bdrake529

So it's been moved to October 25-26 (from TBA September)? Brian Drake

Is there still a camp planned at Elsinore in September? Or has it been downgraded to the 2 weekends of Sara qualifying people I just got an email from the DZ about? Brian Drake

Is that a composited shot from a wind tunnel or "hidden rig" stunt with a super-slim BASE rig? Brian Drake

Hmm.... so impatient. What about the hour long wingsuit competition video? How's that coming? Brian Drake

Hmm.... Has Jeff been cloned (new Tony Suits "Xerox" model?) or is this a photoshop trick?... Brian Drake

I fully realize that (rigging error). I'm merely pointing out that such an error is fatal in BASE, but due to the extra time (to maybe pull your own pin) and ability to use a reserve, the same problem is highly survivable in Skydiving. In a perfect world where no one makes mistakes, then there's really no point in discussing which is more dangerous. Brian Drake

If you wouldn't mind, please explain this statement. My BASE experience is infinitesimal compared to yours (as is my skydiving experience), but this just doesn't add up to me. Take the potato bridge where a 3 second delay is doable. A PC in tow (or even serious hesitation) there = GUARANTEED DEATH (as has been tragically demonstrated more than once). The same situation (e.g., an uncocked PC) in a skydive (even at a C-D license min recommended deployment of 2,000 ft) affords a very high probability for survival due to the extra time (roughly 11 seconds compared to less than 2 from pitching) to make decisions and the ability to use a reserve. Am I in error in my logic? If so, please explain. Otherwise, how can you consider even a "simple" BASE jump to be safer than the average skydive? While I appreciate the (necessary IMO) confidence many BASE jumpers have in their gear due to its simplicity, it seems that confidence can sometimes result in some fairly ridiculous claims of reliability and safety. A similar statement that made me equally incredulous was Jeb recently telling Australian TV that he trusts his BASE gear more than most elevators. Hmmm.... last time I checked, if you step into an elevator with your left shoulder slightly lower than your right, you're not instantly sucked into a waterfall to be dashed and broken on the rocks below. P.S. Please don't misread my incredulity as disrespect. I'm not questioning as a challenge, but truly from confusion over your claim. Brian Drake

Oh brother..... https://store.bird-man.com/webshop/street/ just waiting for someone else to say it first... _ _ _! Brian Drake

Initially, I would stick your ass down. This kills your fall rate, but it makes the backflying much more stable. As you become comfortable in this position, gradually straighten your body out (and bring your head back, in line with your spine) until you're in an efficient body position. This position will become more stable with experience. Brian Drake

Actually, all the really good/respected FF coaches I've met at Elsinore and Perris (I've been to quite a few of their freefly coaching camps) require you to have your sit nailed before they teach you head down. Same with tunnel instructors. Not only do they claim this is a safety thing, but they also recognize that anyone who jumps straight into head down without mastering head up flying is cheating themselves. Their stated opinion, not mine (though I happen to agree). Brian Drake

Spot! Awesome video....nothing more to say. Purple....guess all your hard work finally paid off since it looks like Margarite actually consented to ride you... Thanks everyone for the great weekend. Weather aside, it was a damn good time. Blue skies, Brian Brian Drake

Weather is crap right now at the DZ and it doesn't look like any jumping will happen today as the office girls already plan to leave at noon. Tomorrow's forecast looks slightly more optimistic. Clouds and showers in the morning but partly sunny starting around noon. Since I took the day off, I'm sticking around here in the Elsinore area for the day. If anyone who traveled out here wants to hang out, PM me your cell phone #. Blue skies (please...) Brian Brian Drake

what time would you want to stop wingsuiting? If I take the day off, I can be there early if needed, but I think Eike was only going to be there in the afternoon. Brian Drake

Is anyone showing up at Elsinore this Friday (May 23) to get things started early? Eike is probably going to be there and I was thinking about taking the day off of work. But I'd like to know if there will be enough "early birds" to make it worth my while. Thanks, Brian Brian Drake

Too bad. See you next week though (bigway). Brian Drake

I have to pick up my rig from Danilo at Elsinore (repack) and was planning to stick around Sat night for the Freefly Film Festival, so I don't think I can make it to San Diego. But, I've got at least 1 other Bird lined up at Elsinore, so unless you guys are deadset on San Diego, why don't you join us at Elsinore? Brian Drake

Elsinore, or possibly Perris. Brian Drake

There's the big way wingsuit camp at Elsinore on the 24-25. I'll be flying at Elsinore this Saturday and should have a few birds to fly with. Brian Drake

Sorry Scott. Bad etiquette on my part (should have searched first). Here's a fairly full thread on the subject for those interested: Brian Drake

Why is that a bold statement? Perhaps you misunderstood. The first few times I "swooped" a tandem, I was intentionally so far away that they could barely see me, and I just used them as a point of reference for fall rate. Slowly, surely, jump by jump, I got closer and closer, always careful to be as safe and controlled as possible. Now, at MY CURRENT (not comparing to anyone else) level of experience, skill and confidence, I safely swoop at around 50 feet (give or take) away. The whooshing noise alone makes me a fairly conspicuous presence to the TI and the student. That was my only point. Must every comment here be assumed to be one of bragging? Brian Drake

Is it worth the effort? Well, it's a lot of fun for me, so when I'm the only wingsuit on a load and I don't feel like a purely solo flight, yeah, I'd say it's worth it even if I'm the only one who enjoys it (plus the TI always seems happy for the break in his routine). But most students I've swooped have seen and appreciated the swoop. For one, the TI is expecting me and makes sure to point me out to the student. Plus, once I've gotten the TI's approval, I introduce myself to the student (either in the plane, or before loading) and tell them to keep an eye out for me. A lot of times the fact I'm wearing a wingsuit makes me a target for questioning while standing around in the loading area, so often the student has already expressed interest. Also, at my current level of experience, skill, and confidence, I swoop close enough that it is really hard to miss me. Brian Drake

Whether it's officially "kosher" or not, I bet more than a few people here enjoy the past-time of doing a wingsuit flyby of a tandem canopy. Assuming this has been pre-arranged with the TI, I've always found both the TI and the student get a kick out of it, and it's not exactly pulling teeth for me either. So I'm curious what kind of "best practices" are out there. Here's what I typically do and I offer this for critique since I'm always open to learn: As previously stated, but important to emphasize, I always gain the approval of the TI prior to the jump. And, for safety's sake, I only attempt this on the last tandem out of the plane (or at least last out on a pass) so I don't have to worry about tandems exiting after me. I wait in the plane until I can see the drogue and then I immediately exit and begin flying very steep, but not fully head down. I don't aim at the drogue, instead I aim for a spot slightly upwind and off-jump run of the tandem since my intent is to fly a cross jump run flyby (to avoid flying into other canopy traffic after the flyby). I control my rate of descent by exposing more or less of my arm wing, and I try to stay several thousand feet above the tandem. During this time, I'm also paying attention to already open canopies so that I can plan a flight path that will avoid any traffic. When I'm in "position" (lat-long relative to the tandem), I wait there until I see the deployment which should be around 5k. I then set up a very steep approach, aiming in front of the tandem canopy. My flight path ends up more diagonal to the tandem's canopy path since I'm always adjusting to make sure I'm well in front of them. As I near their altitude, I hit my "max-lift" position hard to level out from the dive. This sometimes gives a momentary appearance of positive lift, relative to the tandem. If I time this right, this happens right before I'm in front of the tandem (or more diagonally cutting in front) so from their perspective I'm flying up for a short burst, flying level with them a bit longer, and then slowly descending. After passing them, I hold that max lift position while I modify my flight path to make sure I'm in open air (keeping an eye out also for the video guy's canopy) before deploying. I think I've got the safety issues covered, but would appreciate any corrections if I'm wrong. I'm mainly interested in technique though, since these jumps end up less "wingsuit flights" and more "wingsuit dives with a short plane out at the end". Any tips? Thanks, Brian Drake

I use the Bonehead mount on my left mudflap. Though I would prefer the Wedge since it is flexible, the Bonehead works fine. One note though, I have a Altimaster III mounted there and when I roll my shoulders (tracking or wingsuit), it can be hard to see the entire altimeter mounted there. So I have the altimeter mounted "upside down" so that I can always see the 9k-3k range which is most important to me in freefall. Brian Drake

Hey Chris, Shortly after my FFC (with a PFI) in March last year, I met Jeff when he came to demo his suits at Elsinore in early April. He let me borrow a Raptor and I made 8 flights with it. These were wingsuit flights 6-13, so I wasn't in a great position experience-wise to evaluate the suit. Also, I was at first intimidated by the size of the arm wing, but I found the suit very stable to fly and had no issues at pull time. Attached is a pic from that weekend of Tony (works at Elsinore), Jeff and me. Tony and I are wearing Raptors, Jeff is in a M1. Here's a video of me flying the Raptor. Jeff didn't have his camera sighted in correctly, so unfortunately there's a big gap in the middle where I'm out of frame, even though I was right next to him. Scrub forward a little after I disappear and you'll see the Raptor in flight (well sort of, I seemed to be auditioning for the hated "feet on butt flocking club"). Welcome to the flock! Brian Brian Drake

Badass! Is that Ward or someone else? Brian Drake