Back Fly Up & Down

Overview

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.

Download Lesson Plan

Pre-requisites

In order to begin learning upward and downward movement (fall rate adjustment) you must first be comfortable in the neutral back-flying position, confident that you can move forward, backward and can control your heading throughout every flight. Ensuring that you are comfortable with these movements first will mean that when you fly up inside the wind tunnel you can control yourself the entire time, keeping yourself away from the walls.

Objectives

The primary objective is to be able to safely and successfully demonstrate that you can fly up and down while back-flying. You will need to demonstrate that you can perform these maneuvers while remaining in the center of the tunnel the whole time.

Preparation

You will start on your back in the center of the wind tunnel, ensuring that your head and your feet are not pointed toward any doorway. Your instructor will have briefed you on height thresholds for you to be aware of, as you will plan to stage the altitudes that you will rise up to.

Post-flight questions / suggestions

  • How did your performance match the initial objectives?
  • Were you able to maintain stability throughout?
  • Did you feel comfortable using your torso with your arms and legs to generate the most lift?
  • Were you able to remain off the walls during the up and down movements?
  • Do you feel ready to progress on to Intermediate / Advanced?

 

Back flying up and down movements (fall rate control) are important aspects of this orientation. Understanding these techniques will serve you well throughout your free flying progression. From this point forward, your progression will demand higher wind speeds to be able to fly. Understanding how to control your body at any wind speed and move to any altitude will provide a safer, more learning-rich environment for you.

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The IBA distinguishes between the sport of indoor skydiving (engaged in by patrons with IBA accounts seeking approval of flight skills though the IBA’s Flight Progression System) and recreational flying (engaged in by entertainment customers who do not intend to pursue approval of skills). While indoor skydiving is safe for all ages, the inherent risk of the activity is necessarily greater for those engaging in the sport of indoor skydiving, particularly as they progress through more sophisticated maneuvers.