willh 0 #1 May 1, 2005 I was just looking through the May issue of skydiving magazine and saw a small add for what looks like the new Birdman suit called the PHI. Does anyone know anything about this suit? When is it going to be released and what kind of changes have been made? Looks kind of cool! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
leroydb 0 #2 May 1, 2005 might want to search the forum more, or check out flybirdman.com for additional info. there is a bit of info here, check out some of the old posts... much love Le ROyLeroy ..I knew I was an unwanted baby when I saw my bath toys were a toaster and a radio... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
willh 0 #3 May 1, 2005 This suit is nothing i've seen in any previous posts. It looks kind of like the batman logo (The trailing edge of the wings). Checked out flybirdman.com. No photos or info on it. Haven't seen any photos that resembles what I see in this Mays issue of skydiving mag. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bodypilot1 0 #4 May 1, 2005 The suit will be released sometime in June. Be safe Edwww.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The111 1 #5 May 1, 2005 Geez, there's a surprise. Last I heard we were getting "more info" in December 2005. Now it's a whole suit in June. Awesome! Now can you release similarly awesome info about the Blade? www.WingsuitPhotos.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
voodew1 0 #6 May 2, 2005 Looks like back to a 1 zipper suit that zips across the body and down 1 leg which will give easy leg strap access but will not be as easy to put the suit on. Also from the pics it looks like inlet vents on both sides of the suit --- not sure how the airlock thing is going to work but if I was to guess there is a "valve" that will close off the inlet on the "burble or side that is toward to sky" side for lack of correct terminalogy. Definetly a different approach to suits out at this time. How does it fly? I am sure one of the "CI's" have been able to test fly it. The pimp hand is powdered up ... say something stupid Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #7 May 2, 2005 Ed, How DOES it fly? I knew from previous conversations with everyone that the Phi was going to be an acrobatic suit... I am looking forward to a demo if one is ever made to fit 6'2" 175 lbs Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkymonkeyONE 4 #8 May 2, 2005 Ed has not flown that suit, nor have I. It is not anything like the Phi prototype that Robi designed and which Jari's brother put a bunch of jumps on. The only similarity is the airlocking mechanism on the tops and bottoms of all the wings. The suit will stay fully inflated while flying either belly or back to sky. No, I have not seen it (the new version), nor has Ed, so don't bug us about it. What Ed does have, and has been flying a lot lately, is a one-off prototype that will likely never see production. It's a cross between an S3 and a sugarglider and he gets phenomenal performance out of it. Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The111 1 #9 May 2, 2005 QuoteWhat Ed does have, and has been flying a lot lately, is a one-off prototype that will likely never see production. It's a cross between an S3 and a sugarglider and he gets phenomenal performance out of it. The idea "phenomenal performance" coupled with "will likely never see production" bothers me. Wouldn't a phenomenally performing suit be perfect for production?www.WingsuitPhotos.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkymonkeyONE 4 #10 May 2, 2005 I would just have to say that "phenomenal" might be a relative term. Ed averages in the high 30's in that suit, which means it's obvously got a ton of lift. It does suffer from "leg wing flappida" though and Jari just does not feel it's a design he wants to continue development on. Ed will have to elaborate on further flight characteristics of that suit though, because it was too big for either Scott or I to jump. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VectorBoy 0 #11 May 3, 2005 The idea "phenomenal performance" coupled with "will likely never see production" bothers me. Might be translated into very labor intensive to produce and even more intensive ( expensive ) to fix to the extent so that the flapida syndrom does'nt manifest in every production model. Or readily with every pilot. My proto back fly, air-locked S-3 required a lot more work to sew in the air-locks. And it does'nt live up to the lift of the of the production S-3s in normal flight. Ironically my Matter backflies great and achieves wing pressurisation while on the back from, I'm guessing, where the large opening for the rig laterals penetrate the upper wing when the suit is flown on its back. Interestingly enough "some" of the Matter2 owners have trouble with leg wing flapida syndrome and Matter has revamped the design with a larger crotch vent starting with 2005 production models. Its hard to make a suit that works for every body type and skill level as advertised. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkymonkeyONE 4 #12 May 3, 2005 That's a perfect analogy, Glen. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The111 1 #13 May 3, 2005 I understand, and I suspected as much. Since we are getting suits with such incredible performance, though unsuitable (pun intentional) for the market... that makes me all the more hopeful, and it seems all the more likely, that in the near future this same performance will be available in a friendlier package, once all the kinks get worked out. A bird can only hope. www.WingsuitPhotos.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
