Titanium_Gecko

An official welcome to "The Flock" to all my new friends. Great to meet you all and look forward to flying with you again soon. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S_pZo903d0 Cordialement, Ross www.gathhelmets.co.uk www.flyyourbody.com

Nice one! Wish I'd been there. www.gathhelmets.co.uk www.flyyourbody.com

I make sure I get over and fly with you guys at some point unless I see you in the Midlands first. Ross www.gathhelmets.co.uk www.flyyourbody.com

Many thanks! Gecko www.gathhelmets.co.uk www.flyyourbody.com

Yep, on my own for the most part... :-( ...though am trying to breed! Brought a load of tickets at the start of the year so keep going to save money...lol. Am off to Gap on 10th Aug for a few days with the intention being to getting around the UK a bit for after that. Ross www.gathhelmets.co.uk www.flyyourbody.com

Nice! Looks like I need to get down to Sibson again. Edit - P.S. If folks live on the M6 side of the country am always have to fly with folks more locally. www.gathhelmets.co.uk www.flyyourbody.com

Hi Folks, Does any one have a PD Optimum 126 Reserve in an Icon I2 Container, if so how does it look? Has any reserve packer done this, how is the fit? I hear that small Icons don't close up very nicely (or look nice once closed) with reserves near their limit, which is a Smart 110 for an I2. Many thanks, Gecko www.gathhelmets.co.uk www.flyyourbody.com

The bigger you are, the bigger the wings!....lol. In the USA you are potentially lucky enough to be able to do first flights with either brand - Flock U and Pheonix Fly (Mr DSE etc.) plus many others. Don't forget being able to hire a suit with Wicked Wingsuits or tracking down an old (different) secondhand suit to start. Hence, you really have a chance to try before you buy, all be it you might end up in a hired/borrowed TS Intro or PF Phantom first of all. Speak to a few different Instructors face-to-face, a) to find who you want to do a FFC with, and, b) get their opinions on the brand. There really isn't any need to rush at the 200 jump mark and I speak from experience! There is also the Pheonix Fly Shadow, if you like having your hands free although the the Phantom can be flown without holder the grippers. I found the Shadow & T-Brid very easy to fly (although am a bit shorter and lighter - 5'11 & 180+). Both have a good engine (leg wing) in my opinion and the shadow having a more balanced arm wing. The Phantom is the only PF suit I haven't jumped but is very nice and similar. I could imagine that you might progress through a T-Bird quicker than a PF suit but that's a guess and could still be 30-100 jumps say (i.e. wanting to get better times and speeds). Be safe & have fun! Ross: An S-FLY PILOT www.gathhelmets.co.uk www.flyyourbody.com

Other - Not jump number dependant but that the person has FS1 in the UK, in my opinion! Hence, A Certificate automatically AND passed the 4 point 4 way test (FS1) to allow people to jump together just doing flat. If you haven't got this sticker then you can only flat fly with a coach/instructor. Ross www.gathhelmets.co.uk www.flyyourbody.com

+1 for eveything above. 200 should not be lowered in my opinion and the currency requirement maintained. Features to improve useability and safety are great but no substitute for experience in the air. As a 1st flightee on Jump 188 in 8 years and 3 months it was too early in hindsight, let alone the first 30 WS jumps being on my own. Hence, I've put about 300 jumps on my "intermediate" suit before a small upgrade for specific reasons. Don't rush becoming a solid skydiver and then take your time becoming an even better wingsuiter! www.gathhelmets.co.uk www.flyyourbody.com

A photo of new suit in action flying with the beautiful people of Netheravon DZ (UK) taken by Jarno. Gecko www.gathhelmets.co.uk www.flyyourbody.com

Does the Tonysuits "X2 G" count as flown by Mark Harris in the UK? www.gathhelmets.co.uk www.flyyourbody.com

Lurch, FYI - http://www.selini.co.uk/speedkix/ Friend Al Hodgson flew the S-Fly Access a few years ago, as a double amputee, with Loic. Contactable through www.skydivelangar.co.uk & Bullet Freefly School, I guess. Ross www.gathhelmets.co.uk www.flyyourbody.com

Thanks! Gecko www.gathhelmets.co.uk www.flyyourbody.com

Any one jumping a 7-cell at 1.6:1, something aroung a 129? www.gathhelmets.co.uk www.flyyourbody.com

Thanks folks. I already have the I2 (exceptional fit/colours/deal), as a progression rig, so it's really what's the biggest canopy I can fit in it, without endless packing nightmares. It'll take a Pilot 124 ZPX and an Optimum 126, say, but I was wondering about other things; Safire 119 or Storm 120 etc. Cheers, Gecko www.gathhelmets.co.uk www.flyyourbody.com

Anyone WS with an I2 container, if so what canopy are you using and at what wing loading? Just after people's experiences and, perhaps, an innovative suggestion. Thanks! Gecko www.gathhelmets.co.uk www.flyyourbody.com

Very nice. Thanks for putting that together! www.gathhelmets.co.uk www.flyyourbody.com

Fair point, thanks! Gecko www.gathhelmets.co.uk www.flyyourbody.com

Hey Jumpsalot, I put 6 jumps on a Sabre 1 not long after gettiing A Certificate but then first rig had an Omega (size suiting me better at the time) and got a good deal on an ex-demo from Icarus some years later. Just happenstance, really. I'm more interested, rightly or wrongly, in familiarity, square footage above my head and pack volume rather than any performance benefits. I only wingsuit if I can help it....lol. However, will try to demo a Pilot ZPX say as and when I get a chance. www.gathhelmets.co.uk www.flyyourbody.com

Thanks, Captain. I've seen your post on DZ before, I think. My 1st Omega was a Precision labelled canopy (circa DoM '98) whilst my newer one (circa DoM '05) is, I believe, the same size as it is labelled. www.gathhelmets.co.uk www.flyyourbody.com

Does any one have any recent experience on either an Omni or Omega at a wing loading of between 1.6 and 1.7, please? Either in terms of your own experiences, comparable canopy performances or alternative suggestions (circa 327 cu in) etc. I have 500 jumps on an Omega at 1.1 & 1.3 and know about Icarus's recommendation up to 1.5. Thanks, Gecko www.gathhelmets.co.uk www.flyyourbody.com

Mcfli, You're not going to get anyone on this forum recommending someone not adhere to a manufacturer’s recommendations. That said in every sport you get the Whizz Kids who are able to progress faster than others, which "can be" great. I know from personal experience, and witnessed elsewhere, that best will in the world, one friend's opinion is not always spot on "in a negative sense". No disrespect to your buddy. However, there is also that possibility of cracking out +100 WS jumps in the 2-4 months, whilst you have a suit on order, but your reasons for ordering may change!! Can you answer, to yourself, why you want a bigger suit, what sort of flying you do the most (flock/solo/performance/BASE), what sort of flying do you want to do? I have 1 jump on each of the Stealth II, Ghost 3, Venom and Vampire 4 (which is no way enough to understand the suits) and none disappointed. The V4 is certainly the quickest and pull felt easier perhaps but I’d already jumped the Ghost and the Venom at that point. Think about giving a piggy back ride to an inflatable doll….lol… i.e. to have to reach around an inflated tube to get to your pilot chute. The bigger suits have a direct hand to leg/foot connection so from what I gather you need to fly less with your arms and more with your legs. You can practice this in the Phantom 2 but the bigger suits will feel twitchy for the first X jumps. I’ve flown a smaller wing next to 3 out of the 4 and it all comes down to the skill of both pilots. Just have fun getting out there and flying your suit with as many different people, in as many different places as possible, in my opinion. Blue Skies & Soft Landings, Ross Edits in "...." www.gathhelmets.co.uk www.flyyourbody.com

Saw this the other evening on Quest, a UK freeview digital channel, and just noticed the subject at a second time of watching. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfEXyvQAbvA Rock on S-Fly! www.gathhelmets.co.uk www.flyyourbody.com

Congratulations to Intrudair! I look forward to seeing and reading about the suits throughout the rest of the year. Wonder when the first one will arrive in the UK to scrounge a flight..... Gecko www.gathhelmets.co.uk www.flyyourbody.com