Hagen 0 #26 April 8, 2009 and from wiki again: "Gliding versus powered flight Some things that fly are not pushed forwards through the air and can only glide, for example flying squirrels, this is termed gliding. Others have a source of useful forward power and can climb, this is termed powered flight." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mccordia 74 #27 April 8, 2009 Quote the definitions imply not simply having control but also using this or that method of movement. wikipedia says: Wikipedia is a great source, but do remember its content submitted by the users. If I get enough people to submit that blue is actually red, ponies can fly, my new sideburns look cool, midget-tossing is Hollands national sport and elvis isnt dead, than thats what it reads as well...JC FlyLikeBrick I'm an Athlete? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hagen 0 #28 April 8, 2009 in this very case wiki simply repeats textbooks on physics. and please, go and tell your boring 'jokes' somewhere else. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Butters 0 #29 April 8, 2009 Quote... midget-tossing is Hollands national sport ... Wait, it's not?"That looks dangerous." Leopold Stotch Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sangi 0 #30 April 8, 2009 Quote If I get enough people to submit that blue is actually red, ponies can fly, my new sideburns look cool, midget-tossing is Hollands national sport and elvis isnt dead, than thats what it reads as well... I guess it's just a matter of denial. Some people just want to think they are flying no matter how absurd it sounds and that they are actually gliding at best... You just want to feel special don't ya? I can "flyyyy" oh yeeeaaaah "Dream as you'll live forever, live as you'll die today." James Dean Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mccordia 74 #31 April 8, 2009 Quote in this very case wiki simply repeats textbooks on physics. and please, go and tell your boring 'jokes' somewhere else. Its not a joke, and we are talking definitions, meanings of a word, not physics. And depending on the selective use of a quote on wikipedia, its meaning can often be severly mangled and incorrect. Browse this forum for the wonderfull history on the wingsuit wikipedia page, and user submitted content. But back to the subject of the word flight being valid/invalid in terms of describing what we do. The quotes you post name one powered flight, and the other glide thus being unpowered flight). Flight nevertheless.. What we do is 100% flight. If not by that definition, pick any of the following from the English dictionairyDefinitions of the word flight: noun: a scheduled trip by plane between designated airports noun: an instance of traveling by air noun: a stairway (set of steps) between one floor or landing and the next noun: passing above and beyond ordinary bounds noun: an air force unit smaller than a squadron noun: a formation of aircraft in flight noun: a flock of flying birds noun: the act of escaping physically noun: the path followed by an object moving through space verb: shoot a bird in flight verb: fly in a flock verb: decorate with feathers name: A surname (very rare: popularity rank in the U.S.: #29010) JC FlyLikeBrick I'm an Athlete? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mccordia 74 #32 April 8, 2009 Quote I guess it's just a matter of denial. I think its more a matter of people not being able to enjoy things in life, without having them all labeled and catagorised... Quote Some people just want to think they are flying no matter how absurd it sounds and that they are actually gliding at best... glide=unpowered flight flight with an engine=powered flight So its just you getting it wrongIf its a matter of simple fun bad/glide-ratio wingsuit formation flight, or Yuri-approved© wigsuit flight...who cares... Quote You just want to feel special don't ya? neh...my mother told me I was special when I rode the bus to school with all the other special kids years ago...JC FlyLikeBrick I'm an Athlete? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Butters 0 #34 April 8, 2009 We're never going to agree on whether we're falling, gliding, or flying. Does it matter? Not really as long as we're all having fun! PS: I'm just excited that the season starts this weekend! Time to go ."That looks dangerous." Leopold Stotch Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DSE 5 #35 April 8, 2009 I'm confused at your meaning between your posts. Is it your assertion that wingsuits are flying, gliding, or falling? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mccordia 74 #36 April 8, 2009 Quote We're never going to agree on whether we're falling, gliding, or flying. Does it matter? Not really as long as we're all having fun! PS: I'm just excited that the season starts this weekend! Time to go . Same here...off to the USA in less than a week. Then Spain, Then Ukraine. Its gonna be fun! And definitions...Im flying...but anyone who wants to linger in the negative space and feel different is of course free to do so...JC FlyLikeBrick I'm an Athlete? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hagen 0 #37 April 8, 2009 gliding - while gliding is a kind of flying Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sangi 0 #38 April 8, 2009 QuoteI'm confused at your meaning between your posts. Is it your assertion that wingsuits are flying, gliding, or falling? People with wingsuits - glide, people without - fall. Oh and people with tracking suits can be categorised as some kind of pseudo gliding..."Dream as you'll live forever, live as you'll die today." James Dean Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Butters 0 #39 April 8, 2009 Quote Quote I'm confused at your meaning between your posts. Is it your assertion that wingsuits are flying, gliding, or falling? People with wingsuits - glide, people without - fall. What about trackers? "That looks dangerous." Leopold Stotch Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mccordia 74 #40 April 8, 2009 Quote gliding - while gliding is a kind of flying That wasnt completely clear from your wikipedia post..hence my reply..JC FlyLikeBrick I'm an Athlete? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sangi 0 #41 April 8, 2009 Quote What about trackers? That's probably the weakest form of gliding and can barely if not at all be categorized as gliding... "Dream as you'll live forever, live as you'll die today." James Dean Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hagen 0 #42 April 8, 2009 I didn't try to show my opinion by the post, I just tried to help you guys define what is flight - that is not just a movement in the air. the call the squirrel a flying on not in wain Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Butters 0 #43 April 8, 2009 Quote Quote What about trackers? That's probably the weakest form of gliding and can barely if not at all be categorized as gliding... I've met some trackers that could give some wingsuiters a run for their money."That looks dangerous." Leopold Stotch Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DSE 5 #44 April 8, 2009 Quote the call the squirrel a flying on not in wain In English, please? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mccordia 74 #45 April 8, 2009 Quote I've met some trackers that could give some wingsuiters a run for their money. Luc Maisin in his tight RW suit is outscoring ]Tristan in an XS in the distance competition at PPC. Ignoring winds etc of course. But (inlcuding a dive) several trackers are flying glide ratios over 1:1 in tight RW suits. FllyyyyJC FlyLikeBrick I'm an Athlete? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jcbfly 1 #47 April 8, 2009 I am a soaring pilot (hang gliders and paragliders) that also flies wingsuits. Here's my take on this discussion of whether or not our suits actually fly. Anything that produces lift is flying. If you can create forward movement then you are producing lift. What y'all are getting hung up on is the difference between gliding and soaring flight. Soaring is the act of using updrafts to sustain and/or gain altitude. Hang gliders, paragliders, sailplanes and some birds engage in soaring flight. A wingsuit is a glider, albeit a very low performance one; one whose sink rate is so high as to preclude soaring. OK, this is where it gets interesting. A well flown wingsuit is capable of a sink rate of around 3,500 FPM (approx. 40 MPH fall rate). While it's rare for updrafts to reach that high a velocity, it's common (at least here in the desert Southwest of the US) for thermal updrafts to exceed 1500 FPM. By flying your wingsuit in these updrafts you can significantly improve your gliding performance. How do you find and stay in updrafts? One way would be to exploit cloud streets. Another would be to use the ridge lift formed on the upwind side of cliffs on windy days. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sangi 0 #48 April 8, 2009 Well, it's a matter of how you define flying yourself I guess.. I have always and will always imagine flying when you can take off the ground, gain and not lose altitude and go where ever you look... "Dream as you'll live forever, live as you'll die today." James Dean Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The111 1 #49 April 8, 2009 Jarno's technically right here. The dictionary is supposed to be the ultimate source of the meaning of words for laymen, which most of us are.www.WingsuitPhotos.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skwrl 56 #50 April 8, 2009 Quote the call the squirrel a flying on not in wain Whoah, whoah, whoah... Don't drag me into this semantic war. Skwrl Productions - Wingsuit Photography Northeast Bird School - Chief Logistics Guy and Video Dork Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites