INDOOR SKYDIVING VS. JUMPING OUT OF AN AIRPLANE:
Lately, we’ve received numerous inquiries about indoor skydiving from our customers. While we exclusively offer real skydiving—jumping out of an aircraft—our friends at Vegas Indoor Skydiving provided the indoor version! Unfortunately they are no longer open, so Las Vegas does not offer indoor skydiving at this moment. However, both experiences promise an exciting adventure, but only real skydiving delivers the adrenaline rush and unforgettable memories you seek.
Are you ready to dive into the electrifying world of skydiving? As you prepare for your adrenaline-pumping adventure, you might find yourself torn between real skydiving and its indoor counterpart. Each offers a distinct experience tailored to different preferences, personalities, and interests. Let’s delve deeper into the contrasts to help you decide which option suits you best.
What is skydiving? According to the dictionary:
Definitions from Oxford Languages:
sky·div·ing /ˈskīˌdīviNG/ noun
the sport or activity of jumping from an aircraft and performing acrobatic maneuvers in the air during free fall before landing by parachute.
Real skydiving, also known as outdoor skydiving, entails jumping out of an aircraft from thousands of feet above the ground, freefalling through the sky, and deploying a parachute for a safe landing. It offers an unparalleled adrenaline rush and breathtaking views of the world below. Here are some key highlights:
1. Overcoming own self, fears & Courage
Throughout history, humans have been hardwired to fear falling from heights. Overcoming this fear requires courage, and skydiving pushes individuals to confront their deepest anxieties head-on.
2. Desire for Adventure
Skydiving demands a genuine thirst for adventure and a willingness to step outside one’s comfort zone. It’s about embracing the thrill of flight and pushing boundaries.
3. Unmatched Sensation of Freefall
The feeling of weightlessness and the rush of wind against your face during freefall create an unforgettable experience unmatched by any other activity.
4. Scenic Views
Real skydiving offers breathtaking panoramic views of the landscape below, providing a unique perspective of the world from above.
5. Sense of Achievement
Overcoming the fear of jumping from a plane instills a profound sense of accomplishment and empowerment, leaving participants with lasting memories and a newfound confidence.
Indoor Skydiving
Las Vegas, NV – The birth place of indoor skydiving.
Indoor skydiving, also known as vertical wind tunnel flying, originated in Las Vegas, NV. Canadian inventor Jean St-Germain designed and patented the first wind tunnel built for entertainment and commercial purposes. Erected on the Las Vegas Strip in the summer of 1982. Another tunnel with the same technology and name opened later that year in Pigeon Forge, TN. Initially named Flyaway (1982-2005), it was later renamed Vegas Indoor Skydiving by new owners in 2005.
The two Flyaway wind tunnels paved the way for second-generation wind tunnel technology developed by William Kitchen under the SkyVenture brand. Alan Metni acquired SkyVenture and split the company, resulting in the creation of the well-known brand iFly.
Several of Fyrosity’s® instructors and managers were among the original wind tunnel instructors who contributed to the evolution of indoor skydiving. Notable figures include Mary Tortomasi and Sammy Vassilev.
The original Las Vegas wind tunnel played a crucial role in developing various skydiving disciplines, including free flying and skysurfing, which gained popularity in the 1990s and early 2000s and were part of ESPN’s X-Games. Many top skydiving competitors honed their skills at Vegas Indoor Skydiving.
Additionally, the wind tunnel contributed to the development of wingsuit flying. Sammy Vassilev aka “Popov, one of the original wingsuit developers, conducted numerous wingsuit flying tests and experimented with different designs inside the Las Vegas wind tunnel in 1997 and 1998.
During the skydiving boom of the 1990s, the Las Vegas wind tunnel served as a hub for developing new training methods for skydiving students and instructors. These methods, developed by Fyrosity’s® instructors, continue to be used today.
While indoor skydiving offers a simulated freefall experience, it is not quite like the real thing in comparison to real skydiving. Real skydiving provides an unparalleled adrenaline rush, a desire for adventure, and breathtaking views of natural wonders like Lake Mead, the Valley of Fire, and the Grand Canyon. Vertical wind tunnels are valuable training tools for mastering airflow manipulation and executing complex freefall maneuvers, but they cannot replicate the thrill and sense of achievement of real skydiving.
Unfortunately the Las Vegas Indoor Skydiving wind tunnel permanently closed its doors on Jan 25.2025 after more than 40 years!
So, Which One Should You Choose?
Ultimately, the choice between real skydiving and indoor skydiving depends on your preferences, comfort level, and desired level of adventure. If you’re seeking the ultimate thrill and a genuine skydiving experience – jumping out of an airplane is the only way to go!
Real skydiving offers unmatched excitement and breathtaking views that you’ll never forget. However, if you are not the risk-taking personality and want less of an adventure, indoor skydiving provides a good alternative.
Whether you opt for the exhilaration of real skydiving or less of adrenaline pumping action of indoor skydiving, one thing’s for certain: both adventures promise an unforgettable experience. So, gear up, take the leap, and let the adventure begin!
Just remember real skydiving is “diving from the skies” into open air, cheating death & defying earth’s gravity by overcoming your own fears and jumping out of a moving aircraft, pushing the human mental and physical boundaries to their limits, and putting full trust in the instructors and the parachute equipment which saves your life in the most raw and unaltered reality – you and nature in sync! Upon landing the parachute, you are left breathless and in disbelief of what you have just done and accomplished. A moment you will never forget for the rest of your life……
If you can overcome your fears – you can accomplish anything! Wait, how can you skydive indoors?
Fyrosity® offers a premium skydiving service in Las Vegas. Jump from highest altitude (up to 14,000ft MSL) and experience the most exotic tandem skydiving adventure. You will see Valley of Fire, Grand Canyon, Lake Mead, Las Vegas, Area 51, Virgin River, Virgin Peak, Muddy River, Moapa Valley, UT, CA, AZ, NV. Check current skydive prices here.