The belly-flying neutral body position is the first position you’ll learn as your introduction into the world of body flying. The primary objective is to be able to safely and successfully demonstrate a neutral belly-fly position, while staying in the center of tunnel. You’ll need to be comfortable in this position before you learn how to maneuver yourself around the tunnel (learning to turn left and right, and flying up and down).

The IBA Flyer Safety Brief is a further step to enhance the safety of all rated flyers. As flyers continue to progress through the rating system, flight skills become more difficult. The briefing serves to mitigate the increased risks associated with more advanced skills and raises the awareness of flyers regarding their personal responsibilities to maintain their own safety. More information on the Flyer Safety Brief can be found here.

Now that you are moving on to learning free flying skills, the neutral back flying position is the first step in that progression. This position is key for a safe free flight progression. Ensuring that ample time is provided to master this skill will ultimately set a solid foundation for your successful progression.

As part of mastering the basics of back flying, understanding and being controlled while turning is a key element. You will use this skill every time you are back flying in order to maintain a heading and to control turns and maneuver yourself when flying with a partner. The techniques described here will outline what is necessary to be successful at turning on your back.

The back fly forward and backward movements are essential skills to learn and understand in order to be able to demonstrate control. These key skills will be used at all times when back flying to ensure that you are able to remain in the correct place inside the flight chamber.

Learning the back flying up and down (fall rate) movements will provide you with the ability to adjust the altitude you are flying at and allow you to control this especially when flying with another flyer. Being comfortable at gaining altitude in the tunnel on your back will also help lead you in to other trick moves during your flight progression.

The back fly side sliding skill is the last skill as part of the 8 points of motion for the back fly orientation. Completing this skill will conclude the basic movements that you will need to progress to more advanced back flying skills. Although this is the more difficult of the basic individual moves, it may take a few flight rotations to begin to feel comfortable with the side sliding move. Following the IBA flight techniques described here will assist you in being successful with this maneuver.

During your Back Flying progression, it is possible that you will also learn how to enter and exit the flight chamber. Similar to belly flying, at the beginning there will be much hands on assistance from the tunnel instructor with the ultimate goal to have you perform the skills more or less solo. Being able to control yourself throughout the entire entrance and exit process will be key especially when you begin competing in 2 way VFS competitions as they require use of these skills.

Knee flying is a skill that will be vital in your success in learning transitions over the feet and also for learning low speed head up out face carving. Mastering how to balance this position will be the foundation for some of the more advanced skills. 

Flyers must be able to demonstrate a neutral knee flying position beginning on or low to the net at low wind speeds and gradually increase to flying higher. In most cases, a flyer will perform this skill transitioning from and then returning to a belly flying orientation. This is a great skill to know when learning transitions.

There are many scenarios that would deem it necessary to learn this unique skill, most notably, if you are or are planning on being a formation skydiving coach. Understanding this skill will be a great asset for your ability to work with students. Walking, including the ability to transition from a belly flying position to standing and also transitioning from a standing position to belly flying is a key skill for those starting the Dynamic and Static flying pathways.

As you progress from flying all of the Back Fly Level 2 skills to beginning the IBA Static Progression path, you will first need to demonstrate control of all back flying and walking skills at higher wind speeds. This speed increase comparable to the speeds you will learn to sit fly will change how you fly each of the required skills to maintain control. Learning vertical orientations will require flyers be very comfortable bailing to a safe flight position that is controllable at higher wind speeds. 

The back to head up transition is a move that you will likely learn as part of your head up flight training. It is an important skill to master as it is consistently used when trying to master balancing the head up position. This transition will also be utilized when you need to move from a back fly position to your feet to begin walking.

The first skill to learning the “head up” flying orientation. Neutral Head Up will be the first major step to your free flying progression and the start to learning all of the flight “tricks”. This naturally unstable position may take some time to master but will certainly feel like a highlight in your progression once you have it conquered.

Similar to the forward and backward movements, a basic knowledge of this skill will be understood as you progress through the neutral head up flying position. You will learn to control your upper and lower body to create balanced turns, starting and stopping on specific headings, and understanding how to control your extremities to generate the necessary power to rotate.

Once you can control a neutral, stable head up position, you will understand the basics of how your body, while in the vertical orientation, can be affected with slight body pitch changes. This will mean that controlling forward and backward movement is not unusual at this stage. Learning to balance these inputs to demonstrate controlled and defined forward and backward movements, is described in this technique.

You will have had some exposure to the feeling of lift and understanding how to manage your position to create lift when you were learning the neutral head up position. At slower wind speeds, you were increasing surface area to get the necessary lift off the net. Now it is time to fly at higher wind speeds to learn how to use the same inputs to gain altitude and how to descend, moving to pre-determined altitudes and remaining in control.

Head up side slide is a skill in itself that will be used in conjunction with other head up flying skills especially for moving around other flyers and positioning yourself within a group. Unlike the other basic head up flying moves, it is unlikely that you will have learned the basics of this skill during your progression. However, with having control of the other movements such as turns and upward and downward movement, side slides will be a straight-forward skill to learn. The techniques outlined here will help to identify the specific areas of focus in order to create smooth side slides.

Flyers must be able to complete all the individual Level 3 static moves which also include being proficient at a head up front flip transition. This maneuver is the primary head up transition flyers will learn during their progression through the static pathway.

As part of increasing your overall head up static flying ability and to build the skills necessary to be able to perform some of the moves that have been developed as part of flying with other flyers, super positioning is a key ingredient. You will use a multitude of the individual head up flying skills, merging them together to fly one smooth movement which will have you start and ending in different positions in the tunnel/formation, a complex but fun set of drills.

As part of increasing your overall head down static flying ability and to build the skills necessary to be able to perform some of the moves that have been developed as part of flying with other flyers, super positioning is a key ingredient. You will use a multitude of the individual head down flying skills, merging them together to fly one smooth movement which will have you start and ending in different positions in the tunnel/formation, a complex but fun set of drills.

Flying Head Down is another new flight adventure. It is an orientation that will require a completely new skill set, but also relies on all of the skills you have learned leading up to it - Belly, Back, and Sit flying. The beginning of your progression is highlighted here along with the lesson plans which will outline the first few necessary steps to begin learning to safely fly Head Down.

As part of learning the neutral head down body position,you will be briefed on and execute this "bailing" maneuver each time you end head down flight. From your first exposure to being on the net head down being assisted by the tunnel instructor and on through learning un-supported head down flight. This skill is a necessity to safe progression of the head down progression, the techniques decribed here will provide you the specific information to understanding how to complete this move successfully.

As you begin the Head Down flight progression, there are many skills that you will incorporate that you have already had exposure to in earlier training. The Up and Down movement being one of those, as you have already worked on adjusting your fall rate in Belly, Back, and Sit Flying orientations. Being able to control your fall rate will ultimately broaden your range as a flyer especially when flying with others.

As you begin the Head Down flight progression, there are many skills that you will incorporate that you have already had exposure to in earlier training. Turning being one of those skills, as you have already worked on how to balance while in the neutral position. Being able to control your heading will be the initial means of learning this skill. You will begin to understand how your body position and movements affect flight, to the point you can control your movement so as not to turn, and then make mindful inputs to generate a direction change and stop.

As you begin the Head Down flight progression, there are many skills that you have exposure to during the basic position training in Belly, Back, and Sit Flying. Forward and Backward Movement being one of those, you have the basic understanding of these movements as part of balancing your neutral position. Being able to control any movements in order to stay still will be your primary means of learning this skill and then moving on to specific Forward and Backward movements to designated places inside the tunnel.

The head up to head down front flip is likely the first transition that you will learn when wishing to move from orientation to the other. It should be the most natural transition to learn, mimicking the movement from learned during your head down training, where you are forward transitioning your body to place your head on to the net, exposing wind to your front side. A front flip is usually the safer option when initially learning the transition to head down flight, so we recommend it as the first transition to master, in order to gain the awareness and ability to safely link head up to head down flying together.

The head up to head down back flip is likely the most common transition used by flyers that have mastered the stable and neutral head up and head down positions. The back flip style is the cleanest and most effective use of the body when transitioning from head up to head down flying, especially at higher wind speeds. Although you will learn this transition without changing your heading, it is more common for people who are comfortable flying this maneuver, to initiate a small turn away from the center, complete the back-flip to head down and then return to the original heading to build the planned formation. This allows you to keep a visual reference toward the other people you will be flying with. 

As one of the methods of returning to a head up flying position from a neutral head down stance, a head down to head up back-flip, the more tricky and less used transition is a maneuver that requires the skill and confidence to complete successfully. The techniques described here will assist in your understanding of how to complete this maneuver correctly, safely and successfully.

The head up back flip transition is a skill that more experienced flyers will learn as part of their Flyer Level 4 progression. The flyer will be coached and spotted throughout the early part of their progression in learning this skill until such a time they demonstrate proficiency.

Once you have proved your flying ability as a multi-dimensional free-flyer, along with being comfortable with the Sit to Head and Head to Sit transitions, you can begin learning the Half Eagle skill. This will challenge your transition ability as the airflow will be disturbed by the other flyer, so the move will feel different. The Half Eagle is a moving transition and will challenge your overall ability to fly each of the vertical orientations. It is a fun skill to learn and master, leading to competition-type moves.

The Full Eagle move takes all of the individual skills from the Half Eagle, placing them together as one skill. Ideally, during the learning phase of Half Eagles, you became comfortable with starting and stopping in each “slot”. The Full Eagle requires that you are completing each half of the maneuver as one complete skill. The techniques described here will help you learn how to effectively put these moves together to successfully complete a Full Eagle.

The full Barrel Roll maneuver incorporates the techniques mastered from learning the 1/2 barrel roll transitions. Combining the two skill sets will allow you to safely understand the correct control methods to performing the full barrel roll. This skill is an important step in your progression, especially if you wish to explore the Dynamic flight progression.

The front layout transition, the first real “flip” that you will learn and the first transition that travels “over your head”. You will learn how to adjust your body position and manage the airflow around your body in order to succecssfuly complete the transition while covering the the width of the tunnel. This maneuver will give you the first glimpse in to some slight disorientation which is something you will be come ultimately comfortable with as you progress.

A more advance transition that requires a comfort level that is higher than the front flip from your belly to your back. Due to it’s nature to want to drive as you transition, ensuring that you are prepared for this skill will be important. This skill although not a high rotation maneuver will be a key ingredient for your “trick” flying and is an important step for the dynamic progression.

Low speed head up is a mix of skills that pull from everything that you have learned as a competent belly flyer, combining them together carefully to create a balanced and smooth circular motion around the tunnel. For this skill to be considered complete, you will learn and become competent at carving, while belly flying / head up with your head and upper body close to the outer wall of the tunnel. These skills will be the core abilities that you will need for when you wish to begin dynamic flying at slightly higher wind speeds and learning head down carving moves.

Low speed head up is a mix of skills that pull from everything that you have learned as a competent back flyer, combining them together carefully to create a balanced and smooth circular motion around the tunnel. For this skill to be considered complete, you will learn and become competent at carving, while back flying / head up with your head and upper body close to the outer wall of the tunnel, facing the center of the tunnel. These skills will be the core abilities that you will need for when you wish to begin dynamic flying at slightly higher wind speeds and learning head down carving moves.

Low speed head down is a mix of skills that pull from everything that you have learned as a competent back flyer, combining them together carefully to create a balanced and smooth circular motion around the tunnel. For this skill to be considered complete, you will learn and become competent at carving, while back flying / head down with your head close to the center of the tunnel. These skills will be the core abilities that you will need for when you wish to begin dynamic flying at slightly higher wind speeds and learning head down carving moves.

Low speed head down is a mix of skills that pull from everything that you have learned as a competent belly flyer, combining them together carefully to create a balanced and smooth circular motion around the tunnel. For this skill to be considered complete, you will learn and become competent at carving, while belly flying / head down with your head close to the center of the tunnel. These skills will be the core abilities that you will need for when you wish to begin dynamic flying at slightly higher wind speeds and learning head down carving moves.

As you become more comfortable belly carving / out-face carving head up at low wind speeds, it will be at this point, you will increase the wind speed in order to develop a more vertical carving position. The fundamentals of what you learn at low speed will mostly apply to this more vertical head up carve. With the wind speed being progressively higher, you will need to progress in to the vertical orientation in stages in order to understand how to control the steeper pitch and faster movements. Complete performance of this skill will require the flyer demonstrate switching carves from one direction to the other.

As you become more comfortable back carving / in face carving head up at low wind speeds, it will be at this point, you will increase the wind speed in order to develop a more vertical carving position. The fundamentals of what you learn at low speed will mostly apply to this more vertical head up carve. With the wind speed being progressively higher, you will need to progress in to the vertical orientation in stages in order to understand how to control the steeper pitch and faster movements. Complete performance of this skill will require the flyer demonstrate switching carves from one direction to the other.

As you become more comfortable back carving at slow to moderate wind speeds, it will be at this point, you will increase the wind speed in order to develop a more vertical carving position. The fundementals of what you learn for the back carving maneuver will mostly apply to this more vertical head down carve. With the wind speed being progressively higher, you will need to progress in to the vertical orientation in stages in order to understand how to control the steeper pitch and faster movements. Complete performance of this skill will require the flyer demonstrate switching carves from one direction to the other.

As you become more comfortable belly carving at slow to moderate wind speeds, it will be at this point, you will increase the wind speed in order to develop a more vertical carving position. The fundamentals of what you learn for the belly carving maneuver will mostly apply to this more vertical head down carve. With the wind speed being progressively higher, you will need to progress in to the vertical orientation in stages in order to understand how to control the steeper pitch and faster movements, along with gaining the correct visual picture throughout the carve, learning to open your awareness to see around you. Complete performance of this skill will require the flyer demonstrate switching carves from one direction to the other.

This move simply acts as an efficient way to return to a head-down orientation as you end a back layout, whether it is to begin a subsequent layout, or enter, for example, an in-face or out-face carve, head-down. 

Belly and back flares are considered three-dimensional maneuvers. Using moving momentum and body adjustments to adjust levels typically while carving. These moves are essential skills for the dynamic progression.

A head up breaker move is completed once a flyer can successfully complete a full rotation following a flare move and ending head up carving.

A full head down breaker is when a flyer can, from either a carve or layout, dive toward the center of the tunnel, facing the center throughout and perform a 540º barrel roll type maneuver and finish in a head down orientation, either to a carving movement and to a layout maneuver.

As part of increasing your overall belly flying ability and to build the skills necessary to be able to perform some of the moves that have been developed as part of the 2-way, 3-way and 4-way dive pools, super positioning is a key ingredient. You will use a multitude of the basic belly flying skills, merging them together to fly one smooth movement which will have you start and ending in different positions in the tunnel/formation, a complex but fun set of drills.