Welcome, Lykkers! Wingsuiting is one of the most advanced and visually spectacular disciplines in skydiving. It allows experienced jumpers to glide through the air using a specialized suit that adds surface area between the arms and legs.
While it looks effortless in the sky, reaching that level requires structured training, patience, and a strong foundation in skydiving skills. Here’s a clear step-by-step path for anyone interested in progressing toward wingsuiting.
Start with a Tandem Skydive
Every skydiver begins with a tandem jump. In this experience, you are securely harnessed to a certified instructor who manages the dive while you experience freefall for the first time. It’s the safest and most accessible introduction to skydiving, offering a firsthand taste of the speed, silence, and adrenaline of falling through the sky. For many people, this first jump is what sparks a long-term passion for the sport.
Become a Licensed Skydiver
After a tandem jump, the next step is earning your skydiving license. In most countries, this begins with an A-license, which is the entry-level certification issued by organizations such as the United States Parachute Association (USPA). Training programs like Accelerated Freefall (AFF) teach essential skills, including:
- Stable body position in freefall
- Basic canopy (parachute) control
- Safe altitude awareness and separation
- Proper equipment handling and packing
- Written and practical exams
This stage builds the foundation needed for all future skydiving disciplines.
Learn Tracking and Angle Flying
Before wingsuiting, a jumper must master body flight skills such as tracking and angle flying. Tracking involves positioning your body to move horizontally through the air, creating distance from other jumpers before parachute deployment. It improves awareness and safety in group jumps. Angle flying takes this further by introducing a controlled diagonal descent, blending vertical fall with forward movement. These skills are essential because they teach control, positioning, and safe group flying—critical abilities before transitioning into wingsuits.
Build Experience and Patience
Skydiving is a progression-based sport that requires consistent practice. As jump numbers increase, so does skill and confidence. Typically, progression looks like this:
- Around 50 jumps to earn a B-license
- Around 200 jumps to qualify for a C-license
By the time a skydiver reaches this level, they have developed strong canopy control, situational awareness, and freefall stability. Equally important is staying current—regular jumping ensures skills remain sharp and safe.
Complete a Wingsuit First Jump Course
Once you meet the experience requirements, the next step is enrolling in a Wingsuit First Jump Course (FJC). This specialized training introduces you to wingsuit flight under close supervision. The course typically covers:
- Wingsuit aerodynamics and safety
- Exit techniques from the aircraft
- Flight control and body positioning
- Deployment procedures
To participate, skydivers generally need a minimum of 200 jumps, proper gear, and recent jump activity to ensure readiness.
Choose and Get Your Wingsuit
After completing training, the next step is selecting your wingsuit. Beginners often start with rental suits before purchasing their own. Wingsuits come in different designs for different skill levels:
Beginner suits: stable and forgiving
Intermediate suits: improved glide and speed
Advanced suits: designed for precision flying, acrobatics, and formation flying
Proper fit and guidance are important, as suit performance depends heavily on sizing and comfort.
Join the Wingsuiting Community
Wingsuiting becomes even more rewarding when shared with others. Many dropzones offer coaching camps, group flights, and advanced training in formations, docking, and acrobatic flying. Being part of the community helps pilots continue improving while learning from experienced wingsuit flyers. It also opens the door to advanced disciplines such as flocking and proximity flying.
Wingsuiting is not a quick or casual hobby—it is a structured progression within skydiving that demands skill, discipline, and experience. From the first tandem jump to advanced flight formations, each step builds the foundation needed for safe and controlled flight. With patience and proper training, wingsuiting transforms skydiving into an extraordinary experience of human flight and precision in the sky.
