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."

Comments

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: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.