bodypilot1

Congrats.

I'll be at the Cross Keys big ways too with my wife. Make sure you come up and introduce yourself since I dont know what ya look like. And yes, Tod was jumping with us at the Boogie and did get hurt during some "after hours" jumping. - www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

Yes. Depending on the winds we flew east or west and offset to the jumprun. And not one conflict with the 2 Skyvans and the Caravan dropping over the same air space the whole weekend! We had some GREAT Birdman wingsuit flyers that knew what they were doing. - www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

You mean 50 canopies doing a cross country and 6 of us Birdmen let out above them? Noooooo not me! - www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

Chris it was great to have you join us!

Lodi has great weather that time of year. And the $15 jumps from the Otter or Beech 99 are too bad either. Alot of good RW , VRW or any discipline you want there too. - www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

.....pmuj dna ti kcuS !ti revo kcuf eht teG - www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

These are some video grabs I took of Birdman flocking dives I organized at the Boogie. I wish I had left my still camera on for the jumps, as the shots would have been stellar! - www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

So did you get the chance to jump a suit? Next time your out at Lodi dont hesitate to ask me about wingsuits. Lodi is mainly where I run my West Coast Wingsuit School and I'd be glad to explain anything you'd like to know about wingsuits. I'll also tyake a look at your gear and assist you in the modifications you may need to be jumping it with a wingsuit. - www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

*** Oh how TRUE! As a TI for many years, I dont know how many times I have heard the same thing out of the same Instructors...... The newly rated Instructors dont usually say many jokes because they are just a frieghtend as their passenger, but as they get more comfortable the jokes start and soon get to be like a scrached record, over and over and over. Also you can usually tell who just got their rating from the video. I have seen TI's have the stupidest antics all the way through the freefall and take the total focus off the student. Let the student do the antics and give them a safe enjoyable skydive. - - www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

*** I'm sorry that you FJC Instuctor didn't explain everything he could to you in regards to your safty. It's common sense to look "everywhere" if you were standing in the middle of a freeway, so to speak. One of the major concerns on ANY bigway, where alot of people are landing in one area, that is gone over and over and over, is after you land, is to turn around and watch for other canopies as they land to AVOID a possible collision, and this is the responsibilty of BOTH jumpers to avoid. It's truely sad that the outcome resulted in 2 people going to the hospital, but I bet MORE people will know that you should turn around and face the landing traffic as you gather up your canopy and dont assume everyone will avoid you, as people sometimes make mistakes. Be safe. www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

It is ONLY a back up. And your radio (back up) sometimes fails to get through to the student, whether it be because they couldnt understand what you have said, the static on the radio blocked what you said or the batteries simply ran out. If the student can not find the correct directon to the landing area, yes, sometimes alittle help is ok. But not under canopy and taking YOUR attention off the other canopies around YOU. I think if your paying all your attention to your student still while YOUR under canopy, then maybe you are not safely flying your canopy. Land safely and then talk. Spiral if you have to land quickly to give help to him or her. Now if there are only 2 people in the air, you and him out of a C182 or something, thats alittle different. You are putting no one else under canopy in danger of you not paying attention to your canopy flying. We (AFF I's) teach students that if they cant find the correct landing area to land in, to then just land in an open area preferably away from power lines, building and other objects, right? Be safe. - www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

Well said. The NEW wingsuit era has only just started. With so many people now enjoying the thrill of flying a wingsuit, the market will I'm sure see MANY more designs and styles of suits. For those that have the time and put forth the effort to design and market their stlye of wingsuit, I wish them success, as it's not an easy thing to do. I'm sure what Jari or Robert continues to produce will be great suits. - www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

My wife will make sure of that. - www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

NEVER give Instruction while under canopy! Flying and talking to some student will only cause you to be less aware of the OTHER canopies in the air. After the student has pulled, they are essenially on their own until they land. The radio is only a BACKUP! DO NOT let your students rely on it! They sometimes fail and then they have no one but themselves. Try to only give the corrections they may need and try and not give too much help unless you see they need it, and ONLY AFTER YOU HAVE LANDED SAFELY! - www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

Lodi= $100 tandems and $15 jumps PLENTY of jumpers, packers and fast planes. - www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

I still cant see any text on it? Oh well, I'll just show up on July 17th I guess..... - www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

Accident Synopsis: An experienced skydiver had successfully landed in the center of the designated landing area and was gathering his parachute when he was struck by a second experienced skydiver. The landing area was not congested and there were no significant meteorological concerns. The second jumper reported that he had been distracted in his approach while watching his wife fly her canopy, and did not see the first jumper until it was too late to avoid the collision. The first jumper, who had been stationary for almost a minute, was looking at his own equipment and did not see the approaching canopy prior to impact. The second jumper had made about 300 skydives over roughly eight years and was flying a Stiletto 170 loaded at 1.44. This was his first jump at a new drop zone. His approach was described as straight in, with a bit of a toggle turn near the ground. Witnesses said he lifted his legs just prior to impact and struck the first jumper with his knees. The first jumper suffered extensive life threatening injuries and was transported by medevac helicopter. The second jumper suffered a serious back injury. Both jumpers are expected to recover. *** Lets hope they BOTH learn from this? - www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

You havent been to Lodi in sometime Grasshopper.... Both have been metal hangers for sometime. - www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

As skybytch said, everyone signed the waiver, and if there are people that are that dangerous on your DZ maybe the S&TA should have spoken to them. Everyone fucks up sometimes, and if it's correct that jumper #1 took both knees to the back after landing, was he running out of #2's way? or just standing there facing the wrong direction after landing and not looking at the other canopies landing as he should have been. You not safe till your in the hanger. Hopefully he will make a full recovery and heal fast. Best wishes to him. - www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

There was text on that flyer? - www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

Steve Thanks for the warning, but I dont think I'll ever have to worry about getting hurt that way. And thats GREAT you got that old flocker up in a wingsuit! - www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

It wasn't meant to be a joke on him, but on the article. I know Tim too. We were in Thailand together on the 357 way. I was spotting the right trail C130 and he was spotting the rear right trail C130. He's a good guy. - www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

I'd love to see that! Maybe he meant it the same as flips? But maybe he teaches some kinda secret shit during that "15 HOUR" course? - www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

Bravo. My thoughts exactly! - www.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com