Bodyflight Theory. Position/transition dynamics

[mrluky 0]

I'm currently a student on solo status(15 jumps), and am totally comfortable in the normal box position, on-heading tracking(perpendicular to the jump run), and turning. I can always recover to a stable position if I screw myself up(but could be more controlled, etc). Every coach I jump with says my exits are great, and controlled and the best they have seen from a student and with great awareness.
And as I am progressing, I try to think out which movements do what, and then on a solo, attempt what I think is right, and if so, great, if not, execute normal, planned free fall, and rethink the hypothesis upon landing.

I never failed any of my AFF levels, and I don't feel that I should have, but I still feel I need to get a better grasp on what is happening in free fall.

AFF lvl 8 was my first experience ever not being belly to earth. I was supposed to do barrel rolls, and the first attempt was successful, but the 2nd attempt(other direction) I ended up stuck on my back, but I was able to get back to a stable box position. I was told that since I was able to recover into a stable position without any help, it's a pass. But I remember how disoriented I was when I ended up on my back, staring at a blue expanse.

Now, I have tried 3 or 4 times since, on my own, to do a successful barrel roll, and now I cannot do it at all. And I have no idea what to change. I tuck my arm into my chest, and I roll 90 degrees like I am laying on my side, but then fall back to belly to earth and spinning, so I bring it back out.

As we sit right now, I can only fly on my belly. I am in no rush, but I would like to develop skills, so I am gradualy, and safely, pushing my comfort level into new aspects of free fall.

Every change in body position makes us change how we are relative to the wind. So every movement has a dynamic effect on the forces imposed on our body until we get into a stable position.(duh)

So the question is, do you skilled fliers just assume a static position and wait for yourself to get situated by the wind itself, or are there actually transition body positions that are performed to get there? For example, if you were in belly to earth, and wanted to sit fly, do you just get into your sit fly position, regardless of what wind's effects are on you, or is there a transformer type sequence that you perform, or what.

Is there anywhere that describes which motion does what in free fall? From a simple arm turn description to tucking legs and whatever else is possible.
I've searched, and tried finding something, but only come up with advertisements to DZ's.

Don't make any assumptions on me, and don't be afraid to hurt my feelings. Here to learn. And Hello.

[charly 0]

the secret to barrel rolls is to first get the momentum before turning over. i do this by slighty going one way then spring into the direction i want to roll. you really have to throw your self round when starting out. second is knowing when to bring that arm into your chest. if you leave it out to long you go back to where you started. having you arm stright rather than bent at the elbow helps to. last of all is to bring your head over first. usally your body will follow. if all fails try doing it from a tracking possition. it looks cooler too (mind you air space though dude)

as for the other stuff. tyring to grab the concepts of sit/freeflying as a new jumper is impossible. my advise to you is to get 100 belly to earth jumps under your belt first. in that time do you FS1. jumping with others brings a whole new dimension to skydiving and it'll stop you getting board. by then you'll be alot more body aware too.

i do understand how frustrating it is seeing experianced jumpers doing wild and wonderfull stuff but be patient, skydiving has a steep learning curve. before you know it you'll be up there with the best.

take care budy

[gravrat141 0]

you seem to have a grasp of the ideas of movement in freefall but I personally (just an opinion) think you may be over thinking it a little. If you want to look at i analytically just remember that in freefall all parts of your body act as control surfaces like ailerons or rudder on an airplane. What I did while in student status and when first learning to freefly is get out and just play with the air. I spent quite a few jumps after being signed off for solo jumps just moving my body around and seeing what the wind did with me. When I first tried doing flips and rolls I was doing really aggressive body movements to throw myself through the move and subsequently not completing the move or over rotating. Then upon talking to people much more experienced they pointed out that there was no real reason to force a move that the wind will make you do if you arrange all of your "control surfaces" (your body) properly.

Also, a big part of freeflying is relaxation, and if i think too much about what I am doing with my body rather than just feeling it I become more tense and I do not fly as well. This concept may seem silly but once your jump numbers increase you will feel the air more effectivly and understand a lot better. Also seek advice from people who are experienced at what you want to do eventually. I think too many people are intimidated to ask the more experienced guys questions or if they will jump with them but most jumpers that are good at what they do got to that point by asking questions and they will be happy to help you out in any way possible. I know showing an eagerness to learn will go a long way with the experienced jumpers at your DZ or at any DZ for that matter. (just be sure to try and ask while on the ground instead of in the plane at 10,000 ft when they are preparing for a jump) But don't forget that right now you need to focus on the basics, because those very basic skills in freefall and more importantly under canopy are what will keep you alive long enough to gain the skills to do the stuff you really want to do.
Nobody gets it all at once so bee patient and learn something from every jump you go on it it will all fall into place. I hope this helps.
Good luck and Blue Skies!

[Snowflake 0]

The simple answer is that on your belly pushing down with your right arm turns you right, because your right side is going slower. So your body "spins" around that point. The same applies to your left leg. Push down with your right arm and your left leg at the same time and you should be "spinning" with the axis through your stomach. There are all kinds of variations on that theme. Almost all are based on using your extremities as control surfaces.

I agree with #141 that your over thinking a little. Quite frankly flips and barrel rolls are just a tool to make sure you can get stable. Thus you passed, because you got stable. They really don't give a crap about the form. Only that you got stable. You won't really be using them to do RW, and in freefly you use the control surfaces a little different, and your torso becomes more of a control surface.

If you really want to get technical look for freefall and center of pressure vs center of gravity or CP v CG. Also look up how planes respond to inputs. In the end it's all fluid dynamics

[Kimsdu 0]

Educational dvd for all transitions

The new dvd from Skydive University has been released and should be available at your nearest gear store, If not you can simply go to our website and purchase your copy.


www. skydiveu. com

The transitions dvd is followed by the extremely successful Backfly and Sitfly editions.
Transitions was filmed in Paraclete XP the worlds most humungous wind tunnel.
Check it out this is the best dvd yet.