The Top Gun Team

 

Jean-Louis "J-Lo" Becker

Skydives 1800+
Wingsuit Jumps 450+
Bio Born in Holland in 1967. After school I spent two and a half years with the Dutch Marines.
After that I started to work as a sales rep with Sony and worked in the Belgian Ardennes as a climbing and mountain bike instructor. I joined the police force after that, which is my current job.
Graduated for my hot-air balloon license in 2007.
Other hobbies are Kitesurfing, skiing, and playing guitar.
Achievements
  • 20 dutch TV Items with skydive and hot air balloon stunts
  • 2 16mm skydive TV commercials for Dutch television.
  • 2 Guiness World Record Skydives out of a hot air balloon
  • Basejumped the Petronas Twin towers in Maleisia
  • 2006 AN72 boogie, 69-way record wingsuit exit
  • Crossed the English Channel and the Alpes with a hot air balloon




Costyn van Dongen

Skydives 950+
Wingsuit Jumps 500+
Bio I was born in 1977 in Leidschendam, the Netherlands. I moved to Kenya in 1980, grew up there and attended the International School of Kenya until 1997. I then moved back to the Netherlands to attend the University of Utrecht.
At the moment I am a network- and sys-admin for a small hosting and open source consultancy company. I live in the Hague with my girlfriend (who also skydives).
Other interests include photography, cars, and scuba-diving.
Achievements
  • 3rd place (team), International Artistic Wingsuit Competition 2008
  • Stuntman for wingsuit feature on a science show for National television
  • Featured in McDonalds (in-store) extreme sports television item on wingsuits
  • Urban Action, skydive show Amsterdam 2007
  • 2006 AN72 boogie, 69-way wingsuit exit
  • Participant in Elsinore 71-way wingsuit world record.




Mark Harris

Skydives 6000+
Wingsuit Jumps 600+
Bio Born and raised in the UK. Started working as a full time skydiver twelve years ago. I am now skydiving full time at Skydive Madrid, Spain - The busiest AFF school in Europe.
Achievements
  • 2006 AN72 boogie, 69-way wingsuit exit
  • British Nationals 8way speed 1998 - Gold
  • British Sky Surf Nationals 2001- Silver
  • South African Free Fly Nationals 2001- Gold
  • World record balloon jump 16-way 2002
  • Stunt double for TV advert, Gerard De Thames productions
  • Free fall camera for Ch5 TV programme - The Mole
  • Photographer for 69 way wingsuit-exit record in Germany 2006
  • Plane captain for the 71 way wingsuit formation in Elsinore, California.
  • Stunt coordinator and jumper for "King Of Shaves" skydive.




David Haygarth

Skydives 2100+
Wingsuit Jumps 900+
Bio I live in London and work as a Flash Developer. I started skydiving in 1992 doing a static-line round course at Sibson whilst studying at the University of Westminster. I did my first wingsuit jump in 2002 at Sibson. Later that year I spent one month at Eloy working on my wingsuit skills both in performance and flocks. Since then I realized that I love flying my body rather than falling. 900+ wingsuit jumps later that love of flying is stronger than ever!!
Achievements
  • 2006 AN72 boogie, 69-way wingsuit exit
  • Photography at 2006 AN72 boogie
  • Bird-man Topgun team training camps in Spain and the UK
  • Numerous wingsuit events throughout Europe and the USA




Jari Kuosma

Skydives 4000+
Wingsuit Jumps 3000+
Bio Born in Helsinki, Finland in 1969. After several years of study in Finland and even shortly in the USA as an exchange student, I did a compulsory year at the army. After the army I studied at the Helsinki 'University of Applied Sciences' and at the 'International Business School' in Groningen, The Netherlands.

After working at a telecommunications business in Helsinki I made the move to skydiving, and worked as an Accelerated Free Fall (AFF) Instructor in USA, Sweden and Venezuela. The Skydiving career won and founded BIRDMAN International Ltd 1999 in Helsinki.

Next to skydiving I like designing, skiing, fast things, reading, studying, politics, some sports and enjoying good times with friends and family.
Achievements
  • Introduction of the first commercialy available wingsuit and skyflying as a skydiving discipline.
  • Designer of 7 and co-designer of 5 commercial wingsuits.
  • 20 + appearances on major main stream media.
  • 50 + appearances in skydiving specific media.
  • 1st. wingsuit dock on a parachutist under an open parachute.
  • Organiser of the first wingsuit crossing over water, flying from the Dutch island texel, to mainland Den Helder, July 2000
  • South Africa "Flight for freedom" from Robben Island to the mainland to celebrate Nelson Mandela's 30 year anniversary for freedom.
  • Planner and organizer of several wingsuit formation records




Dean Smith

Skydives 500+
Wingsuit Jumps 200+
Bio Having spent 10 years as a police dog handler I moved into the field of sales management where I now work. I discovered skydiving in 2006 and was immediately hooked! I then got the jumps required to train as a Birdman and have spent most of my skydiving career doing nothing else. I enjoy teaching first flight courses to new wingsuiters and seeing their smiles once they have landed from their first jump! I am also a qualified Ski instructor and a keen motorcyclist, I currently ride a Triumph Speed Triple.
Achievements
  • 2006 National Bronze Medal 8 way speed
  • 2007 National Silver Medal 8 way speed
  • First person to be introduced, coached, attain BMI and make it onto the team by the Team!!




Steve Such

Skydives 950+
Wingsuit Jumps 450+
Bio Born in the UK and living there most of my life, I completed my education as a computer geek and escaped to the mountains to spend two years working in Alpine ski resorts. On returning I setup an IT consultancy, the mobile nature of which means I have time for my interests such as snowboarding, surfing, scuba diving and of course wingsuit flying.
Achievements
  • 2006 AN72 boogie, 69-way wingsuit exit
  • 2008 71 way slot specific big way in Elsinore




Bo "Bowie" Wienberg

Skydives 2700+
Wingsuit Jumps 500+
Bio I was born and grew up in Silkeborg Denmark in 1974. In 1992 I moved to Kiltmoller where I started to train as an aircraft mechanic, finishing in 1996. Recently I have been living in Norway working at a ski resort in the winter and a drop zone in the summer. My other interests are; inline skating, skateboarding, BMX, surfing and snowboarding.
Achievements
    Local:
  • 4 gold medals in precision landing (Sport canopy)
  • 2 silver in precision landing (Sport canopy)
    National:
  • 3 Gold medal in swooping Accuracy
  • Danish national champ in sports canopy accuracy 2007
  • Attempted the Danish national 60 way RW (Part of the unoficial 58 record)
    International:
  • 2006 AN72 boogie, 69-way wingsuit exit
  • 2008 71 way slot specific big way in Elsinore
  • First Danish Canopy pilot to attempt World Championships in Canopy Piloting; place 56 of 69




Duncan Wright

Skydives 700+
Wingsuit Jumps 300+
Bio Born and raised in the UK. Other hobbies include scuba-diving, climbing and football.
Achievements
  • Urban Action, skydive show Amsterdam 2007
  • 2006 AN72 boogie, 69-way wingsuit exit