mccordia

? JC FlyLikeBrick I'm an Athlete?

I see more and more people who only have 100-ish wingsuit jumps, who put people with 5 times that number to shame in terms of skills. Working on a lot on close contact relative flying skills (docks and transitions) makes one progress at a much faster rate than always sticking to non-contact flying. in 2009 we had several teams come to the competition without previous experience at docking. The year after most where doing 8 to 9 docks per jump, with transitions etc. After that...flocking comes easy... JC FlyLikeBrick I'm an Athlete?

Empuria Brava always has a small but solid group of flockers there for the Xmas boogie and new year. I think Lillo also has a few, but your best chance is probably going to Skydive Madrid. Team Bad Boys, (and our Alejandro) reside there and can be found on the DZ fulltime flying their suits to the max, and load organising etc. JC FlyLikeBrick I'm an Athlete?

'yet' as in 'using the wrong wording' Its awesome flyby's and a cool downplane... JC FlyLikeBrick I'm an Athlete?

Talking from experience, In flying a side by side setup, do consider that you will have a much worse rudder effect when you leave one of the cameras of (still or video) and you now have an asymmetrical setup on top of your head. The Flattop narrow allows for a setup with two cameras (stills on the front bracket, video on top) and doesnt have the big problems with asymmetry when you're not using on or the other. JC FlyLikeBrick I'm an Athlete?

I dont see why you lump all US accidents together, yet here 'excuse' for the ones in your own country? I also fail to see the logic you apply on accidents. Do accidents need a fatal outcome to 'count'? If 'my country' has no fatal accidents, but 50% of the jumpers have fractured legs, spines and necks, according to your logic its safer. As there are less fatal accidents. If you take the different sizes of the jumper population, and funjumpers vs tandems/tourism into account, NZ will probably rate the same, or better or worse as any other country in the world when it comes to safety. Regardless of organisation, the general recommendations are there for a reason. The chances of somebody having experienced the amount of exposure to the sport in an active manner at 200 jumps is far bigger than 100. Granted, you can throw 500 AFF students out of an airplane, and according to your logic, that shows its safe. But someone else could just have 3, and have accidents on all 3. More experience AND guidence is needed. But the guidence often fails when people ignore it, because they dont like how the rules 'limit' them. Regardless of the label on any type of recommendation. The fact that its an organisation you dont agree with (apperantly) shouldnt detract from the basic reason its there. JC FlyLikeBrick I'm an Athlete?

You do know Im Dutch and that Holland isnt located in the USA? That aside, maybe the USA stats have something to do with the (percentage wise) MANY more (non tandem) jumps made there, by half the worlds population. Most of the accidents you mention, are also not related to the subject we are discussing here. Regardles of where and how accidents happen (and lumping all accidents into one catagory also isnt the most sceintific approach), it shows there is a need for better training, teaching and monitoring. 100% agreed there. And by what rules do you suggest this supervising works...? Id love to see you put that on paper and submit it to every organisation worldwide. The 200 jump rule isnt failsafe..but its better than nothing, and people complaining but not presenting real-world solutions. Similar to the 200 jump rule for wingsuit flying, its a basic rule/recommendation that gives someone a reasonable amount of exposure to the sport where he/she COULD have learnt the essential skills. It doesnt mean they have. I would not want to see what no rules on the subject would lead to in terms of youtube heroes strapping cameras onto every appendage they can make, manufacture or find from jump #1. You are turning this into some 'I/we are better than you' ego thing, where'as just ignoring the fact that it sais USPA on the letterhead, and looking at the actual recommendations would make much more sense. JC FlyLikeBrick I'm an Athlete?

I didnt say 99% waited. I do know most of them (with the added perks of hindsight) do preach this very thing, and tend to mention being nowhere near ready when they started. But YouTube fame outweighs safety and sanity for the new and hip...and there's always someone willing to preach what they want to hear.. JC FlyLikeBrick I'm an Athlete?

Pointing people to a set of sane recommendations that promote safety (regardless of which organisation issued them) seems anything but arrogant. There's always a DZ or organisation that has a lower standard or recommendation than the one 99% of the experienced flyers agree on... Id rather be on the 'arrogant' safe side and stick with the above mentioned standard.. JC FlyLikeBrick I'm an Athlete?

I have the Mamba from Bonehead, and like it a lot. I use it without a visor for wingsuit flying, and with visor for tunnel/freefly. Though a bit thicker padding would be nice for the top of the head, it sure feels a lot sturdier on my head than the Z1 (in which my nose also somehow rubs up against the visor...not a problem in the mamba) JC FlyLikeBrick I'm an Athlete?

Not personal experience, but seeing somepeople with low jump numbers focus a lot of how awesome the angle is, and forget there is a pilotchute passing there (people mounting them on their right foot etc). Never hurts to comment on the (seemingly) obvious stuff...it may not be as obvious for everyone else JC FlyLikeBrick I'm an Athlete?

add more weight through heavy materials...not sure that will slow us down a whole lot more.. JC FlyLikeBrick I'm an Athlete?

Just dont frontloop through the lines on opening while geeking the camera JC FlyLikeBrick I'm an Athlete?

Really cool video, though I'd name this a normal CRW flyby. Not really relative flight/slot flying next to a canopy yet.... JC FlyLikeBrick I'm an Athlete?

Hey everyone. We got busy again, and put together another one of our Video Flight Manuals. This time its a bit simpler one, on high speed exits. Hope you like it, and hope it brings you awesome exits! Check it out here (and on our website shortly) p.s. Number 10 should also be on its way real soon, which will be on deployment and body positions. JC FlyLikeBrick I'm an Athlete?

Yes, the reach is like normal. The wing is only attached 10cm more than it normaly is. Worked fine on the suit I had, and the Blade2 which was derived from this one. JC FlyLikeBrick I'm an Athlete?

Ive converted a birdman prototype a few years back via a relativly simple method. Leave the bottom cutaway as is, and cut the sleeves off the body. So you now have a suit with two loose wings. Attach a zipper to both sides, and let it run from the first connected tab position above your MLW on the front, over the shoulder, to the back. Ive attached pictures of the modification, as well as a simple graphic that explains a second method (all older stuff from back in the BM days, shot to show the factory). JC FlyLikeBrick I'm an Athlete?

Suits without grippers (no pressure or drag at all at the end of the wing), will most likely give the least stress possible on the shoulder. Inflation being a 2nd key aspect... JC FlyLikeBrick I'm an Athlete?

You mean something like this Feathers are light as well. Maybe filling the wings with feathers will help JC FlyLikeBrick I'm an Athlete?

You could get some jeans probably if you ask nice... I know a lot of people and stores have quite a bit of stock on those.... JC FlyLikeBrick I'm an Athlete?

Which is very funny, as NASA is moving away from lifting bodies more and more, and resorting to HUUUUUGE parachutes to land... Its shows their direction of thinking about this problem... JC FlyLikeBrick I'm an Athlete?

Though a tumble and dislocated the right (wrong) shoulder would severly mess up your day, all handles on the front are always accesable for pulling, so no reason to become an AAD save statistic? With a high-risk sport as skydiving, I personaly would see a permanent surgical solution (be it shitty to undergo) the safest option in the long run.... JC FlyLikeBrick I'm an Athlete?

I forgot to also mention, for me it was a broken collar bone (hit the door on exit, freeflying is dangerous!). After a few months of rest, I did 2 freefly jumps to 'try' and noticed the armstrain was quite a bit heavier than the one wingsuit jump I did after that. I seems the wing (thats also attached to the body, and inflates) carries quite a bit of the weight. For me it was lighter than non-wingsuit jumps. But like Luke sais...it probably depends on the type of injury. I do wonder how a dislokated shoulder influences wingsuit flight btw. Could get ugly? Anyone any experiences there? JC FlyLikeBrick I'm an Athlete?

I think the suits with more wing at the end of the arm (long grippers) tend to add more pressure on the shoulder than short/no gripper models. In general the pressure on the armwings is carried by the body for a large part as well, so pressure on the shoulder itself shouldnt be too bad. I would be carefull with dives/flares though, as that does put a lot of strain on the shoulder. But stick to the beginner/intermediate range from most manufacturers and it should be managable. Though if waiting longer works as well...remember...waiting a few months more sucks...but jumping now and f&cking up your shoulder permanently sucks even more.. JC FlyLikeBrick I'm an Athlete?

Cool beans...now snap that manditory picture of you wearing your new suit at work, and get your flock on! JC FlyLikeBrick I'm an Athlete?