SimonM

Thanks, thats pretty build similar to me, it is nice to see that there is somebody with a similar build setting performance targets that I can aspire to! I have been struggling to get a view on how much wingsuit performance is determined by the pilot's build, how much is due to the suit and how much due to technique. Cheers, Simon

Hi, Nice! I assume that was in your S3, by way of reference, could you give us your 'vital stats' height, weight. Appologies if this has been asked before. Simon

Thats the suit I have- looks like a production s-Fly. The zippers work brilliantly, max of 1 min to rig up the suit- you just have to be carefull not to zip a reserve/cutaway handle inside the suit! Simon

>Post it Simon Will do, I just need to get it is digital format from the cameraman. Simon

Hi All, I did two video coaching/flocking jumps with a Sugarglider over the weekend. I was on my s-fly and the 'glider just flew the hell out of me. It was amazing to see footage from start to finish of my jumps, including both deplayment! I really started to realise just how important it is to keep the whole suit pressurised evenly and to get the slight 'hips-up-de-arch' position tuned in for best performance. The Sugarglider pilot, Julian, is simply amazing, he filmed my deployment on both ocasions and then did a flybye past my canopy on one jump. On the other he did an awesome dive over the top of my canopy, went head down for a while and then pulled out, levelled off and deployed. The range (both forward and vertical) of the Sugarglider is very impressive as well as the speed with which it responds. Of course the pilot had nothing to do with it ;-) Simon

Agreed 100%. I have also struggled to get away from an obsession with achieving slowest fall rates measured on my Pro track. It wasnt until I started to do some flocking dives and get some real forward drive on solo jumps that I began to focus on other areas of performance. I now think I know just enough to realise how much more there is to learn! Simon

Not sure that I agree. I have around 25 jumps on my S-fly now and I am definitely improving on every jump. I have noticed that my forward speed in particular has been improving while fall rates have only improved slightly from the first couple of jumps. I have done a couple of jumps with people on GTi's who pretty much nail their suits (I had no chance of staying with them when I was on my Classic2) and I seem to be able to match their forward speed relatively easilty. Finally I saw some footage of Loic flying his S-fly the other day (I think it was on the crosswinds DVD) and the aerobatic manouvers he was pulling made my eyes pop out. Cheers, Simon

What is your height/weight and what sort of speeds are you getting ? Did you think about getting your booties shortened slightly ? Simon

That's the sort of stuff I was looking for. What about leg position- feet pointed etc ? Thanks, Simon

Hi All, I know that there are a couple of S-fly's out there so I am looking for some tips or technique hints to improve my S-fly flight. I seem to have the basic body position relatively sorted: straight, wide legs, toes not too pointed, arms out wide with the pressure on my bicep/elbow area (shoulders not 'rolled' over as with the classic2). Body flat to slightly de-arched and looking down and forward at a roughly 20 degree angle. My fall rate is low 60's when solo and trying and low 70's when flocking. I am 5'9 and 180lbs. Thanks, Simon

I started out on a Classic2 (about 20 jumps) and then moved to an S-fly. I didnt find the S-fly much harder to fly and (for me) it has much better performace than the Classic (more like a well flown GTi). Simon

Hi All, That is one of the South African Sugarglider suits. They are huge ie completely cover the puff at pulltime and hard work to fly (I have tried one on but never flown one). They fall super slow (slower than an S3) but are not are not that fast forward. The design is more like an S-fly with the whole body inflating rather than the wings only. From what I have been told, in the right hands, they can cover more distance than a S3 but will take longer to do it. As far as I know they are not in commercial production and there are no plans to do so. Simon

Hi All, I have had two weekends of flying with my new S-fly (Salomon) suit and thought I would post some impressions. I am a very new wingsuiter with about 25 flights on a classic2 and 10 on the s-fly. I am 5ft9 and weigh180lb. The s-fly is quicker than the classic2 to hook up- 4 zips to do up and it is ready to rock. I find it a bit more tricky to get into as the waist opening is narrower that the classic. In flight it is completely different to the classic in terms of body position, performance and 'feel'. While I found the classic easy to fly, I never managed to get a good numbers from it- typically averaging low 80's or occasionally late 70's and I didnt have great forward speed- measured against other wingsuiters and visually on the ground. With the s-fly I am pretty easily getting low 60's average and can visibly see myself covering much more ground. The suit is more tricky to fly (sensitive to body position) and I can feel that there is still lots of room for improvement. Turns dont feel as crisp as with the classic, but then that is probably as a result of my lack of experience with the suit. It really feels like I am starting to flying now-much more so than with the classic2. I have only done 2 flocking dives (one was with another s-fly) so I cant really compare forward speeds against other suits. Openings have been as the same as with the classic- uneventfull so far! I would definity recommend the suit to anybody looking for more performance than a classic and from what I have seen, a gti in a very user friendly package. Simon

Hi Tonto, Yes Tim taught me, he ran an excellent course over 15 jumps. I am going to Margate, just not sure when. I looked at the beach and back flight last time in my classic and didnt have the skill or balls to try it. May be different this time! Simon

Hi Tonto, I am in South Africa and have a just bought a S-Fly (Salomon) suit. You are welcome to come and try it out anytime at PSC. I also found a very good teacher (not100% sure if he is a BM instructor) who guided me through my first flights. Simon