Skwrl

Ever seen a McDonalds ad? The burgers look amazing. Ever seen one in person? Not so much. That's why I asked for pictures for a production, non-demo model. Not saying a burger-switch is the case here, but since I haven't seen any demos - or anyone else who has one - I'd like to see one, or preferably demo one, before I order. Call me crazy. [Shrug.] Part of the reason I wanted to see photos of the dual zipper system is to see how it was done in comparison to, for example, the current Tonysuits arrangement. I tried on a TS suit at Flock & Dock that had the dual zipper system, and it fit one of my rigs great, but fit the other rig poorly enough that it posed a hazard. So I'm really curious to see how it was executed in the Squirrel case. I get the idea of it being useful for dual purpose (BASE and skydive) jumpers, but for those of us that just skydive, I'm not sure it's a great arrangement. (This isn't a comment on the Squirrel suit - since as I've said I've not seen one in person - this is a comment on the dual zipper approach.) By the way, thanks for the detailed review. Skwrl Productions - Wingsuit Photography Northeast Bird School - Chief Logistics Guy and Video Dork

I think I speak for a lot of us, when I say we'd like to see photos of the suit and close ups of the stitching. Am I right in that their suit design - since it's intended to be used both for BASE and skydiving - relies on two zippers to permit access to the cutaway and handle? How did they handle the whole "don't get the handles sucked into the suit" problem? Does yours have a dual zipper system? How does it hold the cutaway handles (or the zippers around the cutaway handles) in place? Skwrl Productions - Wingsuit Photography Northeast Bird School - Chief Logistics Guy and Video Dork

About 3/5ths of the photos that I'll be posted are up; I'll add the remainder later today. Check in by 7:00 pm (Boston time) today for more. http://skwrl.smugmug.com/Skydiving/FandD9/28827074_VCP7tM#!i=2448030408&k=KKnp5bB Video in 2 to 3 weeks. I'm still collecting videos from folks for additional angles. Skwrl Productions - Wingsuit Photography Northeast Bird School - Chief Logistics Guy and Video Dork

SNE safety day is held later than most. This year it will be on April 6th. Agreed with all of that. They also through the best boogie in the Northeast (in my opinion) - the Tiki Bar Boogie. That's held on Labor Day weekend, though. The only knock on SNE is there are remarkably few outs. Skwrl Productions - Wingsuit Photography Northeast Bird School - Chief Logistics Guy and Video Dork

I think you might be missing VB's concern. Suppose that I am a very experienced wingsuit pilot and competent instructor. (I'm not, but...) Suppose that I love wingsuiting so much that I don't do other types of jumps (that's pretty common among wingsuiters). Suppose that I want to continue teaching after the new BSR. To continue teaching, I get a USPA Coach rating. To get the rating, I have to learn some teaching skills (useful) and learn how to jump with an unlicensed skydiver (not relevant to wingsuiting). To maintain the rating, I have to do a bunch (15? Somebody help me out with the number....) of jumps with unlicensed skydivers (nothing to do with wingsuiting) each year, even though I only want to wingsuit. Skwrl Productions - Wingsuit Photography Northeast Bird School - Chief Logistics Guy and Video Dork

Seconded on more details. Anyone coming to Flock and Dock with one? Skwrl Productions - Wingsuit Photography Northeast Bird School - Chief Logistics Guy and Video Dork

http://www.zozi.com/experiences/5068 I would totally get a Flying Squirrel Wingsuit Instructor Rating. Skwrl Productions - Wingsuit Photography Northeast Bird School - Chief Logistics Guy and Video Dork

If the "skydivers must take a first flight course taught by a current USPA Coach with over 200 wingsuit jumps" proposal passes, I have two recommendations. First, I hope the S&T Committee clarifies that wingsuit coaching and first flight courses would count toward the coach jumps that are needed to keep an active USPA Coach rating. Right now, the IRM requires that a USPA Coach has to conduct a certain number of "coach jumps" each year to maintain his or her rating. (I'm not a USPA Coach and I don't have a copy of the IRM with me, so I don't know what that number is, but I'm sure one of you guys does.) I understand that there's at least some disagreement over whether a "coach jump" must be a jump with unlicensed skydiver (i.e., a belly jump) to count toward that number, or whether wingsuit coaching would count. People who don't do a lot of non-wingsuit jumps might have a hard time keeping an active rating if wingsuit coaching and instruction doesn't count. I know a number of highly trained, very skilled wingsuit instructors who simply don't take the wingsuit off enough to maintain their rating without this tweak. Second, I'd encourage the S&T Committee to allow people with lapsed Coach ratings (for the reason I described above) to renew their Coach ratings through certification that they conducted the required number of wingsuit coach jumps. Otherwise, you're forcing people to re-certify as a belly jumper just to do wingsuit first flight courses, which doesn't make much sense to me. Skwrl Productions - Wingsuit Photography Northeast Bird School - Chief Logistics Guy and Video Dork

We're definitely around and would be happy to talk with you. Take a look at the calendar on the Northeast Bird School website. This year, we will be doing a lot more events out of Jumptown and CPI (those events are currently on the calendar), but we're planning on scheduling at least one or two weekends at Pepperell and the Ranch (we'll add those to the calendar when we nail those dates down). We have a 200 jump minimum, but we also have a number of things that we suggest thinking about and practicing before you get to that magic number, ranging from tracking and body flight to canopy accuracy (helpful if you've screwed up and have to land out). However, most of those suggestions are for when you're closer to around 150 to 175 jumps. For now, focus on developing rock solid and safe skydiving habits. Email us if you want to talk more: info@northeastbirdschool.org EDITED TO ADD: One thing worth mentioning - the "200 minimum recommendation" is no longer a recommendation, at least in the US. As of a couple of years ago, the SIM was amended to make it a Basic Safety Requirement that skydivers have at least 200 skydives and a current USPA license before wingsuiting. (SIM 2-1(J)(6)) http://www.uspa.org/SIM/Read/Section2/tabid/164/Default.aspx#21j We look forward to having you join the flock when you're ready!

I'd second this. The CX760 is pricey, but it's worth it. Skwrl Productions - Wingsuit Photography Northeast Bird School - Chief Logistics Guy and Video Dork

In reading through my review, I realized I described Pepperell's facilities, but not Jumptown's. Simply put, Jumptown wins the "Facilities" competition hands down. Relatively new (within the last 5 years) huge hangar with AC in the team rooms, a kitchen, team rooms, and rigging loft in the hangar. Much nicer in that aspect. * * * While I think it's great that people support one dropzone or the other, there are a lot of people who have only been to one or the other - even though they are 30 minutes away from each other. (They both can be very, very clique-ish.) I've heard people at one dropzone say they'd never go to the other because of X, Y, or Z - when sometimes X, Y, and Z are completely made up reasons. Completely disappointing. Both are great, but they each have a different "feel". And yeah, there are colorful (in all senses of the word) characters at both locations. Skwrl Productions - Wingsuit Photography Northeast Bird School - Chief Logistics Guy and Video Dork

That's consistent with what I've heard, yes. Skwrl Productions - Wingsuit Photography Northeast Bird School - Chief Logistics Guy and Video Dork

Thanks, Michal - I'm familiar with that one as well. I just asked because Electronaut referenced a tail strike, not a mid-flight collision. Skwrl Productions - Wingsuit Photography Northeast Bird School - Chief Logistics Guy and Video Dork

We have at least one case where a tail strike resulted in the loss of consciousness but the AAD still fired successfully. Can you give some details on this? I'm familiar with Steve Harrington's death in 2009 (Elsinore, at the 68 Way), where he struck the tail and the AAD did activate, but the ground he exited over was significantly higher than the DZ and he impacted the ground before the reserve fully extracted. (I don't know if we ever got a definitive autopsy indicating whether he was dead on impact with the tail or the ground impact killed Steve.) Is there another incident where it saved a life? Or are you referring to Steve's situation, where the AAD technically "fired successfully" but not at an altitude that would permit the reserve to, you know, work. Skwrl Productions - Wingsuit Photography Northeast Bird School - Chief Logistics Guy and Video Dork

Erm... Why? I can provide citations. Can you? Check out: Miller v. California (1973) (on obscenity). Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. v. Public Service Commission (1980) (on commercial speech). New York Times Co. v. Sullivan (1964) (defamation with respect to public figures); Philadelphia Newspapers v. Hepps (1988) (defamation with respect to non-public figures). Ward v Rock Against Racism (1989), Feiner v New York (1951) Watchtower Bible v Stratton (2002), City Council v Taxpayers for Vincent (1984), City of Ladue v Gilleo (1994), and Madsen v Women's Health Center (1994) (all on time, place, manner restrictions). So.... ummm what's wrong with my blanket statement exactly? Edited to fix citation error. Skwrl Productions - Wingsuit Photography Northeast Bird School - Chief Logistics Guy and Video Dork

Yeah, the First Amendment actually has a bunch of limitations. It doesn't protect obscenity, defamation, time/place/manner restrictions on speech (so long as they're content neutral), false advertising, incitement of illegal activities... Skwrl Productions - Wingsuit Photography Northeast Bird School - Chief Logistics Guy and Video Dork

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10200263533486493&set=t.1097833692&type=3&theater Only got to fly it once, but it's an interesting suit! Skwrl Productions - Wingsuit Photography Northeast Bird School - Chief Logistics Guy and Video Dork

I'm in the pro-RSL (Skyhook specifically) camp as well. There's one thing that people with large/tall camera set ups should be aware of when using the Skyhook... There's decent evidence that shows that if you have a low speed mal (i.e., line twists), the Skyhook changes the angle that the reserve comes out relative to the angle that it would come out if you are belly to Earth. (In other words, if you're belly to earth, it comes out more perpendicular to the jumper's body; if you're using a Skyhook and have a low speed mal, it comes out closer to parallel.) Most of the time, it's not going to be an issue, because if you are looking down at your cutaway handle, your chin is going to be tucked down and the tall/snaggy bits are going to be tilted away from the lanyard that connects the main and the reserve... Despite that, I personally think the benefits outweigh the risks. Skwrl Productions - Wingsuit Photography Northeast Bird School - Chief Logistics Guy and Video Dork

It is one more than a tre wing and one less than a cinque wing. Duh. Skwrl Productions - Wingsuit Photography Northeast Bird School - Chief Logistics Guy and Video Dork

When taking 15% of a person's income for no other reason that "we need it more that you do" is not considered "soaking" then it's an indication of where we stand as a society. You're familiar with the idea of marginal rates, right? I think Kallend is referring to "how is taxing multimillionaire hedge fund manager at 15% top marginal rate - as opposed to the 39.6% on ordinary income that folks pay in the top marginal rate for wages, etc. - soaking the rich?" Skwrl Productions - Wingsuit Photography Northeast Bird School - Chief Logistics Guy and Video Dork

Hey Matt... I am pretty sure I looked at your set up before, but I forget: do you use any other kind of RSL? As you know, I jump a stupid large camera helmet (like you) but I decided to go with a Skyhook. For what it's worth, I've adjusted my EPs slightly as a result of that fact, though, for both entanglement malfunctions and non-entanglement malfunctions. Skwrl Productions - Wingsuit Photography Northeast Bird School - Chief Logistics Guy and Video Dork

Just in case anyone wondered where this whole thing went: http://www.supremecourt.gov/Search.aspx?FileName=/docketfiles/12a606.htm "Feb 19 2013 Application (12A606) [Application for Certiorari] denied by the Court." Here you go, OHCHUTE. Click "Play" http://tinyurl.com/2wy53k Skwrl Productions - Wingsuit Photography Northeast Bird School - Chief Logistics Guy and Video Dork

They get so adorable when they run out of food.

I jump at both a lot. As was pointed out, Pepperell is a single runway airstrip; Jumptown is based at Orange Municipal Airport. Pepperell has one of the nicest landing areas of any dropzone I've been to in the northeastern US. Pepperell has a ton of outs. Jumptown has a large landing area, but it's not as pretty as Pepperell's. Jumptown also has a lot of outs, but not as many as Pepperell. Both fly an Otter. (In Pepperell's case, it varies from year to year which one; Jumptown has a Twin Super Otter that is pretty quick to altitude.) Pepperell is run as a business; it's principally about tandems these days via GroupOn, but there are a lot of fun jumpers as well. Their primary focus shows: at last year's boogie, a wingsuit group I organized was literally kicked off the plane - after we boarded - to make room for tandems. (As an aside, tandems at Pepperell get out at 10,000 feet - to save fuel. It's nice from the standpoint of experienced jumpers, since the tandems are out of the plane long before you are starting to get ready. On the other hand, I tend to refer friends who want to do a tandem to Jumptown, because I think missing out on 3,000 on purpose is kind of a rip off to the tandem.) The fun jumpers at Pepperell are a really nice bunch of people; I did my AFF there and known most of them fairly well. Both Pepperell and Jumptown have a mix of free fliers and belly fliers, but my impression is that there are proportionally more belly fliers at Pepperell. (In other words, both places have a lot of people who do both, but belly seems to be a bigger "thing" at Pepperell than it is at Jumptown, where there seem to be more free fliers.) But there are lots of folks at both places who do both. The facilities at Pepperell are really starting to look their age. "It's not pretty, but it's home" was the phrase that I used to use when that was my main DZ. Camping is available if that is of interest. Pepperell has a good "after hours" life at the Bonfire, if you're into that thing. Jumptown is a club, but a professionally run one. They have a large, relatively new hangar, and they prioritize fun jumpers. They don't have as much of a "family" feel to it - I think because the after hours/bonfire doesn't pull in as many people. There are trailers at the dropzone, but no camping as such (in other words, if you don't rent one of those, you're not staying there). There's a hotel within a 3 minute drive (15 minute walk). Nice bunch of people as well, but I'll admit that I know the Pepperell gang there much better, despite having jumped at Jumptown for years now... You won't go wrong at either place, but I also doubt that either place is going to assign you load organizing responsibilities. (They have regular L.O.s on the weekend for both belly and free flying.) Your best bet is to call and ask for Fran (at Skydive Pepperell) or Diane (at Jumptown) and find out what may be planned for the relevant weekend, who will be load organizing, etc. Good luck. If you see the Northeast Bird School (wingsuit) people at either DZ when you show up, ask for Skwrl and say hi.

Post some pictures if you get a chance, please.