iFLY Indoor Skydiving: Free-Fallin'

By Kim Cassell

iFLY Indoor Skydiving: Free-Fallin’

SKYDIVING IS AN ACTIVITY OFTEN FOUND ON BUCKET LISTS. BUT THEN THERE’S THAT REALIZATION OF HAVING TO JUMP OUT OF AN AIRPLANE…AT GREAT HEIGHTS… RELYING ON A PARACHUTE.

Humankind has long had a love affair with the idea of flying high like birds in the sky. The Chinese even devised a sort-of parachute in the year 1100. Then, in 1483, Leonardo da Vinci created a detailed sketch of what was considered a parachute.

It wasn’t until 1797, however, that André-Jacques Garnerin parachuted from a hydrogen balloon 3,200 feet above Paris.

Parachuting was used in earnest in World War II, often seeing troops jumping with cargo strapped to their backs. This eventually led to the idea of tandem skydiving, credited to Ted Strong in 1983.

According to Skydive Coastal Carolinas, “The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) waived the experimental status, opening the door for tandem skydiving to grow in popularity. The United States Parachute Association (USPA) gave it sport status in the 1980s, making it possible for drop zones to offer tandem skydives to their customers.”

In 1998, SkyVenture LLC began manufacturing wind tunnels. Used in the automobile and construction industries, besides aircraft and spacecraft, the tunnels aided designers in the study of aerodynamics.

In 2008, Haas Automation’s Windshear Full-Scale Rolling Road Wind Tunnel

iFLY referred to its indoor skydiving facilities; there are about 40 locations worldwide today.

“iFLY is the experiential entertainment company that created modern indoor skydiving…we make the dream of flight a reality by giving our customers ‘wings’ in a safe and reliable environment,” its website says.

The first visit to iFLY includes a training session.

Photo courtesy: iFLY

Keeping the adrenaline junkie in mind, iFLY has turned the wind tunnel 90 degrees. The vertical tunnel’s fans – located at the top – suck air up through what is called the flight chamber, direct the air back down the sides and into the bottom of the tunnel, then back up through the bottom of the flight chamber.

Now iFLY has come to Concord. The 6,000-square-foot, $10-million facility will employ some 26 people initially. Set to open at the end of this month, this newest location has been constructed on Lyles Lane N.W., off I-85, Exit 49. Kati McCallister has been named general manager.

As to why iFLY picked the Concord Mills corridor, McCallister says, “It’s a growing area with nothing else like this, and we wanted to get our foot in before the big boom happened. We found a great location next to all of the popular attractions; it seemed like the perfect place.”

Referred to as bodyflight, men, women, boys and girls check in, observe other flyers to get an idea of what to expect, meet their instructor and complete a training session. The training class discusses the experience, flying positions, how the instructor will spot, and so on. Next, participants put on a flight suit, helmet and goggles, and go for their first flight. The entire experience lasts about 1½ to two hours.

The instructor helps the flyer enter the flying chamber, which is 12 feet in diameter and 16-plus feet tall. “It’s kind of a glass tube, essentially. The bottom has wire flooring and the top is capped off. So, basically, you’re inside that glass tube,” McCallister explains.

was completed next door to Concord- Padgett Regional Airport. “The commercial operation was designed for vehicles from race industries: stock car, Formula One, Indy car, drag racing,

as well as production car industries,” according to wikipedia.org.

By that time, SkyVenture had become the name for the company’s design and manufacturing division while

Each flyer is spotted by an instructor. The flyer’s suit has handles that the instructor can grab onto.

Photo courtesy: iFLY

“The air speed varies based on the person or people inside flying. It does go up to 140 miles an hour; most people fly anywhere from 80 to 100 depending on their body size.”

There are five flying levels at iFLY. Level 1 is the basic first-time flight with an instructor. Level 2 is balanced flying with right and left turns, and forward and backward motion. Level 3 has the flyer moving up and down at various speeds, as well as side sliding (moving horizontally back and forth) and making a solo exit.

Level 4 allows formation flying, with an instructor or friend. The flyer also performs a solo high flight. Finally, Level 5 has the flyer performing flips and tricks, and flying on his or her back. Instructors are there to ensure safety and teach proper technique.

There also what are called add-ons to flying packages, like virtual reality (VR). “We have a lot of different options that take place around the world,” McCallister says. “We strap you into a special VR helmet and, when you’re in the tunnel flying, you actually see through your helmet whatever location you pick. We’ve got Hawaii, Dubai, California…several different, fun places.”

Another VR option is the Alpine Wingsuit BASE Jump. “That’s one of our most popular jumps. It’s like you’re trying to wing jump off the top of a mountain and you’re flying in a wingsuit (similar to what a bat looks like in flight). It’s actually my favorite iFLY experience,” McCallister adds.

Those with special needs will enjoy All Abilities Night. iFLY’s website says, “Everyone in the all-abilities community is welcome to participate; the event package includes a pre-flight training session and all the necessary flight gear (suit, helmet, goggles). Each flyer will be assisted by speciallytrained flight instructors during the event, with extra attention and accommodations based on participant needs; each flyer receives two flights.”

McCallister is already reserving spots

for groups at the Concord location. “We’ve got several bookings, ranging from boy scouts and girl scouts, to schools. We’ve got a corporate event already booked and we also have the individual flight packages,” she says.

Flight packages start at $69.95. Visit iflyworld.com for more information. Not sure you’re ready for indoor skydiving but you’d like to see more? With its continued growth and popularity internationally, children are taking it on at an early age, as they

would dance class or piano lessons. It could also appear at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

The International Bodyflight Association oversees the sport, organizing competitions. Its mission statement? “To FLY – because that’s what we love to; to do it TOGETHER – as one community so that everyone feels valued and involved; and to do it SAFELY – so that no one gets hurt.”

Now we can fly together and safely in Concord. Up, up and away! n