0
moonglo

Houston Wingsuit Demos October 2009

Recommended Posts

I'm looking for bigway wingsuit pilots who are interested in jumping into NASA the weekend of Oct 23-25, 2009. The event is Ballunar Liftoff Festival, the aircraft will be a CASA, the flock will be up to a 30way formation in an attempt to set a TX state flock record, and the cost is TBA but usually around $125 for registration, admission to the festival, and 5-6 jumps (and huge Sat night pool partyB|). You must have at least a C license and meet the other USPA requirements for an open field demo to participate.

We're starting so early this year since Ballunar will be bigger than ever to make up for last year being cancelled due to Hurricane Ike!

If you are interested in receiving an official invitation (sent out in summer) please let me know, and please include your e-mail address if I don't already have it. Everyone who was invited last year is already on my list!

I'm also looking for a few wingsuiters for free demo jumps into Ellington Field the following weekend at Wings Over Houston Air Show. This is geared more towards Houston locals as we will be doing a 4way or 5way out of Al's 206. Unfortunately, this is the same weekend as the San Marcos Halloween Boogie. However, this will be the first time wingsuits are jumped into this event!!

For more info on these events check out their websites at www.ballunarfestival.com or www.wingsoverhouston.com Let me know if you have any questions!

-Jenn

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

Would rock to have all jumpers flying smoke...that would look insane on the ground..and even moreso on breakoffB|



You are welcome to jump smoke or streamers at Ballunar but must provide your own supplies and let me know you wish to do so. :)
In the past, Ballunar has been in August and we could only use the smoke under canopy since it was invisible in the super-high humidity...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
You know I'll be there. I moved to Houston last year and was excited about the 2008 event. I even had several people from FL and other states that were gonna come. Hopefully I can re-enlist them all for this fall. I work right across the street from the LZ so it will be interesting to have co-workers come out and watch.
www.WingsuitPhotos.com

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

It's almost Ballunar Liftoff Festival invitation time! If you want to flock over NASA I need your current e-mail address!!! Thanks :)



Hey Jenn, care to make a list of all the confirmed attendants you already have?

I know I know, it sounds like something Purple Mike would say. BUT... we need a good reason for people from out of state to come... and if they see how many you have so far they might be more willing. I know Scott Bland and Scotty B both expressed interest to me recently and I told them to get in touch with you!
www.WingsuitPhotos.com

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

no one is "confirmed" until Al has their registration in hand, but here's the list of those who were on my 2008 list and those who have expressed an interest to me as of today:

Jenn Hinson (LO)
Matt Hoover (video)
Bob Futrell
Purple Mike
Scott Bland
Susan Caracio
Alex Frey
Gray Mike
Nick Wright
Tom Rose
Bart Stonestreet
Pete Ritzou
Adrian Binnion
Guillaume Richard
Jason Romero
Stacey Carl
Kevin Orkin
Jimmy Rude
Scott Callantine
Scotty Burns
Steve Harrington
Ted Cheslek
Zach Schroedel
Tony R
Ed Cummings

:)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

we have 12 wingsuiters confirmed for the TX record attempt at Ballunar: B|
Jenn
Matt (video)
FlyinBob
Purple Mike
Scott Bland
Susan
Potter
Michal
Gray Mike
Adrian
Jason
Steve H

There are a few slots remaining on our load (CRW, FF, WS) contact me ASAP if you are interested in participating in the demo but not yet registered!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

I'll put some photos on my site soon. For now, here are two interpretations of "the grid." I'm not sure why 90 degrees is a requirement...



The idea is to fly the jumpers in the grid, not to distort the grid to where the jumpers end up.

Now, if AHEAD of time you said you were going to use a different grid and gave it to the judges, that would be different and maybe should be allowed, IMHO.
...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

Quote

I'll put some photos on my site soon. For now, here are two interpretations of "the grid." I'm not sure why 90 degrees is a requirement...



The idea is to fly the jumpers in the grid, not to distort the grid to where the jumpers end up.

Now, if AHEAD of time you said you were going to use a different grid and gave it to the judges, that would be different and maybe should be allowed, IMHO.



I'm in partial agreement with that, but the other interesting thing is that this group, even during dirt dives, kept creating diamonds and thinking they were square. When I would stand outside as they laid on the ground, I could see they were not square and instruct them where to move. But the take-home information here is that they were flying a diamond (rather than a square) not because of poor flying skills, but because of inability to estimate an angle with their eyes. And it seems to me that records should be more about flying skills. But, on the other hand... we are obviously already judging people on their ability to recognize distances (spacing) with their eyes, so by that logic I guess it might not be unreasonable to expect them to measure angles with their eyes too.
www.WingsuitPhotos.com

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
You bring up an interesting point... accidentally dirt-diving it into diamonds... Did you guys measure the distances on the ground when you were dirt diving it? Cause it might've still looked like diamonds from above even after you told people to move further. Maybe it's not so much about being able to judge angles as it is about getting used to a certain angle. Practicing it more on the ground, with rigs and wingsuits on, laying it flat on our bellies, and finding visual cues that enable us to find the same point in the sky. Stuff like "I'm supposed to see that much of his foot, and this part of his rig.. up to here.. " and other crap like that.

It seems to me that the angle is pretty much set by the first two people following the base. Row 2, or whatever you wanna call it. Everyone else mostly looks at distances and follows sight lines. So if you had flyers trying to correct the initial angle, the diagonal sight lines would get screwy.

By the way, good job guys! Nice formation. And sweet pictures (as always), Matt.
Looks like it was a fun boogie. Wish I could've come.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

Quote

Quote

I'll put some photos on my site soon. For now, here are two interpretations of "the grid." I'm not sure why 90 degrees is a requirement...



The idea is to fly the jumpers in the grid, not to distort the grid to where the jumpers end up.

Now, if AHEAD of time you said you were going to use a different grid and gave it to the judges, that would be different and maybe should be allowed, IMHO.



I'm in partial agreement with that, but the other interesting thing is that this group, even during dirt dives, kept creating diamonds and thinking they were square. When I would stand outside as they laid on the ground, I could see they were not square and instruct them where to move. But the take-home information here is that they were flying a diamond (rather than a square) not because of poor flying skills, but because of inability to estimate an angle with their eyes. And it seems to me that records should be more about flying skills. But, on the other hand... we are obviously already judging people on their ability to recognize distances (spacing) with their eyes, so by that logic I guess it might not be unreasonable to expect them to measure angles with their eyes too.



In Chicago Jeff laid down a grid of points on the ground in the correct geometry and had the jumpers lie on it.

Personally I wore a full-face helmet and had the angles marked on the face plate so I could align the marks on the people in the row in front.

(Dirt diving the wrong formation gets you no records in RW or VRW either)
...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

(Dirt diving the wrong formation gets you no records in RW or VRW either)



But in RW you can dive a circle or an oval, if you want. You're not constrained to certain angles.

If you do the same thing on the ground and in the air, how is that "wrong?"
www.WingsuitPhotos.com

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.

0