First Annual Invitational Robben Island Flight of Freedom

Until very recently, when people skydived, the distance across the ground they would be able to cover in free-fall was limited. In the past two years, however, a specialised jumpsuit manufacturer has developed a jumpsuit with wings that creates a similar effect in freefall that flying squirrels or bats experience – namely the ability to glide long distances.

This is cutting edge stuff. The suits themselves have been around for only about two years. In that time a considerable amount has been learnt about the gliding aerodynamics of people in freefall. Recently, a group of skydivers managed to glide with their Birdman suits from the island of Texel to mainland Holland - a relatively short distance by comparison to the four-mile wide strait between Robben Island and Big Bay, Blouberg Strand.

The organisational and logistical plans are already advanced for this event, which by its nature, should attract considerable media exposure. Robben Island, because of its infamous history during apartheid, is indelibly associated with freedom. Such a large distance over an open body of water has never before been crossed by a group of people in freefall before. It is theoretically possible, as similar distances have been managed by a few people over land.

A selection of local and international birdmen will be invited – comprising some of the top names in the world in this new discipline, including Max Dereta, one of the world’s top freefall videographers. He will be able to supply digital, broadcast-quality, in-air footage of the crossing for a documentary on the Robben Island Flight of Freedom.

The cost of staging the event properly and producing the documentary has so far put it beyond the reach of the organiser, Graham Hoal, South Africa’s most experienced Birdman Suit flyer. Hoal is also the world record distance holder with a winged suit. Sponsorship could turn it from being simply a phenomenal feat into a media event. The event is being planned for early January.

The Birdman Suit
Man’s desire to fly has been around for centuries and only in the past 18 months has it become possible to begin realising this dream. The manufacturer of the Birdman Suit has pooled the knowledge built up in skydiving circles and produced a jumpsuit that substantially reduces fallrate and radically increases forward speeds and glide rates. It is believed that within the next decade, as understanding of small aerodynamics increases, it may be possible to land a suit such as this. That is not yet possible, but already normal freefall speeds have been more than halved to under 70km an hour, while forward speeds of close to 200 km/hr have been registered.

The Jump
The skydivers will take off from Ysterplaat Air Force Base in Cape Town, climb to an altitude of 16 000 feet, and exit over the harbour on the eastern side of Robben Island. They will aim for Blouberg Beach on the west side of the Blue Peter Hotel. The flight will last more than two minutes and by then they should have opened their parachutes above the mainland.

More Event News (45)

• Anomaly Insomnia Camp #3, Orlando FL - Friday, March 5, 2004
  
• Skydive Chicago 2004 All-American Spring Skydiving Expo - Thursday, March 4, 2004
  
• Accept The Skyventure Challange - Wednesday, November 19, 2003
  
• 500 Jumps in 24 Hours? - Friday, October 24, 2003
  
• Flyboyz Film Festival 2003 (X-FEST) - Sunday, October 5, 2003
  
• 100 Way Belgian Record Attempt - Tuesday, June 17, 2003
  
• Balloon Skydive Records set in the Netherlands - Wednesday, May 21, 2003
  
• Big Way Camp, Perris, California June 26-29th - Sunday, May 4, 2003
  
• Women's Freefly World Record Attempt - Sunday, April 13, 2003
  
• The 300 Way - From a pilot's point of view - Friday, January 17, 2003