yuri_base

Lot's of BS there, too. "Out suits now have sustained L/D significantly exceeding 3.5" [inline BS.jpg] Android+Wear/iOS/Windows apps: L/D Vario, Smart Altimeter, Rockdrop Pro, Wingsuit FAP iOS only: L/D Magic Windows only: WS Studio

Ahem... https://baseline.ws Also honorable mention to https://www.facebook.com/IcarusAngelo/ That being said, I completely agree your other points... wingsuit design and technology has SO much more potential. It's sad that we haven't even gotten 4:1 yet. I meant exactly "using true wingsuit instrumentation for measuring aerodynamic parameters", not a GPS recorder/visualizer (which, in form of generic GPS/Flysight/Paralog/Skyderby has been there for years). By aerodynamic parameters, I mean sustained horizontal and vertical speeds normalized to sea level and unit of wingloading (a series of which for different AoA is forming a polar curve or region), lift and drag coefficients, AoA. GPS is incapable of determining these, even by reverse solving the Wingsuit Equations and fitting the trajectory, because wind profile is never known with accuracy needed (even sometimes on BASE jumps, there's no wind on exit, no wind at LZ, yet there are quite strong ~20mph layers of wind in between!) If only GPS was used in aeronautics to record plane's position and speeds, we'd still be not far from Wright Brothers' airplane. We need real instrumentation to progress further, to really quantify the improvements due to design changes. The only way of doing this in real jumping is to put sensors in undisturbed airflow and orient them properly, which means a long enough pole and a vane. (Can't cheat basic physics/aerodynamics, sorry.) But while the means to do it are freely available (with some simple DIY and a free app), no WS manufacturer has ever done this. They could have done many A/B tests to determine which changes work and which don't, for example, determine if hiding the cheststrap under the suit actually improves flight characteristic or it has a negligible effect not worth the chance of missing an undone strap. Sweep angle, airfoil profile, trim, etc. etc. - the real effects of these changes can be precisely measured. But no one is interested! Instead, all we get is this marketing vomit. People don't understand wingsuit dynamics, they don't understand that listening to [ground, not even air, sic!] glide ratio and trying to make it higher 99% of the time means that they are simply slowly flaring - bleeding their horizontal airspeed and converting it to better GGR. GPS is not an instrumentation, it's a distraction and confusion. But unfortunately, Solar System's reaction over the last 12 years has been like this: [inline cow.gif] Android+Wear/iOS/Windows apps: L/D Vario, Smart Altimeter, Rockdrop Pro, Wingsuit FAP iOS only: L/D Magic Windows only: WS Studio

It's just a slightly different trim for the most part. No basic technology change. It's like taking the same canopy and changing its lineset trim for faster speed that will give better flare. Android+Wear/iOS/Windows apps: L/D Vario, Smart Altimeter, Rockdrop Pro, Wingsuit FAP iOS only: L/D Magic Windows only: WS Studio

No, it's not its logical terminus. We haven't even started yet! It's like inventing a horse carriage and reaching its logical terminus and stopping there and just doing marketing BS. "Our latest carriage is over 9000 times faster than the last year model [reality: NOT, or maybe, by negligible margin, but not scientifically measured]. And it now features a redesigned horse manure bucket - it's now square for larger capacity! The bucket can now be painted in custom patterns - want pink elephants? we have 'em!" All while ignoring existing science, thermodynamics, engineering, manufacturing and thus not progressing to steam engine, combustion engine and so on. All modern "top of the line" wingsuits are of the same T-planform and inlet design/placement that was empirically ("let's try this!") found almost a decade ago. Nothing principally new since then. None of the wingsuit makers, ever, showed any interest in advancements in wingsuit science and instrumentation. It's like a car maker not showing any interest in speedometer and other instrumentation, or advancements in science, technology, computer modeling. The same old instrument (GPS), which is good for navigation, not for precise aerodynamics measurements, is still the only instrument used. The only one (besides me) who ever tried scientific analysis of wingsuit flight, is Hartman Rector, who even expanded Wingsuit Equations to 3D by himself and built computer modeler (in the most elaborate Excel spreadsheets I've ever seen) that can extract real polar curve characteristics from his flights and then use it for 3D fit of other flights, and even estimating possible lines for prospective flights. But to this date, I don't know of anyone in our Solar System who is actually using true wingsuit instrumentation for measuring aerodynamic parameters. Sad, but true, I'm the only one in the whole Solar System who's trying. For 12 years now. And why would they try, indeed, if marketing BS works? That's why they are perpetually stuck in the horse carriage terminus. If they put all this effort into scientific improvements, measurable by objective instrumentation, not by BS superlatives, they'd be offering Ferrari now, not the same old horse carriage. Even simple ideas get the wall of resistance. Talking to some of the top pilots constantly winning at competitions (even to the champion) about this simple idea how wingsuits can get some fresh developments: separate time, speed, and glide runs at competitions by allowing the pilots use different, goal-specific suits for each discipline; this will foster the development of interesting suits that are not bound to average the 3 totally aerodynamically different design criteria into one, mediocre one. Build a ridiculously large and ridiculously thick suit just for absolutely slowest vertical speed, longest time; build a small, thin airfoil, superfast suit for speed run (or even just the legwing) with the mathematically optimal L/D = sqrt(2) for max speed; build a separate suit for the highest L/D possible without being held by requirements of time and speed. In response, I get a startled look and excuses like, "people can't afford to have 3 wingsuits". Riiiight, as if not the majority of competitors are either sponsored and have free suits and paid travel/expenses, but even "amateurs" always have "latest and greatest" suit or several suits. Just excuses to resist innovation. Here, I extracted some marketing BS from several wingsuit makers just for one of their suits, as well as from this thread, and mixed it randomly. A fun read... "cutting edge in glide performance and speed to carve through the mountains and sky" "Forward speed / flare are massive" "Technology from our FAI World Championship winning XXX" "Agility/Precission on XXX is unique for a suit that size" "The range is stellar" "design that boosts agility and glide while not hindering basic safety" "XXX pushes the performance envelope the max, delivering the maximum shortest start possible in basejumping at a sustained glide ratio of 3:1 and up" "The result is a suit that we think will again play a role in the advancement of our sport" "gives the user a glide capability unique to the suit" "XXX is a big step up in comparison" "wingsuit with the ultimate glide" "precise maneuverability with power" "incredible glide performance, fast acceleration and precise handling" "Not the usual ‘sloppy’ handling" "a massive "free" performance increase with no compromise in stability or safety." "There is no other wingsuit available that can match the XXX's blend of pure glide performance, speed, agility and ease of use" "XXX is a missile" "It offers the shortest start arc, accessible glide performance, and comfortable agility in steep terrain lines" "incredible pressurization of the arm wings" "The XXX is a new design, evolved from our performance line" "XXX for dayz" "a new profile that is more pitch-stable" "a true weapon in big mountains" "which allow the suit to fly at a much flatter angle achieving, with ease, very impressive glide ratios" "these suits are worlds apart" "the suit of choice for elite WS BASE jumpers" But this is just for the latest models; imagine stacking a pile of superlative quotes for all the suits in the last decade on top of each other... you could just climb it to the Moon. Yet, objectively speaking, very little has changed in 10 years. We still have a glorified horse carriage....... Android+Wear/iOS/Windows apps: L/D Vario, Smart Altimeter, Rockdrop Pro, Wingsuit FAP iOS only: L/D Magic Windows only: WS Studio

There hasn't been any "interesting developments" in wingsuits in about a decade. In about 15 years, L/D increased only by 20% (from 2.5 of V-4 back in 2004 to 3.0 of mattresses; and it's been stuck at 3.0 flat for years now). The prevailing planform is pretty much the same T-design of about 10 years ago. L/D improved mostly due to trivially increased surface area. Dramatic improvement in flare is mostly an automatic consequence of this modest improvement in L/D (flare - effective conversion of kinetic energy into potential energy - is very sensitive to L/D increase). Increased internal pressure is nice for ease of flying, but has virtually no effect on aerodynamics, as long as it's enough to shape the wing (and it was enough 15 years ago in "soft" suits). The multi-million $$$ wingsuit industry is as stagnant as some swamp in Florida. The only thing that is skyrocketing is the marketing. Any new minuscule iteration is presented as a revolutionary breakthrough. "Buy buy buy... we want your $$$... $2K at a time." Android+Wear/iOS/Windows apps: L/D Vario, Smart Altimeter, Rockdrop Pro, Wingsuit FAP iOS only: L/D Magic Windows only: WS Studio

Unfortunately they are only game in town if you want a smartwatch with good design, battery that lasts 4 days, and ergonomic menus. :( Yes, they're are highly regarded for these qualities. But from the developer's perspective, Tizen is the worst nightmare. Tizen Studio (their development environment) is a complete mess. It took me hours just to figure out how to deploy the app to device. So counterintuitive and poorly done. And these development hurdles are reflected in the scarcity of Tizen apps, compared to Android. Yes, C++ development was also available when I was playing with Gear S circa 5 years ago. Still, majority of developers would shy away from way more difficult C++ and opt for HTML/Javascript. I don't know if Tizen Studio is much improved now, but the 1.0 was an absolute mess. Trying to do simple things was like reading vertical text in Chinese while making Bruce Lee karate moves. One good thing came out of it for me, though - when I finally pulled all the hair off my head, I actually liked the result. Android+Wear/iOS/Windows apps: L/D Vario, Smart Altimeter, Rockdrop Pro, Wingsuit FAP iOS only: L/D Magic Windows only: WS Studio

Maybe, for someone, but I feel no need. If anyone wants to put this up somewhere, just do it! My goal was to possibly spark an excitement in people who have little or even no programming experience and who think that all this is kind of black belt mental kungfu; and here, they can just download the zips, follow the easy steps, and boom! they build the code and the app magically appears on their phone or even wrist! And it works, it measures altitude! "OMG OMG OMG, this is so cool and easy! Now, why this label is so small? How can I make it bigger? Oh, there's a screen in xml file, I can see this "altitude label", oh, and there's properties on the right, and I can make the text bigger! Yay! Can I make it pink? YES!!! Wow, I'm such a pro now! Now, how can I zero the altitude, how can I make it make a sound when altitude is below some threshold, how..." Github would only add unnecessary complexity to what was meant to be just a little personal experimentation. Android+Wear/iOS/Windows apps: L/D Vario, Smart Altimeter, Rockdrop Pro, Wingsuit FAP iOS only: L/D Magic Windows only: WS Studio

I've created two sample Visual Studio projects (in C#) that turn your Android or Wear device equipped with a pressure sensor into a simple altimeter showing current altitude above mean sea level in feet. I hope some jumpers with at least basic understanding of software development might find this interesting and poke around the code, customize it to their likes, and maybe even develop their own ideas. It's a very simple app - all the code, including the barometric formula, is in MainActivity.cs. We now have quite a few smart devices equipped with a pressure sensor, some of them are even very affordable, for example, Moto 360 Sport was available a year or two ago at Walmart and Target for ridiculous closeout price of $50; it has an excellent transflective screen which is very readable in direct sun; GPS, barometer (with 25 measurements per second!), accelerometer, etc. ZTE Quartz, I believe, is about 80 bucks. LG G Watch R (barometer at 90Hz) can be found used for about same price. Nixon Mission is the absolute king of sensors: a mind-boggling pressure sensor at 167Hz (!!!), accelerometer, gyro, magnetometer, thermometer and humidity sensors, all in this mean-looking mens watch. ($300-450, though) I've been using Android Wear smartwatches (LG G Watch R initially, then Moto 360 Sport and Nixon Mission) on every skydive since late 2015, and they've been performing wonderfully (running my own simple, but very precise altimeter app, Smart Altimeter). I also use them on wingsuit BASE jumps for exit altitude measurements, as a quick performance gauge by checking the altitude right after opening, for rockdrop measurements (using my Rockdrop Pro app), and for specialized lift-to-drag ratio measurements (using my L/D Vario app, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Oj8SXvs4GU). Some Android phones (mostly high-end) also have a barometer, but the sample rate is usually not that high as in smartwatches (go figure). The highest (30Hz) numbers were reported for Google Nexus 4 and Samsung Galaxy S8. I hope this sample code will spur interest in developing awesome apps for smart devices using their sensors and computing power. The amazing, affordable multi-purpose hardware is here; round pucks the size of an Oreo with incredible array of sensors and high level software development (very similar to desktops, unlike the low level embedded programming). It's the specialized software for jumpers that is almost nonexistent. Steps to creating an altimeter app for your Android/Wear device: 1. Install Visual Studio Community 2017: https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/vs/ (available for both Windows and Mac) 2. When installing, make sure you select options for mobile app development. 3. Open the solution - Altimeter_Android.sln, or Altimeter_Wear.sln. 4. Make sure Packages in solution are up-to-date. Also, update Tools/SDK Manager. 5. Build the project. 6. On your device, click 7 times on system build number (System->About), you will get Developer Options, turn on USB debugging (Android) or ADB debugging (Wear). 7. Connect your device to computer, confirm debugging permission in a dialog, and choose your device in VS on top in the list of devices. 8. Click on project and in the Run menu select Upload to Device. 9. That's it! On your device, a new app "Altimeter" will appear, now you can experiment with code! Good luck! Please share how you're using your smart device for skydiving or BASE jumping with your own app or other apps. Android+Wear/iOS/Windows apps: L/D Vario, Smart Altimeter, Rockdrop Pro, Wingsuit FAP iOS only: L/D Magic Windows only: WS Studio Altimeter_Android.zip Altimeter_Wear.zip

"Accelerometer: 416hz" - WOW! "Barometer: 30hz" - decent! "GPS: [measuring...]" - if you're still interested in GPS sample frequency, make sure to enable GPS and give the app permission to use it; however, the app does not use GPS per se for altitude measurements if barometer is present "Any interest in porting this to Tizen?" - absolutely no. I've had a Samsung Gear S smartwatch running Tizen and tried to develop for it. Tizen is total garbage, full of security holes and poor programming (search the web) and where most "apps" are actually web browser pages running Javascript. Yikes! Android+Wear/iOS/Windows apps: L/D Vario, Smart Altimeter, Rockdrop Pro, Wingsuit FAP iOS only: L/D Magic Windows only: WS Studio

Yes, looks like Google changed the behavior again in one of the latest updates. It used to be different before, swiping right was a way to actually quit the app. Android+Wear/iOS/Windows apps: L/D Vario, Smart Altimeter, Rockdrop Pro, Wingsuit FAP iOS only: L/D Magic Windows only: WS Studio

The lag would be 1.2s (12 samples) - too much. Also, is S8 waterproof? If yes, it might not transmit fast pressure changes to the sensor through its waterproof membrane fast enough. Android+Wear/iOS/Windows apps: L/D Vario, Smart Altimeter, Rockdrop Pro, Wingsuit FAP iOS only: L/D Magic Windows only: WS Studio

Which one? L/D Vario? It meant to be used on a vane, not in pocket, like so: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Oj8SXvs4GU Android+Wear/iOS/Windows apps: L/D Vario, Smart Altimeter, Rockdrop Pro, Wingsuit FAP iOS only: L/D Magic Windows only: WS Studio

It doesn't use GPS if the device has a barometer; it only falls back to GPS if there's no barometer detected. There's a bug in the app that if you don't quit it properly, the measured sample rate would multiply. To quit any Wear app, swipe to the right; pressing the home button only puts it in the background (Smart Altimeter continues to run in the background and drains battery to keep the smoothing/differentiating algorithms continuously fed with current samples). The lag in smoothed altitude is 12 samples, or 12/166s - less than 0.1s. The lag from real time to the unprocessed sample is unknown. Yes, the speed lags more than altitude because of the combo smoothing/differentiating algorithm I use; without it, the derivative of a noisy variable will be super noisy. Android+Wear/iOS/Windows apps: L/D Vario, Smart Altimeter, Rockdrop Pro, Wingsuit FAP iOS only: L/D Magic Windows only: WS Studio

My Wear apps (Smart Altimeter, L/D Vario, Rockdrop Pro) are legacy apps, they were built for Android Wear 1.5 2-3 years ago and not updated since. With AW 1.5, you need to have the watch paired to an Android phone, then you install the Android version of the app from the Play Store, it piggybacks the Wear app and pushes it to the watch when they are paired and connected (and if you have WearOS 2.0 already on the watch, then you find the app in "Apps on your phone" section of the watch'es own Play Store). When Google introduced AW 2.0, they added support for iPhone, but to install any apps, you need to have AW 2.0 or later on the watch and the apps need to target 2.0. With iPhone, there seems to be no way to install legacy 1.5 apps on Android smartwatches. PS. Fortunately, unlike with iphone, one doesn't have to pay a fortune to have an Android phone with a Play Store on it; walk into any Walmart and buy any prepaid phone (for example, I have a Motorola E4 for 40 bucks and Huawei Ascend XT2 for 50 bucks for various utility uses, like maps, browser, music, etc.). You don't need to enroll in any phone service; just don't insert the included SIM and skip everything related to that during the initialization. Then login to Play Store with your gmail account and boom! - you can install any apps you want, as well as pair Android smartwatches to this phone. Android+Wear/iOS/Windows apps: L/D Vario, Smart Altimeter, Rockdrop Pro, Wingsuit FAP iOS only: L/D Magic Windows only: WS Studio

It should be visible fine on a mudflap since it won't be facing the sky. Unless the sun is low and you're flying towards it. $100 for Mission is a good deal. Yes, it's much more powerful and capable than Flysight, but the GPS update rate is only 1Hz (vs. 5Hz). For wingsuit performance measurements, I have an app called L/D Vario, but the watch (or phone) needs to be mounted on a vane like so: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_iPSSV-5qY No, I didn't write the pro version. There's no wide interest in all this, so I basically created the basic functionality for myself and called it a day. (I do use it on every jump, and it does what I need.) Android+Wear/iOS/Windows apps: L/D Vario, Smart Altimeter, Rockdrop Pro, Wingsuit FAP iOS only: L/D Magic Windows only: WS Studio

Yes, if the phone's barometer is fast enough (at least 25Hz like Moto 360). I have a Samsung Note 4 with a barometer, but it has a disappointing 6Hz sample rate. Iphone is 1Hz, totally useless. PS. As per reports above, Google Nexus 4 has a 30Hz barometer. Android+Wear/iOS/Windows apps: L/D Vario, Smart Altimeter, Rockdrop Pro, Wingsuit FAP iOS only: L/D Magic Windows only: WS Studio

I like my Nixon Mission a lot, it's a very chunky watch, like a little tank. It has this unique feature - mic lock (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wa43HDmKpQc) - that we might never see again in a smartwatch, since it's getting a lot of critique from regular users - "why do I need to open this little door with a lever to just say 'ok google'?" But for us, it's god-sent, since it gives the barometer unblocked access to ambient pressure. And it measures pressure every 6 milliseconds! The screen is not so well visible in the sun. It's ok under canopy when wearing it on the arm, since it's not reflecting the sky so much. Battery life is good enough; about 40 hours with watchface always on. When using as an altimeter, it's enough for a jump day. Mission has a weak spot: charging pins, they rust. I had to send mine for warranty repair. Now I try to limit the exposure to sweat by wiping the pins more often or by wearing it over a sweatband. Android+Wear/iOS/Windows apps: L/D Vario, Smart Altimeter, Rockdrop Pro, Wingsuit FAP iOS only: L/D Magic Windows only: WS Studio

I would recommend Moto, since the R is not easily readable in direct sun. With the R, you take the plastic back off (4 screws), then you'll see the membrane on it covering the breather hole. Yes, if you run the app continuously, it won't last a day since the always-on screen consumes a lot of juice. It will last several jumps if quitting the app between the jumps. I only fly wingsuit, so can't say about belly or freeflying, but my watches show pretty much the same altitude as Viso. Android+Wear/iOS/Windows apps: L/D Vario, Smart Altimeter, Rockdrop Pro, Wingsuit FAP iOS only: L/D Magic Windows only: WS Studio

Apple products (iphone 6/higher and iwatch) only sample pressure once a second. This pales in comparison to Android WearOS smartwatches that have fantastic sample rates: Gold: Nixon Mission 166Hz Silver: LG G Watch R* 90Hz Bronze: Moto 360 Sport 25Hz Other WearOS devices with barometer: LG Watch Sport (10Hz) LG Watch Urbane Huawei Watch (20Hz) Casio Pro Trek Smart Hugo Boss Touch MontBlanc Summit ZTE Quartz Apple watch (and iphone for that matter) is not suitable for measuring rapidly changing altitude. --- * needs to have the waterproof membrane be punctured with a needle to let the quick pressure changes in Android+Wear/iOS/Windows apps: L/D Vario, Smart Altimeter, Rockdrop Pro, Wingsuit FAP iOS only: L/D Magic Windows only: WS Studio

Thanks for confirming that. I've been using it with Moto 360 Sport and Nixon Mission and it's always spot on. It's quite surprising that NONE of the jumpers that saw my Moto (on the chest strap pillow) and Nixon (on the left arm) knew that such thing (an Android watch running apps, let alone have a barometer, let alone such a phenomenal one as Nixon, which not only runs at 166Hz sample rate, but has a dedicated "door" that can be opened to give ambient pressure access to the sensor) even exist! (only once, a tandem master at Oceanside, CA, recognized the Mission because he has one, too (but was not aware of its use as an altimeter!), and his wife works for Nixon. Imho, WearOS smartwatches are much underestimated, these are true nanocomputers with full-blown OS, CPU, RAM, graphics, sensors, multimedia, etc. It's a dream come true for a developer! Why jumpers not only don't use them in skydiving/BASE, they never even heard about them, is totally beyond me. Moto 360 Sport is only 50 bucks and it has: - good pressure sensor (25Hz sample rate), with water-resistant membrane that is fully transparent to even quick air pressure changes - GPS - accelerometer - transflective screen that is easily readable in both direct sunlight and in shade/darkness - CPU that is fast enough to run quite intense smoothing/differentiation algorithms - bluetooth (listen to altitude via BT earpiece) and wifi connectivity - app store right on the watch - and much more It makes a fantastic secondary altimeter. I've also used it in BASE to quickly gauge the overall flight performance by checking the altitude immediately after opening. These fantastic nanocomputers deserve more widespread use. Android+Wear/iOS/Windows apps: L/D Vario, Smart Altimeter, Rockdrop Pro, Wingsuit FAP iOS only: L/D Magic Windows only: WS Studio

I find Viso mounted on mud flap sometimes difficult to read when flying towards the sun, due to it having a curved front glass which makes sun reflection block the readings at wide range of angles. So in addition to Viso, I also use a Moto 360 Sport smartwatch (running my app, Smart Altimeter) on a pillow on the chest strap. The visibility in direct sun light (or any light for that matter) is fantastic, and the measurements are very accurate. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=149891; Moto 360 Sport is discontinued and was on sale for $50-60 at Walmart and Target about a year-two ago; you can find used ones on ebay or craigslist for about the same price. (It's not worth buying it for original $200 price.) Android+Wear/iOS/Windows apps: L/D Vario, Smart Altimeter, Rockdrop Pro, Wingsuit FAP iOS only: L/D Magic Windows only: WS Studio

Yes, I launched the basic app about two years ago, but haven't touched it since. It's on all 3 app stores. I do use it on every skydive, my favorite watch to use it with is a $50 Moto 360 Sport, since it's great in direct sun: [inline "2017-12-01 20.23.28.jpg"] Moto has a 25Hz barometer and is very accurate. The next favorite is Nixon Mission with the mic lock open, this one has an insane 166Hz sample rate, but as any OLED screen is harder to see in the sun. I have LG Sport, too - but its 10Hz rate is not fast enough for skydiving. Android+Wear/iOS/Windows apps: L/D Vario, Smart Altimeter, Rockdrop Pro, Wingsuit FAP iOS only: L/D Magic Windows only: WS Studio

The concept that winds at deployment altitude (combined with jump run ground speed) are sufficient to ensure separation is completely wrong. One can come up with a million of various wind profiles that will show this. For example, 0mph, or +50mph, or -50mph wind at 3000ft (deployment), and 100mph from 3100ft all the way up to exit altitude (with aircraft flying at 100mph, so 0 ground speed). Even though the difference between the ground speed and wind at deployment altitude is very different in each case, the result is virtually the same: bellies are all falling along the same trajectory, on top of each other; the final "bump" of shear layer in half a second it takes to fall through 100ft, will put their separation, probably, in the order of inches. Using just wind conditions at exit and deployment is similar to calculating time it takes to drive from San Francisco to New York based on current traffic in these cities only. But it's conditions along the whole route that matter. A mountain slide over I-70 crossing the Rockies will throw your planning out the window when you're stuck in the car for days. The only 100% sure way to ensure safe separation is for the plane to fly in circles and each jumper/group only jumps when the previous group has landed. A load of 23 solos will take a couple of hours. Until DZOs and jumpers are OK with this, NO RUSH is GE. Anyway, happy fucking 10th anniversary, Wingsuit Equations!!! Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer!!!!!!! Android+Wear/iOS/Windows apps: L/D Vario, Smart Altimeter, Rockdrop Pro, Wingsuit FAP iOS only: L/D Magic Windows only: WS Studio

Sure, nothing is perfect. But NO RUSH (which, of course, is an abbreviation for New & awesOme RU of SHoe) method is a Good Enough (GE) ballpark estimate that should work in 99.9% of cases in type of conditions student and low experience jumpers usually jump (e.g. not flying backwards under canopy in 35 mph winds at opening altitudes). 45 degree rule must die. And the only way to make it die is not to repeat how wrong it is (this only perpetuates it), but to replace it with something simple, intuitive, easy to remember and perform, GE rule. Such as NO RUSH. Students need quick formulas. NO RUSH is such a formula. Later, as they become more experienced and learn more, they should be aware of the effects of the winds through the whole freefall. But when they're just starting, they should not be overwhelmed with a Ph.D.-level science of exit separation and bring a laptop running Java freefall simulation to the plane. It's similar to the Accuracy Trick method. Does Accuracy Trick work in all situations? No. If the winds change or there are shear layers, you're not going to land where starfield effect is zooming in from. You need to try to predict the situation and also give yourself a margin of unpredictability. But it's GE, and is taught and used by all jumpers. We cannot know or predict all variables, such as full wind profile from 0 to 13500 ft. The numbers from the weather service may not accurately reflect the reality at this moment. There could be some freak wind jet layer happening right now that will magically put the whole load on top of each other. So, the first approximation is to use the information we know with 146% certainty, and that is the ground speed. The pilot knows it, and jumpers, too, can measure it with GPS/phones. But this is the "Excel spreadsheet" method - measure the speed, look up the table. NO RUSH makes this unnecessary, it automagically performs the whole routine in one easy, pun intended, step. 45 degree rule is dead. Killed by a shoe. Stay safe out there and remember NO RUSH! Yuri Base Android+Wear/iOS/Windows apps: L/D Vario, Smart Altimeter, Rockdrop Pro, Wingsuit FAP iOS only: L/D Magic Windows only: WS Studio

Here's even more dramatic and less obvious example: same 80mph uppers, but the pilot changed from the previous load, this pilot likes to trim the plane to fly at 90mph TAS on jump run. The ground speed is now only 10mph, so a solo belly must wait... a whole MINUTE to achieve the same amount separation that on a light-wind day takes just 6 seconds! Have anyone actually seen a jumper waiting a whole minute in strong winds? I think, most jumpers that think of themselves as safe and experienced, will say, "Winds are strong, the plane is barely moving. I'll give a generous FIFTEEN seconds of separation!" These 15s correspond to 1.5s in light wind. This safe, generous jumper is going to fall almost on top of the previous one! Add a bit of backsliding, and we have a collision. This mistake won't happen if the Rule of Shoe is used. How many people can shoes save over the years? Shoes for the win! Android+Wear/iOS/Windows apps: L/D Vario, Smart Altimeter, Rockdrop Pro, Wingsuit FAP iOS only: L/D Magic Windows only: WS Studio