I was inspired by seeing photos of giant flocks before I’d even considered wingsuiting, which at the time I thought was only for incredibly experienced jumpers. But it’s surprising how quickly and easily you can learn to fly a wingsuit and take part in group jumps…
Be prepared
It’s good to start if possible the way I did by making a handful of skydives using a tracking suit. This isn’t vital but it is a great, fun introduction to give the feel of longer freefall times and travelling greater distances, without the restriction of a wingsuit. Then take a First Flight Course, and make your first wingsuit jumps, always remembering to buy your beer! Ask what wingsuit events there are in the calendar to build up to a large flock, ideally progressing gradually.
Pay Attention
It is important to listen closely to instructions and pay attention to the organisers during the dirtdives. This becomes more important the larger the group. Safety is always paramount. Visualise the three zones of a swoop to formation: green, amber and red. When far away in green you can swoop your wings off, then you slow up in the amber and steadily take your slot when in the red zone right by the formation.
Exits
Normally you will have a couple of seconds to set up in the door but with a big group out of a jet you can be over 10m from the door facing the wrong way – so the skills of turning and presenting right on exit are essential. You have to fly strong to fend off the ‘kung-fu fighting’ that can occur with your exit partners. Diving, poised and gainer exits are all skills to try to get in your toolbox.
Visualise the three zones of a swoop to formation: green, amber and red
Swooping to the Formation
Seeing and then diving to the base can be tricky, especially if you are last out, because the formation is flying away from you. This is harder than in flat flying, when the formation will be going straight down. Closing speeds can be much faster than belly flying, and you need a heightened awareness of other wingsuiters, and where they should be coming from. Be aware not to burble other wingsuiters on your approach, follow the flight pattern.
In the Formation
Keeping a reference and flying on level with the base and not just the people directly around you is a key skill. A slight movement at the front can create a large wave by the time it reaches the back, which can cause you to fly directly into someone’s burble. If this should happen to you, keep flying! The burble of a wingsuit is diagonally behind. Even if you are caught by it, never give up. If you go low on the formation then avoid burbling it by peeling off to one side, pop back up, get visuals again and then work back into the formation.
Break-off
Take good note of the break-off directions specified in the dirtdives as it can be tempting to head back to the DZ. Be disciplined and follow the break-off plan. With the air so busy, sticking to a direction and finding clear air is more important. Due to the slow fall rate and forward speed of wingsuits the separation can be huge. Even lot of canopies in the air you most probably will have plenty of space so can undo wings with relative ease – although of course keeping a good look out on all sides.
Dirt-diving
I used to laugh at the FS jumpers doing all their YMCA stuff during dirt-dives. However, with large flocks of these sizes it’s essential to get the group together and walk through the plan right from lining up in the door through to break-off – which can mean your own winged YMCA! Record flocks dirtdive repeatedly. This can include laying it down on the floor – and even using creepers!
Open to All
There are no elitist attitudes from any quarter in wingsuiting. The sharing of knowledge, help and advice is as free-flowing as the beer!
For information about starting to wingsuit, see Birds of a Feather
Flying People: Wingsuit World Record 100-way, 2012. Event and video by Raise the Sky.
Video and some photos from the current World Record Wingsuit 100-way, organised by Raise the Sky
