Indoor skydiving - How different is it to real skydiving?
Over the past years, indoor skydiving has grown in popularity. Companies like iFly in the United States and Hurricane Factory in Europe have brought a skydive-like experience to everyone. But how close is indoor skydiving to the real deal?
Indoor skydiving and skydiving from an aircraft both let you experience the sensation of freefall, but they differ dramatically in environment, intensity, and overall experience.
In an indoor wind tunnel, you’re in a controlled space where powerful upward-moving air simulates freefall. There’s no jumping, no altitude, and no parachute—just continuous airflow.
It’s accessible to nearly everyone, requires minimal training, and offers short, repeatable sessions perfect for beginners who want a taste of flying without the commitment or nerves of jumping from an airplane.
Skydiving from an aircraft, on the other hand, is a full adventure that blends altitude, speed, and adrenaline.
You ride to 13,500 feet and take in the view on the way up. Your instructor can help you find the local landmarks and even where you’ll land. When you’re at the exit altitude, you’ll step out into real open air, accelerating until you reach freefall speeds (about 120mph).
You feel the wind, the temperature change, and the sheer scale of the sky around you—sensations impossible to replicate indoors.
After nearly a minute of freefall, the parachute opens and your instructor will fly you peacefully back to the ground
It’s a more emotional, immersive experience that mixes excitement, fear, and accomplishment, making the moment of landing feel incredibly rewarding in a way the controlled environment of a tunnel simply can’t match.
If you think you’re ready to experience your first jump – we can help! Our team are first-timer specialists and have many thousands of skydives and decades of experience combined. Learn more about how to try a tandem skydive here. If you’re interested in pricing, check these out here.
