Dropzone Denmark launches Wingsuit Efficiency Trial Program in 2026

As interest in wingsuit flying among students increases and there is a general focus on more efficient use of flight time, Dropzone Denmark is introducing a new trial project in 2026: Wingsuit Efficiency Trial Program.

The program investigates how earlier introduction to wingsuit can be combined with lower exit altitudes without reducing the overall training value per jump. At the same time, the trial aims to help optimize flight operations in a time of rising fuel costs.

The initiative is part of a broader strategy to work on progression, load efficiency, and sustainable operations in the sport of skydiving.

In recent seasons, we have seen a clear increase in interest in wingsuit flying among students early in their skydiving careers.

Traditionally, wingsuit requires a minimum of 200 solo jumps before introduction, but recent experiences from international environments show that certain elements of wingsuit flying can be introduced earlier in controlled settings.

This has laid the foundation for the development of the Wingsuit Efficiency Trial Program.

The purpose is not to replace the existing educational structure, but to explore how wingsuit can be integrated as a supplement in the progression for selected students with stable body control and good situational awareness.

A central part of the experiment is the use of lower exit altitudes combined with the glide performance of the wingsuit.

Preliminary internal tests show that wingsuit flying from around 8,000 ft in many cases results in a total airtime that can be compared to traditional jumps from 15,000 ft, when both vertical and horizontal movement is taken into account.

This opens up the possibility for:

• reduced climb time per load
• increased number of training sequences per flight hour
• more efficient progression per student jump
• better utilisation of flight capacity

In addition to the educational dimension, the programme is also inspired by the rising fuel prices that affect parachute centres across Europe.

By reducing the average exit height on selected jumps, the Wingsuit Efficiency Trial Program could potentially contribute to a noticeable reduction in fuel consumption per student jump.

Initial calculations indicate a possible saving of up to 38% per training lift, depending on load structure and jump profile.

This makes the programme relevant both as a progression initiative and as an operational development project.

The first wingsuit jump will be conducted as a tandem skydive with an experienced wingsuit instructor.

The purpose is to ensure that students receive a safe and controlled introduction to the practical elements of wingsuit flying, including body position, movement patterns, and handling the suit during exit and glide phase.

By starting the progression in tandem, we can:

✔ ensure correct handling of the wingsuit from the first jump
✔ reduce the risk of errors during the exit sequence
✔ give students a realistic understanding of the glide profile and navigation
✔ create a better foundation for later independent wingsuit jumps

This approach allows for earlier introduction of wingsuit in the progression without compromising safety – while students gain valuable experience right from their first wingsuit-related jump 🪂

The trial will initially be conducted as a limited pilot project during the 2026 season.

Selected students will have the opportunity to participate based on individual assessment, and the experiences from the project will be continuously evaluated with a view to future implementation.

If the results show the same positive trends as the initial tests, wingsuit may play a larger role in modern student progression in the future.

If you've made it this far and started to consider your first wingsuit jump from 8,000 ft, we can reveal that the Wingsuit Efficiency Trial Program unfortunately (or fortunately) will not be part of the 2026 season.

It was of course our little April Fools Tradition🪂

But one thing is still very real: fuel prices have risen – but that doesn't mean we compromise on safety and wingsuit will still only be relevant after 200 jumps!

Blue skies!