Wingsuit kit, costs and safety in the UK

• What you need first: WS1 entry requirements. See WS1 and WS2.
• How long it takes: Choose kit with your wingsuit coach before your first flight.
• Cost: From no jumps to a first flight and a beginner suit is usually £6,000 to £12,000. A first-flight course is usually £250 to £600, plus jump tickets.
• What's next: Grades track: WS1 and WS2. Skydiving track: skydiving kit, costs and safety. Competition track: wingsuit competitions.

The rule

The Operations Manual says any modification or repair to a wingsuit that could change how the main or reserve works must be done or inspected by a qualified rigger or the wingsuit manufacturer.

What the Wingsuit Training Manual recommends

• Pilot chute: a BOC throwaway with a kill line. No leg-mounted pilot chutes, because the suit hides them.
• Canopy: a larger, docile canopy, preferably square rather than elliptical.
• Altimeter: wrist or hand mounted. A chest altimeter can read up to 1,000ft out.
• AAD: it may not fire in full flight, because your descent can be slower than its trigger speed.
• Suit: stable and easy to fly. The wings must not cover the main handle, and the cutaway and reserve handles must not get sucked into the suit. A little too loose is better than too tight.

The coach can refuse the jump if they're not happy with your kit.

On the jump

• The manual's first flights start the wave-off at 5,500ft and deploy at 5,000ft.
• Never fly head-on at another wingsuiter. Closing speeds can reach 200mph.
• Stay clear of the aircraft's line of flight and other canopies.
• The manual says it's not permitted to fly more than 1.5 miles from the centre of the drop zone.

Wingsuit BASE

Wingsuit BASE, jumping from cliffs or buildings, is not part of this pathway. British Skydiving's Operations Manual says fixed-object jumping doesn't come under it, and British Skydiving doesn't associate it with skydiving. Don't treat a wingsuit grade as a step towards it.

Source: British Skydiving Operations Manual, September 2026, Section 6 para 3.5 and Section 1 para 5; Wingsuit Training Manual, British Skydiving; When to call 999, NHS; checked October 2026.

Governing body: British Skydiving. Wingsuit flying is a skydiving discipline, and British Skydiving sets its entry rules and grades, so it's the official place to find out more.

Typical prices, checked October 2026. The club or coach sets and bills the price.

The club map lists some of the UK clubs for this sport. It is a starting point, so check with the club before you travel. To have a coach found for you, use the enquiry form.