Head-Down 404

Fly open vertical formation skydiving (VFS)

Open vertical formation skydiving: the full draw at close range.

What the course is about

You'll learn to fly your slot in open-class vertical formation skydiving (VFS): the full competition dive pool, with the hardest blocks and inter moves, built to the clock. Head-Down 305 comes first, because open class builds on its draw, grips and fall-rate matching.

Diving and flying base on big-ways help as well. In Australia, head-down formation jumps of more than 3 people need the Freefly Crest (Head-Down).

What comes before it

Head-Down 305

Screen 2 · What you are watched on

What you are watched on

The same short list a coach ticks, in the same words. Nothing is hidden from you.

1.3 Safety critical

State breakoff and deployment altitudes and the lost-formation plan; VFS breakoff runs higher than belly because the head-down fall rate spends altitude faster.

Do you set breakoff higher for vertical formation work than you would for belly, and brief what everyone does if the formation is lost?

3.5

Match fall rate precisely at close range, riding the burble interaction between bodies without overcorrecting.

Can you match fall rate precisely at close range, riding the burble between bodies without overcorrecting?

3.6

Build randoms by approaching from outside the formation, never from directly above a head-down slot (into the feet-side burble).

Do you build randoms by coming in from outside the formation, never from directly above a head-down flyer’s feet?

Screen 3 · Safety and altitudes

Safety and altitudes

Everything here is a recommendation with a reason behind it. The drop zone you are jumping at, and your own limits on the day, decide what happens.

Safety-critical items on the short list

1.3

State breakoff and deployment altitudes and the lost-formation plan; VFS breakoff runs higher than belly because the head-down fall rate spends altitude faster.

Do you set breakoff higher for vertical formation work than you would for belly, and brief what everyone does if the formation is lost?

Everything this course says about breakoff and deployment

2.1

Complete a freefly-specific gear check (handles, hand-deploy pouch, riser covers, closing loop, helmet, audible set and functioning).

4.1

Initiate breakoff at the briefed altitude (within −0/+300 ft).

4.3

Deploy at the planned altitude after checking airspace.

The altitudes here are the guides this site recommends, with the reasons on the full course page. Where the drop zone briefs something different, fly what the drop zone briefs.

Screen 4 · After the jump

After the jump

From the course's closing section, review.

5.1

Debrief the draw against the videographer's footage, locating dropped points and their cause (grip quality, inter timing, heading error, fall-rate mismatch).

5.2

Identify one correction to train next.

5.3

Log the jump naming the unit and slot, the points built and the next focus.

One fault, one correction

Before the video, and before anyone else speaks, name the one fault from the jump and the one thing you will change on the next jump. Keep it to one of each, so you have one clear thing to fly.

Write them into your notes at the bottom of this card, and they will be here next time you open it.

Record this jump

You can record the jump yourself, because your own read of your flying is worth keeping. A record counts as verified once a coach signs it.

Your notes for this course

Saved on this device only, with no account. They will be here next time you open this card.

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This card is a summary. The full Head-Down 404 course page carries the reasoning, the sources and everything left off here. All briefing cards.