Wingsuit Cutaway Handles?

[imported_mknutson]

What are the PRO's and CON's of getting pillows verse loops for the cutaways on the Skyflyer for use in BASE-Jumping and a couple of skydives }>

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Thank You

Mick Knutson :D
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[Yuri]

Yo !

Loops are easier to grab and hold, hence they get snagged more. If you skydive a lot, pillows are better. Otherwise, get loops. It really doesn't matter that much ;-)

bsbd!

Yuri.

[imported_mknutson]

Thanks. I am very stoked about the Skyflyer. I have a picture of it up next to my monitor, and can't wait to get it. How many skydives did you have to make to comfortable enough to BASE jump it? Of coarse after you have been jumping the Classic II for some time?

Any special considerations?

[hr]
Thank You

Mick Knutson :D
[link:www.blincmagazine.com|BLiNC Magazine]

"Everything you ever wanted to know about BASE Jumping, but didn't know who to ask."
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[guest]

Apart from catching on "stuff", the only hassle with the loops is that the tape that the velcro is sewn to is stiff and can "reshape" over time. This can cause the velcro to mate improperly. The dangers are that the handle can float and/or get blown off. Wing blowouts are fun anyway!!! "Mayday. mayday, my left engine is on fire, SOS, help, aaaaaggghhhhhhhh, ;) "

The pads are marginally harder to grab than loops. This can be a problem if you are going low (Australian measurement system ;)).

Overall IMHO:

Loops are better for BASE as long as they are inspected and maintained well, and pads are o'k for skydiving.

I have just sent an email to Birdman r.e correcting the design on this minor issue.

[guest]

Yo !

I was very comfortable with Skyflyer after a few flights - maybe a dozen at most. However, after 36 skydives the suit still didn't fly anywhere near its top perfomance. Every base flight afterwards was a learning experience.

bsbd!

Yuri.

[guest]

When you skydive a wingsuit, are you using standard skydiving PC's and bridles? Would it help to use larger PC's and longer bridles (i.e. BASE setup) to avoid PC hesitation?

Anyone have any thoughts?

--Tom Aiello
tbaiello@ucdavis.edu

[guest]

Hi Tom A

Don't forget that in most cases, you have got lots of horizontal speed coupled with the slower vertical. With the horizontal performance Yuri has been talking about you have lots of airflow over your back.

When the d-bag comes out, it is at quite an angle. I would hate to use too large a p/c as I think the excessive drag in a fast track may increase the likelihood of a malfunction.

I certainly wouldn't use a very short bridle, but the standard lengths are O'K. Remember that some BASE manufacturers make shorter bridles for terminal deployments anyway.

IMHO - The key however is to throw the p/c well into the airflow and collapse your wings to get rid of some of the burble. You get a bit of the trap door affect (sudden increase in descent rate), but it reduces the chance of hesis. Not sure how you do it Yuri???

p.s. For skydiving, I was using a 26in p/c with my BM classic. No problems but did notice a slighty longer deployment. I am now using about 30in p/c.

[guest]

Tom:

Re: skydiving a wingsuit, I've used both 28" and 30" p/c's with the Crossbow, and I prefer the 30". Standard bridle length. No problems with p/c hesitation whatsoever, whether pulling in a track or slightly flared out. Just get it out there.

[guest]

Yo!

I use a regular skydiving pilot chute and a bridle out of a plane. They work great, i have never had a hesitation. In fact, i did a test 2 weeks ago on Skyflyer leaving PC on my back on purpose - it has cleared instantly without hesitating at all.

The key here is to pull in full flight, have lots of horizontal speed and do not collapse any wings. Instead i just keep flying until a canopy sits me up. I have spoken to Loic, Jean-Noel, Adrian and Jari about it - all of them came to the same conclusion.

It works so good, as a matter of fact, that my wingsuit base openings are noticeably _better_ than regular terminal openings! On-heading statistics are nearly perfect despite of 10-minute trash pack jobs.

I think a slightly bigger PC is fine for skydiving environment (and a must for BASE) because your total airspeed is somewhat below the terminal. I get about 90mph average (combined horizontal and vertical) on Skyflyer.

bsbd!

Yuri.

[guest]

Just got an email from Jari. The new suits have already got a mod to solve the velcro problem I have mentioned.

Time for me to update!!!!!

Sorry!!!!

:)