&#62; I've read previously that you can move up to 12 miles in any direction while falling if you aim for it.<p>Skydiver here. You could manage a mile or two; no more. But both this and changing your body position is quite a bit harder than you might think. You have to push against the air in quite a counter-intuitive manner. A beginner will just flail about and probably start spinning; especially without any tuition.