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From: jerrys@mobby.umiacs.umd.edu (Jerry Sobieski)
Newsgroups: rec.skydiving
Subject: Re: where are the wind tunnels?
Message-ID: <34440@mimsy.umd.edu>
Date: 14 May 91 19:43:19 GMT
References: <1991May14.180720.14179@ge-dab.GE.COM>
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Reply-To: jerrys@umiacs.umd.edu (Jerry Sobieski)
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In article <1991May14.180720.14179@ge-dab.GE.COM> coleman@sunny.dab.ge.com 
(Richard Coleman) writes:
>Does anybody know of any wind tunnels in the southeast USA, preferably in
>Florida.  I've got 13 jumps now (I did the AFF course in Deland) and thought
>that some time in a wind tunnel would be a cheaper and faster way to improve
>my control.  Does anybody out there have any time in a wind tunnel that
>they could relate.  Would this be a good idea?  Would this be cheaper than
>the equivalent amount of free-fall time?

At this stage of the game, a vertical wind tunnel would probably show
really marked improvements in your ability to fall comfortably stable, basic
manuevers (forward docking, 360s, back-ins, barrel rolls, flips, etc).  It
is good for these things or for free-style practice.  

However, it won't teach you how to exit a DC3 or how to float a C182.  
You won't learn to 
track or how to concentrate on 5 different 4-way points in 40 seconds.  It 
won't teach you to enter 20th in a 20 way.  It doesn't promote altitude
awareness (!) or spotting skills.  You won't learn to pack or how to do 
canopy accuracy.  

But otherwise its great fun!  Seriously...The point is: there is more to the
sport than just freefall. I think VWTs have a tremendous
training capability for basic skills which even experienced jumpers can
profit from.  I have jumped the VWT in Pigeon Forge, TN. and plan to go back
as soon as I have time and money.  But they are not the "Next Step" in the
sport of skydiving.

The Fly-Away tunnel in P. F. is about $10/10 minutes (as I recall).  But 
you are inside with 2 or 3 other folks and are standing most of that time.  
So, you get about 2 to 3 minutes of air time for $10-12 bucks which does
make it cheaper than jumping.  But there is just something about
being 2 miles away from the nearest solid object that makes freefall a 
little more exciting (:-).

There is another VWT in Florida (Z-Hills?) either just opened or just fixing
to open.  Anyone else know about this place?

Jerry







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