who was the first? Wing suit

[look 171]

I was thinking about this at lunch today. Who or how does one decide to do this for the first time? GEt up one morning and think, I am going to jump off a 7000' mountain top and hope to land safely on a grassy field the size of a quarter seem from up there in one of these suit with a web under my arms?

Seriously, how does one train for this? You need some elevation and speed to keep that thing up without dropping like a piece of iron.

[Eric Hahl]

Jump from an airplane with a backup parachute to test the idea. Modify from there.

[masraum]

I know that if it was me, I'd have started doing it out of a plane, far from fixed objects. Get used to it when there's nothing to run into. Then after you feel like you can control speed, lift, etc..., then you start getting closer and closer to objects.

It's cool. I'd love to do it. Skydiving was very cool, I can only imagine that the wingsuit thing would be even more exhilarating.

[masraum]

This is my favorite wingsuit video.

[Por_sha911]

I think the better question is "Who was the first to successfully use a wing suit"

If at first don't succeed, skydiving is not for you

[Rick Lee]

This is the first thing I'm doing after I compete in Isle of Man.

[Zeke]

I suppose computer sims had something to do with this.

[Alansglide]

From what I remember there was a guy named Red don't remember his last name was the first to use a wing suit. He didn't jump off mountain tops just out of airplanes. He was famous for doing so back in the 1971 or 72. He was a friend of Bob Sinclair who ran a jump school in LA and was the sky diver in the old Taco Bell commercial.

[DonDavis]

Originally Posted by masraum

This is my favorite wingsuit video.

So cool. Really like that one as well.

That laugh at 2:28.

[flipper35]

Even Jeb wasn't always successful. Ouch.

[rcooled]

Originally Posted by flipper35

Even Jeb wasn't always successful. Ouch.

Ouch indeed. Must be an awful feeling to see that rock formation approaching fast and realizing that you're probably not gonna clear it

Looks like Jeb just barely missed some obstacles in that other video too.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

This is the first thing I'm doing after I compete in Isle of Man.

and is that before or after the running of the bulls, and the exhibition Mike Tyson boxing match?

[masraum]

Originally Posted by rcooled

Ouch indeed. Must be an awful feeling to see that rock formation approaching fast and realizing that you're probably not gonna clear it

Looks like Jeb just barely missed some obstacles in that other video too.

I watched a documentary. I think his legs hit and he had some bad breaks, but the king's horses and king's men put him back together again, and he's back at it.

Also in the documentary, one of his buddies, I think maybe a mentor and or predecessor made a jump with him. They went past a bridge. Jeb went under the bridge and his buddy went over the bridge. Unfortunately, his buddy hit the bridge and basically exploded. Jeb described that after he went past the bridge, it seemed like it was raining. He eventually realized the rain was what was left of his buddy.

He seems to have a weird psych make up. Per the documentary, if he's NOT being a daredevil, then he gets depressed and suicidal. It's when he's doing crazy stuff that he's happy. But, he says that he absolutely does NOT have a death wish, and plans, studies and practices so he doesn't have issues to the best of his ability.

[rcooled]

Originally Posted by masraum

He eventually realized the rain was what was left of his buddy.

Man, if that wouldn't be enough to make a person stop engaging is such dangerous activities, I don't know what would.
His luck's gonna run out some day too

...and plans, studies and practices so he doesn't have issues to the best of his ability.

How is it that young guys like Jeb, and others like that free-climbing daredevil, have all this free time & money to practice, travel, and perform stunts like this? Sponsorship deals maybe?

[masraum]

Originally Posted by rcooled

Man, if that wouldn't be enough to make a person stop engaging is such dangerous activities, I don't know what would.
His luck's gonna run out some day too


How is it that young guys like Jeb, and others like that free-climbing daredevil, have all this free time & money to practice, travel, and perform stunts like this? Sponsorship deals maybe?

I assume they start with a single goal, do what they love, and forego anything that doesn't get them closer to that goal. Then, eventually, the few that are like rock stars, get sponsorship. For instance, I think Redbull, go pro, etc... paid for Jeb to do some stuff.

[flipper35]

Originally Posted by masraum

I watched a documentary. I think his legs hit and he had some bad breaks, but the king's horses and king's men put him back together again, and he's back at it.

Also in the documentary, one of his buddies, I think maybe a mentor and or predecessor made a jump with him. They went past a bridge. Jeb went under the bridge and his buddy went over the bridge. Unfortunately, his buddy hit the bridge and basically exploded. Jeb described that after he went past the bridge, it seemed like it was raining. He eventually realized the rain was what was left of his buddy.

He seems to have a weird psych make up. Per the documentary, if he's NOT being a daredevil, then he gets depressed and suicidal. It's when he's doing crazy stuff that he's happy. But, he says that he absolutely does NOT have a death wish, and plans, studies and practices so he doesn't have issues to the best of his ability.

Yeah, I didn't want to post that video of the bridge hit. It is bad enough just hearing him describe it.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by masraum

I assume they start with a single goal, do what they love, and forego anything that doesn't get them closer to that goal. Then, eventually, the few that are like rock stars, get sponsorship. For instance, I think Redbull, go pro, etc... paid for Jeb to do some stuff.

You couldn't have described the life of a F1 driver any better than that.

[rcooled]

Originally Posted by Zeke

You couldn't have described the life of a F1 driver any better than that.

I get that laser focus is required to excel at extreme activities like free climbing, wingsuit flying, or driving in F1, but you still gotta eat.

Several F1 drivers come from well-to-do families, like Lance Stroll for instance. Others, like Lewis Hamilton, had families that sacrificed a great deal for them to realize their dream. Fame & fortune await those that make it to the upper ranks of the sport, and even journeyman drivers, like Daniel Ricciardo, can earn a decent living if they're consistent finishers and/or are skilled enough to attract sponsorship.

Free climbing and wingsuit flying won't get you anywhere in life and will quite possibly put you into an early grave. Are the families of these guys paying their bills so they can engage in these death-defying activities and risk their lives for practically nothing but bragging rights?

[stealthn]

Wil-e-coyote was the first…

[eastbay]

There was a movie from the 60s or 70s that was about wing suit flyers, anyone remember it?