vesatoro

Thanks for everyone who participated the 1st flight course. Maybe next year I'll have a suit that fits Olli too... safe flights, Vesa "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

The Yahoo Birdman-group is essentially a Nordic newsgroup (in Finnish), but as a moderator, I don't mind if someone want's to post in English. btw: 1st flight coaching is available in Parasummer Boogie, Pärnu, Estonia 28.6. - 5.7. Vesa "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

Arco exit photo, (C) "Fast" Pete Lehtinen V "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

Yippee, finally got the S.3... did two flights today and damn it felt good Vesa "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

As a real newbie in the base, but a quite experienced skydiving instructor (Instructor/Evaluator, S&TA, BMCI) I think I could say a word in this matter on my own behalf. On the FBA-tour we got good training starting from base packing training and helicopter/hot air balloon skydives to get the no speed exit put together, then went to a 120m (400ft) bridge to do first one static line base, then went hand held 0,5s and advanced to ~2,5 sec:s slider downs from the bridge. Then people climbed up to a 260m (850ft) chimney, and made slider up BOC jumps of about 5s. After these jumps we ended up in a huge 1200m,4000ft (600m, 2000ft to impact) cliff, and did the long delays with good trackings. After this me and another wery experienced skydiver made BM-flights form the same cliff, with a good confidence. (the BM jump was my 8th and my friend's 12th base-jump) I thing this could be described as accelerated base course, but for us this way of learning worked perfectly. The thing worked like with a skydiving student, from static line to long freefalls and done within a week was wery intense and motivating way of learning new things all the time. so, I think we were trained the 3th (or 4th way) Vesa "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

Maybe I wasn't careful enough doing the search, but didn't find too much debating on canopy life. So how many basejumps a F111 canopy will handle untill it can be considered unapproppriate for base use? I know it is much dependable of the conditions it is used and packed, but all thoughts are wery much appreciated. Vesa "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

Members (7 jumpers) of the Finnish Base Association made their first European tournee with some (2 jumpers) Estonian friends too. The ten day trip included 37 jumps from a 120m bridge, 5 jumps from a chimney (260m) and 9 from a big wall, of which 3 were wingsuit jumps. Six jumpers made their first base jumps during the tour, two finally got their B.A.S.E. objects together, two made their first ws-bases and three of the first timers got B, S and E on their credit. Not bad I think. The weather was really on our side, and only the A was not jumpd due to bad weather. All the jumps went fine with no injuries. Full thanks to all the friends out there who helped this tour to be a succee. "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

I jumped the Skyflyer, as the S.3 has not arrived yet. Jussi and Mörri made flights too :) Vesa "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

Yep, I know that may be a bit early, but after 7 good bases with wery good exits, 200 ws-jumps and 1500 skydives, and with a good briefing, I felt comfortable doing it. And it went just as planned. Vesa BMCI B.S.E.Ews. "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

Hi to everyone! Just made my 1st BM-base at Arco last week, it really rocks (beer, I know) It was my 8th base jump, all of them in a week, and my 200th wingsuit jump. A 40 sec. flight with openin at 600 meters just to be on the safe side. Gotta get more of that! Vesa "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

I have about 200 of which about 15 flights with the original Classic and the rest with the Skyflyer. Hoping to get the SF.3 soon... Vesa "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

Here http://users.utu.fi/vejuto/skyflying.html you can find some information about the birdmen of the past. The information is from various sources, including the Leo Valentin book published by Airtec. Vesa "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

Yeah, it might look cool in the back deflector I'll be in the same situation with the batch once I get my new suit someday... Vesa "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

Hyvää syntymäpäivää Kimi! Vesa "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

My best whole jump average speeds have been around 43-44mph (TAS) with the Skyflyer. For the slowest momentarily I don't know as I do not have the Jumptrack software. Exit weight about 150lbs, 5'8" tall. Waiting for my S.3 to arrive someday...should get below 40mph mark. Vesa "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

I'm 5'8 and 130lbs without gear, Summer exit weight about 150lbs. At winter 155lbs with three layers of thermofleece and goretex, but then the air is thicker too :). "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

I've done few nightflights, and I love them. Especially flying over a city full of lights down there. Ok, it's not completely dark then...but. As Tom said, you really have to know the place you are jumping, as otherwice it can be hard to know your position relative to ground while flying. Also you need to be more altitude aware, as you can't use horizont and ground details as reference. So audible is a good choice. As well a more docile main should be concidered if you are normally jumping a small elliptical. I've jumped my night flights with Spectre120 (normally FX79). You might also want to open a bit higher than normally, giving some extra time if needed. have fun Vesa "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

Mine is coming b&w. Black body except the area between the front zippers, which is white. White wings fith black front deflectors. The back deflector is white, I just have to wash it sometimes Vesa "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

Lennokasta synttäriä, vaikkakin myöhässä. Toivottavasti oli hyvät bileet Vesa "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

Well, if You are sure You can grab and pull it easily then use it. If not, then don't. Just make sure that the handle cannot bend under the main lift web, and do not use too thick gloves. Vesa BMCI "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

I'm in Vesa "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

me too "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

Must mean something else in Finnish! :-) Yes it does :) Vesa "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

My slowest whole dive average speeds have been around 80mph (TAS) with my normal quite tight freefly suit, giving about 90sec. freefall from 13500ft. Vesa "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)

First of all, I have never jumped a Vengeance, so take this that in mind. What I have understood, they are not too much praised about their opening characteristics. They seem to require quite much riser and harness steering during opening, and have quite a long snivel, which may not be things you want from a wingsuit canopy. But as it says in the BM-manual, high performance canopies are not recommended for wingsuit use for the apparent reason, but still we use them. Vesa BMI FX79 "Fear is the path to the Dark side" (Master Yoda)