How Many Jumps Does It Take To Become A Wingsuit Pro?

‍Skydiving is undoubtedly exciting, but wingsuit flying takes it to another level. In this guide, learn how many jumps you need before wingsuit diving.

It is recommended that you complete at least 200 freefall skydives before going wingsuit flying. Nobody should ever attempt a wingsuit flight without first being an expert at skydiving, as you need to know all the rules and regulations of skydiving so you can be as safe as possible.

FlightNotch is a site that’s made by enthusiasts, for enthusiasts. Our goal with this site is to provide our readers with the most helpful and accurate aviation and airsports content we can so we can spread our passion for these activities through our expertise. In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about how many skydives you should have under your belt before going wingsuit diving.

‍Understanding Wingsuiting

Wingsuiting is an exhilarating form of human flight that allows experienced skydivers to glide through the air with the help of a specially designed suit. The wingsuit enhances your flight characteristics by adding webbed areas to your body, which generate increased lift and allow you to stay airborne for a longer period of time than traditional skydiving.

As you begin to explore the world of wingsuiting, you'll find that it's a thrilling discipline embraced by the skydiving community. To become proficient in wingsuiting, you'll need to first accumulate 200 jumps and obtain a C-license. This may seem like a daunting task, but the experience you gain from these jumps will help you develop essential skills for wingsuit flying.

When flying a wingsuit, it's crucial to understand the various components and how they affect your flight. For instance, the pilot chute is a vital piece of equipment that plays a crucial role in deploying your main parachute safely during your descent.

As you progress in your wingsuit journey, strive to learn about the flight characteristics of different suits. Keep in mind that just as with any other extreme sport, safety should always be your top priority. By educating yourself on the various aspects of wingsuiting and taking the necessary precautions, you'll be well on your way to mastering this unique form of human flight.

How Many Jumps To Wingsuit By Yourself?

So, you're interested in wingsuit flying and wonder how many jumps it takes before you can experience this exhilarating sport. Before diving straight into wingsuit flying, it's essential to build the necessary skills and awareness through regular skydiving.

The United States Parachute Association (USPA) recommends that you complete at least 200 jumps in the past 18 months before attempting your first wingsuit dive. This prerequisite aims to ensure you have adequate experience in freefall and parachuting to handle the complexities of wingsuit flying safely.

Before you can begin wingsuit flying, you'll need to obtain your B-license with the USPA. This is achievable by completing a First Jump Course, which includes a minimum of 25 jumps, and passing several tests.

Once you've reached the 200 jumps milestone and mastered freefall maneuvers, it's time to take a Wingsuit First Jump Course. This specialized course will help you transition into wingsuit flying by teaching you exit techniques, navigation, and body position adjustments in the air.

Additionally, obtaining your C-license with over 100 jumps and a series of canopy control and freefall drills is highly recommended. This extra experience will greatly prepare you for the unique challenges of flying a wingsuit.

In summary, patience and practice are key in your journey to wingsuit flying. Focus on completing at least 200 jumps and obtaining your B-license before embarking on this thrilling adventure.

Remember, the more experience you have under your belt, the safer and more enjoyable your wingsuit flying experience will be. The best wingsuit pilots are the ones who put in more than enough time learning proper skydiving disciplines so they’re fully prepared for their first wingsuit skydive before every jumping out of the airplane.

Preliminary Skills and Safety Measures

Before you can become a wingsuit pilot, there are essential skills and safety measures that need to be acquired and practiced. Gaining experience in skydiving is vital to build a strong foundation for your wingsuit journey.

Typically, you'll need a minimum of 200 jumps under your belt before you can take the plunge into wingsuit flying. This number is not just an arbitrary figure; it helps build the necessary body flight skills, canopy control, and situational awareness that are crucial to wingsuit training.

Furthermore, attaining your USPA C-license signifies that you have reached a level of experience that allows you to take on the challenges of wingsuit flying.

Safety should always be your top priority, and investing in proper gear which includes a helmet, wingsuit, automatic activation device, and reserve parachute is essential. However, it's not just about having the appropriate gear but also knowing how to use it properly. This is where coaching and an instructor program come in.

During your skydiving experience, find a wingsuit coach and enroll in an instructor program. These programs will hone your body flight skills, canopy control, and teach you the intricacies of using wingsuit-specific gear. With guidance from your wingsuit coach, you will practice exiting techniques, flight patterns, and safe flying maneuvers.

Always be mindful of safety measures while participating in wingsuit training. Make sure to monitor your gear frequently and follow instructions from your coaches and instructors.

Remember, practice makes perfect. By building experience, honing your skills, and ensuring safety measures are in place, you are paving the way for an exciting and successful wingsuit flying journey.

Varieties of Wingsuit Jumping

Wingsuit jumping comes in different forms and attracts adventure-seekers from around the world. In this section, we'll focus on two popular types: skydiving with wingsuits and wingsuit base jumping.

Skydiving with Wingsuits

Skydiving with wingsuits allows you to experience the thrill of flight in a unique way. Your specially designed suit gives you better control and maneuverability during your descent. You'll exit the aircraft at a high altitude, much like traditional skydiving.

The main difference is that you'll be wearing a wingsuit that enables you to glide and perform aerial stunts at horizontal speeds. This is often referred to as a wingsuit skydive, since you’ll be skydiving like normal, but with a wingsuit.

It's important to recall from earlier in the article that before you can wingsuit skydive, the United States Parachute Association recommends that you complete at least 200 skydives with tracking experience.

This helps ensure your safety and prepares you for the excitement of flying wingsuits.

Wingsuit Base Jumping

Wingsuit base jumping takes wingsuit flying to the next level! Instead of exiting from an aircraft, you'll be leaping off of mountains, cliffs, or other fixed structures that provide the necessary altitude. This high-intensity sport combines the adrenaline rush of base jumping with the incredibly unique sensation of wingsuit flight.

However, it's crucial to understand that wingsuit base jumping is considered more dangerous than wingsuit skydiving due to its proximity to fixed structures and the ground. Unfortunately, there have been numerous base jumping deaths, making proper training and experience even more vital for wingsuit flyers.

Before attempting wingsuit base jumping, be sure you are highly proficient in both wingsuit flying and standard base jumping. The more prepared you are as a wingsuit flyer, the safer and more enjoyable your wingsuit base jumping experience will be.

I’ve talked to a lot of wingsuit pilots over the years, and I’ve never heard one say they wished they were a less experienced skydiver before taking off on their first wingsuit jump. BASE jumping alone is exciting and dangerous, but once you add in a flying squirrel suit, it goes to a whole new level.

So when you’re working through your skydiving career to log your 200 jumps, take your time and learn everything you can so you can be the best wingsuit skydiver you can be. Wingsuit flights are exhilarating, but one wrong move could spell disaster!