what are the rough percentage ratios of Freeflyers to belly-flyers?

[patworks 5]

Skydiver Question: Seen from a typical DZ weekend flight manifest, Nowadays, what are the rough percentage ratios of Freeflyers to belly-flyers?

(Answer will help me with the Natl. Skydiving Museum Display-Eloy)

Pat Works nee Madden Travis Works, Jr .B1575, C1798, D1813, Star Crest Solo#1, USPA#189,

[Mr_Polite 0]

50-50

[piisfish 140]

at our dz it would be a 30% freeflyers, 30% tandems, 20% students, 15% wingsuiters. Very occasional "real" bellyflyers

scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM

[nigel99 489]

Depends on the dz. At STF there were always belly loads. Now at my new dz until recently you'd really struggle to get a 4 way together. I would guess 2 or 3 freefly to belly fly now.

Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

[mjosparky 4]

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Skydiver Question: Seen from a typical DZ weekend flight manifest, Nowadays, what are the rough percentage ratios of Freeflyers to belly-flyers?

(Answer will help me with the Natl. Skydiving Museum Display-Eloy)

Pat I am pretty sure it is 7.8 to 3.
Sparky

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[linebckr83 3]

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Depends on the dz. At STF there were always belly loads. Now at my new dz until recently you'd really struggle to get a 4 way together. I would guess 2 or 3 freefly to belly fly now.

It really does depend on the dz. I would say our single 182 dz is 10:1 belly to freefly.

"Are you coming to the party?
Oh I'm coming, but I won't be there!"
Flying Hellfish #828
Dudist #52

[waveoff5500 0]

at our dz freeflying is steadily growing more popular, i would venture to say its pretty much a wash most of the time. pretty much all of the staff does some sort of freeflying when we have a load off, we do have a core group of people that mostly only belly fly though. so i would say its 50 50 when considering only licensed fun jumpers.

a side note, our dropzone has an introduction to freeflying included in our A license program. it consists of 2 jumps that teach the very basics about what freeflying is and dangers of it (corking, shorter working time, etc). its intended to get new students somewhat familiar with the growing discipline so they can survive when freshly A licensed and trying to freefly. id imagine this has some sort of impact on the number of people who end up pursuing freeflying after student status.

"its just a normal day at the dropzone until its not"

1653

[Amazon 7]

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Skydiver Question: Seen from a typical DZ weekend flight manifest, Nowadays, what are the rough percentage ratios of Freeflyers to belly-flyers?

(Answer will help me with the Natl. Skydiving Museum Display-Eloy)

You may also want to break that down to the ratio of freeflyers to freeflailers.

[grimmie 186]

Pat,
Here in Oceanside we have about 80% freeflyers and 20% belly flyers.
We started BellyWaySunday which has been a hit and on those days we're 50-50Stop in and say hi!
Rich

[patworks 5]

John "Hammo" Elsinore sez it's about 40% FF, 40% FS; and 10% Wing suit.

Pat Works nee Madden Travis Works, Jr .B1575, C1798, D1813, Star Crest Solo#1, USPA#189,

[Squeak 17]

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John "Hammo" Elsinore sez it's about 40% FF, 40% FS; and 10% Wing suit.

That's probably true at Snore, but ask at Perris, i think the response would differ

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[patworks 5]

I got replies from across the USA San Diego, Byron, Perris, Elsinore, Texas, Florida, etc etc.

Yes, it does vary by DZ, but apparently not massively. Dan BC at Perris reports that it is about 65% FS Skydivers (better term than 'belly')

Unscientific, but, Overall, it seems close to 50-50 with Freeefly growing faster for jumpers over age 40. With younger (newer?) skydivers going to freefly.


For tadpoles, I venture that FF is more natural/easier, probably 'cauze tadpoles still have tails? Like salmon spawning, they just point their head into the current, relax, and go with the flow. On the other hand RW FS requires drill and dedication to master: tight tuck, elbows in.... perhaps akin to group style. :-)