Body Flight Terminology

Flying tracking body positions in formations that can be maneuvered through changing pitches and orientations.

Back Flying or Back generally refers to a neutral position where the back is the leading edge. We also use this term in positions where the back side of the body is the primary control surface.

Example: A ‘Back Angle’ is in fact a Head-Down body position where the back is the primary control surface.

A continuous vertical orbit around an imaginary center point. The orbit is created by connecting a half outface eagle, a head-up vertical transition from belly to back, a half inface reverse eagle and a head-down vertical transition from back to belly.

Belly-to-earth or Belly generally refers to an arched position where the belly is the leading edge. We also use this term in positions where the belly side of the body is the primary control surface.

Example: A ‘Belly Angle’ position is in fact a Head-Down body position where the belly is the primary control surface.

A discipline of skydiving where the goal is to build large, single-point formations. This can involve multiple planes, staged break-off procedures, high-altitude jumping with oxygen and other advanced techniques.

A maneuver in a formation dive pool worth two points that consists of a formation followed by an intermediate requirement (inter) and a second formation.

A maneuver where the flyer performs a barrel roll while in a carving position. Generally the barrel roll occurs after a diving maneuver. A breaker rotates against the direction of movement where an anti-breaker rotates with the direction of travel.

Example: Imagine you’re standing in the center of a wind tunnel and watching a flyer HD Inface carve from right to left across your field of view. If they rotate clockwise on their head-tail axis they are performing a breaker. If they rotate counter clockwise they are performing an anti-breaker.

The final maneuver at the end of a skydive where jumpers fly away from each other to safely deploy their canopies.

The wake created by a body in freefall or under canopy.

Creating a horizontal orbit around a center point using a moving body position.

A transition from one carving position to another (can be a different position or the same position in a different direction).

A prescribed maneuver within a routine or round of competition with objective criteria for judgement. These are found in Freestyle, Freefly, Dynamic and Formation Disciplines.

Flying with continuous movement.

Dynamic flying in competition is broken down into three disciplines: Dynamic 2-Way (D2W), Dynamic 4-Way (D4W or 4Speed) and Solo Speed. The majority of the competition rounds are ‘speed rounds’ where the objective is to fly a set path as fast as possible. D2W Open also includes ‘free rounds’ that are a creative routine judged on difficulty and execution.

Vertical orbits around an imaginary point. Eagles travel toward the head, Reverse Eagles travel toward the feet. These can be infacing or outfacing and flown in a static or dynamic manner.

A dynamic flying maneuver similar to the flare of a parachute. By changing the body’s angle of attack we re-direct the energy of a dive into horizontal or upward (relative) movement.

An angle flying maneuver that combines a turn with a dive that eventually passes through vertical such that those initially tracking on the belly will finish the maneuver on the back and vice-versa.

A group of flying disciplines where the goal is to build a formation or sequence of formations in a given amount of time.

Creative dynamic flying that can be planned or improvised.

A broad term in skydiving and tunnel flying that refers to any type of flying that has the potential for creating high freefall speeds and/or speed differentials.

An artistic skydive discipline with teams of two performers and one camera flyer. Competition includes compulsory rounds and a free routine.

A creative routine built for competition or recreation with no restrictions or compulsory requirements. Competitive routines are judged on difficulty, creativity and execution. These can be found in the competitive disciplines of Freestyle, Freefly and Dynamic 2-Way (D2W).

An artistic discipline of skydiving and tunnel flying that has both compulsory and free rounds. A skydive team has a performer and camera flyer while an indoor team is a single flyer.

A continuous vertical orbit around an imaginary center point. The orbit is created by connecting a half inface eagle, a head-up vertical transition from back to belly, a half outface reverse eagle and a head-down vertical transition from belly to back.

Flying in an orientation where the leading edge is the head. This includes inface carving, outface carving, tracking on belly/back, vertical static and more.

Flying in an orientation where the leading edge is the feet. This includes inface carving, outface carving, tracking on belly/back, vertical static and more.

Flying successive 360° turns in a given body position with the goal of turning as fast as possible while maintaining control. Often seen in freestyle.

A formation characterized by the combination of horizontal and vertical body positions.

Flying a maneuver or in a slot where the body naturally faces inward toward a centerpoint. This is used to describe horizontal orbits (carving), vertical orbits (eagles/reverse eagles) and formation positions.

A series of half eagles and reverse eagles that create a vertical orbit where the top half is always flown in a vertical position and the bottom half is flown in a horizontal position (belly/back). These differ from traditional full eagles/reverse eagles that pass through the vertical positions on the sides and horizontal positions on the top and bottom.

Full Back Layout: Half inface reverse eagle, half outface eagle

Full Front Layout: Half outface reverse eagle, half inface eagle

Flying with the legs and torso in a straight line. Generally considered more difficult as it has the potential to create a high amount of driving or diving energy. Used as a judging criteria during free routines in various disciplines.

The appropriate position of a flyer relative to a group’s center point. For small formations this is seen as a parallel line with the horizon falling at a certain speed however in dynamic flying, big ways and other disciplines this may be adjusted based on the group’s intended maneuvers or goals.

A sky-only discipline characterized by mixed rounds that include both horizontal and vertical points on the same skydive. A team is comprised of two flyers and a camera flyer.

A compulsory pattern within a competitive dynamic speed round where performers fly mirrored patterns starting in opposite hemispheres of the tunnel.

Flying a maneuver or in a slot where the body naturally faces outward/away from a centerpoint. This is used to describe horizontal orbits (carving), vertical orbits (eagles/reverse eagles) and formation positions.

An angle flying maneuver where a group of flyer tracking relative to one another will dive ‘passing through’ a vertical orientation and tracking back the opposite direction.

A complete formation. In competition, a formation that is made properly and would score a ‘point’.

Similar to Big Way but with the goal of building multiple points. Jumps are judged based on the number of jumpers (like Big Way) but also the number of grips being changed in between points.

A common Mixer found in the dynamic compulsory sequences where flyers perform opposing figure-8 patterns crossing paths in the center.

Also called edge flying. This term refers to a variety of static and dynamic body positions where the flyer is neither completely flying on the belly or back. Considered highly difficult to balance and maneuver in a controlled fashion.

The appropriate position for a flyer within a group. The actually location may change based on the discipline being flown.

A compulsory pattern within a competitive dynamic speed round. Performers fly a snaking horizontal path in a line through prescribed quadrants. This can also refer to freeflow dynamic carve switches.

A competitive tunnel discipline where individual flyers execute a series of dynamic maneuvers in the fastest time possible.

A style of flying that is characterized by body positions that generally fall in a straight line vertically and can be used for building formations.

Flying a body position that creates sustained horizontal movement.

A compulsory maneuver within a dynamic speed round where flyers must vertically orbit a fixed point.

A formation discipline in skydiving and tunnel flying with a team of 4 (plus camera for the sky) characterized by all formations made with vertical orientations..

A 2-way formation discipline similar to Mixed Formation Skydiving (MFS) however the rounds are separated into horizontal and vertical to make them suitable for a set windspeed in the tunnel. This discipline is also split into categories that allow for more intermediate flyers to participate.

Rookie: Belly/Back

Intermediate: Belly/Back/HU

Advanced: Belly/Back/HU/HD (only one flyer)

Open: All orientations flown by both team members