How fast are you traveling when skydiving?

Answer 1

The pilot will usually slow down the aircraft as much as possible when the skydivers jump out. This makes it easier to jump out and reduces the chance of someone hitting the tailplane as the plane is pointing slightly downwards.

On small aircraft, the speed will probably be between 70 and 100mph.

Answer 2

Tandem skydiving is where 2 people are harnessed together and freefall at around 120 mph. This speed can vary depending on how heavy the combined weight of the instructor and the student are. This variance is typically plus or minus 20 mph.

This 120 mph speed is also known as your terminal velocity and is where the mass of the freefalling bodies meets the drag of the air.

From exiting the aircraft, it typically takes around 10 seconds for this speed to be achieved. A solo skydiver will reach this speed, but 2 people harnessed together will go much much faster unless a drogue pilot chute is released by the instructor shortly after exit. This drogue pilot chute stops the tandem skydivers from going too fast.

The amount of time spent in freefall varies a lot. At Skydive Hibaldstow, this time is around 60 seconds as they jump from 15,000ft and this is also the maximum height you can jump from in the UK.

Answer 3

That varies depending on how it has been since you exited the aircraft and what body position you are adopting.

When you exit the aircraft, you are moving forwards, not downwards. Over a period of approximately 10 seconds, you will reach you maximum speed called terminal velocity which is around 120mph in a belly to earth body position.

Terminal velocity is where the mass of the jumper matches the resistence or drag of the air.

This orientation is typically used for formation skydiving. If you were to adopt a headdown body position, then this would increase to around 160mph. Again, if you are in a wingsuit, then it can be as low as 30 mph. Lastly, if you are participating in a Speed Skydiving competition, it can be as high as 300mph.

Typically though, most people do their first skydiving course with a tandem jump. This is where you are harnessed to an instructor. The customers freefall where I jump at (Skydive Hibaldstow), will reach the speed of 120mph. It would be higher, but a tandem drogue is used to slow them down.