Is this the next big thing?
From woopyjump.com:
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Since 1995, Laurent de Kalbermatten has experimented inflation systems for all types of wings, in order to obtain the lightest and least cumbersome flying machine possible.
With the Woopy Fly concept and it’s a blowers inflation system, the goal has been reached. The concept has been validated by no less than thousands of successful flights, free or motorised, high speed tests, charge tests, and computer simulations. With the precious support of his test-pilot Guy-Bertrand Jaquier, new ideas and applications have been developed, towards outdoors sports. The idea: use the inflatable wing concept to extend the range of ski and snowboard jumps |
I guess the best way to describe it is a small, inflatable, packable hang glider of sorts. At least that’s what it looks like to me. The website translation to English is pretty bad, but I think that the basic idea of the Woopy can be seen on this page, where it shows the entire set-up process: Woopy set-up I’m not sure how fast it goes, or what winds it can handle, but it could be a fun addition to the ski quiver, so to speak. It sure would make descents of Capitol a lot easier 
Or would a Woopy descent get a big fat asterisk next to it? tough call. I wonder what it weighs, too- I couldn’t find that on the site, but it’s probably there in garbled English. I’ve often though about getting into hang gliding, and I wonder if this would be a cheaper, simpler way of getting into it. On the other hand, it looks like a small gust of wind would crush it, so maybe it should stay in the hands of the Euros. Hopefully the Woopy makes it to the states soon so I can give it a try. Otherwise I guess I have one more reason to go to Europe.
Very interesting find Frank. Can’t believe I have never seen or heard about the “Woopy” (really dumb name). As an active hang glider pilot in Crested Butte, I will give my opinion of it.
Without any first hand experience, it appears structurally to be a unique blend of hand gliding, pargliding, and ballooning. There is a partial rigid frame (crossbar and somewhat of a keel). Light nylon body like a paraglider, and it is inflated like a hot air balloon. It weighs in at about 22 pounds which is quite nice.
The most important thing to know about it is that it is not a flying craft like a hang glider or paraglider. The wing size is much too small and the wing loading way to high. It has less than half the wing span of a hang glider and much less wing area. They claim that you need nearly 40mph of airspeed for an “extended jump”. So that puts it in the catagory of speed gliding/ kite surfing.
If those sports interest you, I think you are better off with a speed paraglider which is just a very small paraglider. This is an extremely dangerous sport though. A combination of high speeds, a undersized wing, and close proximity to the ground at all times makes this a high risk adreneline sport. You will always be at risk of a high speed (probably fatal) ground impact due to ground thermals/turbulance, wind gradient/shadows, or pilot error.
Unfortunately Frank, this is definately not a “cheaper, simpler way of getting into hang gliding”.
New age… ‘air ships.’ Like the Woopy Jan 16, 2012
With the reinvention of the huge “BLIMPS” using ‘He,’ instead of ‘H.’ I hope that single or maybe even
“family sized” ‘He’ Blimps (with aero dynamic bodies and advanced computer operated stabilizers) are
just around the decade.
What about it ? Does anyone know if such a bird is being groomed?
D. Grant