Mac

The bridle is another discussion, I have only moved to 9' bridle (pin to PC attachment) with the move to bigger suits, the standard bridle working fine up to the point of the larger suits and burble creation from these suits. The point of my post, is I am of the mindset that the standard PC (I have a 28" F1-11) works fine with WS, requiring only a longer bridle for larger suits. I was just wanting to understand the issues in upsizing (as a lot of people do), as I dont personally believe it to be necessary, and feel some people go for a bit of overkill in their choices without thought of the disadvantages. Thanks all for responses.

Ignore my figures on PC drag, I have since referenced another source of calculation, and it would seem my original source calcs maybe incorrect. Thanks to the chap who pulled me up on those figures to look further into it..... Theory is still the same, the figures maybe not....

Ignore my figures on PC drag, I have since referenced another source of calculation, and it would seem my original source calcs maybe incorrect. Thanks to the chap who pulled me up on those figures to look further into it.....

Nice one, interesting. Cheers

I was speaking just in general terms really. Bascially I ask, as I am finding more people getting hung up with PC sizing for Wingsuiting. As an example, I maintain my standard PC (28") for wingsuit as I feel the drag force at terminal (c.160lbs) is sufficient, whereas upsizing to say a 32" with force of c.210lbs is excessive. Even with non-terminal speeds, say 6sec delay speed, the 28" creates >100lbs, and thus will be sufficient (in skydiving). I dont really see an issue with a few inches more for Wingsuiting (if that is what makes you feel happier), but should you then take it out on a "normal" skydive, what issues may you have then. I have heard of people looking at 34" PC for Wingsuit, and to me that is way excessive (>230lbs at terminal), however I dont really understand what issues this increased PC size will give within the skydiving environment, my small brain cant work out what potential issues there are, so thought I would ask. Am I focusing on the wrong thing here? I understand not just drag, but snatch force would also be a consideration, with a greater snatch created by the "grab" of a bigger PC, and maybe you can educate me in that, even so, the smaller PC is still sufficent for WS and general terms. Maybe the advantages of a bigger PC for wingsuit arent discounted by the disadvantages of a bigger PC in normal skydiving deployments, and as such, if sacrificing a chicken makes you feel safer, then do it. I hope the above is clearer than it sounds to me re-reading!

What issues with standard skydiving set up (bungee stowed D-Bag, flat and stable deployment) can an oversized PC give you?

Im also from the UK, and I have just ordered a new bridle and PC due to (a) old PC, (b) new wingsuit. First off, I got my rigger to build me a PC and bridle, this is cheaper than going to a manufacturer, so just a suggestion if you want to save money. I've been using my rigger for years, so I am happy with his standard of work. I fly a Spectre-120 loaded at around 1.4 / 1.5 What I ordered: 28" PC with plastic tube handle, with kill line on 9' bridle measured from pin (yellow teflon cable) to PC attachment point. The reasoning for my choice of the 28" is that I feel that sufficient drag (c.160lbs of force @ terminal with clean airflow) compared to bigger PCs (32" approx 210lbs force ), for the type of suit I fly (R-Bird). FWIW, 28" PC is what is advised for my canopy as standard. I am only getting the bigger bridle and new PC (mine is phuqked) as I am going from a T-Bird to R-Bird, and I was completely happy with my set up (phucked PC and 7' Bridle) with the T-Bird, (for info, I pull in full flight), but not so happy when flying an R and an S. Again, information given, as I think this is part of the consideration on what bridle and PC you will require. S-Bird Deployment with Phuqked PC and 7' Bridle https://vimeo.com/51864381

Perris is quite far for me, and to be honest, I have a pretty solid method of getting balloon jumps sorted... of course, with safety in mind, its also with a single parachute system

Maybe illegal is the wrong word, however in the UK (as I stated I was looking from a UK perspective) parachuting from aircraft (including balloons) is governed and controlled by the BPA and CAA, and as such, making jumps from balloons without the necessary authority can lead to the balloon pilot loosing his licence. I have made several bandit jumps from balloons, and having spoken to a lot of pilots to find the right ones, many are very anal about the rules and regulations, and will not risk their licence to allow you to jump from their balloon. Again, my experience is only in the UK. The pilots I have found open to the arrangement are "fun" pilots and not ones that have a livelyhood attached to their craft. Thus in my experience, people in business, may not want to be attached to the fact they are open to the jumping from their balloon without the necessary arrangements. That was the point of my post. Yes, quoting the post seems to have the reverse effect in removing the company. Hey, why do I care, its not my business, its not even my country, and making bandit jumps from balloons is a lot of fun! Jump and have fun....

You might want to take down that link, balloon pilots with a living to make from it, probably do not want to be mentioned in the same breath as illegal balloon jumps on an open forum, especially when it didnt even happen. NB: I am thinking from a UK perspective, however I am sure the US has similar rules and regulation.

That has just made me laugh out quite loudly in my very silent office.... Thanks for the morning giggle! - Great picture!

Just as an example, I have been flying my T-Bird, not deemed to be one of the "cool suits", and as well as enjoying flocking and chucking it around, I have done 3mins 10 secs in it. I admit, I am not the biggest chap (5' 10" and 145lbs wet and naked), but I would hope to show that in learning to fly your suit, you can squeeze some performance out of it that people are quick to dismiss because its not "advanced". I learnt alot about the dynamics of flight in the suit by concentrating for a time on performance flying in it. As another note, I don’t know what type of physical frame you are, but after starting to Wingsuit, I decided my frame would certainly be more efficient if I lost weight. So solely with the advantages for wingsuit flying in mind, I lost 55lbs (actually I lost 65lbs but looked like I was riddled with AIDS so put back on 10lbs), this I feel made a positive difference to my flying (and overall health as a secondary benefit). But, I am a little bit obsessive about things when I put my mind to it. Caveat: I only state what works for me. Its not a rule of thumb or advice on best practice.

First off, I would ask if your "sufficient jump numbers" are guaged from the Tony site? As I dont feel (personally) that they are reflective of what I would call good practice advice (for me in anycase, but I am a bit rubbish!). I flew a T and an R before choosing my first suit, and I am pleased to have spent a couple of years on a T, just learning the trade. I decided I needed a new suit with a little more power. I've flown an R and an S, and opted for the R as the S was a bit more weighted toward a performance suit for me, and thats not what I was after. The S seems a bit of overkill for me personally when I actually want something more all-round that I can fling about, flock, but turn on that little extra when needed. If I was purely going for performance flights on time and distance, I would have gone with the S, but as thats probably about 10% of the flying I do, I decided the R (for me) was better suited. As always, people fly different suits for different reasons, what works for one may not work for another, so ignore the above with a bucket of salt. Thanks to the others with pics and suggestions.... Appreciated.

Cheers. Are those blues the dark and mid-blue? As attached... BASE soles I was, and also after not having the extended zips on my T, and then jumping an S with them, defo worth getting! Also I have full demo zips on my T, so was considering the winter zips, as I only use half of them for increased clothing. Both sets of pics most helpful, I was unsure about the front contrasting colours as on the WS designer it looked a bit much, however the designer is a little misleading, as its less coverage than in real life, also I was unsure of the double wing stripes, but they work for me. If anyone has an example of a contrasting leg wing pin strip that would be cool? Thanks

Nice one! Helpful... Cheers

I am in the process of ordering a new Tony WS, and I wanted to get an idea of what the various options in coloured segments, pin-stripes, flashes, etc, actually look like on a finished suit. I have an idea of my final design (well out of about 4 at the moment), however I just want to get a look at some suit designs on actual suits rather than the WS designer, to get a real life view. Ideally the front and back if you can. Thanks in advance all. -M

Thought some of you history junkies 'might' find this interesting (well I did). I bought a first edition copy of Leo Valentin Bird Man, and in the back was stuck an original newspaper article from the UK Newspaper The Daily Mirror, dated Tuesday 22 May 1958, reporting Leos death. Also attached (which I just found amusing), was the original library (Derby Mechanics Institution) notice reminding borrowers that there is a 40 Shilling fine attached to returning a book that had been exposed to infectious diseases.

Nice...

http://kottke.org/11/06/timelapse-clouds

Tried this out over the weekend after some hefty twists, with a bit of wing and twist too. Works nicely (T-Bird & Spectre 120 WL1.4/1.5)...Cheers

As Zeemax says, Sibson. I have been going up there for a few months now (Around a 2 hour drive for me in West London - with coffee stops and no speed limit breakages), mainly as there seems to be a steady attendance of WSers up there. There is also good quality FF... not sure of the RW side, but seems to be good attendance all round. They cater very well for the jumper, and its a pretty slick operation. Good bunch of guys/gals up there. There is a FB page that has car pooling requests etc.

Cheers

Several there Saturday to Tuesday (when I left).... Good to meet you MrCat... You missed sod all yesterday, good call in calling it early.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bradford-west-yorkshire-13690564

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