for sure!! What can you do for us americans who the exchange rate is not so fair too? also... do you mind if I add bedford to the title when I add it.. First Bodyfilght Bedford World Challenge... we've got that other stuff on Joao's worldwide Bodyflight Challenges (1-4) and it would help ME at least, for sure keep them straight! Congratulatios again.. hope we can make it!

well.. no first hand info to challenge you with on the UK tunnels.. but I can't say I'm suprised.. I thought all along Bedford would be the 'best' airstream of the two, more traditional anyway. added: if it were a blower...(and as efficient as it is now) I'd probably think it was the worlds best vwt and start figuring out how to move to the UK :)

Hi Ross, I don't understand the "why" of this statement... could you explain a bit more for me?? specifically, what is it about the airkix design that makes it easier (than bedford I assume) to learn stability and what is the problem with learning fall rate control at bedford?

wow.. in Lifted Entertainments tunnel no less... that's great! Whoever said you can't do anything cool in a turbulent small diameter prop jobbie... they were wrong...

Got a couple of leads from AWESOME Keith Fields at Vegas... We've got a Vic Papadado (last name unclear) who flew some with Rob in Vegas... also Mary Tortomasi and Sammy Papov did a shoot together.. matching suits and everything!

are you sure it was another guy? seems like the timing.. a few years back... the likely tunnel candidate for such a stunt would'be been vegas (asssuming non military).. Mary Tortomasi was pretty tops on the flyboarding there years back too...

omg ... your so funny I know... guess I left that one WIDE open huh?

We market several different types of tunnels & manufacturers, and also find ourselves with the job of selling used ones. John walks folks through the deal and we get paid usually by the manufacturers on such a thing. Please please please. do not buy any of the packages you see on bodyflight.com website. While Peter, the owner is a great guy who is sitting on a great piece of history, we receive dozens and dozens of complaints about his packages; specially the 100 paypal package with 'specs' and so forth. Most people are extrememly dissapointed in this as it contains almost nothing you can find on one of our websites for free. Before spending any money at a tunnel website, make sure you email the company first to make sure they respond FIRST before you give them any money toward research & information. We formalized what John does a few years back because of the unscrupulous behavior of a couple 'would be' manufacturers who were selling unsafe equipment. Our goal is to keep everyone safe, we would like to see this sport continue for a long time, and safety will be a key player in making that happen. The wall to wall environment is really a matter of opinion. Some people prefer it, others stay as far away as they can from it. I'm running stats now on injuries since the wall to wall tunnels have come out.. I'm fairly certain there have been ALOT more of these injuries these last few years in wall to wall air tunnels.. more so than the traditional 'tuck and roll' open air tunnels regardless.. a portable can be built to either customization... The TRUE deciding factor here is WHY DO YOU WANT ONE and WHO do you want to service? That will easily decide wether you want Portable vs. Permanent, Diesel or Electric, 10 or 12 feet etc... Happy to chat anytime..

Sounds like you should consult with John he's been doing that for quite a few years now.. and helping people just like you get started or at least make the decision... quickly though the answers are... 1. the best manufacturer of portable tunnels is Bodyflying AG in Switzerland.. the best in the states is Jus' Fly.. they build to suit your needs.. buy direct brand new from the man. and pay 300+K per unit.. buy used.. you can pay between 50K-300K depending on what.. Depreciation I shouldn't speak of... not sure there is 'appreciation' in the first place ;) 40-100/hr gas.. the rest you can guestimate.. 3 staff.. travel expenses.. etc you can expect a good venue to pay 5K a day or more... or if you have a location 75-200 flyers per day.. again all depends most common failure is overheating.. general mistreatment of parts... motors go quickly.. heads crack motors blow under inappropriate operating conditions.. added: motor rebuild 30K.. new one 100K give or take a few k

tell us what you remember in the photo.. suit colors.. tunnel scenery....maybe I can track it down..

I wasn't going to name names... I wouldn't mind if they enclosed the bottom... that wouldn't interfere because we could still fly ontop... you only need a few vertical feet for that 4 way stuff right? course there's no view down on the bottom section but once you add walls it won't matter much anyway..

AMEN SISTA!

I think AAC & Perris are very much comparable myself... I feel that SVO would be JUST under them even after the new motors.. not that I ever need anything near to top speeds though!!! The old motors seemed just fine to me but I realize the change was for MORE than just a speed increase. Some of the military groups that visited AAC have asked for a 'freefly tube' type thing to be added in the corners, which would indicate height levels in even a color coded paint job.. I think something like that could be done without ruining the flight area.. I'd just DIE if he put walls around the whole thing!

that upgrade was a couple of YEARS ago wasn't it??? added: in 2004 that was done... you can see the article on their website

I know I would LOVE to see the numbers you are referring to.. Please let us all know what the other 30+ vwts did in their first month of operation in addition to the Airkix tunnel... This will be GREAT information!