Content of the article:
- What is a wind tunnel
- The history of the wind tunnel
- History of indoor skydiving
- The difference between classic and indoor skydiving
- Where to go wind tunnel skydiving in the Czech Republic
- Who is wind tunnel suitable for
- Who the wind tunnel is not suitable for
- What are the risks of flying in a wind tunnel
- Indoor skydiving machine
- Why and when to jump
- How to prepare for a wind tunnel flight
- How a wind tunnel flight works
- Virtual Reality Wind Tunnel
- How long does it take to fly in a wind tunnel
- Can I bring a chaperone
href="https://www.adrop.cz/enWhat is a wind tunnel
A wind tunnel, air tunnel or also aerodynamic tunnel is a device that allows us to simulate a free fall without having to jump out of the plane. The tunnel includes a flight chamber in which air flows at speeds of 170 to 270 km/h, up to hurricane force. In the past, parachutists used to train in the tunnel to perform various figures regardless of the weather. Nowadays, any adventurer over the age of 5 who is not suffering from serious health problems can fly in the tunnel. Every minute in the wind tunnel is worth one free fall when jumping out of an airplane.
href="https://www.adrop.cz/en Wind Tunnel History
You will not be surprised to learn that the original invention of the wind tunnel was not for entertainment, but for testing and studying aircraft aerodynamics, or rather for practical tests on model aircraft and individual aircraft parts. You would have encountered the first such wind tunnel as early as the late 19th century. So it's not new.
But it wasn't until almost 100 years later, specifically in 1964, that the first human, Jack Tiffany, flew through the tunnel, having spent many months preparing for the task. Anyway, it worked, and the wind tunnels are on their way to commercial use. The first commercial wind tunnel was built in Canada in 1979 and was mainly used as entertainment for children. It didn't take long for more tunnels to be built.
The advantage is that they no longer require several months of training, but almost anyone can fly in them, even without prior training. The popularity of this adrenaline sport is growing and tunnels are being built from the USA to Japan to Europe. In Europe, the first tunnel was created in 2002 in France, in the Czech Republic we waited until 2012.
The design of wind tunnels has undergone a number of changes over the years. At first, it was impossible to achieve wind speeds inside that could carry an adult human being, then again, excessive noise was problematic. Before that, the flight chamber wasn't even enclosed in any way. This of course quickly changed, and then research began on what the ideal flight chamber diameter was. 14 feet (4.2 m) turned out to be a suitable minimum dimension, which is also the smallest flight chamber size for skydiver training.
href="https://www.adrop.cz/en History of indoor skydiving
Indoor skydiving in a free fall simulator originated as a way to practice skydiving routines during the winter months. However, it has also gained popularity with those who do not jump from a plane. In 2014, the International Aeronautical Federation (FAI) even sponsored this young sport, rules were created and official indoor skydiving competitions could be held.
On a global scale, the Czech representatives are doing well. This is also because many of them participated in the formation of the rules and were at the birth of individual disciplines. There are four disciplines in indoor skydiving. Specifically, there is group formation and vertical group formation, which are for four competitors, dynamic, in which teams of two to four compete, and freestyle, which is for individual competitors. However, the first ever World Indoor Skydiving Championships were also held in Prague in 2015.
href="https://www.adrop.cz/enThe difference between classic and indoor skydiving
Before you take the plunge into adventure, you may be wondering how a classic parachute jump differs from a wind tunnel experience. The biggest difference, of course, is that in indoor skydiving you don't jump out of an airplane, skipping the flight that takes you up to 3 to 4 kilometers. You also miss the range of an open parachute.
The freefall phase is very similar for both experiences. In both, you face a strong wind current and have the same body control. With the wind tunnel, you don't have to worry about the fear of heights or the extreme adrenaline of freefalling towards the ground. And while the length of the free fall in a skydive is limited by the height from which you jump and lasts between 40-60 seconds, in a wind tunnel you can easily take several "jumps" in a row.
Indoor skydiving can also be tried by children as young as 5 years of age, but for skydiving you need to wait a few more years. And another advantage that wind tunnel has over skydiving is that you don't have to keep an eye on the weather. You can freefall even when the wheelbarrows are falling outside.
href="https://www.adrop.cz/enWhere in the Czech Republic you can go wind tunneling
There is only one wind tunnel in the Czech Republic. And that's in Prague Letňany, where the Hurricane Factory wind tunnel, built in 2012 by Czech Strojírny Litvínov, is located. The tunnel, or rather the flight chamber, has a diameter of 4.3 m and is 14 m high. The lower 5 m of the chamber is made of glued safety tempered glass, thanks to which the flyers can be seen by outside observers. Inside, four fans, each 3.15 m in diameter, ensure that the airplane is blowing at up to 270 km/h. But you can't just see the fans, they're hidden in the background, where they're controlled by a technician. From the whole tunnel you can practically see only the flight chamber, which is only a small part of the whole device.
href="https://www.adrop.cz/en Who is the wind tunnel suitable for
The wind tunnel is open to virtually anyone over the age of 5 (however, under 18s need the consent of their legal guardians). There is no upper age limit. If you feel up to the flight even at 105, no problem! All you need to do is keep to the weight limit and not weigh more than 130 kg. Wheelchair users, amputees, the blind and the deaf can also try wind tunnel flying.
href="https://www.adrop.cz/en For whom the wind tunnel is not suitable
There are probably exceptions here too, who would prefer to forgo the flight. The free fall simulator is not suitable for you during pregnancy, or if you have shoulder joint problems, suffer from circulatory and heart problems, have back or disc problems or are after an accident. You should also not go into the wind tunnel under the influence of alcohol or drugs. You must therefore sign a medical declaration before the flight.
href="https://www.adrop.cz/en What are the risks of flying in a wind tunnel
Although it is such a safe experience that even children as young as 5 years old can take part in it, we need to consider the possible risks to avoid them. If you were to take unsecured items into the tunnel (e.g. keys, bracelets, chains...) or shoes that don't stay on your feet, the airflow could cause the items to fly off and either damage the propellers or come back underneath and injure you. After all, the airflow has the force of a hurricane.
For all other cases, there is an instructor in the chamber with you who would be able to solve any problem before it occurs. Even sport fliers are not alone in the tunnel.
href="https://www.adrop.cz/enIndoor skydiving gear
To fly in a wind tunnel you need a flight suit, a helmet, and safety goggles. You can't do it without them. It's also a good idea to use earplugs because the noise in the flight chamber is quite loud. If you want to take up indoor skydiving as a hobby, you need to buy everything, if you just want to fly as part of the experience, you can rent everything on site. The only thing you need to bring your own is sturdy shoes that stay well on your feet.
href="https://www.adrop.cz/enWhy and when to jump?
You can enjoy freefalling in the wind tunnel all year round. Weather is not a factor. Then it's up to you what opportunity will be the biggest motivation for you. Do you want to try freefall and weightlessness without jumping out of the plane? Or do you want to skydive but would like to practice freefall at a slightly lower altitude above the ground?
But a wind tunnel experience is also great fun for birthday parties, bachelor parties and even unconventional team building. You can buy a wind tunnel voucher for individuals as well as for groups of up to 20 people!
href="https://www.adrop.cz/en How to prepare for a wind tunnel flight
The first step to a successful wind tunnel flight is to purchase a voucher. Once you have your voucher, you need to book your flight at least 14 days in advance. There are flights every day, so there are plenty of dates. No special preparation is needed otherwise. Just arrive sober and on time and have a taste for adventure.
href="https://www.adrop.cz/enHow wind tunnel flight works
If you're a first-time flyer, don't worry about having no experience. Anyone can learn to fly in a wind tunnel thanks to our instructors. The basic premise is that you come to the experience one hour in advance. First of all, you will be given a detailed briefing on how to behave in the flowing air so that you control the wind and not the wind you. You also don't have to worry about any equipment or gear, you will be provided with a suit, helmet and goggles (if you have dioptric glasses, you can hide them under the protective ones without any problems).
Inside the chamber it's blowing at hurricane force, up to 270 km/h, definitely not an environment for quiet chatting. That's why before entering the flight chamber you will learn the basic signals used for communication between you and the instructor.
Once you have the theory down, it's time to put it into practice. An instructor will always go into the tunnel with you to ensure you don't end up glued to the glass. First, you'll learn to fly on your belly and try climbing, descending and turning. The better you get at it, the more tricks your instructor will teach you. Everyone flies to the best of their ability.
TIP.
href="https://www.adrop.cz/en Virtual Reality Wind Tunnel
In addition to the traditional flight, you can try the wind tunnel with virtual reality. This is suitable for children aged 10 and over (or with a head circumference of at least 51 cm). Compared to a traditional flight, you put on a VR headset and find yourself in a completely different world.
You can choose from several VR scenarios: such as skydiving over Prague, free-falling in space, sightseeing flight over Manhattan or skydiving by the Spanish Sea. In each case, you can enjoy an incredibly realistic free fall where you might even catch yourself looking for the parachute opening.
The rest of the experience is just like a classic wind tunnel flight. Again, an instructor will train you and be available to you at all times.
href="https://www.adrop.cz/enHow long does a wind tunnel flight take
While flying, you engage muscles you didn't even know you had until now. The deep stabilising muscles in particular are working, so even if it doesn't seem like it, you're getting a good workout. That's why the individual chamber entries are broken down into 1.5 minute blocks, which any flyer can do without training for form.
You'll probably just need 3 minutes for your first flight. But if you're a regular exerciser, feel free to cut 9. Pro fliers can manage an hour of flying a day in 10-15 minute blocks.
href="https://www.adrop.cz/en Can I bring an escort with me?
Want to share the fun of flying? You can either get a multi-person voucher and take turns in the tunnel, or take an escort to wait for you outside the chamber. Thanks to the glass walls, you can see each other and the escort can also take a cool souvenir photo of you.
TIP: If you'd like a pro video of the experience, it's no problem to purchase one on the spot.
