Flying like a bird has always been a dream for humans since the dawn of man. Modern times have made it possible and accessible thanks to many brave individuals who dreamed, invented and sacrificed their lives for this lifestyle. This will be a multi-part series to show the past, present and future of Wingsuit flying.
For this installment, we will cover how wingsuit flying was first inspired, developed and tested.
February 4, 1912, Franz Reichelt arrived at the famous Eiffel Tower in London to test his wearable parachute. A competition for a development of a safety parachute for pilots was being held and the French tailor believed he was the man for the job. After multiple successful tests with “dummies”, he decided to attempt himself. Unfortunately, his canopy failed to open after jumping off the first platform of the Eiffel Tower for reporters, photographers and a crowd to watch in horror.
Flash foward to the early 1930’s, American Clem Sohn was busy perfecting what Franz Reichelt had started. However, his technique was jumping out of a plane at 6000 meters, flying with his cloth winged suit, and deploying his parachute within a few hundred meters of the ground. His trademark look included thick scuba-like goggles and was nicknamed “batman” and many believe the early beginnings of the comic series was inspired by his look and ability to fly. Clem had been a part of many airshows in his lifetime and had tragically fallen to his death during a show in Vincennes, France after both his primary and reserve chutes failed to open.
After the Second World War, Leo Valentin, a retired French Army Paratrooper, achieved free flight with the help of constructed wooden wings in 1954. It has been said he achieved 3 miles of flight in a single run and was nicknamed “Birdman”. During a jump at an airshow in 1956, one of his wooden wings clipped the plane during his exit and damaged his suit. His parachute failed to deploy as well and he paid the ultimate price.
These brave men faced their dreams and inspired a movement. They carved the way to what we know now as modern wingsuit flying. Stay tuned for Part 2 which will cover the development of modern day skyflying suits that are used today.
deuces,
Dylan Thomas
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