Real-world scenarios
Opening far away, landing in a strong headwind, landing downwind and a flare that didn't work — demonstrated, explained, and what published guidance says to do.
Opened far away — how do I get back?
Four ways to fly home. Change the wind and how far the landing area is, then drag the 3D view.
| Input | Over the ground | Landing area |
|---|---|---|
| Full flight | 146% of calm full-flight reach | reaches it with room |
| Light rear risers | 166% of calm full-flight reach | reaches it with room |
| ½ brakes — furthest in this wind | 176% of calm full-flight reach | reaches it with room |
| ¾ brakes | 163% of calm full-flight reach | reaches it with room |
Distance over the ground = (airspeed ± wind) ÷ descent rate. With the wind behind you, staying in the air longer lets the wind carry you, so slowing the descent pays off. Into the wind, every bit of airspeed you give up is lost against the wind — slowing down usually makes it worse.
Source: Skydivemag — You're Long. Now What? (Pete Lubrano) ↗- Notice it early: groundspeed on the plane, where you are at opening, how far the landing area is. Source: Skydivemag — You're Long. Now What? (Pete Lubrano) ↗
- Wind behind you: ½–¾ brakes and a small body (knees together and up, elbows in). Source: Skydivemag — Canopy Inputs: What To Use And When (Rich Madeley, PD test jumper) ↗
- Wind in your face or no wind: light rear-riser input with a small body keeps the speed and reduces the descent; brakes usually lose ground. Source: Skydivemag — Canopy Inputs: What To Use And When (Rich Madeley, PD test jumper) ↗
- Turbulent air: full flight keeps the wing pressurised; avoid sudden changes between inputs. Source: Skydivemag — Canopy Inputs: What To Use And When (Rich Madeley, PD test jumper) ↗
- If the numbers don't add up, decide early on an alternative landing area and arrive with enough height for a normal pattern into the wind. Source: Skydivemag — You're Long. Now What? (Pete Lubrano) ↗
- Which input your canopy prefers is something to measure up high: full flight, brakes and rears, in different winds. Source: JYRO / USPA Parachutist — 25 Ways to Become a Better Canopy Pilot (Alan Martinez) ↗
Landing in a strong headwind
Full flight or brakes, with the wind weakening near the ground and an obstacle upwind.
Covering ground at 14 km/h.
Ground speed = airspeed − headwind. In a strong wind the final covers very little ground, and slowing the wing can stop it or carry you backwards. The flare is the same as on any day — it starts by stopping the descent with the wing level, and in a strong wind it may already leave you near zero over the ground.
Source: Skydivemag — Know your wind limits, part 2 (Pete Allum, Flight-1) ↗Wind gradient: wind is usually weaker close to the ground. Descending through it into a headwind, the wing briefly loses airspeed — it can sink and the flare can feel weaker. Full flight keeps a speed margin.
SkyLara explanation — general aerodynamics, not from the sources above- Fly the final in full flight; brakes give up the airspeed you need to make progress and to flare. Source: Skydivemag — You're Long. Now What? (Pete Lubrano) ↗
- Plan the pattern for a short final: the set-up point over the ground moves closer to the landing area. SkyLara explanation — general aerodynamics, not from the sources above
- Stay away from the downwind side of buildings, hangars and trees — turbulence can reach many times the obstacle's height downwind (up to about 20× in the article). Source: Skydivemag — Know your wind limits, part 2 (Pete Allum, Flight-1) ↗
- In turbulent air keep full flight so the wing stays pressurised; avoid sudden input changes. Source: Skydivemag — Canopy Inputs: What To Use And When (Rich Madeley, PD test jumper) ↗
- Keep flying the canopy right through touchdown — don't step off early — and be ready to PLF. Source: Skydivemag — Know your wind limits, part 2 (Pete Allum, Flight-1) ↗
- After touchdown, collapse the canopy quickly so it can't drag you: the commonly taught way is pulling one toggle or steering line in until it collapses. Your drop zone briefs its own method. Source: Skydivemag — Know your wind limits, part 2 (Pete Allum, Flight-1) ↗
- Drop-zone wind limits are a maximum, not a recommendation. Staying on the ground is always an option. Source: Skydivemag — Know your wind limits, part 2 (Pete Allum, Flight-1) ↗
Landing downwind
Same airspeed, much more ground speed — press Flare and watch what changes and what doesn't.
The flare isn't weaker: lift comes from airspeed, and airspeed is the same in every direction. What changes is the ground — it rushes past faster, and after the flare you're still moving at the wind's speed, so the landing feels fast and hard.
Source: Skydivemag — Mythbuster Mondays: less flare downwind (XDream Skydiving) ↗It becomes weaker for real when the fast-looking ground makes you brake early or flare high: that spends the airspeed before the ground arrives.
Source: Skydivemag — Flare Technique and Airspeed (Julian Barthel) ↗Wind gradient: a tailwind that weakens near the ground briefly adds airspeed — the canopy can float a little further.
SkyLara explanation — general aerodynamics, not from the sources above- Same flare technique as always: eyes forward, smooth, finished symmetrically. Source: Skydivemag — Flare Technique and Airspeed (Julian Barthel) ↗
- Don't brake on final because the ground looks fast — keep the airspeed for the flare. Source: Skydivemag — Flare Technique and Airspeed (Julian Barthel) ↗
- Keep the wing level and the area clear; don't turn low to get into the wind. Published priorities: level wing, clear area, symmetrical flare, then into the wind. Source: Skydive Perris — Skydiving Landing: How It Works ↗
- Be ready to run it out or slide, feet and knees together, and to PLF. Source: Skydive Perris — Skydiving Landing: How It Works ↗
- Practise downwind landings gradually, starting in light winds, with a coach. Source: JYRO / USPA Parachutist — 25 Ways to Become a Better Canopy Pilot (Alan Martinez) ↗
Why wasn't my flare powerful?
The usual causes, what's happening in each, and where to look in your FlySight data.
Brakes or a slow final
Every bit of brake on final reduces airspeed — and airspeed is flare power.
In your data: Horizontal speed in the last seconds before the flare, compared with your usual landings.
Source: Skydivemag — Flare Technique and Airspeed (Julian Barthel) ↗
Flaring too high or too early
The speed is spent before the ground arrives; the canopy slows and starts to sink at the bottom.
In your data: Vertical speed rising again just before touchdown; a long flare phase on the chart.
Source: Skydivemag — Flare Technique and Airspeed (Julian Barthel) ↗
A flare that's too slow
If the toggles move too slowly, the speed bleeds off before the wing is pitched up enough to level out.
In your data: A gradual speed decline without a clear levelling-off point.
SkyLara explanation — general aerodynamics, not from the sources above
Not finishing the stroke
If the toggles can't reach a full flare — arms not finishing, or brake lines set long — part of the lift is never used.
In your data: Ask a rigger to check brake-line length; video shows where your hands finish.
Source: Parachutist — Ask a Rigger: are my brake lines the correct length? ↗
Uneven hands
One side flares more, the wing turns and the lift goes sideways; finishing symmetrically keeps it straight.
In your data: A heading change during the flare on the track.
Source: Skydivemag — Flare Technique and Airspeed (Julian Barthel) ↗
Headwind gradient or gusts
Wind weakening near the ground (or a lull) takes airspeed away just when you need it.
In your data: Ground speed and wind on the jump page; compare days with similar wind.
SkyLara explanation — general aerodynamics, not from the sources above
Turbulence behind obstacles
Downwind of buildings and trees the air rolls; the wing can lose pressure and airspeed.
In your data: Where you landed relative to obstacles on the map.
Source: Skydivemag — Know your wind limits, part 2 (Pete Allum, Flight-1) ↗
A different canopy, load or day
More wing loading, a new canopy, or hot / high air changes speed and timing — re-learn the flare up high.
In your data: Compare jumps by canopy on the Compare page.
SkyLara explanation — general aerodynamics, not from the sources above
Bring the jump and the video to your coach: share a review link · measure speeds in the 270 page's Measurement mode.
Sources
- JYRO / USPA Parachutist — 25 Ways to Become a Better Canopy Pilot (Alan Martinez)
- Skydivemag — Canopy Piloting: 8 Principles (Paul Dorward, Flight-1)
- Skydive Langar — A Safe Return to Swooping (Curt Bartholomew & Tommy Botten Jensen)
- USPA — Introduction to Canopy Piloting Conditioning (Dr. Nancy Grieger & Christian Cody)
- USPA — Warm-Ups for Canopy Pilots (exercises shared by Justin Price)
- JYRO — How to Become a High Performance Canopy Pilot (Cornelia Mihai & Olga Naumova)
- USPA SIM 5-9 — Canopy Piloting
- FAI — 2024 World Canopy Piloting Championships, Pretoria
- Skydive Arizona — 2025 FAI World Cup of Canopy Piloting results
- Flight-1 canopy courses
- Krav — Canopy Piloting course with Curt & Jeannie Bartholomew
- USPA Parachutist / AXIS Flight School — Foundations of Flight: Rear-Riser Stall (Niklas Daniel, Nov 2012)
- Skydivemag — Landing on Rear Risers
- Skydivemag — Flare Technique and Airspeed (Julian Barthel)
- Skydive Perris — Skydiving Landing: How It Works
- FAI — Competition Rules, Canopy Piloting (2022 edition)
- FAI — Canopy Piloting
- Wikipedia — Canopy piloting (FAI records listed there)