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ShcShc11

What is it about Wingsuit flying that makes it so much more dangerous than skydiving?

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in reply to "This is a moot debate, throw your PC properly and maintain a symmetrical body position with closed legs on deployment and there is not an issue. I have over 1000 wingsuit flights with a normal container, pc and bridle and have no issues. Keep it simple and deploy properly.

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I had the very same idea, but I have to admit, a container has its part in the quality of deployment. With the very same canopy in a Javelin as tight fit, does not open as nice and clean than from a Vector II loose fit. "
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OK , I tried it today, ie attaching a handle to the base of the throwaway PC. I pitched from full flight and had a very similar deployment to the normal short bridle throwaway system ....ie unsatisfactory.

The PC was snatched out of my hand and travelled straight down the side of my leg where it went into the burble. I tucked my chin in a bit more and it lifted off clean enough.

My diagnosis?
Short , normal skydiving bridles really suck for wingsuiting...little matter where the handle is.
As you get better and the wingsuits bigger the short bridles just don't have the reach to get into clean air.
I know , I've tried to do as I'm told for too long. eg you won't need a different bridle if you pitch prorperly.
This is dangerous BS.
There's so much more to it than that.
People who do full shut down deployments may have fewer issues.

My cure , I listened to a wingsuiter who knew what he was talking about. He didn't tell me to pitch properly , as if I had forgotton how to :S

He told me to get a new long bridle and stop
$%#@in about. :$

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This is a moot debate, throw your PC properly and maintain a symmetrical body position with closed legs on deployment and there is not an issue. I have over 1000 wingsuit flights with a normal container, pc and bridle and have no issues. Keep it simple and deploy properly.



I actually have to agree with Trae on this one.

Normal container... fine.
Normal PC... great.
Normal bridle? Possible very not ok.

It depends what is meant by normal. I don't think there is really a standard for "normal" bridle length which is part of the problem. The most common seems to be 7' for "regular" containers, and I have used those successfully with many wingsuits. However, when I got a new Icon years ago, it came with a 6' bridle, and with the Super Mach 1 that I was flying at the time, there were VERY noticeable hesitations because of the 6' bridle. I flew it like that for many months and never had anything really bad happen other than being seated 500-700 feet lower than I intended... but it really wasn't smart. When I got it replaced with a 9' bridle, those problems disappeared immediately. I had hundreds of wingsuit jumps already at that time... I know how to throw a PC. :)
www.WingsuitPhotos.com

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Although there is no 'standard length,' I suspect most people have settled in on a 9'. We occasionally see longer bridles come through here, and have once seen a very interesting knot as (I believe) the result of a 12' bridle. I have a few videos of shorter bridles not only being caught in the burble, but also bouncing around near the head of the wingsuiter, which gives pause for those that are wearing cameras with long extension arms on the back of their helmets.

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in reply to "This is a moot debate, throw your PC properly and maintain a symmetrical body position with closed legs on deployment and there is not an issue. I have over 1000 wingsuit flights with a normal container, pc and bridle and have no issues. Keep it simple and deploy properly.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I had the very same idea, but I have to admit, a container has its part in the quality of deployment. With the very same canopy in a Javelin as tight fit, does not open as nice and clean than from a Vector II loose fit. "
...........................................

OK , I tried it today, ie attaching a handle to the base of the throwaway PC. I pitched from full flight and had a very similar deployment to the normal short bridle throwaway system ....ie unsatisfactory.

The PC was snatched out of my hand and travelled straight down the side of my leg where it went into the burble. I tucked my chin in a bit more and it lifted off clean enough.

My diagnosis?
Short , normal skydiving bridles really suck for wingsuiting...little matter where the handle is.
As you get better and the wingsuits bigger the short bridles just don't have the reach to get into clean air.
I know , I've tried to do as I'm told for too long. eg you won't need a different bridle if you pitch prorperly.
This is dangerous BS.
There's so much more to it than that.
People who do full shut down deployments may have fewer issues.

My cure , I listened to a wingsuiter who knew what he was talking about. He didn't tell me to pitch properly , as if I had forgotton how to :S

He told me to get a new long bridle and stop
$%#@in about. :$



I did jump WS with:
  • 32" F1-11 PC short bridle

  • 28" ZP PC long "Bird-Man" bridle

  • 24" ZP PC regular bridle


  • I got no hesitation what so ever.

    I prefer to pull from full flight.
    I fly X-Bird this days.....

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