Jari Kuosma (born 3 March 1969 in Helsinki) is the original developer of modern and commercial wingsuit (as a product), wingsuit flying (as a sport) and owner of BirdMan Inc.[1][2] Kuosma has over 5000 jumps. He has worked as an Accelerated Free Fall (AFF) Instructor in USA, Sweden and Venezuela.[3] He introduced the first wingsuit training program for skydivers in 1999. A wingsuit instructor program followed the year after.

Kuosma began skydiving in 1990. He took part in the breaking of the Finnish record for free-falling formation in 1993, and introduced a Russian low-altitude jumping technique into Finland.[2] He was introduced to wingsuits in 1997, based on those used by Patrick de Gayardon. With Robert Pecnik, he began selling wingsuits in 1999, after making them in Slovenia.[2]

Early life

Kuosma was raised in Helsinki, Finland by his father, who owned an army surplus store, and his mother, who was a secretary. As a teenager he practised martial arts.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "Flying suit takes off". BBC News. 12 July 2000. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Abrams, Michael (26 May 2003). "The Birdman of DeLand". Forbes. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  3. ↑ "Jari Kuosma - Birdman". Archived from the original on 2010-10-12. Retrieved 2010-09-03.


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