Norway flights

[Yuri]

Yo !

The new Skyflyer really picked up in Norway. Best flights had an average vertical speed of 14..15m/s(32..33mph) and the best time was 1:34 (one of Trollveggen exits, 1540m AGL). I didn't measure the glide ratio precisely (not an easy task) but it finally went over 2. Exits have been very easy, and the suit is flying at 4sec or so - like the old Classic. I did not use PC pouch on the suit, as it proved unnecessary - the regular pouch on the rig still works fine. The new Merlin prototype (wingsuit container from Vertigo) did the job quite well, and probably added a bit to the perfomance.

On a different subject, i've checked out W.L.O. toggles and they are a must-have for any slider-up BASE rig! These toggles allow you to fire brake lines in a slider-up configuration (using only one hand), clearing a line-over or tension-knot mal instantly. I've tested them on one of the first flights, and was amazed at how easy and quickly i could release brake lines. Use them, at least until we learn to land the suits ;-)

bsbd!

Yuri.

[d-dog]

Glad to hear the trip went well, Yuri.

Do you see any potential drawbacks with the new toggles? I've been eyeing them, but haven't yet had a chance to have my paws on them personally for inspection. If you say they are the cat's paws (even though I don't like cats ;-) ) then I'm going to install them on my slider up rig.

Peace,

D-d0g
ddog@wrinko.com
www.wrinko.com

[guest]

Yuri's clock times rock !

The swedish crew did some long flights as well. Martin Rosén got 1:27 and Per Flare 1:20 from H-nebba, about 1580m. They both ran out of landing area and faced with forest and power lines had to pull. There's about 5 to 10 sec left in both their flights, the skinny lightweight runts that they are !

I did a long flight as well. I did 46 sec from Karlskratind. Now Yuri and Martin do about 70 sec from that cliff, so my flight wasn't that long considering time, but I flew across the river and pulled above the farmhouse on the other side at about 250m. All that in 46 sec puts my forward speed at about 200 km/h. I am pretty sure, and this is a bold statement but I'll stick my neck out, that before I committed to crossing the river, I really grunted it and curved my hips, and as I flew over a freshly plowed field in the sunlight, my vertical descent rate dropped to close to zero for a few seconds before I semi stalled the suit. Otherwise my vertical descent rate is much higher, but my forward speed makes my glide as flat as Yuri's ... I think. It's over 2 to 1 for sure.

Whats funny is that two different styles result in the same glide but at wildly different airspeeds. I even considered putting on a semi sail slider. I'll post a video as soon as I can. As the canopy cracked open I surprised the farmer who was sunbathing in his deck chair. He seemed happy that somebody had landed in his field for the first time and gave me lift back across the river in his row boat :-)

Off to the Eiger in October with Per Flare, maybe we can make it over the ski slope and use the full 2400m down to the village Grindelwald ???? Hohoho, more to come later ....

[guest]

Hi Yuri,
I am glad that you started to believe in to the Skyflyer, ha, haa,ha.....
Well, I am happy that you made few very good flights. I 'have been in Lauterbrunnen and had there few nice too. Have you been trying the leg PC pouch at all?!

Definitely must come next year to Norway, grrrr
Robi