Head-Down 405

Fly sequentials and hybrid formations

Sequentials and hybrids, where orientations are mixed inside one formation.

What this unit covers

Covers flying documented freefly sequential and hybrid formations: named formations (rodeo, alley-oop, pancake, infinity, and the totem, shorty, stair-step and compressed randoms from the VFS/MFS pools), the mechanics of transitioning between points in a sequence, and the safety of hybrid jumps that mix orientations, including belly.

This is fun-jump and cross-discipline mastery; the competition-team course is open-class VFS, FFP-HD404. Assumes solid multi-orientation flight from the group and VFS work. Environment: tunnel for the formations that can be drilled; sky for exits, altitude and breakoff.

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.

3.2 Safety critical

Transition between points by holding position, releasing, manoeuvring to the new slot and re-docking at low relative speed, not by tracking away and not by staging an orientation change over another flyer.

Do you move between points by holding, releasing, flying to the new slot and re-docking slowly, rather than tracking away or turning over another flyer?

3.3

Match fall rate across mixed orientations, bridging the gap with body position rather than forcing the grip.

Can you bridge a fall-rate gap between orientations with your body position rather than by pulling on the grip?

3.5 Safety critical

Release on the agreed trigger and fly to a stable solo position on any lost formation or spin.

On a lost formation or a spin, do you release on the agreed trigger and fly to a stable solo position?

Screen 3 · Safety and altitudes

Safety and altitudes

Everything here is a recommendation with a reason behind it, not a rule. The drop zone you are jumping at, and your own limits on the day, decide what actually happens.

Safety-critical criteria on the short list

3.2

Do you move between points by holding, releasing, flying to the new slot and re-docking slowly, rather than tracking away or turning over another flyer?

3.5

Release on the agreed trigger and fly to a stable solo position on any lost formation or spin.

On a lost formation or a spin, do you release on the agreed trigger and fly to a stable solo position?

Everything this unit says about breakoff and deployment

1.3

State breakoff and deployment altitudes and the abort-altitude commitment; sequential and hybrid personal minimums run higher than solo freefly because a formation breakup is more complex.

4.1

Initiate breakoff at the briefed altitude (within −0/+300 ft), with each flyer tracking in their own orientation before flattening.

4.2

Check airspace and deploy at the planned altitude.

Altitudes here are the guides this curriculum recommends and argues for. Where the drop zone briefs something different, the drop zone is what you fly.

Screen 4 · After the jump

After the jump

From this unit's own closing element, review.

5.1

Debrief the sequence against video, locating dropped points, timing errors and any burble or fall-rate mismatch.

5.2

Identify one correction to train next.

5.3

Log the jump naming the unit, the formations flown and the next focus.

One fault, one correction

Before the video, before anyone else speaks: name the single thing that went wrong, and the single thing you will do differently next jump. One of each. A list of six is a list you will not 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

Most records are the flyer's own, and that is the point: your own read of your own flying is worth keeping. A record only counts as verified once a coach signs it.

Your notes for this unit

Saved on this device only. Nothing is sent anywhere, there is nowhere for it to go, and no account is involved. They will be here next time you open this card.

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This card is a summary. The full Head-Down 405 unit carries the reasoning, the sources and everything left off here. All briefing cards.