Human wingsuit

[desperance]

(ganked from willshetterly):

This really does not look to me like enough wing to support a human body. But the scenery is gorgeous. And not noticeably decorated with besplattered idiots.

Comments

[karenmiller.livejournal.com]

Give it time.

[durham-rambler.livejournal.com]

Somewhere in the voice-over they said he was doing 100mph. A human in free-fall has a terminal velocity of 120mph, so the braking effect of the suit is plausible. It's more of a way to steer than anything else, and effective. And he had a parachute to open as he approached the landing.

[desperance.livejournal.com]

Ah, right. I didn't see the parachute (nor hear the voice-over: no sound on this machine. I just look at the pictures, me). I was wondering how they managed a landing...

[julesjones]

You can see the parachute pack on his back at a couple of points, and if you're looking for it you can see the parachute pop open right at the end. I *was* looking for it, because he looked as if he was going a lot too fast to land without one.

Nice video of nutters, thank you for the link. :-)

[ratmmjess.livejournal.com]

I have to wonder if those of us with, ahem, a little extra around the middle would be quite so aerodynamic as those guys.

[dedbutdrmng.livejournal.com]

That's amazing and terrifying at the same time. I have a friend who paraglides and members of his group are regularly maimed and killed. I'm quite glad I'm not sporty.

Just started the second Scott Lynch, cracking.

[mssrcrankypants.livejournal.com]

The design and proportions of it made me think of sugar-gliders/flying squirrels. As durham rambler noted, it's plausible for braking and steering, but controlled free-fall is still free-fall. I imagine there will be maimings in the future--as the VO said, one little protruding rock or stick unaccounted for can spell disaster.

[martyn44.livejournal.com]

Not the first time I've seen one of these suits - although the other time it was in glorious terrestrial broadcast quality.

These guys are cracked.