John Carta "Birdman"

[dqpacker 7]

Old video with some base and a wingsuit at the end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfIaBvnr54c

[DSE 5]

Flying a homemade wingsuit in 1981...

Google Translation of the Italian text:
"Video of my cousin John Charter sopranominato "birdman" one of the pioneers of base jumping and parachuting in america, is little known but has done amazing business, with a natural predisposition for the sport in addition to a high degree of precision and safety in flight, is a Italian and was born in Alghero, for various reasons, it is found to live in newyork the age of 12 years while only a few years later and adapting well to life in this metropolis, has served America in the war in vietnam as a helicopter pilot in the rescue of survivors, after his leave, he puts together a construction company where he grappled with the experience of emptiness, then decides to try new sensations dedicating launch by parachute in the manner most fantastic and adventurous, it is the first to land with the parachute at the top of the twin towers (World Trade Center) on 10-September-1981 (talk about it with interest the newspapers) esatamante 20 years before the terrorist, was the first to launch from the tower of Pisa through a parachute from him amended to have a quick and landed without problems, then has made numerous high enterprises which in part can see in the video was one of the first researchers and inventors of the wing flight suit, he is building from the wings if you like to those of a bird and then experience the results (you can see in the video), the story is long but you really remember, passed away in 1990 at the age of 44 years because of a trivial accident, will remain forever in our hearts a Alghero worthy of our admiration, unfortunately, still little known, and I remember when it came to visit me and tried to teach me to speak in English .... do not want to know .... I remember the last time that we have seen, I invited him to listen to the radio to listen to me changed planes, too little time spent with him and too small to dissolve my shyness and ask him to tell more of his unique life."

[SuperGirl 0]

google missed 2 words
"sopranominato" (actually "soprannominato") = "nicknamed"
"esatamante" (mispelling of "esattamente") = "exactly"

(although it was probably all obvious from the context)

[jakee 1,500]

Jesus, landing on top of that bridge tower was fucking hardcore. The man had stones!

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[Waldschrat 0]

sadly this vid is removed :(

[DrewEckhardt 0]

Quote

Jesus, landing on top of that bridge tower was fucking hardcore. The man had stones!

A lot of that is equipment choice and familiarity. People used to jump one-size fits most seven cells (I didn't notice the specifics when I watched and it's gone now, but it's a good guess) at under a pound per square foot.

Put enough jumps on a 245 - 275 square foot accuracy or BASE canopy (.65 - .7 pounds per square foot is nice) trimmed for a good sink to figure out how to use it. I know it's over twice the size of what you're jumping and not fun in the same way. Your perceptions on what constitutes a reasonable landing area will change radically. Somewhat smaller works too once you have the drill down.

It's a totally different game than jumping modern skydiving gear but _lots_ of fun in a different way. Think about what you can do when 50' or 10' of landing area with obstacles on both ends becomes acceptable (remember the video).

I have over 900 nice swoop landings on canopies at or under 120 square feet, and managed to put an extra bend in my leg with less than .7 pounds per square foot on a 245 so there's a disclaimer:

The stunts alluded to in this post should only be attempted by trained professionals. If you attempt such things you asume fully responsibility for your testosterone poisoning and resulting stupidity.

[jakee 1,500]

Quote

Put enough jumps on a 245 - 275 square foot accuracy or BASE canopy (.65 - .7 pounds per square foot is nice) trimmed for a good sink to figure out how to use it. I know it's over twice the size of what you're jumping and not fun in the same way. Your perceptions on what constitutes a reasonable landing area will change radically. Somewhat smaller works too once you have the drill down.

I've jumped into some very small landing areas with 7-cell F1-11s

I still think it was pretty damn hardcore though.

Do you want to have an ideagasm?