Freefly has the steepest learning curve among freefall disciplines. Tunnel is nearly mandatory: attempting head-down in the sky only is both slow and expensive. Typical roadmap: 50+ pre-freefly jumps → solid head-up in tunnel → head-down in tunnel → first head-down jumps.
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.
Fitted freefly suit (no booty), high collar, freefly handles on reserve to prevent premature deployments. Canopy 170-210 sqft, higher wing loading than belly.
50+ jumps, B license, minimum 3-5 tunnel hours to start solo head-up. Clean head-down typically requires 10-20 cumulative tunnel hours.
To start freefly, standard Italian practice requires B-license and 50+ documented jumps. This is the threshold below which serious schools refuse freefly coaching.
First phase: learning to stay upright in the chamber in sit position. Tunnel is significantly more efficient than sky — 1 hour of tunnel ≈ 20+ head-up jumps.
The longest and most expensive phase. Clean head-down requires 10-20 cumulative hours; without structured coaching you can multiply by 2-3.
Transfer from tunnel to sky. Gear change (freefly suit, freefly handles on reserve, higher-loading canopy), re-learning separation dynamics at 270+ km/h.
Entry into competitive circuit: VFS 4-way or AE Freefly (Artistic Events). Requires additional tunnel prep, team flying 80+ hours/year.