Birdmen: The Original Dream of Human Flight

This is a pretty exciting documentary film. Its focus is on men and women who want to fly pretty much like birds fly. But you can't really do that, birds have a particular weight to lift ratio that makes it possible. Humans just can't generate the power to do that. So, what is the next best thing? To don a lightweight suit, such that when you spread your feet and hands you have larger gliding surfaces, much like very big flying squirrels that don't fly in the conventional sense, they spread their legs and feet and the skin allows them to glide from one tree to the next. There isn't just one type of gliding suit, this film also traces the history of development of gliding suits, small improvements here and there to increase lift and improve maneuverability. Yet, it remains, and always will be, a dangerous hobby. As the subjects of the film discuss their experiences inevitably they also talk of those who have died while "flying". The film is done well, and there is good footage of these daredevil men and women in their flying suits, jumping off high cliffs and gliding towards a, hopefully, safe landing, often passing through tight canyons on their descent.

This is a pretty exciting documentary film. Its focus is on men and women who want to fly pretty much like birds fly. But you can't really do that, birds have a particular weight to lift ratio that makes it possible. Humans just can't generate the power to do that. So, what is the next best thing? To don a lightweight suit, such that when you spread your feet and hands you have larger gliding surfaces, much like very big flying squirrels that don't fly in the conventional sense, they spread their legs and feet and the skin allows them to glide from one tree to the next. There isn't just one type of gliding suit, this film also traces the history of development of gliding suits, small improvements here and there to increase lift and improve maneuverability. Yet, it remains, and always will be, a dangerous hobby. As the subjects of the film discuss their experiences inevitably they also talk of those who have died while "flying". The film is done well, and there is good footage of these daredevil men and women in their flying suits, jumping off high cliffs and gliding towards a, hopefully, safe landing, often passing through tight canyons on their descent.