Night Birdman... What do I need to know?

[Tonto 1]

I have a bunch of jumps, of which about 50 are night jumps.

Night jumps include 16 ways, CReW and many small FS dives.

What do I need to know about night birdman? Any decent ways so light up the suit? Any other safety concerns other than traffic?

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[meekerboy 0]

Take a look at these postings:

http://www.interone.net/gallery/view_photo.php?full=1&set_albumName=Skydiving-Adventures&id=abm

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=642107;search_string=night%20wingsuit;#642107

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=252207;search_string=night%20wingsuit;#252207

I would not recommend more than 2 wingsuit flyers on a load (and both doing solos). I would also put the bigger wingsuits out second and get them to pull a 1000ft higher than the first flyer. This should help the vertical separation. If there is a big-way planned (8-way +) then I would not put wingsuits on at all as there will be canopies all over the place and people tracking off over a much larger area. Lastly, I would definately recommend audibles and a chest-mounted lit alti.

Meeker

[Tonto 1]

There will be only 2 wingsuits on the dive. Licence requirements here state 1st night jump is a 10 sec and second a 30 sec, and I'll be dispatching those from 4500 and 8500 respectivly before climbing to 11 000ft for our exit. My planned opening point will be at 5000ft, a half mile upwind from where we dispatched the students. The other (More experienced) wing suit flyer will open at 4000ft.

I wear an audiable, and a wrist mount alti, but have a pillow available for a chest mount.

I'll read the posts now. Thanks for the feedback.

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[meekerboy 0]

Its needs to be considered that:
i) The more experienced wingsuit flyer will probably fly slower than you.
ii) The slower suit (e.g. GTI over a S3) needs to leave second and pull higher. In your cases I would recommend you pulling at 4500ft and 5500ft.

If I were jumping, I would not want the risk of flying high speed into the more experience flyer who got before me.

Meeker

[Tonto 1]

We're both flying classics, and on the dives we've done together, we've matched each other well.

I'll chat to him about it. He's comfortable opening lower than I am. I was thinking of giving him some time in the door, and then opening higher than his planned opening altitude. We'll discuss it this evening. Dives are Saturday night.

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[kevin922 0]

I seem to be missing the more important jump number, number of wingsuit jumps?

On a seperate note, just like any night flying start off with solos and work your way up.. i've done 2 ways at night but that's about it. It is possible to see each other flying around, and if you have white wings or a light colored wing that glowsticks can be seen through it is even easier to see each other - the people on the ground can "Clearly" see you as well evidentally (at least i've been told). If (when you are flocking together) loose each other you need to have it pre planned that you're going to fly in opposite directions (pick a direction based on the runway) and fly quick! Also predetermine your opening altitudes.

Night flocks are unbelieveable.. it seems more peaceful when it is dark all around and you see glowing wings flying back and forth. I can't wait to do more.

[Tonto 1]

Hi Kevin,

Thanks for your feedback.

I have about 20 birdman jumps(4000 total), and Chris has about 50(650 total). These dives will be solo, but exits will be on the same run-in. I've had no difficulty on any of my flights so far. Only changes will be a bigger main, and we'll be doing several dives during the day so we're familiar with our pattern and sequence at night.

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[kevin922 0]

Quote

Hi Kevin,

Thanks for your feedback.

I have about 20 birdman jumps(4000 total), and Chris has about 50(650 total). These dives will be solo, but exits will be on the same run-in. I've had no difficulty on any of my flights so far. Only changes will be a bigger main, and we'll be doing several dives during the day so we're familiar with our pattern and sequence at night.

t

Well my biggest concern is the fact that if something DOES go wrong if you know how to properly deal with it. I've had one night jump with a lazy pull that ended up with a PC sitting on my butt for a few hundred feet.. thank god when my canopy opened it wasn't in line twists :)

Be careful, have fun.

Kevin

[Tonto 1]

Will do.

That's why I'm moving to an even bigger canopy for the night dives.

(Normal 107 Stiletto - Day birdman 120 hornet - Night birdman 150 hornet.)

I've had 18 cutaways, but only one at night. Planned opening altitude is 5000ft.

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[blair700 0]

I'd like to add,
Pay attention to your spot, and your flight path. Of course this is SOP for ANY wingsuit flight, but the last thing you want to do is miss the airport and have an off-field landing, at night Good choice on using the larger, more docile canopy for the night jumps.
Have fun,
Blair

[Tonto 1]

Just thought I'd let you know the dive went REALLY well. We only got 9500 AGL as our DZ is 5000ft AMSL and has no runway lights, and the pilot was concerned about hypoxia issues.

I discussed decent patterns with him, but he said he decends really slowly at night (compared to the day) so I chose to turn out to the right and he'd decend to the left.

I did a solo, as you suggested. Didn't feel comfortable with two of us in the sky together, and the other dude never pitched anyway.
Soon after exit I turned out to the Right. I'd left about 15 secs after a solo freefly, who had given a 4 way 15 secs before exit. The moon was quite low, having been up for a couple of hours, and with the light behind me, I could make out everything! I went maybe half a mile, and then turned right again to run downwind well clear of the jumpers who had exited before me. I was a little paranoid WRT alti's, having a chest mount, a wrist mount, and a Pro Dytter in a bonehead.

The opening was eventful, with a premature brake release (Borrowed gear) but on a 150, and opening at 5000ft, I had plenty time to unzip and unstow the other brake. I was too busy looking about for other traffic to do a good job of stowing the legs high, and so ended up running like a penguin on steroids - only to tumble in the headlights, much to the amusement of all on the DZ - but the dive was awesome!

Thanks to all for their input to this dive!

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[FrogNog 1]

Um, why did the other guy never pitch? Did he land his suit?

-=-=-=-=-
Pull.

[kevin922 0]

Quote

Um, why did the other guy never pitch? Did he land his suit?

yeah i was curious when I read that what the hell tonto was trying to say.. surely he pitched or we'd be reading an incident report

[Tonto 1]

Ahh. Language problems across the Atlantic!

England pitch up when it matters may better explain the origins of the expression.

It's coloquial slang dirived from the game of Cricket.

"Never pitched (up)" means "Didn't turn up" (At the DZ) or "Didn't arrive." which may better explain why I did a solo... Sorry if I sounded so cavalier about what might have appeared like a no pull incident at the DZ!

My apologies!

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[leroydb 0]

damn language barrier..... take that shit down.... learn english, i mena maerican, i mena... ah fk nvr mind

Leroy


..I knew I was an unwanted baby when I saw my bath toys were a toaster and a radio...