When I told people I was going skydiving most said they thought I was brave. In truth, it never occurred to me to be nervous – I planned to begin this adventure with my feet firmly on the ground.
Airkix opened in January next to indoor skiing centre Chill Factore and offers ‘indoor skydiving’ sessions.
Used by experienced jumpers and newcomers alike, it simulates the experience of flying without the pesky business of actually throwing yourself out of a plane.
The term ‘indoor skydive’ is inaccurate – you don’t actually jump but are blasted upwards by a ferocious jet of air.
A vertical wind tunnel creates a stream of air moving upwards so fast it can lift several people at once, blasted through steel netting underfoot.
The experience open to anyone aged four upwards – with the oldest participant in their eighties.
I opted for the Air-born package, which includes two sessions of two-minute flights plus some tuition beforehand.
My group of six was led into a room to watch the obligatory training video.
Instructor Ady demonstrated the hand signals used inside the wind tunnel – the incredible noise inside makes conversation impossible.
He then demonstrated the ideal body posture by lying on a table – head raised, back arched and arms outstretched like Superman.
Trainers laced on tightly, we donned padded suits, helmets and goggles and sat outside the tunnel.
At 5ft 3in and weighing under eight stone, I expected to drift upwards with relative ease, but instead found myself writhing on the floor, much to the amusement of onlookers.
Weight is barely relevant – it’s the body’s surface area that counts. By stretching my arms and legs the jetstream passed under me and I finally began to float.
Before long I was several feet off the floor… and panicking. Successful skydiving involves intense concentration – a given if you’re hurtling to the ground at a zillion miles an hour, but less easily accomplished in a glass tank surrounded by giggling mates.
Ady grabbed me and whirled me around with one arm. We quickly rose up some 10ft in the air, spinning faster and faster.
This was the only time I felt scared – only the sheer novelty of being in the eye of a tornado stopped me from freaking out.
But the Airkix experience is perfectly safe – just about the right level of fear for a satisfyingly nerve tingling experience without the full-blown panic attack a proper skydive might induce.
The air had battered my body from every angle and I was left feeling more than a little sore, but thoroughly exhilarated.
Flight experiences at Airkix cost from £44.99. To book ring 0845 331 6549 or visit www.airkix.com
