Bodyflight.Net

well.. we'll soon find out won't we... other than the fact that you can't actually fly in it yet.. you maybe right it might be best.... until Houston is done anyway.. multi levels on the same air column??.. no one will ever beat that! you probably also have BIG noise to go along with that BIG motor huh??? (YES you budding engineers out there.. that is a direct challenge)

ok.. here ya go.. this is certainly upwards of 50 feet as they are above the top of the roof observation deck.. this is regular.. and these guys with john have less than a couple hours in here at this time.. and the only dissapation of the air column here would be due to cross wind gusts.. otherwise to 70 feet at least it is still 12.8 feet and whatever speed it is at 10 feet. We are going to get a crane so we can see what's above the 70 foot mark or so.. but the model performance has been right on so far.. so we're confident. and a few more photo proofs.. http://www.verticalwind.com/ben_1.htmlTHE BEST ONE http://www.verticalwind.com/9-04_d.html FARILY AWESOME VIEW FROM 60 feet or so http://www.verticalwind.com/long_stack.html Using every spot we can!

no.. can we? if we took the L1 up to 16.23 feet we would need at least 4.5K horsepower.. preferrable 5 so that we wouldn't get so close to max efficiency how do you get off with such a small motor?? the recirculating factor must apply here in a major way... huh?

You can't count building size.. AAC doesn't even HAVE a building!!!!! I was counting TUNNEL structure.. I could count the 4 story castle next to the tunnel but that wouldn't count!!!!! I'm talking tunnel for tunnel.. your probably NOT calculating wrong.. but 12.8 X 120 is more than 16.23 X 27, no? (still being very friendly here

so your 30 feet shorter and have roughly 438 square feet of flyable air while AAC has 896 or so... we can't beat the motor at our lonely 3 grand but your motor is the same size as the Houston tunnel will be.. plus they'll have all the same other dimensions we do... no cone shapes here either of course!!

Since they are building a 2 level 13 foot indoor L1 in Houston, they decided to go ahead and try and sell this one. Without the right offer though, this could change down the road.

[rolls up sleeves] now that's an invitation!! let's talk dimensions we got 170 X 50 X 20 on the tunnel structure.. and 12.8 dia X 120 ft tall air column...(of course we recommend staying under 70 feet) ok... show me your cards... Pink Suits, Blue Skies & Fast Air, Dawn Suiter PMTS #3

*** but its also bigger than any private or military one too *** bigger in diameter only.. Pink Suits, Blue Skies & Fast Air, Dawn Suiter PMTS #3

Wow! That's wierd.. any vertical wind tunnel sales search should turn up 2 outta 3 of my sites at least.. www.bodyflightconcepts.com and www.bodyflight.net both list tunnels, sale prices, new construction & used tunnels.. Summary: Portable tunnel - 150k - 750k Stationary SV or L1 Tunnel - 2 - 6 million Pink Suits, Blue Skies & Fast Air, Dawn Suiter PMTS #3

generally speaking.. for altitude you would increase horsepower but not much else.. and they have working experience with some altitude over in Malaysia.. so I have faith

Hey now that's nice! If I wasn't married to a 25 yr skier and ex ski patroller I'd take you up on that! But we can still make a few runs together! then make a few flights together!!!! Pink Suits, Blue Skies & Fast Air, Dawn Suiter PMTS #3

The idea behind a portable tunnel is function.. no tourists, first timers, or carnival goers care about "choppy" and frankly that's where the money is.. you can make 150-200K a month with a good portable!! and only with a crew of 3.. that's WAY better than the average stationary tunnel.. now better in the sense of flow and function.. training room, video system, instructor comfort, portable bathroom, functional airbag storage system (that's a big upgrade there).. a complete unit that accommodates everything you need to live & work on the road and is nice to look at.. Traveling with portables in not a a great way to live.. TRUST ME.. been there done it... but these guys have it all figured out.... and with Duncan being a business man not a flyer or skydiver, I'm really impressed with his plan. A 6 or 7 foot air column is plenty for my type, and the tourist type, regardless if choppy or not.. prop jobbies don't scare me! They have locations setup for the tunnels going in SA.. these locations are ready for the 'plugging in' of the tunnel.. no gennys needed.. now here in the states that's a different story. but over there he has it worked out. These may be portable but he'll be setting them up to stay at locations. Fruce seemed to 'disappear' from radar.. no clue there.. other than the project itself was fairly large.. would've guessed in the 4-6 mil range from the looks of it.. that's quite an undertaking for anyone.. is it true that Bragg cost more than 10 mil back when it was built?? Do you know? Pink Suits, Blue Skies & Fast Air, Dawn Suiter PMTS #3

Agreed... not that it's not possible.. but the efficiency loss will have to be countered with horsepower.. and I don't see that happening in such a tight space.. we've studied the 90 degree turn on other units and man what a waste of HP!!! The original design involved a more traditional intake at the bottom.. even an intake at the BACK would only require a 45 degree turn which would be better and easier to maintain the flow of.. The main concern I have now is that they are selling flight time before ever finishing the first unit.. this strikes me as a financial crunch.. I mean.. everyone should realize, it's always possible to build these and then they don't work.. I've surely seen it. The carnival part is true.. but not typical.. if this works 'as planned'.. it'll put ALL portable VWTs to shame.. and as I told Duncan, we would be proud to endorse his machines. But for now, like the 16 others in construction/development.. it's a waiting game! Pink Suits, Blue Skies & Fast Air, Dawn Suiter PMTS #3

Right on! My new Skis & Boots are beggin for a trip out west!! Another wonderful excuse to write off a ski trip! TUNNEL TOUR!!!

No Paul.. it hasn't but Duncan has been working on it for years, I'm sure you've heard..there have been delays.. I've spoken with him at length on the design.. quite amazing.. there are a couple of details where we can see that they might not work out.. but he assures me his engineers have "accounted" for these details and should not be hindered. No I shouldn't go into details.. but anybody should be able to see what I'm talking about by the pictures of the new version (their website may still reflect the old model) IF IN FACT these machines perform as indicated by Duncan.. they are gonna ROCK! I mean absolutely be the best and finest and most well thought out piece of portable equipment there ever was or will be... the power supply would have to be modified for use in the US for sure.. but they have it all worked out for over in SA will they make it? I hope so.. but I feel the deadlines are ambitious.... certainly on the stationary unit that is coming "next year" Paige.. in all my years of doing webstuff.. the only time you need to ask to link to someone is if you want a link back. everyone wants you to link to their site from yours!!! Pink Suits, Blue Skies & Fast Air, Dawn Suiter PMTS #3

Hey girl! I'm working on getting something donated from A.A.C. and we're thinking of heading over ourselves!! Finger's crossed.. thanks for the heads up!! Pink Suits, Blue Skies & Fast Air, Dawn Suiter PMTS #3

Hey girl!!! That's great news, so glad to hear it! I'll make an announcement on our calendar

We're not arranging for any tunnel this year.. after the last year 2003 with Xtreme we assured Don we wouldn't bring any more "too noisy" or (how should I say) "overly turbulent" tunnels... that's why we brought Adren-L-N last year.. much better quality and fit for the venue.... unfortunately, the only one that would be available (VR Skydiving) is certainly NOT sufficient for a successful run in Rantoul. Sorry to disappoint, I know we usually come through.. but not this year I haven't given up hope for 2006 though!!! Pink Suits, Blue Skies & Fast Air, Dawn Suiter PMTS #3

Hey.. sorry I took so long.. been a little absentee this weekend! Figures that in those websites, you would've quoted me a couple times over! But when I put on my 'advertising' hat, everything is different.. it's not about my opinion but popular opinion that rules the methods. Although I TOO enjoyed the benefit of knowing how to fly before I jumped.. but tunnelflying lacks so many important "freefall" aspects. Adrenaline, HUGE difference between the sky & tunnel for me.. Closing Speed, while bumping into another flyer in the tunnel is harmless.. the same maneuver in the sky could be 'painful' at least. Regardless of how I'm flying, in freefall.. I'm falling and using my body to steer.. in the tunnel,, I'm really flying; up, down, left right.. etc Altitude awareness, flying regularly for long periods makes me forget about time limits Visual space.. I mean no points of reference A 20+ lb rig on my back, changes nearly everything in my flying.. while I can still do it.. there is a major adjustment these things make a big difference to me, and when anyone asks how close it is to freefall.. I usually explain that it means that it's close to the "flying" portion of freefall.. but nothing else. There is so much more responsibility in freefall.. so much more to do.. they seem worlds apart. Skydiving is not easy.. there is alot of responsibility that goes along with it.. that in and of itself.. changed my mind very quickly about the similarities.. driving a car prepared me very well for canopy flight.. or so I think anyway... steering.. understanding breaking distance, depth perception, etc.. but I wouldn't consider my Taurus a parachute sim in anyway. There are many things we can simulate something and then take those skills somewhere unrelated. Perhaps after a few dozen more skydives I wouldn't feel this way.. I really don't know. I used to think it was an accurate simulation.. until I made about a dozen jumps, and then I began to see the many differences.. and different skills I use in freefall. But most importantly.. the things I took for granted. Take away the nets, put on a rig, and inject me with adrenaline.. turn the speed up to ludicrous speed and then blow ice cold air into the tunnel.. now I would feel like we're getting closer.. Pink Suits, Blue Skies & Fast Air, Dawn Suiter PMTS #3

awww... I loved my spiggies!! That's what we called them... owell.. one person's pet is another person's dinner.. happens all the time! was it good?????? [HORRIFIED] Pink Suits, Blue Skies & Fast Air, Dawn Suiter PMTS #3

well.. I dunno.. but I didn't want you to think we weren't friendly around here!

That's hardly a fair comparison from my standpoint.. I mean... vertical wind tunnels were not invented for "freefall simulation" nor are they simulating freefall in anyway even to this day, IMO and since I'm one of only 2 who answered "trains to be a better tunnelrat".. you have proved the point of the poll beautifully! I figured alot of you would feel that way.. but I just don't understand it.. skydiving is skydiving & tunnel flying is another ball game altogether, at least for me.

I am training to be a better tunnelrat.. how about the rest of you? Pink Suits, Blue Skies & Fast Air, Dawn Suiter PMTS #3

today's modern tunnels (SV & AAC) were both designed to avoid that issue. SV walls compress a larger air column.. which in turn moves the air along the walls (perhaps with more speed but creates an efficient boundary layer that keeps you off of the walls), this is what allows some of the vertical maneuvers that are being done without impacting the walls. and the AAC tunnel.. even though it has no walls... was also designed to be slightly faster around the perimeter of the air column (which takes a bit of design creativity without an outside force like walls to do the compressing)... this makes it easier to stay in the air, in an outdoor, and also helps maintain the integrity of the air flow from cross winds. a good tunnel, which both of these are, will provide consistent airspeeds throughout the column when working at peak efficiency. I'm thinking it was Wright Patt that offered the same type of flow (could be Bragg) but the air was slightly faster around the edge too.. (a pie plate experiment demonstrated this) so it's not really a "new" idea.. just a solid idea that worked well.. and so has been implemented in non-military type tunnels too. Edited to add: I'm not talking about a huge difference in the profile.. only a couple of mph difference... all of the tunnels mentioned have a fairily uniform profile providing the laminar flow we all want so much. Older style & aerodynamically challenged tunnels, provide faster air in the center of the column. But that has everything to do with setup.. there is no intake.. the air comes in from everywhere,,then is pulled up through a prop, over the hub, through the net and then it disappates. The only time I've seen that is when there is a student learning to fly. Once you have learned to fly.. you will get a consistent airspeed. We all know what airpspeed or RPMs we like to fly at..(I'm a fan of 125mph or so) so once you are on your own.. there shouldn't be any air speed changes.. a good tunnel will be able to maintain the flow at whatever speed you like. (or perhaps you just got a controller who was having some fun with ya???) AMEN TO THAT!!!

OH GOD... NIKO IS GONNA KILL ME!!! SHHHH... no one else has to know!! Pink Suits, Blue Skies & Fast Air, Dawn Suiter PMTS #3