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chrisgray

Birds welcome at SD Orange!!

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Any birds want to come out to Skydive Orange (VA) on Sunday May 6th?

Keep in mind that bird people are welcome to SD Orange any time!!!

I am organizing a group of non-skydiving friends to make tandems that day but want some wingsuit people to flock with.

Bob, I know you will be at Orange that weekend! You too Stoney & Brandon!!

-Chris-
WSI-6 / PFI-55
The Brothers Gray Wingsuit Academy
http://www.myspace.com/cgwingsuitpilot
http://www.myspace.com/thebrothersgray

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Bob, I know you will be at Orange that weekend! You too Stoney & Brandon!!



Yes, I'll be there, but Friday and Saturday are my DZ days. I have to go to a banquet Sat nite, and there are some events on Sunday morning and early Sunday afternoon that I need to be present for. I have a flight back from Richmond at 6:30pm. Try to arrive earlier on Sat if you can.

BF

Old Guys Rock!

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Ok .... you are making me jelous now. I will see what I can do to make it.

I have some other activities the weeks prior to and after this date.

Have lots of fun guys. Perhaps Orange can become the next flocking center for the mid-atlantic.
WSI-5 / PFI-51 / EGI-112 / S-Fly
The Brothers Gray Wing Suit Academy
Contact us for first flight and basic flocking courses at your DZ or boogie.
www.thebrothersgray.com

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Yeah I still have all the same suits I used to.. so if you haven't put on any more weight than last time I think I have one that will fit you :)

What's with all this fatboy crap.. you become a doctor or whatever and thus become a bum?



Hahaha, I don't exactly have the best diet (hospital food) or time to exercise anymore :P But I'm not too bad.......that original one you taught me my first flight in ...... so.....tight.......:P

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OK...so here is the latest WS fun at Skydive Orange.

On larger tracking dives I join them for some swoopage. Generally flying several high speed passes around the group. First pass I think about 60-80 mph closing speeds and swooping about 30 feet in front of lead tracker. So much fun for me and it seems to scare the shit out of the trackers on the first pass.

Now all I need is a couple wingmen and we dive bomb it as a group.

Hope to see more birdies at Orange soon!!!

-Chris-
WSI-6 / PFI-55
The Brothers Gray Wingsuit Academy
http://www.myspace.com/cgwingsuitpilot
http://www.myspace.com/thebrothersgray

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On larger tracking dives I join them for some swoopage. Generally flying several high speed passes around the group. First pass I think about 60-80 mph closing speeds and swooping about 30 feet in front of lead tracker. So much fun for me and it seems to scare the shit out of the trackers on the first pass.

Now all I need is a couple wingmen and we dive bomb it as a group.

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Careful... The tandem masters are extremely wary of wingsuiters at Orange. Make sure everyone on the tracking dive knows your plans and can 'opt out' if they are not comfortable with what you are going to do.

Orange seems to err on the side of caution on safety issues.

What do you call a beautiful, sunny day that comes after two cloudy, rainy
ones? -- Monday.

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your comments remind me of the attitude Z-hills had just as our numbers started to grow...the TI's were VERY weary of us....
Now they REQUEST us to zoom them!B|

So, here's what worked for us:
1: SAFETY FIRST!
2: get them up and flying a wingsuit with you
3. never allow someone with low jump numbers and/or skills to zoom them.
4. follow up the jump with a chat to make sure they are still comfortable with it

over time, if they know you're safe and at least as cautious as they are, they will begin to see the way of the wing...:)
be safe guys...not toooooo close!;)

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Yes, Matt, I mean flying circles around the tracking group.

I am in agreement on the safety concerns. Safety is of the greatest importance. The tandem masters at Orange have come to request a flyby whenever I am on the plane.

The people organizing the tracking dives usually invite me to come along. These tracking dives are well dicussed in advance and all jumpers are aware of me and know what my approach and flight plan is. I also give the group ample time to tighten up into a formation before I begin my approach so that I am not flying by any straglers.

I hope to promote WS jumping in a safe manner. I absolutely do not want to put a bad light on WS flying.

Thanks for the concern.

-Chris-
WSI-6 / PFI-55
The Brothers Gray Wingsuit Academy
http://www.myspace.com/cgwingsuitpilot
http://www.myspace.com/thebrothersgray

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There was an initial reluctance when Kevin and I were jumping wingsuits at Orange several years back. However, once they realized we were not maniacs zooming around without care for others safety, they became quite comfortable with wingsuits and flybys.

Like most things in skydiving, once people get to know the individual and their habits and you earn their trust, they are more willing to ask you on the dive or to buzz them under canopy, etc.
"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required"
Some people dream about flying, I live my dream
SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING

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Yes, Matt, I mean flying circles around the tracking group.



Keep in mind that unless you can count every single person in the entire group, and have them all in your sight, there is always the chance that somebody is high and your circular path will bring you into a head-on collision. It can be safely done I guess, but I've never liked this idea in general.
www.WingsuitPhotos.com

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Yes Matt. I agree with your view.

I think that before you join such a tracking dive you need to consider both the size of the tracking dive and the skill level of each individual. If the group is too large or there are people who are not strong and consistent trackers than it should be avoided.

Thanks for everyones views. These discussions are good for all of us who fly wingsuits.

-Chris-
WSI-6 / PFI-55
The Brothers Gray Wingsuit Academy
http://www.myspace.com/cgwingsuitpilot
http://www.myspace.com/thebrothersgray

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Yes Matt. I agree with your view.

I think that before you join such a tracking dive you need to consider both the size of the tracking dive and the skill level of each individual. If the group is too large or there are people who are not strong and consistent trackers than it should be avoided.

Thanks for everyones views. These discussions are good for all of us who fly wingsuits.

-Chris-



Fucking dirty WS scaring me on that tracking dive.

You're the reason I took out the leader at the end.

/yeah, that sounds like a good excuse......

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I had a good visit to Skydive Orange VA this weekend, despite the weather. Mike, Ned, and the others were very hospitable, and the facilities make it a first class club!

Unfortunately, the ceiling remained at 5500' so we only got some low jumps in from the Cessna on Friday (but I did ~40 secs from 5300' in my Phantom, and some self-geek video!). Rained Sat and although crystal clear on Sunday, it was 25+ winds so nothing to do but watch videos and talk jumping most of the weekend.

I did do some FFC instruction for Juan on Friday, but we did not finish as we could not get altitude for FFC completion. He'll be a great flyer after training and some flights. Good body for wingsuit flying - 6'4" and lanky with good strength.

Chris, good to see you again - last was FND3 at ZHills. Hope you get to Texas for Skyfest in July. It'll be grand - it's like a carnival for jumpers, many different and interesting things to do. Lot's of different aircraft, and lots of different jumpers.

Thanks for all the help and hospitality guys!

Regards,
BF FlyinBob D-5526 PFI-37

Old Guys Rock!

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Hey Bob. It was great having you here. Sorry that the weather was poop the whole time. It still was alot of fun. You missed an awesome Cinco de Mayo party on Saturday night. Lets just say that I was not in the best of shape on Sunday morning...haha.

See you at Skyfest. We need all the birdmen & birdwomen we can get. Perhaps we can do a Texas WS record!!!

-Chris-
WSI-6 / PFI-55
The Brothers Gray Wingsuit Academy
http://www.myspace.com/cgwingsuitpilot
http://www.myspace.com/thebrothersgray

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