Can You Skydive With a Wingsuit? Exploring Survival Possibilities

Can someone who usually skydives just jump using a wingsuit and survive? The question itself hints at the complexity and risk involved. This article delves into the intricacies of wingsuit jumping, addressing common scenarios and expert opinions.

The Feasibility of Wingsuit Jumping

The primary challenge in wingsuit jumping revolves around proficiency, altitude, and environmental conditions. If you are an experienced skydiver with at least 200 jumps, you might be able to manage a wingsuit jump safely. However, even with expertise, several critical factors must be considered:

Training and Proficiency: A wingsuit is highly sensitive, making small inputs create significant turns. Thus, the correct techniques for control are paramount. Altitude and Light Conditions: Opening the parachute at the correct altitude and in sufficient light is crucial for safe landings. Most commercial planes cruise at 30,000 to 40,000 feet, where the air pressure and temperature make survival nearly impossible. Parachute Deployment: To avoid spinning out of control, equal movements must be made on both sides when deploying the parachute.

Extreme Outcomes and Stunts

Some scenarios push the boundaries of survival with wingsuits. For instance, expert pilots have successfully managed jumps without conventional parachutes. However, these are highly specialized and performative in nature.

Challenging Commercial Airline Emergency Landings

Is it feasible to survive jumping from a commercial airplane at normal cruising altitudes with a wingsuit and without a parachute? The answer is a resounding no. The pressures involved and the lack of sufficient air for safely deploying the parachute would result in death before reaching a safe altitude.

Insufficient Knowledge and Poor Techniques

Incorrect exits and rapid inflations of the wingsuit can be fatal. Allowing the wingsuit to inflate too quickly might hit the airplane’s rear stabilizer fins, leading to injury, potentially fatal injuries, or even a loss of control, causing a crash.

The Case of Gary Connery

Notwithstanding these risk factors, there are rare instances where individuals have attempted extreme stunts. Gary Connery, the celebrated wingsuit pilot, successfully landed a wingsuit without a parachute, with the aid of a unique landing solution.

The picture above shows Gary Connery landing using a wingsuit. He utilized a series of cardboard boxes as a makeshift landing zone, adjusting his body position to reduce his descent rate to about 15 mph. The cardboard boxes then absorbed the residual energy as he landed.

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Gary stands immediately after landing, carefully emerging from the boxes. He wore a neck brace for added safety.

Expert Comment on Wingsuit Jumps

Can you survive a wingsuit jump today? Yes, but only with careful planning and the right conditions. This is considered stunts in the skydiving and BASE jumping world and requires extensive training and a safe landing zone.

While the feat is possible with enough expertise, it is highly specialized and not recommended for anyone without extensive experience. Gary Connery's stunt is a testament to what is achievable with the right skills and planning, but it remains a rare and risky endeavor.

Would you be willing to attempt a wingsuit jump? What training and conditions would you need to feel safe? Share your thoughts in the comments below!