The Fatal Cost of Developing the Wingsuit

TL;DR

Wingsuit flying has grown in popularity over the past decade, leading to increased risks and fatalities.

Transcript

talk about these wingsuit trends as we as you add new layers of risk so basically or we can see over here is that when we look at base jumpers so in the past decade obviously the population overall grew significantly we when we started looking into BASE jumping in with a lot of research around that there was about 1500 base jumpers you know around ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🍝 The population of BASE jumpers has significantly increased over the past decade, influenced by media exposure and events like the X Games.
• ✋ Early attempts to develop wingsuit technology resulted in a high number of fatalities, with only one innovator successfully creating a commercial wingsuit.
• 🪽 Improved wingsuit technology allowed for more advanced flying techniques, including proximity flying near cliffs, which has led to a rise in fatalities.
• 😘 Wingsuit flyers face challenges in controlling their flight due to the large wing size and lack of experience.
• 💨 Testing wingsuits in wind tunnels and involving scientists in the development process has helped enhance safety precautions.
• ✋ Fatalities in wingsuit flying are currently the highest in the past decade, highlighting the need for stricter safety measures.
• 😚 The fatality rate among wingsuit flyers is relatively high, with approximately 1-1.2% of the population losing their lives each year.

Questions & Answers

Q: How has the population of BASE jumpers changed over the past decade?

The population of BASE jumpers has increased from 1,500 to nearly 3,000 due to exposure through media and events like the X Games.

Q: What were the challenges faced during the development of wingsuit technology?

In the early 20th century, 73 out of 75 innovators died while trying to develop wingsuits, highlighting the dangers and difficulties of early designs.

Q: How did improving wingsuit technology contribute to increased fatalities?

As wingsuit technology advanced, jumpers started engaging in proximity flying near cliffs and waterfalls, leading to higher fatality rates.

Q: What is the current fatality rate among wingsuit flyers?

Approximately 30 to 35 wingsuit flyers out of a population of 3,000 lose their lives each year, indicating a relatively high fatality rate.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The population of BASE jumpers, who participate in wingsuit flying, has significantly grown from 1,500 to nearly 3,000 over the past decade.

• Initial attempts to develop wingsuits resulted in high fatality rates, with 73 out of 75 innovators dying during the process.

• As wingsuit technology improved, fatalities started to increase, particularly during proximity flying near cliffs and waterfalls.