Get Set For Indoor Skydiving
March 4, 2010 by dominicdonaldson
They say you should try a parachute jump at least once in your life. However some people will very reasonably ask "why jump out of a perfectly servicable airplane?" It's a difficult question to answer so those people might prefer to go for indoor skydiving. Not only is it a lot of fun, but you also don't have to risk your neck to do it.
So how does it work? Well, in effect it involves taking a wind tunnel, of the sort normally used for formula one testing, turning it on its side and turning it on. Then, all you have to do is step into the flow and you're away - skiydiving for real (almost).
Like all fun things we have the military to thank for it. The US used it in the sixties presumably for training purposes, but it wasn't long before people realised it could just as easilly be used for larking about. The first tunnels first appeared in the USA, but it wasn't long before they spread over here.
They work quite simply. Air is conducted at high speed into the chamber. When you enter, you'll feel your feet gently lifted away from you. Then you rotate into the horizontal flying position and you're away - skydiving at ground level, there is no feeling quite like it.
Obviously there are a number of safety considerations. Children must be old enough for the helmets to fit comfortably. Likewise you must be in reasonable health. If you have any back problems or heart defects the company recommends you should contact them before hand. From there you have up to ten basic flight levels all of which require a certain amount of expertise. On each visit you keep a record of how far you have progressed and can move up to the next stage.
Once you do achieve expert status the tricks you can do are quite amazing. You can visit youtube to see just what is possible. It's remarkable to think that it's all possible while still only a few feet off the ground.
Perhaps the best thing about indoor skydiving is that not only is it perfectly safe - which is highly important if you're a grade a coward such as me - but it's also accessible to everyone. Prices are reasonable and you can keep going for much longer than if you were to try the same thing by jumping out of an airplane. So, if you're looking for a great day out with a twist, this could be well worth a look.
