megamalfunction

500 feet is roughly two football fields. So yes, when I see tandems I am most likely 500 feet away or so and pull. That seems to be what the USPA is suggesting others do as well. However, if you want to fly around the tandems I'm sure that's fine as long as you keep 500 feet of distance from the tandems. Who knows, maybe you've got a lot more wing than I do and can easily fly around them. What you should not do is this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6a63fbqnNQ

I think this is just a common sense rule. At the end of most wingsuit flights you will likely see some tandems. Personally, I would just take that as a good cue to pull, but maybe some people need this rule because they don't have any sense... It's Time to Buzz the Tandem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FUSKahthlQ

Maybe you just had bad luck and missed them. Keep trying. I ordered some incompatible risers for my rig from chutingstar, and they did a wonderful job of shipping me a different set when I contacted them over the phone.

I might try to take up rigging myself. That would be a great way to stay involved somewhat and keep progressing.

Thanks for all the advice. When my son gets a little older, and my wife gets better, maybe I can sneak off to make some jumps like when I was young and reckless :)

"Gravity isn't going anywhere" Thanks! That's inspirational :)

I wish that someone would have told me that buying a rig really only pays off if you plan on making a whole lot of jumps. For example, a new rig costs roughly $6,345. Assuming a cost of $35 per rig rental, you would need to make over 180 jumps before you would see any savings. Sure you can buy a used rig. I paid $4000 for my rig 5 years ago. However, a used rig isn't going to last as long because parachutes are a depreciable asset. In my opinion, used rigs aren't really that great of a deal. Honestly, renting a rig is probably better unless your making hundreds of jumps a year. So, that's just my 2 cents. If you've got $4 to $6 grand to spend on a rig then maybe it's a good idea. But you could also just rent gear. For $775 a year you could make a jump every month. Or for $1,550 you could jump twice a month, or once every other week. Over the past 8 years i think I averaged about 19.5 jumps a year. I could have made just as many jumps renting gear for the same amount of money. Now I'm left with a container / reserve that's too small, and a main that's too old. Just something to consider! Either way, Blue Skies!

I've been skydiving for ten years now, having made my first jump (a tandem) when I was 18. Two years later I made my first solo jump, and last year made my first wingsuit jumps. I've always planned to be a "lifer", but a few weeks ago I became a father and last week my wife had a stroke. She is currently incapacitated. I don't think I'll be able to take care of my wife and child while still keeping up my skydiving habit. Obviously, I'm having a hard time with my wife's serious medical condition. But I'm also having a hard time with giving up skydiving. It has become apart of my identity. Has anyone else ever gone through something like this before?

I'm pretty sure Robert Pecnik of Phoenix-Fly was behind the original birdman designs. If you liked the old birdman suits, then you should check out Phoenix-Fly.

The original Point Break was incredible because it was directed by Academy Award winning director Kathryn Bigelow. It was a work of art, unlike the garbage that's in theaters right now.

I was on that load and happened to see their deployment as I was last out in my wingsuit. It was one "No shit, there I was, I thought I was going to die..." story if I ever saw one.

"It's not flying; it's falling with style."

You don't have to spend ridiculous amounts of money and/or time at the dropzone. You'll probably make a better husband making 50 jumps a year, than 200+ a year. If you're a fun jumper (not professional) making 1000 skydives a year, you're probably not going to make a very good husband/boyfriend.

I believe in you Zachanonymous.

Feel free to comment

Tracking dives are very helpful. The flight pattern that you'll fly on a tracking dive is essentially the same pattern that you'll fly with your wingsuit.

I was just wondering if anyone knows if S-Fly is still making their suits out of "crinkly" material? Their prices seem very competitive. However, I really don't want to purchase another "crinkly" sounding suit.

I did a similar analysis a while back using total miles driven per year versus the number of traffic fatalities per year here in the United States, compared to the total number of skydives made versus fatalities (in the US) and came to a similar conclusion. The number I came to was 1,000 miles. Skydiving is about as dangerous as driving 1,000 miles in your car.

Found pics: http://blueskiesmag.com/2014/08/08/httptinyurl-comtsr2b2/ http://blueskiesmag.com/2014/12/12/tony-suits-releases-new-wingsuit-the-foghead/

Anyone have pictures of the foghead? I'd like to check it out. Also, does anyone know the price?

That's badass. I hope someone comes up with a helmet like that for the new "Hero Session".

"Wow, that was high speed!" - Lance Kirwin

I agree, the D License requirements should definitely be changed. Night wingsuit jumps should certainly be added as a requirement for the expert parachutist rating.

It doesn't sound like your instructor did anything negligent to me. From your account, it appears he handled the situation like a PRO.

Here is a picture of the setup potatoman was suggesting, also from United Parachute Technologies. This would probably be the best way to go.