VectorBoy

I've got an S-3 that will fit someone that size. Its in the avitar.

One of the posts that got transferred was relevent Mccordia wrote: think (no matter what sport or dicipline) you'll always have these kind of people. I've seen people with ratings that couldnt fly next to a student if they wanted to...but in the end...the ratings do help sorting out the 'bad apples'. I replyed: I disagree on this one. For wingsuiting its not the rating it was time that made the difference. Time proved it was more lucrative to haul meat or do AFF instruction than the pyramid of the BM instructorship/regional dealership if you were not really into it. Don't get me wrong there is very high quality instructing in wingsuiting available from professionals that do it every day. They have invested in it, their resources are available to you. The Instructor roster may not be your only guide, though be aware. A good wingsuit instructor probably is really into it, does vast organizing, has many spare personal suits, is immersed in the whole wingsuit scene. Check these items. Actually I even tease some of my new PFI friends a little. But lately when I go to an event and see some old friends again unless they come up to me and announce their newly minted PFI/BMI I can't tell. See to me they are like they always were, guys helping each other out, giving each other tips, sharing the use of their extra suits. And back at their home DZs getting a new guy in the flock on one of those extra suits. I know beer is being exchanged but I can't say for sure if money is. Just like it was before their rating. Without boastful grandstanding about their "mad" skills and their open lamenting the shear stupidity of anyone not instructor rated conducting a FFC to anyone in a position of real authority on the DZ who will listen ( recommending to the S&TA what suit a jumper should or should not fly, even though their brand sold that that jumper that suit, already -whoa too late) or their mandating the prescribed proper procedure, even though its pretty common sense stuff and already covered in the manual, to the not so educated rest of the flock, it is getting harder to tell. Because most of these guys are like they were before. In fact they remind me of our group and how we were. A few guys, a few extra suits and the promise, if we continue, of no love from the guys that started it all. I wouldn't change a thing!Wink

And Jason, as far as me being the enemy. It's early, how about a big ol' cup of shut the fuck up? Be safe Ed Jason is just seeing if you'll bite. He would normaly be teasing Chuck at this point but wants Chuck to feel at ease when he approaches Jason about some PFI coaching for his V-1 the next time they hook up at the peanut. Jason will need some few extra bucks to pay for his Silestone counter which will be his ticket to boogie freedom.

I didn't take it as you were bagging on Jeff or anybody else to include Matt. And I know you hold instructorship in high regard and want the most in its quality. I was simply pointing out that in some regions there is a belief that the Shenanigans of a few BMIs didn't jive with a "positive" promotion of the whole wingsuit experience, which really is one of their primary tasks. Some could be regarded less than safe as advertised. This tarnished the badge. Its a PR thing, it can be turned around, but time will tell.

They have to go on credentials, be it either an endorsement from experienced jumpers, or a rating. Chuck makes a reference to the early hasty days of the BMI and the desire not to cheapen it again. There was a time when that rating didn't mean much ( at least around here, not sure it does yet) in fact it proved for some comical bonfire conversation and even more hilarious flying if you were lucky enough to have some select BMIs grace your flight plan. Now I know I give BMIs a hard time but officially some are some of my very best friends, and they can take it. Eddy P is a phenomenally generous guy very well rated , well respected. Greg F flew with us for years even back in the pirate instructor days and most of can't touch his flying. And I pick on Chuck but the truth is I respect him he is generous with his resources and booze. He is a very fun guy and skilled flyer. But I like to pick on the BM brand of I for every incident, event or negative encounter in regards to BMIs not just locally but the ones we hear about from all over the world. I can count more than a few and know there are those that we never hear about. IMO the BMIs have PR issues that the other brands don't have. And hopefully in time this will change. Things have been quiet for now but for all the of the rated frauds and hacks that are still lurking we will keep our ears and our cameras opened, on and focused just for you.

He designs his own wingsuits, couldn't he just make up his own rating now? (Seems to be how everyone else did it) I don't have my own brand of wingsuit but if I did nobody is going to have a peeps say as to whether or not my instructional program meets any quantifiable specification other than myself overall. The DZOs,DZMs, S&TA can do as they ( and should) please and make sure my hypothetical course meets the needs of the applicant. And this was not a calvin 19 post! Actually its a shame of a burdened placed upon someone who just wants to perfect the product and make it user friendly. I think of all of the volumes of information that Robie has published, some of it rudimentary and some of it for the advanced wingsuit pilot and he still can't get people to stop thinking of wingsuits as expensive camera suits that you fly for max time in instead of distance speed and effective glide. I would expect more from from all of those highly rated,qualified and experienced wingsuit specific instructors out there.

That looks like a stretched jeep liberty.

Is the weather similar to the holiday boogie in 03'? I have a bunch of friends going. The rest of us couldn't get enough time off and will just hang here and jump the AN-727.

.... Over the years I've traveled for skydiving more times then you have jumps, but for flying wingsuits, why would I travel when I have one of the best flocks 18 miles away and $13 jumps from an Otter...... Be safe Ed Because sometimes even lodi gets that toolie fog for days while we down in the south have some of the best weather and tailgate aircraft but only have a scattered rattered-tattered flock with no "big toe" central figure, highly experienced load organizer like they do in Zhills and norcal. We are so poor everytime we get a BMI they leave us for more glamourous DZ's. But you are only welcome if you bring yer highly experienced core base flock crew, select washingtonians and a canuck or two.

Sometmes I just sleep in my hanger........ Be safe Ed Scott is right! That is a very nice deal you have there. I'm more happy for you than Jealous with a little envy but nothing hostile, mostly joy, yeah thats it.

And you should have seen the sales rep hottie at the motorcycle show. Even the brilla girls were jealous.

Naughty naughty mind.

Nice graphics.

The raptor is still a high performance suit!!!! And it has a very cool name too!!!

Hey Glen, maybe should change your avatar? Oh you bet Costyn I mention it in this post( attack on my smelly old man with bad hearing-but still in a faster suit- thrill) in the events tread: "Due to weather I only have a handful of jumps on it, New suit murphie's law you know. But it flys soo fast the smell will never catch up with it even when I start living in it. I'm going to need a hearing aid ,thats for sure, from the noise being back up to freefly speeds but in the horizontal vector. And I'm going to need a new avitar one with the background blurred and smoke comming off the suit". Trust me, I will upgrade the avitar just like I upgraded my ride. I would have already done it if it hadn't been for weather/work. Cheers bro!

Hell maybe we can get a flock of superslow fallers (Mach1/GS1) Its a trick! Its a trick don't fall for it! Slow GS1 my ass. First he is floating along showing you his nuts then zoom he is off to assault someone else.

I think a back-vented S-series suit is positively overdue. Chuck I just sold my proto Back vented S-3 a few months ago. I just wasn't flying it or backflying at all that much anymore as there are guys better at it than myself just about everywhere I go nowadays. I do want an Acro. Not just for its backvented / backfly-ability but because that suit is a blast to fly in any regime and the suit just about has a glide as good as my S-3. Did I mention its fun in a different way? That suit is snappy.

But I'll wager that 'flight wise' pound for pound for average pilots ...the comparable suits made by each manufacturer can hold their own for the class they were built to fly in...

You know that is called Phantom. Backfly inlets are standard option on updated Phantom, like mine: P81. I didn't know they were now standard. The first phantoms didn't have them and a few months ago back vents became optional. Standardizing this offer is fantastic. How does it fly on the back?

i look great in mine. i think a poll about "which wingsuit do you look the best in?" Well BM Kim bird chick #1 would win and in any suit. but you are not to shabby either money. As for myself I stay hidden behind lots of cameras.

Back door, dirty sanchez, chilidog, rusty pirate, white dragon plus video.

Go where there are tailgates.

It shouldn't be an issue as the big loads will alternate with a lot of ground planning and so will the big wingsuit loads. I do feel sorry for the fun jumpers that weekend though.

Finally, kind of a voice of reason. If the suit does not have a cool name it will be shunned and assumed to basically suck .. Scott C. The airforce never bought a wimpy named fighter/interceptor from a contractor until they took it back and changed the name. Thats how projects named "have blue" were renamed to "night hawk" and repainted black over the blue. They were about to paint the shark mouth on it for added meaness but due to the angularity of the fuselage it would have looked like a shark that suffered a stroke so they left that off. Hey Tony guys here is another name for you "interceptor" just in case yer getting low. No need to pay royalties for its use. Its what we in the WS community are here for.