Wind Tunnels Vs Skydiving

In 1905, Wilbur Wright said that "There is no sport equal to that which aviators enjoy while being carried through the air on great white wings. More than anything else the sensation is one of perfect peace mingled with an excitement that strains every nerve to the utmost if you can conceive of such a combination." And that may be true unless you've discovered skydiving!

If you are someone that is new to the world of body flight, you are likely to have a few questions. If you have made a skydive or have just had your interest peaked, you want to know more-like what's up with this "indoor" skydiving that you've seen and how does it compare to the real thing?

WHAT ARE A FEW DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SKYDIVING AND WIND TUNNELS / INDOOR SKYDIVING?

• Probably to the dismay of the father of flight, Wilbur Wright, quoted above, in indoor skydiving, there's no plane ride at all! Indoor skydiving takes place indoors within a vertical wind tunnel. Indoor skydiving sort of takes the diving out-rather than exit a plane you enter a tube where the wind is being generated vertically.
• There are no parachutes in wind tunnels! In indoor skydiving, not only are no planes involved, no parachutes are involved either. If you ask a skydiver, one of the most lovely experiences on a skydive is the peaceful ride under canopy.
• You miss out on a spectacular view. While the walls of an indoor wind tunnel may be clear, the view won't compare to the one you get when skydiving. On a clear day, visibility on a skydive can go for miles. The view from the tunnel, not so much. Really, it is a pretty different experience overall.

A skydive and indoor skydiving in wind tunnels are fairly different experiences. With indoor skydiving, there's no rush of adrenaline or the quiet still of a peaceful ride under canopy. There's no nervous chatter with your instructor on the ride to altitude or the on top of the world feeling of accomplishment you get when you land from a skydive. Really, a lot of the little things that make up the experience of a skydive are absent with a trip to the wind tunnel for indoor skydiving.

HOW ARE WIND TUNNELS AND SKYDIVING SIMILAR?

Though, even with that being said, there are some similarities between skydiving and indoor skydiving.

1. You can experience the fun of free fall - Indoor skydiving does allow to you to experience the sensation of body flight. Like we said you don't experience the same rush of adrenaline, but the floating flying feeling you get on a skydive you can also get in the tunnel. Plus, those that are under the age of 18 can also participate. So, while the younger ones cannot make an actual skydive, they can fly with indoor skydiving.
2. Both experiences are pretty fun. Whether it is in the air about a mile above the earth or in a tunnel firmly attached to the ground, there are bound to be smiles on your faces after experiencing the feeling of body flight.
3. You can meet a lot of really neat people through each experience.

The communities that surround skydiving and indoor skydiving are pretty vibrant and inclusive. If you are looking to make friends and expand your social circle, there is a pretty good chance you'll find it pretty easy to do with the people who frequent the wind tunnel and Jumptown.

There you have it! We hope this helps you to understand a bit about the differences and similarities when it comes to wind tunnels / indoor skydiving and the real thing. It should also be noted that the tunnel can be a great tool when learning to skydive because the skills individuals can learn in the tunnel translate incredibly well to the sky. These skills are so valuable that many skydiving facilities utilize dual programs and advise skydiving students to prepare for a little bit of time indoor skydiving. Keep in mind that the tunnel is not just for newbies! Many skydiving professionals utilize both time in the tunnel and time in the sky to prepare for competitions.

Maybe you've tried the wind tunnel and you're ready for the real thing. If so, book your skydive at Jumptown and experience an adventure that can't be beaten!

References

"Quotes of the Wright Brothers" 24 February 2018. Mary Bellis. https://www.thoughtco.com/famous-quotes-of-the-wright-brothers-1992679