MichaelAbrams

Uh . . . 6.5? Perhaps "proabably" was even too strong a word. Shall I change it into "possibly" or just ditch this whole linear time thing altogether?

Looking into it directly . . . . . . ok, make it seven.

Bill Cole asked me to inform the populace at DZ.com that yesterday Andi Dachtler made what is probably the seventh chutless jump in history. You can find a few details on my blog: http://icarusreport.blogspot.com/ More to follow as I get the whole scoop.

Just saw your post . . . after some months. Sorry I didn't see it before. The book will have all the answers, but I should probably say you'll have to wait till May. It's true that the 72 out of 75 statistic is way off the mark. That seems to have come from an off the cuff remark from Red Grant. I guess he thought he was one of the three that lived but I've found a good handful of others.

Hello Skydivers, I'm that guy that some of you may know is writing a book about wingsuits, bat-wings, and tower jumpers. I'm very nearly completion, but unfortunately the chapter that I had hoped would be the most exciting and pivotal, the one about Patrick De Gayardon, is right now the weakest. So if anyone here knew Patrick and is willing to share anything they know about this life, his jumps, his wings, on the phone or through email, I’d greatly appreciate it. I have seen all of what I believe exists electronically and in print about Patrick, and am looking for that personal touch. His chapter should shine more than any other, I believe, as it’s thanks to him that so many can safely fly wingsuits today. Thanks for any help I get in advance, Michael mmabrams AT earthlink.net

Hello Skyflying Friends, Yes, I'm writing a book about birdmen of the past and present and I can use all the help I can get. If any of you have stories about how you got into it, tales of first flights or close calls, information about anyone doing new things with wings, "shop talk" about different brands of wings, or just inspirational jabber, I'd love to hear from you. I'm also looking for information about historical birdmen and possibly contact information for their relatives. Here's just the beginnings of a list of the pioneers I hope to find out about: Salvador Canarrozo, Rudolf Boehlen, Red Grant, Tommy Boyd, Don Molitar, Lyle Cameron, Manos Morgan, Tommy Boyd, Soro Rinaldi, Spud Manning, Red Digit, Harry Ward, John Carta and of course, Clem Sohn, Leo Valentin, and Patrick De Gayardon. If you know of any articles or any books about these people or of any important people I've left out, please let me know. (I do have a copy of Valentin's *Birdman* and Harry Ward's *Yorkshire Birdman*). For what it's worth, I'm the guy who wrote about Jari for Forbes FYI and about the Skyray for Wired. I'm not yet "one of you" but hope to be eventually. Please don't let my current outsider status scare you off. Thanks much and keep flying, Michael [email protected]

That's a long way off . . . they wouldn't give me a date. Red Bull bought one of a handful of handmade protypes. If you've got tons of money, or maybe a sponser, Mr. Geissler could possibly make you one.

Well, I hesitate to join the fray since I'm not yet a real skydiver, nevermind skyflyer, but I was just in Germany to check out the Skyray. The assesment above is correct. It's been clocked at 186 mph for about 2 minutes. They are negotiating with the German army, but I don't think it's gone much beyond that (they were a bit tight lipped about the whole thing). But those negotiations aren't holding up production--that's just a matter of funding and flying the thing enough times to call it safe.

I'm working on it! I'm doing my best to get someone else to foot the bill (just like I did the last one). Get back to me in a month. By the way, I did originally have you in the first paragraph of the story with your quote about wearing heals, but it got cut (blame the editors again). So you can keep your virgin. Sorry. With luck I'll get it in elsewhere (get back to me in a month).

Hey Kim, Thanks for calling me a nice guy! But I DID mention that 3 of those 4 deaths were BASE jumps: "Three of the four deaths attributed to the BirdMan suit occurred on jumps from stationary heights like cliffs or bridges." As for the "Almost all of his clients have lived to marvel at its wonders" I offer my apologies but would like to point out that the writer, whuffo though he is, did not write the "display copy". Blame the editors, I say, blame the editors. But come on, death-and-destrcution's good reading! Yours, Michael