How Long Does Skydiving Last & How Long Do You Freefall?
How long does skydiving last … for real? How long do you freefall when skydiving? Is it like in the movies, where freefall seems to last an eternity? If skydiving is on your bucket-list, these questions have likely crossed your mind a time or two!
This guide will dive into the full timeline of your skydiving experience, from the moment you step foot on the dropzone, to skydiving freefall and landing under the parachute. We’ll cover how different aircraft affect the skydive freefall time, how long training takes, the impact of weather delays, how fast you fall when you skydive, and everything in between – let’s go!
How Long Does A Skydive Last?
How long are you in the air when skydiving? The duration of freefall and the canopy ride (the time spent under the parachute) depends on a few factors, such as what altitude you leapt from and how aggressively you’re flying the parachute!
1. Understanding Freefall
Everyone wants to know: how fast do you freefall in skydiving? Terminal velocity! This is the fastest speed you (or you and your tandem instructor if you’re a first-timer) will reach when free falling. Terminal velocity sounds intimidating, but it’s just the point where the force of gravity pulling you down matches the wind resistance pushing up against you. At this peak stage, you’ll stop accelerating and fall at a pretty constant speed, which is around 120 mph!
2. Freefall Duration From Different Altitudes
How long is the freefall in skydiving? Freefall time is primarily affected by how high you’re jumping from and the positioning of your body. A position with less drag (like being head-up) will result in a faster rate of descent. Being belly-to-earth (like you are during a tandem skydive) will result in more drag and is the position these estimates are based on:
- How long does it take to freefall 10,000 feet? About 30 seconds!
- How long is freefall from 15,000 feet? About 70 seconds!
Some jump planes only go up to 10,000 feet, but not ours. We regularly jump from a happy-medium of 13,500 feet from our Grand Caravans, which makes our freefall time about 1 minute. This is the sweet spot of enjoying the rush without getting overstimulated.
Isn’t it interesting that how long it takes to skydive from 15,000 feet compared to our jump altitude is only a few seconds? It’s because the air gets thinner with altitude. Science!!
3. Total Skydiving Experience Time
With the freefall time questions covered, let’s talk about how long the skydiving experience typically takes from start to finish. (Disclaimer – these times are rough estimates, as every first-time jumper and experience is unique!)
Check-in & briefing: 45-90 minutes
The check-in process and pre-jump training for first-timers is quick, which is part of the beauty of tandem skydiving. You’ll be required to watch an informational video and sign a waiver, then harness up, meet your instructor, and run through the plan for your skydive. This is the perfect time to ask your instructor any questions or inform them of any concerns you may have.
Plane ride: 10-15 minutes
The plane ride up to exit altitude is where the camaraderie between skydivers thrives. You’ll be in the plane with fellow first-timers and experienced skydivers who are all excited to jump! If you opt for a photo and video package (which we highly suggest), your videographer will capture all the ride-to-altitude vibes!
Freefall time: 1 minute
Once you leap from the door and are engulfed by the rush of the wind, time seems to stop and fly by all at once! Does skydiving take your breath away? The excitement sure can cause your lungs to take a beat, but skydiving doesn’t turn you into a fish out of water – there’s plenty of O2 up there!
Canopy flight time: 5-10 minutes
The parachute ride gives you time to soak in the scenery below, chat with your instructor, and realize, “OMG, I DID IT!!!”
The last step is, of course, landing, which doesn’t take long. Woo-hoo! Post-skydive, you’ll get out of your harness, get a certificate of your brand new accomplishment, and go on your merry way with a newfound pep in your step! We encourage spectators (as we love sharing in the joy of our sport), so feel free to stick around, hang out, talk with fellow jumpers, and enjoy the day with us!
What’s The Deal With Weather?
The ideal weather conditions for jumping from a plane are light winds and clear, sunny skies. Of course, we can’t complain about the occasional puffy cloud – they make for the best backdrop in skydiving pics!
We cannot skydive through clouds, rain, or super turbulent wind conditions. Why? We put safety at the forefront of every decision we make. If the weather is a bit wonky, it’s common to have what we call a “weather delay” or “weather hold,” and we’ll take time to wait out the conditions until they get better.
Don’t want to wait it out? If things don’t seem to be improving in a timely manner, we’re happy to help you reschedule. When asked about weather conditions, skydivers commonly respond with, “Well, you can’t jump if you’re not here!”
Because the forecast can quickly change. Feel free to call us before you start your journey here if the forecast seems to not be in our favor. And if you need to reschedule, jump tickets are good until the end of the calendar year!
How Long Should You Expect To Spend With Us?
Hang out with us all day if you’d like! We ask that you allot at least four hours to spend at the dropzone, which will help accommodate any weather-related or necessary behind-the-scenes delays. This extra time gives you the chance to soak up the pre-jump excitement and enjoy the company of other jumpers – and fully embrace the atmosphere of the happiest dropzone on the East Coast!
Now that you know all about how long skydiving lasts, it’s time to turn your dreams into a reality. The sky is waiting – book today!