How to begin flying a wingsuit
Recommended skydiving equipment for wingsuit jumps
Safety considerations for wingsuit jumps
Connecting your wingsuit before jumping
Instruction and Training
Care instructions
Flying a wingsuit requires certain modifications of various free-fall techniques and parameters, including : - Fall rate reduction.
- Significant increases of glide ratio.
- Different exit techniques.
- Different deployment techniques.
- Increase awareness of possible emergency procedures (arm wing cutaway)
- Flight axis planning, so as to avoid collision.
Jumping a wingsuit requires specific training, like all the disciplines of skydiving.
Jumping a wingsuit requires authorisation from the proper authorities in each country. In France, the requirements of the technical directive from the French Federation FFP ( n°18 of the 27/06/2006 )must be met. This directive defines all criteria which need to be met with regard to wingsuit flight.
These are some suggestions before you get started : - Contact S-FLY Instructors and the technical director of your drop zone to recieve an initial briefing.
- Jump with farmiliar gear.
- Jump on a DZ which you know well in order to have of farniliar reference on the ground during your flights.
- Choose appropriate days when all the conditions are ideal : beautiful weather, good physical form, correct equipment.
- Take time/be patient : follow a briefing programme for your jumps. Do not make your first jumps if you have been rushed by time constraints or are engaged in other types of jumps…
- Start initially with a S-FLY ACCESS wingsuit, even if you have a good skydiving background. Get comfortable before progressing onto the more technicals models.
- Practice the procedures that you have been shown during briefings, and ask to be checked before boarding the plane. Be progressive, you will progress better and more rapidly !
You will find the details of S-FLY instructors, as well as the dates of training courses on our site. This will help if you wish to make appointments to recieve instruction from the FLY YOUR BODY team.
Enjoy your jumps !
A wingsuits design limits a skydiver’s flexibility somewhat. This is a very important factor to deal with in the aircraft, in free-fall, during opening, under canopy and in the case of emergency.
When you’re flying the S-Fly Expert Wingsuit efficiently, your vertical speed will be between 50 and 100 Km/h. During a normal free-fall one averages about 200Km/h.
To maintain maximum safety during wing-suit flight, this vertical descent must be kept in mind. You will need to adapt certain skydiving equipment for the different flying phases of wingsuit flight.
Parachute Opening Systems
Normal parachute deployment systems are engineered to be efficient in fall rates of around 200Km/h.
It is therefore compulsory to adapt the parachute deployment system to a lower fall rate for wingsuit jumps.
For your security, we advise one to use the following parachute deployment system guidelines : - Hand Deployment systems (no Pull-Out)
- BOC Hand Deployment, with a pilot chute of 90cm (36") minimum diameter
- The pilot chute fabric must be in a good condition
- Kill line and bridle of 2,5m (100") length
Do not use : - Elastic collapsible pilot chute
- Pull Out systems
- Pilot chutes smaller than 36"
- Pilot chutes which are damaged or not in a good condition.
Main Canopy
When you’re using an S-Fly™ Expert Wingsuit, it is impossible to reach the toggles while the canopy is deploying.
You are therefore unable to control the heading of your openings by using toggle imputs.
Use a predictable, on heading, opening canopy for S-Fly™ Wing-suit jumps.
Elliptical and small canopies are prohibited.
For your safety, we strongly recommend you to choose the following characteristics for your main canopy : - Non elliptical canopy
- 135 sqf minimum size for your main canopy
- Main canopy you are familiar with and have jumped before.
So you want to jump a wingsuit ? Cool !
Be aware that the profile of your jumps will change and you will have to manage some new factors !
With a wingsuit you are now able to move further horizontally and your jumps will certainly be longer...
It's amazing, here is some advice to allow you to maintain your safety :
To be cool and have fun during your jumps, take time to gear-up before jumping with a wingsuit.
Preferably use fine clothing under your wingsuit.
Keep the zippers aligned and in tension when you close and open them.
Check your rig and activate your safety systems before you gear-up.
Take time to check your gear and go to the boarding point with ample time, NEVER BE RUSHED, you could make mistakes with regard to safety.
- Put on the jacket.
- Close the front zipper.
- Pull the jacket down as low as possible towards your thighs.
- Gear-up with your harness : tighten your leg straps and fasten your chest strap.
- Clear the arm’s wings to the outside of the harness. Pull excess fabric towards the outside of your shoulders.
- Prepare the pants by opening the zippers; they should be open from ankle to knee on both sides. One of the zippers should be open from the waist to knee (the other zipper can remain closed :this is normal !)
- Put on the pants, close the upper part of the leg zippers and adjust the waist belt. Take care not to cover the bottom of your container or the BOC with the top of the pants !
- Keep the lower part of the leg zipper open until you are at the aircraft, then you can zip them closed and be ready to jump.
- Connect the arm wings to the leg zippers. Lock the clips.
- Check that you can reach your pilot chute and hold the wing handles.
- Ask someone to check you !
have fun, good flights...
Mounting your S-FLY EXPERT wingsuit onto your parachute - Lay your parachute with its back on floor.
- Turn on your AAD.
- Disconnect the elastic bungee between your leg straps.
- Lay the wingsuit on the parachute’s back pad.
- Open the 4 zippers for the suit’s “harness openings“ to the end of the arm wing.
- Put the arm wings in place and fit the leg straps inside the suit. Make sure you do not twist the leg straps. Close the back zipper first.
- Close the front zippers and secure the suit’s arm wings with the clips.
- Open the arm cutaway handle and inspect the cutaway system.
- Close arm zippers half way to reduce your work in the plane.
- Turn palms facing out as shown to reduce friction while closing the zippers.
- Fit booties with clips as shown to prevent standing on them !
Check - The arm cutaway cables are in place through the loops. Their end are stored inside the handles at the tip of the wing.
- The leg straps are in place, well mounted and not twisted.
- The zippers are well connected, closed and secured by the clips.
- Cutaway and reserve handles are in place, outside the suit. They are easily visible and can be reached without any problems.
Fitting the arm cutaway in place - Open the trap door on arms.
- Put the cables in place : the long cable goes into the housing so that you can’t pull it moving your arm into the wing.
- First, the short cable goes through the loops.
- When you reach the end of the short housing, change from the short cable to the long one. This technique makes the distance to pull shorter before your arms become free. Take care to not put 2 cables through the same loop !
Mounting your S-FLY PROFLY wingsuit onto your parachute - Lay your parachute with its back on floor.
- Turn on your AAD.
- Disconnect the elastic bungee between your leg straps.
- Lay the wingsuit on the parachute’s back pad.
- Open the 4 zippers for the suit’s “harness openings“ to the end of the arm wing.
- Put the arm wings in place and fit the leg straps inside the suit. Make sure you do not twist the leg straps. Close the back zipper first.
- Close the front zippers and secure the suit’s arm wings with the clips.
- Open the arm cutaway handle and inspect the cutaway system.
- Close arm zippers half way to reduce your work in the plane.
- Turn palms facing out as shown to reduce friction while closing the zippers.
- Fit booties with clips as shown to prevent standing on them !
Check - The arm cutaway cables are in place through the loops. Their end are stored at the tip of the wing.
- The leg straps are in place, well mounted and not twisted.
- The zippers are well connected, closed and secured by the clips.
- Cutaway and reserve handles are in place, outside the suit. They are easily visible and can be reached without any problems.
Fitting the arm cutaway in place - Open the trap door on arms.
- Put the cables in place : the long cable goes into the housing so that you can’t pull it moving your arm into the wing.
- First, the short cable goes through the loops.
- When you reach the end of the short housing, change from the short cable to the long one. This technique makes the distance to pull shorter before your arms become free.
To ensure safety and get the best performance out of your wingsuit, we strongly advise that you follow a specific wingsuit training course with one of the S-Fly Instructors.
You will herewithin find the programmed dates and contacts. Do not jump the S-Fly™ Wingsuit before having followed a specific training course.
The S-Fly Wingsuit is a fragile piece of technical equipment. Following this advice will help you to prolong your wingsuit’s life. Follow it conscientiously!
Do not hesitate to contact your dealer for information not contained in this manual.
Storing your wingsuit
Between each use, store the suit in a dry and clean place. Use a plase away from direct sunlight.
Do not expose the wingsuit to temperatures exceeding 50°Celcius, to UV or direct sunlight.
Keep the wingsuit away from direct sources of heat.
Keep away from humidity. If wet, dry it carefully with a soft cloth or a sponge, then hang it and let it dry away from direct sunlight.
For transport use the pouch delivered with the suit.
Do not fold the arm cutaway cables. Roll them.
In the event of prolonged non-use, we advise that you store your wingsuit in a manner as to not fold it at the level of the arms. This is done to prevent the cutaway cables from deforming.
Day care
Check that cutaway cables are clean and in a good condition. If needed clean them with a clean, dry cloth.
Check the stitching on a regular basis - mainly on the 4 harness openings. Call your dealer if something looks wrong.
If you store the wingsuit for a long time, make sure the cutaway cables are not bent, always roll them for storage.
Washing
The use of a washing machines and tumble-dryers is strictly forbidden !
Cautiously clean any dirty areas with cold water using a soft cloth.
Do not use any chemicals.
Do not iron.
Repairs
If your wingsuit needs to be repaired call your dealer or fly your body (see Contacts). They will advise you on what to do or where to get it repaired.
Do not repair or modify the wingsuit by yourself.
Only ask advice from official S-fly™ Wingsuit dealers (see Contacts).
Packing
we recommand the following packing method for the S-FLY EXPERT : - Lay the suit on flat, dry, clean surface.
- Fold it into four.
- Fold booties inside the suit.
- Fold each side to the centre, taking care not to bend the cables.
- Store it inside the pouch provided.<//em><//em><//em><//em><//em><//em><//em>
|
