Frequently Asked Questions about iFLY San Diego
Do we need to make a reservation or can we walk in?
There will be a phone number listed on your E-ticket to make a reservation in advance to ensure that you will be able to fly.
How long do we fly?
Flight time per person will vary location to location. Most tunnels offer first time flight packages ranging from 2-10 minutes per person.
How long does the whole experience take?
The time it takes for the entire experience will vary based on a number factors, including the day of the week, time of the day, the number of people in your group. A safe bet is to plan a full two hours for your entire group's experience.
What is the age requirement?
You must be 3+ years or older.
What is the weight limit/minimum?
Any flyers over 6' tall may not exceed 250 pounds and any flyers under 6' tall may not exceed 230 pounds.
Are there any health restrictions?
Flyers should be in decent physical shape to fly. There will be a significant amount of wind on your shoulders, participants with weak shoulders or prior shoulder dislocations are recommended to not fly. Your body will be in an arched position with your hips forwards. Back issues that prevent this body position should avoid flying. Any other serious health issues should be cleared by a physician prior to flying. Check with specific locations for their restriction before booking a flight.
Is it safe?
Indoor skydiving is operated in a controlled setting that provides a safe experience for everyone. With any activity, there will always be potential risks involved. However, because all the variables are controlled, the risk of injury is minimal.
Is there an instructor with us the whole time?
There will always be an instructor inside the flight chamber for safety purposes. Once you become an experienced flyer and are able to perform movements safely on your own, you will be given more freedom. Until you reach a professional status, there will always be an instructor in the door for spotting purposes.
Can we do flips and tricks?
In time you can learn how to do flips and tricks on your own. For the first time, you will remain in a belly to earth body position. If you are doing well on your own, some instructors may assist you in certain maneuvers however, you will not have the control your first time to safely perform advanced tricks and flips.
Do you provide us with equipment?
Jumpsuits, helmets, goggles, and earplugs are the primary tools needed to fly. Suits will usually be baggy, creating drag and lift for the beginner flyer, and most helmets provided will be an open face model that requires goggles to protect the eyes.
What should we wear?
Jumpsuits will be worn over your street clothing. Comfortable, non-restrictive clothing should be worn with secure, lace-up shoes that cover your toes. Flyers with long hair should secure it back.
How similar is it to the real thing?
Indoor Skydiving facilities are recreating the freefall portion of a skydive with their wind flow. Skydivers from around the world use wind tunnels as training facilities for the real thing because the feeling of freefall is so similar.
Can my group and I fly at the same time?
For safety purposes, all new flyers will fly one at a time with a qualified instructor. Each tunnel will offer programs that teach you the proper body position so that you can eventually fly with other people, friends, and family.
Do you jump off of anything?
With indoor skydiving, flyers can experience the fun of a skydive without jumping off of, or into anything. You will simply lean onto a column of air from a side door or an outside standing area, and begin to fly.
How high do we fly?
First-time flight experiences are typically flown within arms reach of the instructor. This will allow them to communicate with you, ensure safety, and teach you how to fly your body in the proper position. Once you learn how to maneuver on your own, you can go as far as the flight chamber allows.
Are we attached to someone?
There will be an instructor there to guide you in and out of the tunnel. This is not a tandem, you will not be attached to anyone or anything. The whole goal is to teach each person how to fly their own body. Once the instructor feels that you are in a safe and stable body position, they will let go and you will be flying one your own.
Can people in my group who are not flying, watch?
Spectator areas are set-up in almost every indoor facility. Some consist of bleachers, while others offer couches, chairs, or even lounging areas. Glass chamber or open air models allow spectators to view the entire flying session.
How do you communicate when you’re in there?
Once you enter into the wind, you will not be able to speak or communicate with the instructor using words. Therefore, the instructors will use a series of hand signals that indicate different corrections to your body position. Instructors will also be communicating with the person who is controlling the wind speed, requesting certain speeds for different purposes.
Is it hard to breathe?
Flying should not impair your breathing abilities. However, there will be a significant amount of wind blowing in your face. Some flyers claim it is hard to breathe, but are often times holding their breath. Relaxing and remembering to breathe will eliminate any discomfort.
How can the instructor stand while the student is flying?
Lift involves surface area. The more surface area you present to the wind, the slower you will fall. The less surface area you have, the faster you will fall. Beginners are in a belly to earth body position, presenting more surface area allows them to fall slower off of the net. Instructors will typically stand allowing them to fall faster, so they can guide the student.