Only you can prevent forest fires...

[Skwrl 56]

So this last weekend, I jumped smoke for the first time. Some of you have heard this story, but I figured I'd share it for those that haven't.

I had a smoke bracket that I bought from TunedByJLo.com. The bracket itself seems like it would be fantastic for bellyflying or tracking jumps, but it posed a couple of challenges for me when using it with a wingsuit.

For background, I generally jump a Tonysuit Mach1. Like all Tonysuits, it has leg release zippers. In the case of my suit, the zippers can be released by a lanyard that is stowed in three tuck-tabs on each leg. However, the bracket design presented a decision: I either had to put the bracket on inside the leg wing (in which case the bracket cutaway would be impossible to access in a hurry) or outside of the legwing (in which case the bracket's straps would pinch the leg wing, and wouldn't be all that snug. Since I wasn't a fan of turning into a roasted skwrl at 3,000 feet, I opted to put it on the outside of the suit.

The jump went great, with the exception of a slight left roll input that that I had to compensate for. Joner has video; it was a fun flight.

Here's where it gets interesting. At pull time, I closed up, pitched and was in the saddle a moment later. After I did the usual check of my airspace, it suddenly dawned on me that I wasn't still smoking. I figured the smoke ran out... But I looked down at my foot and discovered why I no longer saw smoke - on deployment, the bracket kept going without me. I'm not sure if it was the shock of deployment or the way the suit changed shape as I was sitting in the harness, but the bracket and I parted ways.

I spent much of the canopy ride trying to spot it and hoping like Hell that I wasn't going to see the beginning of a forest fire... (That $50,000 of third party property damage insurance that the USPA provides would get used up really quick...)

So, net result: one smoke jump later, I'm in the market for a new smoke solution.

What do you smokers use? Is there a commercially available bracket that's good for wingsuiting, or have you guys assembled your own?

Skwrl Productions - Wingsuit Photography

Northeast Bird School - Chief Logistics Guy and Video Dork

[DSE 5]

I use a modified version of the "famous" Jim Wallace bracket, same thing the PD boys used in the Grand Canyon for wingsuiting on the wall. Works well either inside or outside the WS, but I prefer it mounted inside.

[VectorBoy 0]

Is Jim famous or his braket?

[DSE 5]

Busted for bad english by Glen. Damn.

Howzabout "both?"

[jlo 0]

He Guys!

Here a quick reply of the maker of this bracket. In all the years I have been making this bracket I have "never" had any problems loosing it. But as you said you put the bracket over the wingsuit and I never do that. If you can not get your booties free before landing just land with the bracket attached to your feet. Only in landing situations you have the quick release on top!! I know this is hard to get to when your suit is on top but it was desined for people who do not want to land with the bracket attached to there feet, and who would get there booties free.


So for all you wingsuit jumpers never wear the bracket outside you suit. If you are jumping with smoke you accept the risks and you are responsible!!



And if you have any further questions see my webside and instruction video on Tunedbyjlo.com.

Jlo@tunedbyjlo.com


But I am glad it did not start a forrest fire or some one got hurt.

[Skwrl 56]

In fairness to Jean Loius, I have absolutely no question that if I had worn it inside my wingsuit, it would have remained on my foot. I just didn't feel comfortable doing that on my first flight with it for the reasons I mentioned above. Although, to be honest, the reason I wanted quick access to the bracket's cutaway was less about "fire" and more about "entanglement". I planned to leave it on following deployment and only open one leg of my suit.

I wanted to add that it was very well manufactured (Lurch and I both commented on the quality of the workmanship that clearly went into it), and buying it from tunedbyjlo.com was very easy - it was shipped to me the same day as my payment and I received it very quickly when you consider it had to cross the Atlantic and go through customs.

Stay tuned for my Home Depot/Puma sneaker/canvas shield DIY job.

Skwrl Productions - Wingsuit Photography

Northeast Bird School - Chief Logistics Guy and Video Dork

[lurch 0]

Yeah and weren't you supposed to wait till I got there to check it out and see you barbecue yourself? I already had to turn down Rick on making him a Lurch special simply cause with all the hacks I've got under construction right now I couldn't guarantee delivery inside of this season. Now I got TWO of you need brackets made. Dunno about you and fire up there, man. Sure you don't wanna stick to the yellow construction stripe tape I scrounged last season? Or maybe we can get you a small kite to tow... or a stuffed animal. A Skwrl maybe?
-B

Live and learn... or die, and teach by example.