Icon Aircraft co-founder dies in wing suit accident.

An artist depicted my own wingsuit adventure.
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Hacker15e said:
I had a similar experience.

Through my military connections I had several acquaintances who were involved with Icon. Many years back before I was at my current career job I was being recruited to be a demo/sales pilot for them.

I took a flight with one of their demo guys and, while the A5 was certainly an interesting airplane, I didn't at all like the vibe of the company pilots I ended up talking to about the job and socializing with. A little bit too much of guys getting high on their own stash and being show-offish with the airplanes.

I didn't meet the owner whose death was being reported in the OP, but I had to chuckle a little at the quote at the bottom of the article: “Kirk devoured life experiences most of us would never touch. He was damn good at assessing risks, probably because he took so many."

So, was he really "damn good" at that? How'd that work out for him?
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I guess if someone described how I recreate outside of work it would be similar-ish but I tend to be ultra conservative when I am flying someone else's aircraft. Maybe that is the simplest way to describe the "vibe" in the tent at OSH. They reminded me of the people I do crazy things with at Whistler. Super fun for sure but not really safe. Also seem to bring in people who didn't know what they were doing like moths to a flame...

At Whistler they get carted off on a side by side strapped to a back board. In aviation they find little pieces of you scattered among the wreckage.
 
Hot damn, “flying squirrel” takes a header on the side of the cliff but lets talk about Alaska Airlines.
 
Hacker15e said:
I had a similar experience.

Through my military connections I had several acquaintances who were involved with Icon. Many years back before I was at my current career job I was being recruited to be a demo/sales pilot for them.

I took a flight with one of their demo guys and, while the A5 was certainly an interesting airplane, I didn't at all like the vibe of the company pilots I ended up talking to about the job and socializing with. A little bit too much of guys getting high on their own stash and being show-offish with the airplanes.

I didn't meet the owner whose death was being reported in the OP, but I had to chuckle a little at the quote at the bottom of the article: “Kirk devoured life experiences most of us would never touch. He was damn good at assessing risks, probably because he took so many."

So, was he really "damn good" at that? How'd that work out for him?
Click to expand...
I just did my SES rating in one. The airplane is great for its mission, very docile and forgiving. I’d buy one in a heartbeat if they did cost so much.

However it’s very much not “a jet ski with wings” that any village idiot can learn in. Low altitude flying over a lake, docking a very ungainly boat, and more all require a high level of airmanship and judgment.
 
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