Comments on: Skydive across the channel

Skydive across the channel

marvin — Thu, 31 Jul 2003 07:48:01 -0800

"Skydiver in record Channel flight" is the claim made by an Austrian skydiving across the channel aided by small strap-on wings. Evidently he needed a 1 in 4 glide angle to make it, but a simple understanding of flight mechanics would suggest that the distance he could fly is proportional to the amount of strap-on wing area. At what point does skydiving become gliding?

By: stbalbach

stbalbach — Thu, 31 Jul 2003 07:58:20 -0800

Given the number of mishaps it's amazing he made it alive much less on target. Very cool idea though hope to see more of this in the future. Superman.

By: Newbornstranger

Newbornstranger — Thu, 31 Jul 2003 08:00:19 -0800

"At what point does skydiving become gliding?" Uhh... at this point, I guess.

By: PenDevil

PenDevil — Thu, 31 Jul 2003 08:07:35 -0800

At what point does skydiving become gliding? When air currents and thermals no longer play any part of keeping you airborne, you're pretty much skydiving.

By: cip

cip — Thu, 31 Jul 2003 08:12:57 -0800

Fin de Cross-Channel jump

By: trbrts

trbrts — Thu, 31 Jul 2003 08:24:07 -0800

"Mr Baumgartner had prepared for three years for this flight, with rigorous training including strapping himself on to the top of a speeding Porsche."

By: CunningLinguist

CunningLinguist — Thu, 31 Jul 2003 08:44:41 -0800

I saw this picture and had a momentary JET PACKS ARE FINALLY HERE moment. Darnit, dreams dashed again.

By: Tubes

Tubes — Thu, 31 Jul 2003 08:46:11 -0800

"That's not flying... that's falling with style!" -Woody Interesting! This is clearly skydiving, not gliding, but apparently he's achieved more horizontal distance than anyone before. Skydivers have been using winged suits for several years; rigid wing experiments would naturally follow, though I don't imagine the clumsy bulk becoming popular with sport jumpers. The article is a bit breathless, though, with some confusing bits and likely inaccuracies: "And when he jumped his legs and glider got entangled and he had to cut his glider into pieces, he said." Obviously on a previous attempt. From the graphic: "Parachute opened at 1000 feet." Doubtful. Intentionally opening that low is foolhardy, leaving no time for emergency procedures or use of the reserve canopy. Some main canopies take almost 1000 feet to fully inflate. (Typical opening altitude is 2,500.)

By: bwg

bwg — Thu, 31 Jul 2003 08:51:57 -0800

PenDevil is right about this one. Since Baumgartner couldn't rise on thermals, only fall in a more controlled arc of descent, then he wasn't really gliding as we think of gliding. On the other hand, an aircraft that loses engine power might be able to stay in a controlled descent, or a glide, provided it has enough airspeed and isn't too heavy, to give the wings enough lift to bring it down safely. At least that's as far as I understand aerodynamics. Regardless, flying across the English channel the way it was done was still pretty damned cool.

By: Elvis

Elvis — Thu, 31 Jul 2003 10:47:50 -0800

At what point does skydiving become gliding? When air currents and thermals no longer play any part of keeping you airborne, you're pretty much skydiving. Great moments in hair splitting, if I may: Um, actually sailplane pilots differentiate between what they do and what glider pilots do, in that sailplanes ride the thermals, etc. while gliders, um, glide. That is a glider is in a steady rate of descent, which is slowed by the use of its lifting devices. A sailplane is, granted, also in a rate of descent, but is able to use thermals and the like to actually climb. That's the crux: Ability to climb versus abilty to "just" glide. So I'm saying what we've got here is something pretty darn close to skygliding. / hair split

By: homunculus

homunculus — Thu, 31 Jul 2003 10:48:29 -0800

Composite wing, bah! Here's how real men skydive! (NSFW.)

By: ElvisJesus

ElvisJesus — Thu, 31 Jul 2003 11:05:57 -0800

Here's how real men skydive! Appears to involve a strap-on ... but not wings

By: Nick Jordan

Nick Jordan — Fri, 01 Aug 2003 00:44:41 -0800

On the BBC Breakfast show this morning one of the presenters said that he looks just like Buzz Lightyear. I couldn't agree more.