The Icarus Report
The Icarus Report: Marginalia writes about a subject dear to my heart - wingsuits and skyflying.
It's by Michael Abrams, the author of "Birdmen, Batmen, and Skyflyers : Wingsuits and the Pioneers Who Flew in Them, Fell in Them, and Perfected Them"
If we've reached the near end of wingsuit development, what's next in this new and ever evolving sport? More flight time can really only come with longer wings. But skyflyers tend to enjoy jumping with their friends, which is part of the reason wingsuits, unlike their rigid-winged counterparts, have become so quickly popular—they don't take up an extra seat in the plane. But for a more truly birdlike flight, Skyflyers will either have to have some kind of longer, collapsible wing, or start jumping by themselves.
Good question - as technological trends advance what will be the ultimate wingsuit?
I think wingsuit development will fragment as people discover what it is that they like about skyflying.
People who frefer formation diving may prefer flocking, while lone jumpers might well go for altitude and distance, meanwhile the pioneers can keep doing things like strapping jets to their legs.
Different suits for different folks ....
Tags: wingsuits, skyflying, skydiving, michael abrams, birdmen, batmen, early flight