Air flow (wind) - directional movement of air masses with a certain speed.
1) Fans rotate and create wind.
2) Wind goes to the flight chamber via bottom circuit path and come back to the fans via upper circuit path.
We can adjust any fan power from 0% till 100% which is create a wind speed from 0 km/hour till 300 km/hour (0 mph till 186 mph).
For example:
- The fan power at 30% in windtunnel №1 generates a wind speed of 90 km/h (55 mph).
- The fan power at 50% in windtunnel №1 generates a wind speed of 150 km/h (93 mph).
- The fan power at 70% in windtunnel №1 generates a wind speed of 210 km/h (130 mph).
- The fan power at 100% in windtunnel №1 generates a wind speed of 300 km/h (186 mph).
In different windtunnels the fan power percentage are equal to different wind speeds.
For example:
- The fan power at 70% in windtunnel №1 generates a wind speed of 210 km/h (130 mph).
- The fan power at 70% in windtunnel №2 generates a wind speed of 225 km/h (140 mph).
- The fan power at 70% in windtunnel №3 generates a wind speed of 245 km/h (152 mph).
There is such a concept as air density, which directly affects wind characteristics. Air density is determined by temperature and humidity.
In the context of windtunnels, air density influences lift upward and overall body control in the airflow.
For example:
- Cold air is denser, meaning it provides more resistance and stronger support during flight.
- Warm air is less dense, which can feel like a “thinner” airflow, making it harder to maintain balance.
- Humidity decreases air density since water vapor is lighter than dry air.
At the same wind speed, different humidity and temperature can change how the same element feels. Sometimes, the wind pressure may be too weak to complete the element, or too strong, making it impossible to perform!
Example 1:
From my personal experience while working and training in windtunnel FlyStation (Saint-Petersburg)!
I remember flying in both winter and summer, performing the same elements, but the sensations were completely different. Moreover, for some elements, I had to increase the wind speed by as much as 8%. For example, in winter, it was 60%, while in summer, I had to set it to 68%.
This was all because, in summer, the humidity in my city was very high, and the tunnel’s design allow external air to enter the airflow circuit.
Example 2:
While preparing my student Mate Feith for the Freestyle World Championship, we trained the free routine in Slovakia at the Hurricane Factory Tatralandia windtunnel at 66% power and a wind speed of 243 km/h (151 mph), but when we traveled to Belgium to train at the Airspace windtunnel, we needed 85% power and a wind speed of 280 km/h (174 mph).
Although we flew all the elements and the entire program exactly the same in both windtunnels.
Wind speed can be conditionally divided into main 3 categories:
1. Low wind speed - it’s comfortable* to fly in the
Flying Squirrel or Hammock positions.
1. Low wind speed - it’s comfortable* to fly in the
Flying Squirrel or Hammock positions.
*Comfortable to fly - is a state in which maintaining a static flying position or flying in a static mode requires the least amount of energy. In other words, at this wind speed, you can remain in a static position for the longest possible time. At the same time, you won’t feel pain or excessive strain - in general, you will feel the most comfortable.
*Comfortable to fly - is a state in which maintaining a static flying position or flying in a static mode requires the least amount of energy. In other words, at this wind speed, you can remain in a static position for the longest possible time. At the same time, you won’t feel pain or excessive strain - in general, you will feel the most comfortable.
2. Middle wind speed - it’s comfortable to fly in the
Wire (right side) or Wire (left side) positions.
2. Middle wind speed - it’s comfortable to fly in the
Wire (right side) or Wire (left side) positions.
3. High wind speed - it’s comfortable to fly in the
Soldier or Slingshot positions.
3. High wind speed - it’s comfortable to fly in the
Soldier or Slingshot positions.
Following these rules, one can also define additional wind speeds:
- Extra-low (very low) – before low
- Low
- Low-middle – between low and middle
- Middle
- Middle-high – between middle and high
- High
- Extra-high (very high) – after high
Following these rules, one can also define additional wind speeds:
- Extra-low (very low) – before low
- Low
- Low-middle – between low and middle
- Middle
- Middle-high – between middle and high
- High
- Extra-high (very high) – after high
For different people the same wind speed can feels different - depending body parameters!
For example:
The fan power at 70% in wind tunnel №1 generates a wind speed of 210 km/h (130 mph).
Two bodyflyers are flying simultaneously in the flight chamber:
- Green bodyflyer keeps Soldier position in a static mode and for him it is feels like a high wind speed!
- Peach bodyflyer keeps Flying Squirrel position in a static mode and for him it is feels like a low wind speed!
This is because the green bodyflyer is much lighter than the peach bodyflyer. Therefore, for the peach bodyflyer to fly in the Soldier position, he needs significantly more wind. Most likely, the green bodyflyer won’t even be able to be inside the chamber, as it would be dangerous for him.
for the average persons in concretely windtunnel
"Hurricane Factory Tatralandia".
- Belly neutral position
Low wind speed
190 km/h (118 mph) - Sit position
Middle wind speed
215 km/h (134 mph) - Bear position
High wind speed
245 km/h (152 mph)
It is fair to say that as your bodyflying skills improve, your perception of wind speed will change compared to the initial levels - the wind will feel softer and more pleasant!
The feeling of wind speed will also vary depending on what kind of suit you're wearing.
For example, if you're wearing a fluffy suit with a lot of fabric or cordura, you'll feel the wind differently compared to wearing a tight-fitting suit.
To determine the wind speed in a vertical airflow, you first need to look at a body flyer in flight (on video or live) and evaluate not the name of its pose, but the amount of body area it uses for controlled flight.
It is important to understand how much the body is open or compressed, and to what extent a person relies on the air flow. In static poses, especially horizontal ones, such as belly horizontal positions, if a person can comfortably and relaxed "lie" in the flow, this most often indicates low wind speed.
In more vertical positions, such as Sit, flight is possible in both middle and high wind speeds.
In head-down positions, usually comfortable and stable flight is possible at high wind speed, as the body becomes more compact and requires more support from the flow. It is also important to consider the degree of opening of the body: the more open it is, the easier it is to hold and the lower the required wind speed may be, and the more compressed, the higher the flow required.
Additionally, the human physique should be taken into account, since lighter and thinner or denser bodies interact with the air flow in different ways. With dynamic elements, it is important to look at how much time a person spends in open and closed positions and how he moves between them, because this complicates the assessment.
Keep in mind that in dynamic flight mode, it is much easier to hold a particular pose and orientation of the body and requires much less wind speed than in static flight mode!
Look at the smoothness of an element - as a rule, all smooth and "airy as a feather" elements are performed at low or middle wind speed!
As a result, it is not necessary to determine the exact speed, it is important to be able to estimate the range - low, middle or high wind speed - based on posture, the degree of disclosure of the body, the nature of movement and the overall stability of flight.
After looking at the examples below, you will understand that it is possible to determine the wind speed by eye, but only approximately!
You also need to take into account the experience and skills of the body flyer that is currently flying, as everything will look very easy and smooth from an experienced craftsman, even at high speeds!
With enough experiences you will understand how to determine the wind speed better and better - now watch some examples:
- Flying Squirrel position
Low wind speed - Belly neutral position
Low-Middle wind speed - Back Neutral position
Low-Middle wind speed - Langust position carving
Middle wind speed - Angel to Langust position via Bumblebee position
Middle wind speed - Mantis front-flip
Middle wind speed - Bear position
Middle-High wind speed - Bear position
Middle-High wind speed - Front direction transit from Sit to Bear position
High wind speed - Langust position
Extra-High wind speed
You will find even more interesting information about the bodyflying in practical and theoretical books: