Wetass Sport #3…: How many of you have thought to yourself: “I wonder if I could jump out of an airplane, fall to earth, and land safely…WITHOUT A PARACHUTE!? Probably none, because it’s a pretty, umm, stupid thing to wonder. Luckily, there’s always someone who dreams the impossibly stupid dream, and sport advances. In this case, that someone is an idiot, I mean creative genius (and Superman) named Jeb Corliss. Corliss, along with wing(ding)man Luigi Cani, are testing a wingsuit (which looks sort of like a superhero costume for an average 6 year-old) that they hope to land safely without a parachute. They’ll probably attempt it this year. “It’s very important to land with zero injuries,” says Corliss. Ya think? Anyhow, you can watch a cool video of the project here.

Now, crazy as this all seems, it turns out that there are lots of birdmen (and birdwomen) out there (though still landing with ‘chutes). And in case you imagine you are an eagle among mortals, you can buy your own wingsuit here. Before you leap, make sure to check out the FAQ, which say that you can fly up to 3 miles at 60-90 mph if you jump from the plane at 13,500 feet. They also provide answers to important questions such as “Can I fly on my back?” (Yes, but not very well) and “What if I land in the water?” (“If you don’t have immediate help, avoid this situation by all means. This suit wasn’t made for fish.”). There’s also an advice section (don’t let your spouse see this) which addresses what are euphemistically called “Possible Funky Situations.”

So what does it all look like? Just check out this video (are those flying Elvises?). And if you have five minutes and want proof that these guys have a sense of humor, check out this nicely done Top Gun satire. The birdpeople. Who knew…



Birdman: “What the f*ck are you staring at…?”