Paulipod

The current speed setting is restricted to 138mph and we have measured up to this... But as I mention, this is kind of a pointless figure to know. Itt doesnt compare at all with fall speed in the sky where air density is different through altitude... and it certainly isnt comparible between tunnels of different diameters... where pressure and flow speed are factors. Bodyflight Bedford www.bodyflight.co.uk

I think I am getting a reputation as a nerd It isnt really totally relevant a figure when discussing wind speed etc - because the way that you percieve speed in a tunnel is actually a combination of flow and pressure.... Think of a pea-shooter.. put a small pea in there and it takes a large blow to get it to move! put a big pea in the tube and a small amount of air will get the pea travelling fast. Our current setting for top speed is fast enough for me to get close to a stand... and not being the lightest guy for most people this would be too much.

We have kept the original speed range as a 'low power' option so that everyone can still do the same with no confusion.... but have added a 'high power' range that goes up alot more In reality I think we have only had a handful of people that would ever have wanted to go faster - so we use the new settings in that situation only Bodyflight Bedford www.bodyflight.co.uk

Not for the speed increase... Improving the hydraulics was new equipment etc but just an adjustment for the max prop pitch.

Ok, weve finished our modifications a day early... with all testing complete of our new settings. Just for those that didnt know what we have been planning - when we opened the tunnel we restricted the power settings to a max of 1200KW (out of a possible 3.2MW) because we didnt think much more was needed. Most people can sit / headdown with our previous settings but a little more is nicer - so we have been de-restricting some of the power today. We have also improved our hydraulics control to allow for faster speed changes (under 2 secs for all changes) We may get to the point where we are happy and just leave it.... but its a bit like our baby at the moment and we want it wearing the best Nike trainers

Nice Job! Thats pretty quick by any standard... can tell you werent in the UK weather at the moment!

No need to apologise! Our intention for startup was not to go overboard with advertising etc. As a new business we want time to increase and round our processes etc. Too much too soon generally causes problems in the beginning. The reality has been however that we have all been run of our feet with the amount of people wanting to fly. Over the next few months we may start to publicise more and we are planning some events etc. Our members scheme will launch soon too. Overall there are alot of people that can be introduced to bodyflying and as a sport in its own right I am sure there will be large progressions over the next few years.

lol.. Youd think they would either talk to yourself or some tunnels before running a competition?! But I guess if they are just going to buy some time then they can do it. A bit of a backwards way of doing it to me though... Bodyflight Bedford www.bodyflight.co.uk

Ahh... got me... just didnt want to not give the benefit of the doubt when I havent tried all the others... Would be interested to get views of people that have flown in Bragg and Eloy given the size/power etc are thought to be similar?

It's easier to build a website than a tunnel for sure Bodyflight Bedford www.bodyflight.co.uk

I would probably say not... and the fact that it has been built does not really change the qualifier of 'its kind' Its kind is a recirculating wind tunnel that people fly in. Bar the specific design and who made it the facilities perform the same task etc Our facility was purpose modified which really isnt alot different.... just less work! At best all the recent articles are grossly misleading which personally I wouldnt say is cricket Saying something like 'Its the first tunnel made by me in Europe' may well be factually correct but is a little misleading You can always trust the press to try and make things sound more exclusive than they probably are though Bottom line is its all good press - and as long as people find out about bodyflying all will benefit I guess

Bugger... wish I'd have thought of that Bodyflight Bedford www.bodyflight.co.uk

Hey - just remember that you need to fly differently with the camera on in the tunnel as a courtesy to those people who you will be showing the video to later!! I have been unfortunate enough to try and watch one of Fabians tunnel videos and it was all I could do not to fall over and throw up! Bodyflight Bedford www.bodyflight.co.uk

All I will say is... Bodyflight Bedford www.bodyflight.co.uk

Cheers Phil Interesting to see feedback... more useful to work on than 'we had a blast'' Also good for us to know where to set the limits - presently we have restricted our power to about 40% of the motors capacity. We did this to ensure safety... but if a few more % are needed then better we get the comments! Our fan blades will be freed up a little more shortly so hopefully something you prefer then

And you!

Hi peeps... For anyone interested (and within a reasonable distance of us!) we are going to recruit two more part time instructors to our staff. For anyone that has sent a CV previously.... we will be going through these and we have a short-list from there already for interview so no need to send us again.... (contact will be made within a week) For those that are interested send us your CV by post or email as we will be holding interviews very soon

Ahh... I see where youve gone wrong - not used to having the temp just right!!

Would it be off to tease you playfully about the fact that we are lovely and warm with climate controlled air? Bodyflight Bedford www.bodyflight.co.uk

I can think of a few reasons I wouldnt go to paper with this as an idea.... but I like your train of thought! lol The vertical height of such a building would be huge - add alot of cost the higher you build. You would only be able to control one speed for either group of flyers - not nice if you have a big guy at the bottom for the small girl in the top tunnel Same issues really as the idea of multiple levels of flying also - sounds on the surface like a money saver but not sure of the practicalities

Slightly larger file - so be patient if you have a slow connection! www.bodyflight.co.uk/video/freeforall.mpg Bodyflight Bedford www.bodyflight.co.uk

Hi, It is being worked on.... but in the meantime I'll throw up a couple of rough and ready clips for ya www.bodyflight.co.uk/video/4wayhd.mpg I have another one uploading at the moment (a bit bigger) so will let you have the link when its done

Hey Ron, This is the thing I hate about forum posts - so hard to make people understand what you mean in a concise way! I was not in any way trying to put down Bragg - in fact I looked at it alot while planning our project because I know it sets a high standard technically.... I just wanted to explain that the walls are not the thing that makes the airflow good or bad... this kind of misconception makes people judge things unfairly. I dont believe at any point to have claimed superiority (although I may teasingly hint at it) - and I have not personally measured flow quality in Bragg or any other tunnel than ours! We are happy for the flyers to decide where they like. I know technically we have delevered all we can so am happy that time will tell.

Dawn - dont get me at all wrong here... I am starting to love you dearly.... but you are way off base with some of the physics principles involved here. Air is Air... the way it behaves is the same for people the world over.... there is nothing special that can be done to it... There is no way to stop the air quality degrading once the walls are gone. Without the walls in any tunnel the air quality reduces the higher from the jet you go... it just comes down to ability to measure it (which a human body is not so good at) The air quality is as good as it has been conditioned to be regardless of walls etc. Fort Bragg may well have good quality air at the jet (just like alot of other VWTs also) The fact that is doesnt have walls is nothing special - no clever science - just a design feature of the chamber. Bodyflight Bedford www.bodyflight.co.uk

Easier to maintain? - this all makes not alot of sense to me. If the air is laminar it is laminar at the start of the test section (flight chamber whatever) Are you guys suggesting they do something mystical to the air properties that makes having no wall there possible?! cus that really is bizarre. If you take a straight column of air (of good quality) and remove the walls after a while you will get lost pressure further away from the jet... not too noticable in a few meters for sure. There is no magic going on at Ft Bragg.... so like I said - walls or no walls much the same. Bodyflight Bedford www.bodyflight.co.uk