11 How fast do you fall?
Description
This article is from the Skydiving FAQ, by Barry Brumitt with numerous contributions by others.
11 How fast do you fall?
When you leave the aircraft, you are moving horizontally at the same
speed as the aircraft, typically 90-110MPH. During the first 10
seconds, a skydiver accelerates up to about 115-130MPH straight
down. (A tandem pair uses a drouge chute to keep them from falling
much faster than this). It is possible to change your body position to
vary your rate of fall. In a standard face-to-earth position, you can
change your fall rate up or down a few (10-20) miles per
hour. However, by diving or "standing up" in freefall, any experienced
skydiver can learn to reach speeds of over 160-180MPH. Speeds of over
200MPH require significant practice to achieve. The record freefall
speed, done without any special equipment, is 321MPH. Obviously, it
is desirable to slow back down to 110MPH before parachute opening.
Once under parachute, descent rates of 1000ft./min. are typical. A
lighter student with a bigger canopy may come down much more slowly,
and, obviously, a heavier person may have a somewhat faster
descent. Experienced jumper's can canopies descend (in normal glide) at
up to 1500ft./min. During radical turns, the descent rate can go well
over 2000ft./min.
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