Indoor Skydiving Lets You Fly Like Superman

Every parent should feel like a superhero sometimes, but have you ever wanted to truly experience what it feels like to fly? At iFly Westchester, an indoor skydiving facility in Yonkers’ Ridge Hill, you get to spread your wings and do just that--fly. I recently checked it out with my 4-year-old daughter, Brooklyn, and my boyfriend, Monte.

At iFly, we didn't have to jump out of a plane or bungee jump off a crane. We stood on the ground and then took flight, just like Superman. If you're at all curious about skydiving or flying, this brand-new wind-tunnel is for you.

No one in my party had prior experience with indoor flying. I've tried skydiving once and Monte, as it happens, is a certified skydiver. Brooklyn, hadn't tried anything quite like this, so we were curious to see if her enthusiasm would match the reality of actually doing it. Here's how the day went:

We each opted for two one-minute flights, the second of which was a “high” flight, for a small extra fee. (See below for pricing information. In full disclosure, iFly graciously comped us our flights for this review.)

Learning to Skydive

Once you’ve chosen and paid for your flights, signed the necessary waivers, and checked in, you can take a seat in the main part of the facility, which has the wind chamber in the center. The tunnel itself is enclosed in glass, so you can watch other people fly while waiting for your class to start. A group of professional skydivers happened to be practicing tricks while we waited. They looked like astronauts floating around in space, doing flips, spinning, and just having a really good time. Their absolute control was comforting—though of course most of us who visit iFly won’t do anything like what they were demonstrating.

We didn't wait long until we were called into our class. There were about seven people in ours, and the maximum class size is 12. We met in a room just off the lobby and watched a five-minute introductory video. This was followed by instructions from our flight instructor for another five minutes.

The basic takeaway from the class is that body position is key. It's important to keep your chin up, arms reached in front with elbows bent, and legs extended back with knees slightly bent. You also learn hand signals so the instructor can communicate with you to bend, straighten, or put your chin up while you're in the chamber. It's so loud in the wind tunnel that you can't hear anything so it's important to get familiar with the signals before you begin your flight.

Once class wraps up, you get your jumpsuit, goggles, earplugs, and helmets. iFly also provides free lockers for your belonging.

The Experience of Indoor Skydiving

At this point I was very excited for myself, but a little worried about how a 4-year-old would handle the giant blast of air that was about to hit her. When our instructor asked who wanted to go first, Brooklyn jumped right up and volunteered. The instructor stepped into the tunnel first and held her hands as he led her into the chamber. Her face lit up with a gigantic smile when the wind carried her body up, and the smile stayed there until we left the facility. She loved it. The instructor had firm control of her and guided her body so she could enjoy the experience. He helped her regain control of her flapping limbs and ensured she stayed safe and always within his reach.

The one-minute flight felt like a surprisingly long time. When she came out, she volunteered me next.

I stepped into the wind tunnel and the instructor took care of me the same way. I was immediately surprised at how different it felt to breathe in such a forceful tunnel of wind. It’s like sticking your head out of a car window going 80+ miles an hour. It didn't quite take my breath away, but I had to make a conscious effort to breath normally. I adjusted quickly and remembered the proper body position. It was an easy and comfortable flight. It's a strong sensation of wind, but the goggles keep your eyes protected. I did notice slight pressure in my lower back. It wasn't bad, but the body position does stress different parts of your body. If you have any back issues or have ever had a dislocated shoulder, this experience is not recommended.