Flying Humans

mlimber sends us to the NYTimes for a story about flying people who jump from planes or other high locations wearing a wing suit akin to a flying squirrel's. Their efforts have potential military and Xtreme sports applications. The story profiles, with video, one guy who wants to be the first to jump from a plane and land without a parachute (and live). Here's a YouTube video of another of these fliers skimming six feet above skiers in the Swiss Alps. Quoting: "Modern suit design features tightly woven nylon sewn between the legs and between the arms and torso, creating wings that fill with air and create lift, allowing for forward motion and aerial maneuvers while slowing descent. As the suits, which cost about $1,000, have become more sophisticated, so have the pilots. The best fliers, and there are not many, can trace the horizontal contours of cliffs, ridges and mountainsides."

Why?

[Meshach]

I love the quote from the article:

Which leads to an obvious and inevitable question: Why?
"Because everybody thinks that it's not possible," Mr. Corliss said. "The point is to show people anything can be done. If you want to do amazing things, then you have to take amazing risks."

That sums up so much. Why does any one do anything? Who does anyone jump out from the sky? Why does anyone contribute to open source?

Because it is there

An understatement

[iamacat]

The landing, as one might expect, poses the biggest challenge,

I would say it's the only challenge actually. Gliding around in any winged suit is fun and safe as long as you still open the chute at the end.

Re:Darwin Awards

[cowscows]

Actually, doesn't the term "the best" by definition sort of mean there can't be that many? The best means superior to all others, and unless you're talking about something that has an absolute and measurable limit to "perfection", then "the best" is a pretty exclusive club.

That wasn't flying! That was... falling with style

[victim]

Apparently my title isn't enough to qualify as a post. I will regale you with this snippet from my email of today...

This is to inform you that the situation earlier today regarding a potential problem with a student did not occur and the library has been reopened.

Re:Why?

[FooAtWFU]

Bah. I am skeptical. I think there's another answer, for when the reality of it being possible sets in: because flying is danged fun.

I mean, why do people go on roller coasters? Not because it's impossible, that's for sure...

Re:64 years late!

[Repton]

That's not quite the same thing -- they didn't plan to jump without a parachute. If you throw enough people out of aeroplanes (as WWII did), it's not quite so amazing if a couple survive. This guy wants to be one from one -- much more difficult.

Re:64 years late!

[ottothecow]

When you think about it, it doesn't really matter how far they fall as long as it is past a certain threshold.

With a the wind resistance of a skydiver on earth, you would reach your terminal velocity of around 125MPH in about 1500ft or about the height of the sears tower.

Of course this still is pretty high and has a very high risk of death, it would result in only the same risk of death as a fall from 15,000 ft.

Re:64 years late!

[Eric Smith]

In the cases I cited, the people apparently did plan to jump without a parachute. They were faced with two alternatives, of which both were likely fatal, and chose to jump.

I disagree with your assessment that "it's not quite so amazing if a couple survive." Someone falling from tens of thousands of feet with no protection and surviving is amazing by any reasonable standard.

This guy wants to be one from one -- much more difficult.

I disagree with that also. If you plan it for months or years, develop suitable technology, model and simulate it, do various tests before the real attempt, etc., it should be much less difficult to survive it than if you're forced to do it by circumstances.

Not many of the best fliers...

[Aqualung812]

The best fliers, and there are not many, can trace the horizontal contours of cliffs, ridges and mountainsides.

Would there not be many because few have tried, or because when you try you have two outcomes: Live or die? Those that live become the best I assume? What about the average ones?

It reminds me of a saying: "There are stupid exterme skiers and there are old extreme skiers, but there are no old, stupid extreme skiers..."