Skydiving is a sport that some people vehemently deny that they will ever participate in it. The main reason being that it is too dangerous or that they are too afraid of heights and jumping out of an airplane is unthinkable for them. Others will say that they are too afraid of an equipment malfunction or that they will not be able to control the landing and will become injured or killed when skydiving. Today, individuals can participate in the sport of skydiving in a safer environment through indoor skydiving.
How It Works
There are two basic types of vertical wind tunnels that are used to create skydiving in an indoor environment. One uses a blower or air pushing device to create the current of air on which the skydivers float in the air. There are other devices that use a vacuum pressure suction device to create the air flow necessary for the individuals to float in the air. Some vertical wind tunnels are set up so that the individual, while surrounded by the walls of the wind tunnel, are able to float up into the air outside, giving him a freer feel to skydiving. Other wind tunnels are completely enclosed, which are usually better choices for those who are just beginning to learn to skydive in this type of environment.
The enclosed wind tunnels require the individuals to have less flying control and skill than the open wind tunnels. Often the individuals will ‘graduate’ to the open wind tunnels when they have the sufficient basic skills to move on to the more advanced skills that are needed in these tunnels. Even though the open tunnels do allow individuals to fly into the open air above the tunnel, which seems to be more dangerous than a tunnel that is completely enclosed, there are airbags, nets and other safety features around the open tunnels to prevent serious injury.
In addition to these benefits of indoor skydiving, there are others. First, it simulates the free fall of extreme skydiving from an airplane, but it has much less risk involved as well as cost. Since there is not much of a chance of equipment malfunction, low risk of poor landings and no risk of crashing into a tree, it is a much safer choice for those interested in skydiving in general. It also allows those who are interested in eventually becoming a skydiver from an airplane to gain practice and expertise in the wind tunnel for those skills which they will need in the air during freefall.