Indoor Skydiving

Most people think that skydiving can only be done outdoors in the sky. However, with the development oftechnology, there is now an indoor rendition of thesport, which is done through vertical wind tunnels. What Is A Vertical Wind Tunnel?

Vertical wind tunnels (VWT) are wind tunnels that blows up air in a column. This is actually arecreational wind tunnel that is most of the time
advertised as "bodyflight" or "indoor skydiving". It’s also a training tool that most skydivers use.

These wind tunnels can give people the ability to fly on air without needing parachutes or planes, simply bythe force of wind that’s generated vertically. The wind inside these tunnels generally moves upward at120 mph, which is also a falling human body’s terminalvelocity, although it can vary from one person to
another.

VWT’s are most of the time called 'indoor skydiving 'because of its popularity with skydivers that say the sensation they get is very similar to the real thing.
As the person 'floats' in midair inside the wind tunnel, this is termed as 'bodyflight'.

Bodyflight

Bodyflight is said to be the art of 'flying your body' but in a controlled method. Control would include rolls, fall rate control, turns, lateral movement and
some other acrobatic stunts in mid-air. Knowing bodyflight skills help skydivers go closer to each other while freefalling, so that they can link for
formation skydiving, and then fly away from each other again until they reach a safe distance so that they can open their parachutes.

A lot of bodyflight skills could be learned and practiced from VWTs. Most skydivers use this as practice equipment so that they can be better in
controlling their bodies while falling from the sky.

Bodyflight can be done through decreasing/increasing your body drag, by using your legs and arms as rudders for motion control. Additionally, other techniques
used similar by airplanes are used.

Types Of Vertical Wind Tunnels

Basically, there are 2 main types of VWTs, namely: outdoor and indoor. The outdoor type can be either portable or stationary. The portable ones are the
types that are often used for movie productions, demonstrations and are usually rented for big events like state fairs and conventions.

Portable units give a dramatic effect for the spectators and the flying person, since there are no walls bounding the flight area. This kind of wind
tunnel gives you the opportunity to fly with a partial or full sky/outdoor view. Some outdoor units can also have nettings around or walls so as to keep beginners
from flying out the tunnel boundaries.

For the indoor types, you also have to sub categories, namely: re-circulating and non-re-circulating. Non-re-circulating wind tunnels generally suck air via inlets found in the building’s bottom portion. Then the air would go up the bodyflight area, and exit through the top portion of the building. However, the
re-circulating type would create an aerodynamic loop that has turning vanes, which are similar to scientific wind tunnels, but has a vertical loop and a
bodyflight chamber inside the vertical portion of the loop.

Re-circulating tunnels are usually used in places where the climate is too cold for non-re-circulating types. Indoor types usually have a smoother and
controlled airflow than outdoor types. They also have more control on temperature. Thus, they can be operated year-round in places with cold climate.

Experience the Thrill of Adventure Skydiving

Is there really any other greater thrill than skydiving? If you really think about it, the answer is definitely no. Some people jump at the chance to skydive, while others break out into a panic attack at the thought of meeting their fear of heights. Skydiving is something everyone should do if given the chance, and once you experience it, you will never regret your decision.

Adventure skydiving always starts out as a nice idea, and usually doesn't develop past that. In fact you may not even realize what you're doing until you actually step out of that plane and feel yourself fall with the wind. Standing in the doorway, you feel secure as your feet seem firmly planted on the ground. The equipment on your back weighs you down and it seems like free falling into sky isn't something that could realistically happen. Then you lower your goggles, the instructor gives you the signal to jump, you take a deep breath, then you jump into a world of heart-racing free-falling adventure and rely on nothing but your parachute to land you safely on the ground.

Once you start falling at a constant speed (about ten seconds after jumping), you'll experience a sense of relaxation as you take in all the beautiful colors circling on the ground beneath you. You could almost reach out and touch the clouds, and this is probably as close to heaven as you are going to get. You feel the wind blow through your hair and for a second, you think that there is no greater experience in the world. You realize that adventure skydiving isn't so bad - in fact, you can't wait to do it again!

No matter if you've never stepped in a plane before or you're a pro when it comes to jumping out of planes, there are locations available all over the United States for adventure skydiving. You will undergo many hours of extensive training if you're new to the world of skydiving, and your instructors will ensure you are absolutely prepared to make the jump before you even take off into the sky. You will have to receive medical clearance from your doctor, and those with certain heart and blood pressure conditions, neurological disorders, or diabetes will not be allowed to skydive. Keep in mind that most skydive facilities reserve the right to refuse service to anyone if they believe a medical or mental condition will impair your safety. For those who have braved the free-falling adventure before, you will have to go through some refresher courses with a certified instructor prior to your jump.

Nearly every state in the country has an adventure skydiving center, as well as several foreign countries. Depending on the location, prices for a single jump range from $15 and up, but often you can receive a significant group discount if you jump with other people. Most first-time jumps are performed Tandem, meaning you will jump attached to your instructor and the handling of the parachute, steering in the wind, and landing are all handled for you.

If you have ever thought about adventure skydiving, then chances are there's no reason why you can't experience this ultimate thrill. Don't spend your whole life wishing you would have done it - instead, show off those pictures of you flying through the air for years to come!