This is the second installment in a three-part project where we explore wingsuits landing in water without intention. Conclusions have yet to be drawn, but we've got what we think are some good ideas and planned approaches.
Some of the video in this presentation has been slowed by 20% of original speed for purposes of examination.
“The average sky diver looks at BASE jumpers like they’re
crazy. And the average BASE jumper looks at me like I’m crazy.”
On April 20th 2002 in Deland, Florida, parachuting history was made when a skydiver in freefall made a controlled link-up with a skydiver under a fully open parachute.
Pioneer B.A.S.E. jumper Jeb Corliss and Go Fast!® - sponsored test pilot Luigi Cani, have paved the way for a world record landing attempt of a wing-suit—minus a parachute. Jeb and Luigi teamed up to gauge speeds and gather data to safely land Jeb's wing-suit. Testing was critical, as no one has ever survived a landing attempt without a parachute. Jeb flew in free fall donning a parachute alongside Luigi, who was at the controls of the world's smallest and fastest parachute—known as the ICARUS VX-39. The two were able to gather data using GPS systems attached to Luigi that tracked exact forward speeds, exact fall rate and glide angles needed for a safe landing.
After two days of test piloting, Jeb Corliss said landing the wing-suit was possible as early as next year.
With Costyn van Dongen (wingsuit), Bo Wienberg (canopy) and myself (wingsuit), we did some jumps, trying to fly as close as we can.
Bo flew the canopy with retracted front-risers, and came close to the speeds we're able to maintain with a wingsuit (though still a few MPH too slow to stay relative).
We decided to go for close flying, and (for now) not get into docks (as it would only be a slap on the hand).
Costyn sadly approach from the wrong angle, but did manage to shoot some nice footage from my approach to Bo's canopy.
The canopy was a PD (Performance Designs) Velocity (97 sq/ft).
The wingsuit a Birdman Blade. Shot late summer 2007.
West Coast Freefly Posse posted a video with some nice Canopy vs Wingsuit flying, including sustained docks. Really nice stuff!
This is a compilation of the latest footage of my mixed formation video log. In an effort to collect data on what makes mixed formation flights between a canopy and a wing-suit possible, we need to collect as much data as possible. Since this type of flying is still in its infancy, understanding all the variables involved becomes key.
CANOPY PILOTS
Niklas Daniel
Jonathan Tagle
WINGSUIT PILOTS
Barry Holybeck
David Gershfeld
Jeff Nebelkopf and jonathan Tagle flying a wingsuit and canopy together docked for project XRW. Advances in technology and skill allowed the wingsuit skydiver in freefall to match the slower vertical speed of the parachutist for more than 20 seconds. The wingsuit skydiver opened his own parachute before landing.
This is a compilation of the latest footage of my mixed formation video log. In an effort to collect data on what makes mixed formation flights between a canopy and a wing-suit possible, we need to collect as much data as possible. Since this type of flying is still in its infancy, understanding all the variables involved becomes key.
CANOPY PILOTS
Niklas Daniel
Jonathan Tagle
WINGSUIT PILOTS
Barry Holybeck
David Gershfeld
Just wanted to share a great shot from photographer Michael Clark. Miles, Mike and myself with families in tow had an epic journey this weekend. There truly are amazing cliffs to jump here in the good old USA. The Search is on for more.Check it out!
On the cover:
photo by Phil Peggs | C-36427
At Skydive Moab in Utah, Jonathan Tagle lands his canopy on wingsuiter Jeff Nebelkopf’s back as part of the Project XRW jumps held during the Operation Freefall event that raised funds for sexual assault prevention and healing programs. The full story appears on page 50.
Video of the jump here.For more information on June's Parachutist, click here.
We'd been doing some wingsuit water training and needed a fun break.So...this was the result.
This was shot with two hand-held cameras. A Sony NXCAM and a Canon 7D with a 55mm lens.
Practicing barrel rolls and backfly in a Phantom 2z wingsuit.
Flight with Lego and Norman, wearing Phoenix Fly Stealth wingsuit first time.
heres me on my new v3 . absolutly fantastic flight . super fast super smooth .
A fun jump I made with Ron Greven and Ronald Overdijk at Teuge today.
First skydiving video I took with my Canon 550D. It's with a 10-22 lens set at 21mm.
Nice exits, nice loops and rolls. Having fun alone in the sky with my Wingsuit S-fly Indy
A fun Saturday at Orange, VA - rolling around the sky in the new Phantom2 wingsuit, doing a rodeo, and chasing guys in tracking suits.
Camera and Editing: Andreea Olea
Music: Shiny Toy Guns - 'Major Tom'
Special thanks to Phoenix-Fly...
Tim West, aka Captain America, one of our HG friends, graduated from AFF with Ed Pawlowski last weekend, so to celebrate Arnel, Damien, and I went out to Lodi to see how high he would bounce..
First jump- Tim Solo, I wagered he lands in the accuracy gravel pit, he came within 20 feet, super impressive! and no grass stains! Arnel, Damien and i did a sit fly jump, arnel's rig looks like it's coming off.
2nd jump- Tim's first group jump, jump #8, Tim, Arnel and me managed to dock on Tim after he got done with his aerobatic routine. you're ready for the SF ballet Tim!
Jumps 3-4- wingsuit jumps with the Lodi possee...
This was originally intended as a submission for the Elsinore Echelon Film Festival; appearing now on YouTube. It didn't quite get finished.
A quick video I threw together of me and the Houston wingsuit crew goofing around. Enjoy!
Here is a link of one of my friends flying his ghost2 from the past year!!!
Flights with Loïc Jean-Albert "Zuuun", chopper jumps with the team, and stalking Vovonne, what was cool ... :)
A short video, showing some of the wingsuit flights made over Zwartberg (Belgium), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Texel (Netherlands) and Terni (Italy) with friends from the Ukraine, USA, France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Also a big section of 'Me TV' showing my Phoenix-Fly 'Shadow', and taking it through its paces. Enjoying how little input the suit needs to corner like an aerobatic aeroplane.
Most camerawork was done flying the Stealth2 (as I didnt have my Shadow yet at the time). Shot using a CX105 (CX100) Sony videocamera.
camera:
Jarno Cordia
Bart Vereecken
Michel Bonnard
editing:
Jarno Cordia
flylikebrick.com
airrebels.com
the record for being the youngest American to scale Mt. Everest and the youngest mountaineer in history to ascend the highest peak on each continent, the Seven Summits.
But he’s also an excellent wingsuit pilot. Last fall he spent a few months flying in Switzerland and exploring new exits points.
Joby has been flying S-fly for more than 2 years. He flies the Profly and the Expert. Joby particularly likes « the extra range and speed the Profly gives and it has a very stable flight close to big mountains ».
Here are some great shots he did, flying the Eiger East ridge.
Credit photos : Barry Holubeck
My first rodeo in Molinella (flygang)! Cavallini is on top, Calzolari si on video. Not bad!
1/2 May, 2010 - All you can Jump Animal House - The Boogie "The ZOO" - Terni
Birdeo with Brian. Gnarly exit that somehow pulled off. Ridiculous. Sorry for the focus...
Here I was just relaxing hanging out enjoying a nice cold Red Bull and a great view. When all the sudden some jerk in a flying squirrel suit rips past me doing about 100. Nice one Andy.
dedicato a tutti gli amici ...
Some shots of Team Oxygen at skydive Sevilla and skydive Hoevenen.
I wanted to see what would happen with a wingsuit in water, particularly a bigger suit.
We headed to a local swimming pool armed with a water-ready rig, three wingsuits, and a crew of curious people.
The results of the exercise were different than expected.
What we learned is this:
~First, unzip arms, legs, undo cheststrap while still under canopy (assuming there is time). Arms being free is the most critical part of this process.
~Cutting away your arms will definitely not help the situation, and may even make things worse because now you have large "wings" filled with water, and attached to your arms. Unzip, so your arms are free.
~Once you hit the water, force yourself onto your back. The rig will float. While leaning back, remove legstraps, then remove arms from wingsuit and harness. Then turn your body 180 from the container/canopy, and swim away on your back. This worked very well on a half-dozen jumps with different suits.
~DO NOT KICK your legs. Although water in the suit/tail is neutral, once its in motion, it will drag you down.
~Remain CALM. Breathe slowly and deeply. I feel this is one of the key elements to surviving a water landing.
-Your rig may be used as a flotation device (assuming there is a packed reserve inside). Get clear of your gear, but stay near it. You can ride the container for at least 30 minutes. The main canopy makes you easier to be spotted by rescuers. It will not drag you down, contrary to current dogma.
This is not to be construed as training. It was merely an exercise in curiosity and problem-solving for one person. View at your own risk.
Great mini-winter vacation in Switzerland with great friends. Don't get to fly the wingsuit off cliffs too often, but when I do there's very few things I'd rather be doing. Enjoy!!
Taylor
Some footage from a few weekends at Jumptown and Pepperell...enjoy!
Salto con el Wingsuit (Birdman Firebird-R) desde 12000 ft aproximadamente 1,5 millas de la DZ pasando sobre un pedazo de la laguna.
Jump with JB and Ludo
A TV station camera crew has captured a flying fish traveling through the air for 45 seconds, in what could be a new world record.
The footage was taken on Monday, from a ferry near Kuchino-erabu island in Kagoshima prefecture, southwestern Japan.
The fish flew alongside a ferry that was traveling at roughly 30 kilometers per hour. The fish was able to continue flying by occasionally beating the surface of the water with its tail-fin when its flight height became low.
An expert says the flight time beats the previous record of 42 seconds reported by an American researcher in the 1920s. He says the flight of 45 seconds must be close to the fish's biological limit, as brachial respiration is impossible while flying in air.
The FLB First Flight ChannelFLB FFC - Tom van Dijck
These images were shot on 25.04.10 over Schweighofen. The camera is a GoPro HD.
With my slot on the right, looking into the sun, the beautifull shots where a happy accident. Thanks you Susanne, Annette and Sandro for flying with me ;-)
The Ozone Team had a super fun trip to the Philippines. BASE jumping in downtown Manila, paragliding, speed flying and some formation wingsuit flights. Mike Steen, Mattt Gerdes, Carson Klein, Cade Palmer and Mathieu Rouanet rounded out the group. A big thanks goes out to Buko, Beng, Rose, Jun, Jason, JJ, Raffy, Edsel and everyone else who helped make the trip possible. John James was on scene to provide all the awesome outside video and helped direct the flow of the trip through his camera lens.
This was our third time attending the Flypa Flight Festival in the Canary Islands off the West coast of Africa. Wingsuits, paragliders, single parachute skydives, speed flying wings and more! Featuring Mike Steen, Carson Klein and others.
Courtesy Chuck Priest
Chuck Priest soars above Oahu's North Shore
in his experimental wing suit.
No, it's not a bird, a plane
or Superman. But the man of
steel might want to buy one
of Chuck Priest's suits.
By Stephanie Kendrick
Assistant Features Editor
Chuck Priest and Flip Hollstein look like wannabe super heroes as they parade out to the Dillingham Airfield and Gliderport in Mokuleia.
The sky divers are modeling two generations of Priest's wing suit, a design intended to turn diving into soaring.
Priest has taken up the work of his mentor, champion French sky diver Patrick de Gayardon.
De Gayardon was a part-time Hawaii resident and partner in Pacific International Skydiving Center. He died at Mokuleia just over a year ago after a last-minute adjustment he had made to his suit fouled the lines of his parachute.
A pioneer in the sport, de Gayardon was refining the wing suit design. The suit was developed by the military but had not been used by sport sky divers since the 1930s when early models proved too dangerous.
The idea behind the suit, on which wings of fabric extend from the arms to the torso, is to allow sky divers to trap air and glide, slowing their fall.
Of course, they still fall. At a rate of about one foot down for every two forward, according to Priest.By Ken Sakamoto, Star-Bulletin
Sky diver Flip Hollstein and designer Chuck Priest model
two versions of Priest's wing suit, which allows skydivers
greater mobility and more time in the air.
But the lift afforded by the wing suit allows for greater horizontal movement and more daring acrobatics.
"The suit is as acrobatic as you would dare to be," said Priest.
Sky divers using the suit have been clocked at speeds of 42 to 200 miles per hour. They can even pull into a stall.
"You put the wings out and it's so quiet you can hear yourself laughing," said Priest.
De Gayardon's apprentice, Adrian Nicholas, has been working on the wing suit design in France. He and Priest are not collaborating.
In a recent 13,000-foot jump, Nicholas flew 4.3 miles in his wing suit before deploying his parachute. It was a world record Priest hopes to break in the next few weeks.
It's an ambitious goal for someone who has been sky diving for less than four years.
An interest in film and stunt work attracted Priest to sky diving, as it had to ballet, dirt biking, martial arts and other disciplines.
Priest and his then bride-to-be learned to sky dive for $500 each. "Hawaii is the cheapest place to learn how to sky dive" he said. At the time, mainland schools were charging up to four times that amount, he said.
Although he was schooled in clothing design and had owned a business doing wedding gowns and evening dresses, when Priest moved to Hawaii seven years ago he made his living doing massage and carpentry.
By Ken Sakamoto, Star-Bulletin
Designer Chuck Priest suits up in the most recent design.
A highly engineered garment, the sky suit makes for greater
comfort in mid-air, but it's a bit awkward on the ground.
The first couple of years he was sky diving he would go to the field and swap massages for jump tickets.
Then he decided to try his hand at jump suits and pants.
His first set of suits were awful, said Priest, but his technique improved.
Priest founded Da Kine Rags Hawaii and has made about 580 pieces out of his Manoa home in the last year and a half.
He began by doing all the work himself. Then his wife quit her job and came on board. Now he has two more employees and is looking to hire four or five sewers by the end of the month.
It's not easy work. Priest has trained 10, but none have been able to work fast enough, or clean enough.
Priest is working to take the wing suit design a step further and make it structurally more like an aircraft than a suit.
The wing suits are not available for purchase, rather Priest is recruiting professionals to test prototypes. He also is looking into establishing guidelines for use of the suit.
"The soaring suit is an avenue that is going to go more and more mainstream," said Priest.
And, like any extreme sport, that means people will try it who should not.
Emergency systems are built into the suit. Parts of it can be removed quickly if they get in the way of the chute or hamper movement. But all he can do is make it as safe as possible and realize he cannot anticipate all the dangers, said Priest.
Champion sky surfers Marcus Heggli and Oliver Furrer are testing Priest's suits on the pro circuit, competing in France and Switzerland.
Heggli recently flew Priest's suit for three minutes before deploying his parachute from a height that would normally yield a free fall of 45 to 60 seconds.
With the wing suit, skydiving becomes high-speed gliding, said Priest.
"It's the next step closer to human flight," he said.
And Priest hopes to get closer still.
His ultimate goal is to design a suit sky divers can land without a chute.
The problem is gravity. "It's got you doing 100 mph down or across," he said.
Priest laughs at his own audacity, but it is the laugh of a man who thinks he just might pull it off.
© 1999 Honolulu Star-Bulletin
http://archives.starbulletin.com
This is my short film in memory of a great friend and an awesome person - Mike Warren. Mike was a funny and friendly bloke I met whilst in Spain skydiving, we became friends very quickly, and subsequently spent 3 weeks drinking copious amounts and skydiving till we dropped. We have been good friends since. Mike sadly suffered a fatal BASE jumping accident in Norway, and was quickly taken from all of us, we will never forget Mike or who he was. Rest in peace my good friend, see ya flip side!
Another fun year in the Canary Islands. Carson Klein, Kevin Hintze and Mike Steen throwing down on an island off the west coast of Africa.
Mike Steen, Mattt Gerdes and Liv Sansoz traveled to Norway in August 2009 to visit some of the biggest cliffs in the world
First time with wristmounted camera on a wingsuit-flight. Just for fun!
Birdman Ben v.d. Belt, Skydive Teuge, 29 april 2010
Landing after skydive with wingsuit with Tom Couwenhoven on my back. Skydive Teuge, 29 april 2010
A special happy message for Rhoda, after landing the wingsuit (by parachute of course)
Another Epic year thanks to Remo and the crew at the BaWue Airgames. Ellen Brennan, Carson Klein, Mattt Gerdes, Scotty Freeland and Mike Steen put on a show never before seen over the Black Forest. Enjoy!
24 Hours in Florida can only mean two things.. Jesus and Wingsuits!
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