Indoor skydiving is trending right now. It’s a fun alternative to outdoor skydiving, allowing you to fly and experience the natural sensation of freefall without aircraft or parachutes.
You must understand how it all works to get the most out of your indoor skydiving experience.
What Is Indoor Skydiving?
Before we look into how it works, let’s briefly examine what indoor skydiving is to ensure that everybody is on the same page.
So, what is indoor skydiving? Simply put, indoor skydiving is a simulation of the experience of a skydiving freefall.
If you’d like to experience the thrill of falling through the sky but find the idea of a parachute jump a little too terrifying, indoor skydiving is for you.
It’s an exciting way to experience the thrill of an actual skydive without the risk or nerves of parachuting out of an aircraft.
Read before you go – Can You Indoor Skydive If You Have a Medical Condition?
How Indoor Skydiving Works
Now that we all know what it is and its purpose, let’s dive into the mechanics of indoor skydiving.
How does indoor skydiving work? Well, the wind tunnel is the key component and driving force of indoor skydiving.
The wind tunnel makes the simulation of freefall possible.
Below, we list important facts about wind tunnels to help you understand how indoor skydiving works:
- A wind tunnel is one giant fan. It’s a large vertical enclosed by thick glass with massive fans — below or above the tunnel — pushing heavy gusts of wind vertically upwards.
- The giant fans generate air and push it through the vertical tunnel at up to 200mph speeds in the flight chamber. In other words, the power of the wind tunnel comes from its fans.
- The strong, fast-moving airlifts the human body by drag and causes it to float midair, simulating the experience of free falling when you jump out of an aircraft.
- The speed of the fans can be adjusted to match the weight of the individual in the flight chamber, and an experienced instructor closely monitors each flight.
- There’s a safety net at the top and bottom of the wind tunnel to ensure you don’t end up in those giant fans in an unlikely mishap.
- Unlike conventional horizontal wind tunnels, which are used to test the aerodynamics of cars and planes, wind tunnels used in skydiving are called vertical wind tunnels (VWT).
As you can see, the simulation of freefall experienced in an indoor skydiving session is made possible by wind tunnels.
Powered by giant fans, these vertical wind tunnels pump heavy winds that counter gravity through drag instead of ‘lift’ to simulate the freefall sensation.
Learn the ropes of indoor skydiving! Read this guide and gain valuable insights for beginners.
What You Should Know Before You Go Indoor Skydiving
You need to know a few other things before you go indoor skydiving. For instance, you must weigh under 300 pounds to partake.
While individuals of all ages can go indoor skydiving, kids under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
What else can you do to get the most out of your skydiving experience?
Here are several tips to ensure your indoor skydiving session is a success:
- Eat a light meal before flying to help you maintain energy levels throughout the flight.
- Wear closed footwear with socks and comfortable clothes that will not restrict your movement midair.
- Be at the facility an hour before your scheduled flight to allow for a standard health checkup and necessary paperwork.
- Follow the safety guidelines provided by your instructor to the letter.
- Stay relaxed throughout the flight, don’t fight the wind.
- Stretching before the flight can help you stay more relaxed.
- Ask for a helmet with a visor if you have asthma or other breathing problems.
- Ask for goggles if you wear glasses — make sure that the goggles fit over your glasses.
- The average flight lasts only about a minute or two, so make it count.
Remember that persons with disability are welcome to indoor skydiving facilities. However, contact the facility about your disability before your visit.
Conclusion
Are you a little nervous about jumping out of an aircraft 2+ miles above the earth’s surface? Perhaps you are too young for outdoor skydiving.
Indoor skydiving is the next best thing. This flight sensation is an incredible experience that’s more enjoyable when shared with family and friends.
