What are the lowest and highest terminal velocity while skydiving?

Answer 1

In a belly to earth body position, the average terminal velocity of a skydiver is around 120mph. This takes approximately 10 seconds to reach this speed. The most common discipline in the sport is formation skydiving and that takes place in this orientation.

However, the terminal velocity of a skydiver can have variables which can greatly affect this speed:

• The clothing / jumpsuits they wear. Skin-tight nylon is more aerodynamic than rough cordura material. Heavier jumpers tend to wear cordura in their jumpsuits.
• The size and weight of the skydiver. A tall thin person will need to near skin-tight clothing to increase their speed. Otherwise they may fall around 10mph slower. Visa verca a small heavy person may need a baggy cordura jumpsuit to help them reduce their fall rate.
• The orientation of the skydiver. In addition to the belly-to-earth body position, there is also a headup/headdown body position which is used for the discipline of freefly. This is around 150 to 160mph. In fact, in the discipline of speed skydiving, the jumper has no official terminal velocity as they accelerate for the duration of the freefall, often reaching speeds in excess of 300mph.

Answer 2

A light jumper with no weights could fall as slow as 85 mph. The average is around 120 mph. It is possible to fall at around 230 mph in a head down attitude and it is conceivable Felix Baumgartner will break the sound barrier in a jump from 120000 feet from a helium balloon.

Answer 3

Skydiver with parachute closed, the terminal velocity is about 200 km/h.