dploi

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Posts posted by dploi


  1. Quote

    Hey,

    I noticed that some wingsuits don't seem to inflate (or am I wrong).

    For example some Birdman suits and S-fly ones.. They just seem like a simple piece of cloth with no air inside them, while wingsuits like Raptor, Vampire 3 seem very puffy and full of air inside them, fully inflated...

    Why's that?

    The inlet could be as small as a cigarette burn and the suit would inflate, as proven with the "smoke pants" of a few years ago. They all inflate.

  2. Yeah, 2.0 + a bit may be the recommended optimum wingloading for performance, but it doesn't compromise safety or fun. Echoing what's been said, one should only change type or size when moving up the performance ladder. Once this change of type (crossbraced) is dialed in, then it's time to start moving down sizes until hitting the sweet spot, if that's even a goal here.

  3. Quote

    picking a canopy to swoop, either for competition or beer line, basically comes down to preference, feel, and how much bullshit they can put up with when dealing with a manufacturer/ rep. But once you do pick a canopy the dive and the roll-out are arguably the most important aspects of a swoop. the dive obviously gets you the speed to swoop but the ability to control the roll-out and maintane that speed is what lets you go as far or as fast as you do. if you're low or high obviously you're going to go slower or not as far, so having the proper roll-out is crucial to a good swoop. On the Velo the roll-out portion tends to be a little bit longer then the JVX just because of the different platforms, but when done properly on both they'll go nearly identical distances as shown at the last world championships. an easy way to look at the differences in how each canopy reacts in the roll-out is timing them, i've noticed on the Velocity a good time range for a roll-out is 2.5-3, maybe a little more if you're really highly loaded. while on the jvx a 1.5-2 second roll-out is not uncommon for good results.


    Well said. I for one am all about the experience, not the competition. I just plain enjoy the longer dive more. I guess I sort of look at the "roll out"... the bit of a swoop between the dive and the plane out, as the best part -- the roller coaster ride. The Velo feels like a bigger drop.

  4. What Ian said.

    The Velo flies differently than anything else out there. It flies very fast, very steep, dives forever, and is extremely sensitive to any sort of input. It's a much "twitchier" ride than its counterparts. It requires input pretty much constantly through a HP landing, where as the VX, Xaos 27, etc, tend to "fly themselves" / "turf surf" for a moment a bit after the recovery arc (which is significantly shorter). Also, the Velo's real power lies beyond the 270, whereas the others tend to yield about the same results from 270 and up.

    It's two totally different styles of flying and it really comes down to what you enjoy and what your canopy progression was. Velocity flight is an acquired taste for sure, and I'd dare say more work to dial in than the other HP canopies on the market, but IMO, the personal reward and satisfaction you get when it finally "clicks" is huge.

  5. Quote

    Someone may be of a differing opinion, but IMO, legwing quick release system is for landing when you couldn't unzip the zipper or didn't have time to get it undone.

    Exactly. Very handy for BASE jumps. Though you usually don't even need to get out of the leg wing under a BASE canopy for most landing areas.

  6. Quote

    Please post here yours WS-experience concerning gainer-exits. Safety rules? Specials?

    Just relax and hop out as if you're going into a pool feet first. Nothing too drastic, just hop a couple feet out (*not up*). The wind will flip you around. Stay symmetrical and *relaxed* the whole way through the rotation.

    Don't even bother out of a side door aircraft... no point there. Great for a tailgate, though.

    Note: this advice is aimed towards a first gainer exit.

  7. Man, I wish I had photos from the last DeLand trip. 10,000'+ tall clouds, man. The tops were at exit altitude and the bottoms at pull altitude. Thick and fluffy. It was like terrain flying when you got near. Enough space between them for nice views, as well. Cloud coverage is lame. It's all about those sparse big ones that build up in Florida in the Spring. Aw, yeah.

  8. Quote

    I posted the info in my blog, and my commentators clarified what I felt about the helmet.

    imho, it looks a bit dangerous - and my internet friends think the same. for example, we all know that openings may be different, and even though I've never had any like this, but it looks than in some cases the lines may entangle with the protruded part of the helmet. or, you can't really left your head in the helmet - while it may be quite necessary, say, during the opening again. altogether it looks like aerodynamic merits of the helmet do not outweigh its safety demerits.

    however, I don't try to criticize now - I'm not an expert at all, and maybe your comments will change my and my friend's opinion. just wanted to present you the opinions in hope to listen to your 'counter-evidence' and just to learn more about the product. I love wingsuiting and always find it cool when people offer new ideas and new products to promote this activity:)

    I seriously doubt everything you wrote.

  9. Quote


    She had two jumps on a Prodigy. That's it. But she had a great PFI!

    This stuff happens with canopies all the time, too. Jumpers lie about experience to get gear. Not much the manufacturer can do. This is generally where the S&TA or local wingsuiters will say, "you can't jump this until you've dialed in a smaller suit". Like canopies (but in reverse).

  • Lauching from a snowboard is a bitch. Not impossible, but you're better off with little skis or just running -- anything to face forwards. That said, experience with what's attached to your feet, if anything, is only like 5% of what you need to get airborne. Get some training and experience with speedflying first.

    Also note that ski resorts either don't let speedflyers on their runs, or often times require a USHPA membership and license. Even then, a lot of them are pretty crappy for speedflying as the winds are usually weird with a lot of turbulence and direction changes.

    All that said -- it's definitely a rewarding goal to work towards!

  • Yeah, I have to echo some people here and state that accuracy at speed is definitely a requirement for a lot of ground launching. There are site out there that will let you fly in a straight line and set it down anywhere. But generally, you're taking the landing areas you'd expect on a BASE jump (tiny footpaths, tons of obstacles, really uneven ground) and trying to plant a little skydiving main in there at 30mph.

    You're best off with a combo of skydiving the hell out of the canopy you use for ground launching, and actually ground launching said canopy down smooth, consistent, obstacle-free slopes. As you develop a feel for speed close to the ground and the effects of your inputs on your canopy, you'll be able to more intuitively navigate more dynamic environments.

  • Quote

    but no way could you launch a canopy there as i have been to the sites....basically a cliff.

    I don't see the problem. ;) I love foot launching from cliffs. Especially when they're high enough to give you room for some front riser action. But you definitely need to have your kiting and running absolutely dialed before you charge off a cliff with a tiny HP canopy over your head.

    Really all you need is a place with wind to practice kiting and running. When you get to the point that you can instinctively walk around with a canopy over your head, you can launch pretty much anything.

  • Oh, I think he thought you were going to jump an actual vampire, like the ones that suck your blood. Yeah, those are just plain deadly. Stick with wingsuits on skydives, but leave your mythical beasts on the ground.