Freefly (head-up / head-down)

Vertical flying. Sit, head-down, transitions. The discipline that redefined modern skydiving in the 90s.

220–300 km/h
Speed
50+
Min. jumps
B
License
Moderate
Risk
01 — Overview

What it actually is

Two reference positions: head-up (sit) at ~230 km/h and head-down at ~270-290 km/h. Requires fine body control in an unstable attitude and many tunnel hours to consolidate position. VFS (Vertical Formation Skydiving) is the competitive team version. Also the gateway to indoor dynamic and terminal BASE jumping.

Editorial note

In Italy the freefly community is concentrated on a few dropzones (Reggio, Fano, Thiene) and the Aero Gravity tunnel. Cost is significantly higher than FS due to required tunnel hours.

02 — Specs

Technical numbers

Terminal speed
220–300 km/h
Exit altitude
3600–4200 m
Deployment
1200 m
Suggested tunnel hrs
5 h
Tunnel-trainable
Yes
Min. license
B

50+ jumps, B license, minimum 3-5 tunnel hours to start solo head-up. Clean head-down typically requires 10-20 cumulative tunnel hours.

03 — Gear

Kit specifics

Fitted freefly suit (no booty), high collar, freefly handles on reserve to prevent premature deployments. Canopy 170-210 sqft, higher wing loading than belly.

Open gear catalog →
04 — Competitions

FAI/IPC circuits

VFS-4
4-way VFS
★ World Championship
AE-FF
Artistic Events Freefly
★ World Championship
05 — Where

Reference dropzones worldwide

Skydive Empuriabrava
Empuriabrava (Girona) · Spain
FreeflyBelly / FSWingsuit
Skydive Spain
Bollullos de la Mitación (Siviglia) · Spain
FreeflyBelly / FSBig-way / records
Skydive Algarve
Alvor (Portimão) · Portugal
FreeflyBelly / FSAngle flying
Skydive Voss
Voss · Norway
WingsuitScenicFreefly
Skydive Hibaldstow (Black Knights)
Hibaldstow (Lincolnshire) · United Kingdom
Belly / FSFreeflyCanopy formation (CRW)
Skydive Langar
Langar (Nottinghamshire) · United Kingdom
Belly / FSFreeflyCanopy piloting
Roadmap
Freefly progression
Open →
Hub
All disciplines
Open →
Destinations
World DZ map
Open →
Sources: FAI IPC Technical Rules (fai.org/commission/ipc), USPA SIM, verified Italian community. Null values where not published by primary source. Last revision: April 2026.