SKYPEDESTRIAN 0 #1 July 15, 2003 Looking for some expertise/advice from all of you Bird People: I am about to order my first wingsuit from BirdMan. Have never flown one because I am too tall for demos (6'7", 234 lbs). My dilemmas are: 1. GTI or S-3? Am thinking I want as much suit as I can handle as a newbie to delay the onset of obsolescence. 2. What options to purchase??? 3. Buy and send the more durable metal zippers to BirdMan as I saw discussed on this forum, or just go with the plastic ones?? Thanks in advance for any feedback. Sincerely, Baby Bird. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 2,990 #2 July 15, 2003 >1. GTI or S-3? Am thinking I want as much suit as I can handle as a >newbie to delay the onset of obsolescence. I talked to Kim about this, and she strongly recommended getting a Classic or a GTi first before moving on to the S3. I wanted the S3 (of course) but I ended up buying a used Classic to learn on. I'll order the S3 sometime this summer; by the time I get it I should have 40-50 jumps on the Classic. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ManBird 0 #3 July 15, 2003 Do NOT buy the S3 as your first suit. I don't think BirdMan would sell it to you for your first wingsuit jump, anyway. It definitely requires some of experience to fly. The GTi is a wonderful suit. It has a huge performance envelope... it's forgiving enough to fly as your first wingsuit, and but performant enough to flock with Skyflyers and S3s and last you long into your wingsuit flying. I had about 180 jumps on my GTi before I got my S3, and I still throw it on occasionally. Aerobatics are much easier and "quicker" in the GTi. I never had a problem with my zippers. Add an inch to the wrist measurement, and you probably never will. I definitely recommend loop cutaway handles. If you do need to chop the wings, you'll probably lose the pillow handles. I recommend the LQRS, if you don't mind paying extra for it. It might come in handy and it will be very easy to sell to a BASE jumper. If you plan to BASE the suit at all, the LQRS is a must. Put a bare minimum of 50 jumps on the GTi before moving onto the S3. 100 is my recommendation. Otherwise, the S3 will end up working you over for awhile, and you'll probably end up hating it, if not endangering yourself (especially on deployment). Buy the GTi. You will love it for forever. (Edited for spelling)"¯"`-._.-¯) ManBird (¯-._.-´"¯" Click Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #4 July 15, 2003 Double check on the demo. Jari had one hanging on the rack at Raeford that was way WAY too tall for me at 6'2". Double check and see if there is'nt a demo suit you can jump. You might also want to see what they are recommending for people with less then 500 jumps. They will probally want you to go out with a BMI for your first flight.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LouDiamond 1 #5 July 15, 2003 I was just going to mention that suit. It is absolutely HUGE and I'm betting you could probably get a deal on it since I don't think too many other people besides wilt chamberlin could wear it. With under 500 jumps a GTI would be a safe bet to start on and having a BM-I give you pointers and fly with you on the first few flights will greatly increase your chances of having lots of fun and less frustration."It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required" Some people dream about flying, I live my dream SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
blair700 0 #6 July 15, 2003 Yo, I had about 420 jumps when I got my GTI as my first wingsuit. I echo the others comments, get a GTI, take a BM course and have fun. I'm 6'3" and about 210lbs. and I can get the GTI down to 50mph in about 30 jumps now, and I still have SOOO much to learn on it. Great fun! Blair Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SKYPEDESTRIAN 0 #7 July 15, 2003 Thanks everyone. This is exactly the kind of info I was hoping for. Thanks in advance for any more commentary. MJ skypedestrian@earthlink.net Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomAiello 26 #8 July 15, 2003 QuoteBuy and send the more durable metal zippers to BirdMan as I saw discussed on this forum, or just go with the plastic ones?? It cost me around $90 to have my zippers retrofitted. If you ever think you might need to do so, you probably ought to just throw down the extra hassle (and little cash) to get them put in in the first place. I'm not sure how much life others are getting out of them (and as a fatso, I put extra strain on my zippers), but mine lasted for about 150 jumps, then they started busting every time I turned around with the suit on.-- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SKYPEDESTRIAN 0 #9 July 15, 2003 Looks like it is going to be a GTI, in Navy, Black, and Orange (wings), with LQRS, loop-style cutaway handles, hook knife pocket, padded knees, and maybe the metal zippers, but I am going to discuss that with BirdMan folks before deciding. Also, I did add 1" to my wrist measurement. Thanks again! skypedestrian@earthlink.net Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
base704 0 #10 July 15, 2003 Yo... Sounds like ya got yer plan together! Although the "padded knees" option sounds like a good idea, I personally don't see the advantage, as the padding is so insignificant that it is hardly noticeable. I got this option on my GTi, but don't think that I would do it again, unless they beef up the padding a bit in the future...You can get a lot more done with a kind word and a gun than with a kind word alone. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
