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Hi, I am interested in wingsuits and base jumping. I was wondering if I could first start out on a short cliff like 50 ft, without a parachute, over a lake. I would land in the water and therefore not need a parachute.
What do you all think?
Jacob

Nope, the minimum is 2 feet, and the maximum is 6 feet unless there is water..then 8 feet.

Its a jungle out there!

so you're saying if I jumped off a 50ft cliff would I glide down to the water?

No, you would die.

Haha, well I know I wouldn't die because we jump off the cliff into the water without anything. I was just wondering if I got a wingsuit would I be able to glide down instead of just fall straight down.

No, you would belly flop.

Why is that? Cause I wouldn't have enough altitude to catch the air?

600 feet plus or minus until your wingsuit starts to glide, depending on the angle of your exit. you wouldnt be doing jack shit except getting your wingsuit wet

Yes, and by the time you have enough airspeed to fly it, the descent rate would be too high to survive. They require a lot of speed to start flying. Remember, the person videoing another flyer is also falling. That's why it looks like they're going slow.

Skydivers don't float but videos make it look like they are because the camera man is falling right next to them.

OHHHHHH, so thats the theory of relativity :P

Or ass flop and get an enema blast.

the problem here is with a wingsuit on, your surface loading is cut in half, meaning your acceleration would double upon water impact. and its really not enough time to do much.

70% of people going from regular BASE to WS BASE after wingsuit skydiving a bit do just fine.

I think : get video. Outside video + a couple of Go-Pro's

you can be the first! post video!

You guys are all weaksauce. I do this every winter, from 100 feet, into a hole I punch into the ice with my bare hands, on fire.

Sometimes my friends through hand grenades and ninja stars at me.

So far I've gone though 17 suits, but I love it so much...oh...[skeet].

this obviously is not a well received idea. if you had skydived and wingsuited, you would know. the equipment needs altitude to work.

at Bridge Day, only the best wingsuiters can show off their flying skills from 876 ft.

this thread shows the benefit of lurking, reading, skydiving, etc. there are reasons behind it all. skip a few steps, and the comedic onslaught begins. it's been mild so far, and you've handled it well.

 

no, only the best like coco who hucked a wingsuit double gainer and still flew almost to the lz..

I say just go for it. I think these guys just don't want you to steal their thunder by doing something awesome first. Hell, you should just get a wingsuit and jump off a really big cliff without a parachute at all. I mean, how hard could it be? I saw lots of videos on you tube and it looks so easy! Maybe you could get the first wingsuit landing without a parachute. Just a thought. Also, you should buy a v3. Then, depending on how it goes, maybe you could give it to me if you don't like it. I won't mind if it's wet.

All jokes aside, maybe do a bit of research before asking questions. :) Good luck.

There is always a way to go lower. Always.

avenfoto had one good example.
unclecharlie also amazed positively.

I also remember a failed wingsuit that covered as much distance as a good tracker, deployed in time, had line twists/off heading/something, and ended up in a tree before controlling the parachute. that impressed and entertained, but not quite with the same flavor.

I remember the guy in 08 that went head down (not headlow, head down) in a red WS and spent the entire freefall trying to right himself. He covered less distance than he would have had he just got a good launch off the deck.

Is that not what BD is about? People going outside their skill level and be acceptable?

true enough.
they survived even though the wingsuit flight did not go as planned.

the thing is, they jumped from 876 feet. the OP wants to jump from 50 feet. if jumping from 876 feet has NOT proved easy, I doubt many will do well from 50.

in what sense? do you see alot of people that are trying stupid aero moves and flips and stuff for the first time that shouldnt be trying those things? is there really a "i have to look cool in front of all these people" facade that goes on there? i have not been to BD

Yes, and no, well, maybe a little of both for some people.

There are definitely some people there that are trying to show off for th crowd. And why not? That is what they are there for.

Then there are some people that are just taking advantage of a great opportunity. What better place to learn and practice aerials than a stupidly high bridge, that is legal, and in the daylight? I've thrown a few triple gainers off the NRG at BD, but you wouldnt catch me doing them on a bandit load there.

Don't be discouraged by those less confident than yourself. On a good day I can fly my phantom near a three to one ratio...if your start with a vampire you should be able to match that even with low experience, so jumping from a 50' cliff you should be able to make it 150' from the wall before you hit the water! Get video please!

I second this.

Get video.

To give you an idea how fast you need to go in order to make the suit fly, watch this.

You think you can survive water impact at that speed?

Haha, no I probably wouldn't live if I hit the water at that very second. That would hurt A LOT.