Olav Zipser

Zipser started skydiving in the experimental phase of the Accelerated Freefall progression skydiving program in 1986, and immediately began experimenting with non-traditional forms of body flight. He studied and trained human aerodynamics for four months in a wind tunnel. From that experience he developed a new concept of human body flight, which he called FreeFly. First he trained friends, then he developed a professional FreeFly Training and Instruction Program so he could train others to become FreeFly teachers and instructors.[18] [19]

Main article The First School of Modern SkyFlying

With the objective of researching, documenting, developing, teaching, training, and pushing the envelope of human flight capability, Zipser founded The First School of Modern SkyFlying in 1994. He came up with the idea of using Space Balls as independent measuring devices for constant speed (155 mph) and direction (straight down). These measurements train and test freeflyers so that they can meet an advanced international standard.[20]

FreeFlying with a Space Ball

Consisting of advanced human flight performance tests / a series of predetermined high speed aerobatic freefly manoeuvres around and with at first one then two Space Balls, in 1996 Zipser developed the Atmosphere Dolphin FreeFly Licence Program and awarded Atmosphere Dolphin FreeFly Licenses AD-A to AD-D. This provided the testing ground for the research and development of freeflying, and opened up the possibility for a number of high-speed human flight air games and competitions.[21]

Through March 2007, a total of 410 FreeFlyers from 32 nations have achieved Atmosphere Dolphin FreeFly licences. Four of those have earned Atmosphere Dolphin AD-D licences.[22]

Main article Space Games

In the early days of FreeFlying, Zipser wanted to bring together the world's then-best freeflyers to research, develop, and document the performance evolution of human freeflight, or freeflying.

So he devised the first human flight races, air games and competitions. Each has an open-class and a pro-class, based on his Atmosphere Dolphin FreeFly Tests. He also founded the Space Games, which incorporates double-elimination, one-on-one races; open rounds; competition rounds; the FreeFly Indie 500; the FreeFly Atmosphere Dolphin Challenge; Fastest, Slowest and Furthest competitions; Freestyle; Sky Surf; and 3way and 4way FreeFly Challenges.[23]

The first Space Games was held in 1997 at Skydive America Palm Beach in Pahokee, Florida.[24]

A total of 16 Space Games events were held between 1997 and 2004. The resulting recognition and following brought FreeFlying into the international public eye, and took the competition to the next level.

So far, Space Games cash prizes totaling as much as US$35 000 per event have been awarded to winners of different categories.

In 2000 FreeFlying become officially recognised as an aviation discipline by Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, opening up the possibility for official National Championships and World Championships in FreeFly.

Zipser took gold at America's first official FreeFly National Skydiving Championships in 2000. He took gold again at the first official Fédération Aéronautique Internationale FreeFly World Skydiving Championships and World Air Games, held in Spain in 2001.[25]

Also in 2001, Zipser introduced FreeFly at the World Games (under the patronage of the Olympic Games) in Japan. That introduction led to Olympic recognition of FreeFlying and to FreeFlying being included in the 2005 World Games in Germany.

In 1995 Zipser became the first civilian to skydive from the stratosphere when he jumped from an Ilyushin 76 at 41,667 feet over central Russia.[26] He performed the skydive with Patrick de Gayardon for Sector No Limits Sports Watches. They set the record for exiting an aircraft from the highest altitude without oxygen and achieved FreeFly speeds of 750kmh.[27] [28][29]

Zipser received a Sports Emmy Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 1995 for his performance and aerial cinematography of ESPN's inaugural X Games that summer.[30]

Official FreeFly Astronaut Space patch

Founded by Olav Zipser In 2009, The FreeFly Astronaut Project is a scientific research mission toward the development of appropriate techniques and survival suits for high-altitude and low-earth-orbit emergency re-entry survival and rescue situations.[31]

The aim of the project is to develop a safe and economical emergency return and rescue method to improve the odds of survival for mankind's future space pioneers and tourists in the event of a space emergency.[32][33]

The FreeFly Astronaut Project will forgo the balloon-lift method utilised by the current record holders, Felix Baumgartner with Red Bull Stratos (highest skydive) and Joe Kittinger with Project Excelsior (longest freefall). Instead, it will make use of specially modified InterOrbital Systems SR 145 rockets to propel Team Synergy Moon test pilot and astronaut-in-training Olav Zipser[34] to increasingly higher altitudes (higher than any manned balloon can possibly go). At those high altitudes, Zipser will employ the FreeFly techniques—developed and tested over his 26-year, 21,000-jump skydiving career—to control his descent to Earth.[35]

The FreeFly Astronaut Project has committed to five rocket launches to increasingly higher altitudes, culminating with a FreeFly reentry from above the Karman Line (100 km)—a real space altitude. Zipser will be the first person to jump from a rocket, and will break and set numerous official Fédération Aéronautique Internationale skydiving, aeronautics and astronautics records with each launch.

Zipser with InterOrbital Systems IOS SR-145 rocket

Launches will take place from InterOrbital Systems facilities at the Mojave Air and Space Port.[36] The first launch is planned to 45 km (131,000 feet).

Russian spacesuit manufacturer Zvezda is providing Zipser with a specially modified Orlan Series spacesuit for his FreeFly mission.[37]

In 2011, Zipser spent an undisclosed amount of time at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia for training and collaboration on the development of a supersonic spacesuit to be used as an economical rescue and return alternative for astronauts and space tourists.[38][39][40][41]

When Zipser traveled to South Africa in 2012 for The Ranch SkyDiving Boogie and Symposium held at The Ranch Resort to give a presentation on the FreeFly Astronaut Project, he was exposed to the rhino poaching crisis. He came on board as an International Skydive for Rhinos Ambassador with African Conservation Trust's Skydive for Rhinos campaign.

The initiative raised R6.6 million South African Rand for strategic rhino anti-poaching efforts in South Africa.[42][43][44]

• Freeflying
• The First School of Modern SkyFlying
• Space Games

• International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety - Interview with Olav Zipser, retrieved 15 March 2014
• Parachutist Online - Olav Zipser Profile, retrieved 4 June 2015
• Cypress Aero - Catching up with Olav Zipser, retrieved 9 Jan 2018