Between last weekend spent at the Ranch for my birthday and the long Memorial Weekend spent back at home (Skydive PA) I’ve got a lot of catching up to do – blog wise.
Today I want to touch on the event that was most exciting for me this weekend. (I promise, soon I’ll get to talking about The Ranch…but this just has to come first while it’s fresh in my mind).
Upon arrival at Skydive PA on Friday evening, I was prepared for a long weekend of freeflying, but that all changed when the beer light came on and my rigger brought out his wingsuit for me to try on.
After hooking it up to my rig and donning the suit, I’d decided that this was the weekend to give wingsuiting a whirl.
Saturday morning I went up for a solo jump to practice some head down moves, then went up again to prove to Rick that I can stick a head down out the door 
. Just as an aside, this was an incredible skydive. I went head down and he stood to keep relative – when I flipped out we were right there the whole time. We’re really getting it together!
So after a couple warmup jumps, it was time to get suited up for that first wingsuit flight.
Yes, for all those who are screaming “beer” in your heads, that case has already been purchased and drank.
I am extremely lucky to have Moe Viletto as my wingsuit instructor – and that he also had a wingsuit to fit me. After a few hours over the course of a couple days chatting about that first flight, the emergency procedures and how to go about find the “sweet spot,” it was time to become a bird!
Exiting last was strange. I’m used to seeing the tandems on my way out the door, not watching them go before me. It is nice, however, not to have to stress about the spot so much. When you’re a bird, especially one who is pulling a little high, making it back isn’t much of an issue.
Anyway – back to the first flight. So I’m crouched at the door, wings all tucked in and I huck myself out. That first jump I was nervous about opening up too soon and hitting the tail, so I stayed balled up a little longer than necessary, but when I came out of it and caught that first lift, I couldn’t believe what I was experiencing. The forward speed is incredible.
I had a flight path figured out and after doing my practice touches to make sure I could find my hackey with my new set of wings, I looked to my right to see him gliding next to me. What an incredible sight! For once I’m flying next to someone instead of looking down, hoping to get my speed up enough to catch the group.
Wingsuiting is an entirely different experience than a typical skydive…you’re actually going somewhere other than just down.
One of the things I’ve always said I love about freeflying is the speed, and that’s no exception with a wingsuit; difference being, the speed is horizontal, rather than vertical.
The rest of the weekend was spent obsessing over the wingsuit jumps. A couple sunset loads made me realize just how much my eyes have been missing during freefly. The sky is so beautiful, and the clouds are your friends. This is definitely something I want to continue experiencing.
Hopefully in the not so distant future I’ll feel comfortable enough to strap my camera back on my head and give you a little perspective of what it’s like to be a bird!
Until then, here are some pictures from the ground, captured by the lovely Sandy Weltman – love having you out at SPA Sandy!!
(Suiting up for the first jump)
(Sipping up our legs and getting to booties situated.)
(Beyond pumped from that flight…amazing!)
(Running it out with wings is a little more challenging!)
(Coming down from a beautiful sunset flight)
(If I look exhausted it’s because I am…but it’s worth every second!)
Blue skies!
Ashley
That’s awesome, congrats on taking flight! Welcome to the new addiction