Tips for Bigways No 26

March 20, 2019

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The Hill – how to fly on it

The time it takes from exit to reaching terminal velocity and being belly to earth is known as being ‘on the hill’.

The characteristics of the air on the hill are different to when we are flying at terminal. We are accelerating and the air is softer and less responsive to the dynamic arm and leg movements we may make to maneuver at terminal velocity when the air has greater resistance.

With limited working time in competition rounds, teams in all freefall disciplines are acutely aware of learning how to fly on the hill. They cannot afford the 6-8 seconds it can take to reach terminal before they score points. And so, they learn techniques to fly in this softer air.

In this photograph, see how each of the team members is working to maintain presentation to the relative wind, not just as an individual but for the team in the formation overall. They are maintaining pressure in their body posture, making the most of their boosters in the process.

In this next picture, time will be wasted whilst the team regain stability after poor presentation to the relative wind on exit.

For a big way team, it is no different. If we let ourselves be flotsam when we are on the hill or indeed if we make overly dynamic movements, we run the risk of wasting time or cutting into the air and losing our stability, making the difference between having a record or not.

The secret to flying on the hill is to:
– Maintain presentation to the relative wind and pressure in your body posture
– Apply smooth inputs and hold them until the air responds and they take effect

Aircraft type will affect how we present to the relative wind to be able to fly on the hill.
– From a tailgate exit, capture the air as you dive out to lift you forward and towards the base in front. If you catch the wind on your back and fail to capture the pressure of the air, you will drop down steeply and may struggle to regain your radial and level for approach in a stadium.
– From a side door, present strongly to the relative wind before you transition slowly into a dive. This is faster than cutting the corner of the door, catching the wind on your back and corkscrewing down steeply again making it hard to regain your radial and level for approach.

This photograph shows Doug Forth on exit from a side door (Otter), flying immediately on exit and efficiently on the hill, ready for action. In the background you can also see the tail gate exit from the lead plane divers, some achieving more ‘forward lift’ than others.

When we get to Perris, use the first camp to explore ways to fly on the hill and learn how to engage with the air immediately and not waste any time in flying your slot.

Melissa

Melissa is a member of the Aussie Bigways coaching team and the Australian Skydiving Team. She is an experienced skydiving competitor and coach with a history of National and World level representation in 4-way, 8-way and Bigway Formation Skydiving.