New S3-S

[Tonto 1]

It arrived on Friday evening..

I did 12 dives on it this weekend in flocks ranging from 7 to 12, and I can't describe quite how I feel about it. Clearly I was expecting something new, but I also anticipated this being simply a revision of a suit I already had over 100 dives on. It's so much more than that.

Kitting up is easier and simpler without the press studs on the booties.
Here in an African summer, the difference the lining makes can be felt immediatly, without the suit sticking to your skin. While the Mylar ribs are clearly visible, they didn't make it any harder to get 14 wingsuits into the King Air.

As with most things that are new, you feel the difference right away. I feel the suit inflates faster and everthing about the flight is cleaner and more predictable. One of the things I like most about the entire range from Birdman is a clear design philosophy that allows the experience gained on other suits to transfer well to the new suit.

I'm not a floaty flyer. At 177lbs and 5'10 I don't have the "tall and thin" thing going for me, but I like speed, and with speed comes lift.
I managed a 49mph yesterday, which equals my personal best on the S3, but the difference is - I was in a flock that covered well over 2 miles from 11000ft AGL in a "Survival of the fittest" dive. (It's an African thing.)

This is truely money well spent regardless of what the new thing on the block will be. I'm really looking forward to doing some solo's to explore more of the suit's range - and that will have to wait until the weekend.

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[LouDiamond 1]

Right on bro, glad you like it. Try some back flying in it when you get a chance.

"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required"
Some people dream about flying, I live my dream
SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING

[jakee 1,563]

Just curious about something, and this applies to a few people I've seen post, why buy what seems to be an interim reworking of a suit you already have and not an actual 'next gen' suit like the V-1 or (soon?) the S5? You've mentioned a few times that speed is your thing, most of the reviews here rave about the forward speed of the V-1 compared to the S-3.

Is it anything to do with lack of demo's, just liking the way the S-3 feels in flight or what?

Not trying to start a brand war (hell my first flights will hopefully be this weekend with Birdman and given the reviews I've seen my first suit may well be Birdman too) just wondering why people are choosing to buy improvements rather than completely new designs.

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[Peej 0]

Sweet as dude, like i said, i can't wit to see it but how's about posting some pics for us to see in the mean time?

Advertisio Rodriguez / Sky

[unclecharlie95 3]

Hey Jack,

thats an intelligent question for a Monday morning, haven't you got work to be getting on with

The possible answers to your question are many but remember that a lot of people do not choose a suit just on the performance or design.

Demo all the suits you can, wingsuits are not cheap and it is best to make an informed decision.

Have fun on your European tour!

Long flights,

James

BASEstore.it

[Tonto 1]

Brandwars...

I have 5 wingsuits - and they're not all from one manufacturer.

I have 2 wingsuit instructional ratings, from different maunfactures.

We just organised a weekend with 7 different types of suits from 3 manufacturers, and all flew together nicely.

I just enjoyed my new suit. Is that so hard to beleive?

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[jakee 1,563]

Quote

haven't you got work to be getting on with

Far, far too much, thats why I'm wasting my time on here - I'm kind of a 'stick my head in the sand and wait till the problem goes away' type of guy.

Tonto, I'm really not trying to start anything - there is not a wingsuit out there that I would not love to try out once I start flying and I'm happy that you've got a great new suit.Its just that, lets face it, wingsuits are expensive and I was wondering why you decided to buy one that you expected to be quite similar to one of your current suits instead of one completely different. Simple curiosity, nothing more.

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[The111 1]

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The possible answers to your question are many but remember that a lot of people do not choose a suit just on the performance or design.

That's true... I bought my suit because it was shiny, smelled nice, and had cool zippers!!! Perhaps in the future somebody can educate me better.

www.WingsuitPhotos.com

[pbla4024 0]

Really? I bought one with the coolest logo. Are there better criteria?

Fido

[The111 1]

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Really? I bought one with the coolest logo.

CRAP, I didn't even think about that.

www.WingsuitPhotos.com

[Buried 0]

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Really? I bought one with the coolest logo. Are there better criteria?

how about the name of the suit ?

Where is my fizzy-lifting drink?

[pbla4024 0]

Phantom + S3
But Phantom logo is much bigger :-)

Fido

[piisfish 140]

I bought my S-Fly 'cause it's the best suit for mountain swooping..

Now THAT'S a good reason.

scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM

[MarkM 0]

It's not the size of the logo that counts. It's how good the logo looks on camera that matters.

Besides, everyone knows that the PHI is what all us poser Birdmen like to wear when we're trying to impress the chicks.

[notsane 0]

The Phi (mine in particular) is probably the best looking suit (aestetically) out there. But as chick-magets go the Jii-wings GS-1 has them all beat ... they just loved those BIG wings!

[Airowpoint 0]

Trust me, it is possible to look like a idiot wearing an Phi
http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/gallery/imageFolio.cgi?action=view&link=Personal_Galleries/dragon2/Wingsuit_Weekend_Teuge_09-2005&image=Untitled-3.jpg&img=&tt=

Tristan
Will you answer "NO" to my next question?

[MarkM 0]

Quote

Trust me, it is possible to look like a idiot wearing an Phi
http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/gallery/imageFolio.cgi?action=view&link=Personal_Galleries/dragon2/Wingsuit_Weekend_Teuge_09-2005&image=Untitled-3.jpg&img=&tt=

No, there was something wrong with the camera that took the photo. I've fixed the image for you. If you continue to have this problem please contact Jussi at Birdman and see about getting the Mojo replaced in your suit.

[dploi 0]

From what I've seen of the S3-S, it's not just a little upgrade. It's not something that needs to be re-learned either, though. It's a suit that allows experienced S3 pilots to get a signifiacnt performance boost right out of the box.

[dragon2 2]

Nothing wrong with my camera, the girl was just on the other side of the camera

Although admittedly I wish I looked more like that one

ciel bleu,
Saskia

[gusprovost 0]

I bought my S-Fly because Loic was at Perris, and he took the time to make 4 flights with me to make sure I knew how to fly... in hindsight, THAT was worth more than the price of the suit.
-Gus

[piisfish 140]

did he also teach you how to swoop the mountain ??

my suit does it automatically

for sure it teaches alot to fly with him.

scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM

[Tonto 1]

Tried out that back-flying.... and it's awesome! Can't wait to do it in a flock!

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[mccordia 74]

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Tried out that back-flying.... and it's awesome! Can't wait to do it in a flock!

t

Video! Video!

JC
FlyLikeBrick
I'm an Athlete?

[LouDiamond 1]

Quote

Tried out that back-flying.... and it's awesome! Can't wait to do it in a flock!

t

DAZ right, I knew your ass would dig it

"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required"
Some people dream about flying, I live my dream
SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING

[Nightwing 0]

Cool Tonto!!!

But like, where's the pics bru?

See ya in February!!!

Later,

Courteney.

Drags me down, like some sweet gravity...
Nightwing has stirred, and taken to flight...the silence is over, he's shattered the night!!!