1 1
the.Legend

Why backflip exit from Skyvan?

Recommended Posts

As the guy above hinted, this is a pretty stupid idea. I have 1200 WS jumps and I wouldent do that. The problem is when you have that many people that close doing intentionally unstable exits, there is a high probability of a collision and collisions in wingsuits, even from close distances, can result in neck breaking forces very easily. The guy in the link above was doing a 4-way exit (normal exit, not backflips like these guys) and he died from a collision on the exit. In general you should not launch more than two wingsuiters at a time in a Skyvan and both should be solid fliers. If someone is new or they are going to do an erratic exit, they should exit first (in the WS group) and alone.

As far as WHY they did it. My guess, show off for the video. There is no performance-related reason to do an exit like that during a race. If you want to exit head down, you can do that from any aircraft without doing a backflip. A head down exit is not actually that hard.

Edited by 20kN
  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

If you're racing down a slalom course created by helicopters that suspend the "gates", you have to be able to see the course to spot.  If the skyvan is flying in the same direction you are going to fly your wingsuit, you can't see the approach and you can't spot and you can't exit at the right time.  If the skyvan flies along the course the other way, you can see the entire course before you exit but, a standard wingsuit exit will mean you're flying under the skyvan away from the course...you'd have to turn 180 degrees to approach the course.  This "backflip" exit means your line of flight is opposite the skyvan and appropriately toward the first gate. 

Never personally competed but I believe this is the reasoning.

Edited by stevemeg

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

it's a gainer exit. Advantage is that you stand there and see the dz and fly straight towards it half a second later by doing that gainer. We just did it for fun in the old days. It flips you automatically around so you fly 180 back home. We did it like on the video, multiple guys side by side, plus also multiple rows for a big formation. Of course some got e.g. a foot to the face and a bloody nose and what not... We did not have any severe issues as I recall it, But glad we don't do it anymore

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

1 1