ASHBURN, Va. 鈥斅燝rowth in Loudoun County has led to a free fall.聽The area鈥檚 newest attraction is an indoor sky diving facility.
鈥淲hat we essentially replicate is the free fall portion [of sky diving],” says Operations Manager for 聽Trevor Gibbs.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have to jump out of an airplane, you don鈥檛 have to worry about the parachute and landing.鈥�
The facility, which opened to the public this week, uses four powerful fans to force air up through a 14-foot-wide cylindrical flight chamber.
鈥淭he wind just kind of supports you so you鈥檙e almost like floating, flying your own body,鈥� Gibbs says.
At iFLY, a safety class is provided. An instructor goes over hand signals and proper body position. The instructor also guides the customer in the chamber.
Flight suits, a helmet, goggles and ear plugs are provided.
General Manager Terrance Jenkins says prices start at about $80 for orientation and two, one-minute sky diving sessions. He says that鈥檚 more time in the air than an actual sky-dive 鈥斅爁or less money.
Those as young as 3聽years old can take part.
For an extra $10, fliers can get what鈥檚 called a 鈥渉igh flight鈥� where the air speed is turned up, briefly shooting the flyer and instructor 15 to 20 feet higher.
鈥淚t鈥檚 everyone鈥檚 favorite part of the experience,鈥� Gibbs says.
While flight chambers, also known as vertical wind tunnels, are not new, technology has allowed them to operate much more quietly, in turn allowing them into more areas without objection from the community.
The company bills itself as having 37 locations around the world.
