The closest thing to flying for humans is wingsuiting.
Understanding Human Flight
Skydiving enthusiasts often discuss "human flight," and within the realm of skydiving, one activity stands out as the nearest equivalent: wingsuiting. This involves wearing a specialized jumpsuit, known as a wingsuit, that increases the surface area of the body, allowing for significant lift and gliding capabilities.
Wingsuiting: A Closer Look
- The Wingsuit: The wingsuit design incorporates fabric wings between the legs and under the arms, essentially creating an airfoil. This airfoil generates lift as the wearer falls through the air.
- Glide Ratio: A key performance metric for wingsuits is the glide ratio, which represents the horizontal distance traveled for every unit of vertical descent. Advanced wingsuits can achieve glide ratios of 3:1 or even higher, meaning the wearer travels three feet forward for every one foot they descend.
- Achieving Forward Motion: Unlike traditional skydiving where the primary objective is to slow the rate of descent, wingsuiting focuses on converting vertical speed into horizontal speed. This results in a sensation more akin to flying than falling.
- Skills and Training: Wingsuiting requires specialized training and a considerable amount of skydiving experience. It's crucial to have a solid understanding of aerodynamics, flight control, and emergency procedures.
While other activities like paragliding, hang gliding, and even riding in an aircraft offer experiences of flight, wingsuiting, according to the reference, is the closest to actual human flight.
