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nicrussell

Possible Mid-airs

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A few weeks a go there was a post about a birdman doing an amazing BASE jump in Europe. He clearly makes it to the other side of the valley in freefall. As I understand it both sides of the valley in this area have exit points. What is being done to prevent two jumpers from a collision (Birdman v Birdman, Birdman v. normal jumper, birdman v. canopy?) I know the likely hood of this happening is low, but there still IS a chance.

nic

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Motorola Talk-Abouts, every jumper ought to own a pair!
"It takes a big man to cry, it takes an even bigger man to make that big man cry"

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I'd say a birdman jumper would have a better chance in hitting a bird in freefall than another birdman. Maybe we should all wear little plastic owls on our helmets;)
(c)2010 Vertical Visions. No unauthorized duplication permitted. <==For the media only

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I'd say a birdman jumper would have a better chance in hitting a bird in freefall than another birdman. Maybe we should all wear little plastic owls on our helmets;)



Yes I know the chances are very low of a collision. But that is now. With more and more jumpers in the sport taking birdman flights for many reasons, wouldn't it be possible to have two conflicting jumpers from different exit points. Maybe I'm overdoing it a little, but just looking at ALL possibilities.

Nic

And the bird would probably move out of the way. Ever try to hit one with your car, they may wait till the last second (can you blame them, think of the rush!) but they steer clear.

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Much more chance on any day of a skydiver hitting a canopy in freefall or another skydiver or canopy on canopy collision.......... in fact the chances are so high the rare occasions i sit at a DZ I wince at all the people coming into land and focused on the landing area and not the people around them - what is being done about this????? :S

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Yo !

Just like any other pilot, a birdman ought to look in front of him and avoid obstacles - be that a wall, a canopy or another birdman. Not quite a rocket science, just basic VFR ;-) You have unbelievable amount of control in a wingsuit - something most jumpers don't understand until they begin to fly.

Seriously, though: it is naturally very easy to avoid things in front and under you, but there is a large blind spot on top of a birdman. If you fly under another exit point there is a potential of something hitting you from above. However, if this something happens to be another jumper he ought to see and avoid you as well. I would be more scared of a rock, or bird shit for that matter ;) Incredibly unlikely, but this risk does exist.

bsbd!

Yuri.

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there is a pretty cool link on PD's website that shows a video ofa wing suit pilot flying down a skislope in close proximity to the ground. Talk about visuals...


http://www.performancedesigns.com/pdzone/video2.asp?team=loic&category=ff&videoID=52

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