Freeflying

• Sit flying[?]
• Tracking[?]
• Head down[?]
• Stand up[?]
• Belly flying[?]
  • (While belly flying is encompassed by the definition of freeflying, a strictly belly to earth skydive is not considered a "Freefly" jump.)

Freeflying is especially noted for its varying terminal velocities. While in the standard "boxman" position (belly to earth), a skydiver's descent rate following initial acceleration remains at roughly 120 mph. Variations in jump suit[?] construction and the skydiver's weight will affect this fall rate typically no more than 10 mph more or less.

However, freefliers often use body positions that present less surface area to the relative wind. For example, a freeflier might dive straight, head-down to the earth using legs and arms to adjust orientation and speed and to remain stable. In such a position, a freeflier may obtain speeds up to 170 mph. Freefliers may exceed this rate, but generally only by making a special effort to streamline both their body and their equipment, or by jumping from a higher altitude (Joseph Kittinger reached 614 mph).

Freefliers often jump in groups of two or three. Each jumper uses the other as a relative reference to help judge their own trajectory. Together, they may perform acrobatic maneuvers, make contact with each other (dock), or simply photograph or video tape each other in freefall.

Freefly positions, other than belly-to-earth, tend to be less "stable." That is, they require increased skill and concentration from the skydiver to maintain. Since changes in position, intentional or otherwise, may also cause a change in terminal velocity, Freefliers must take special care when jumping with others. Freefliers in control of their dive can make contact (dock) with each other safely. Unstable freefliers may experience rapid velocity changes and collide with one another at high rates of speeds. These speeds can kill outright, dismember, or disable one or both jumpers. As a result, Freeflying is considered more risky than flat or belly flying.

The difference in difficulty between freeflying and flat (belly) flying can be seen in their respective world records. The world's largest, completed, flat flying skydiving formation consisted of 300 skydivers (set in Arizona, 2002). The world's largest "freeflying" formation (head down) consisted of only 22 skydivers.

In spite of the increased difficulty and danger of this type of skydiving, freeflying is rapidly growing in popularity in the skydiving community as a whole, and within the youngest skydiving generation especially. The rush by skydiving equipment manufacturers to modify their equipment designs to support the special needs of freefliers illustrates this growing popularity.

See also: Freefall, Parachuting