The Royal Air Force Falcons are on Exercise Freefall Endeavour in California training freefall skills, gaining instructor qualifications and preparing for the display season in 2026.
Alongside the routine jumps being made from the drop zone in California, the team are also utilising a local wind tunnel to hone skills in a rapid fashion. The wind tunnel enables the team to simulate being in freefall for extended periods of time, able to complete multiple rounds in a short space of time compared to flying and jumping from an aircraft.
First year Falcon, Sergeant Luke Mees explains:
“The wind tunnel is a really good way of replicating that time in freefall. So, we can spend ninety seconds to two minutes in those freefall positions, transferring skills, and practicing manoeuvres that we would do in the air, without the time restrictions of jumping from a live aircraft. We can spend a few hours at the tunnel and get many more freefall sessions in that time than we would on the drop zone. It’s a really good tool to consolidate all your skills together in one place so when we come to do the descents, you’ve already got those skills laid down.”
Sergeant Luke Mees
First year Falcon
