I went a couple months ago and still had to wear the big suit and fly on my back at first. Arlo is our resident dz.commer who works at the tunnel. If you pm her, I'm sure she'll answer your questions. She's a belly flier, so she might not read this forum.
As it stands now, the Skyventure wind tunnel in Orlando has not been upgraded for more horsepower. It's the same as it has been. That's not to say FFing or headdown isn't done in ours...because it most certainly is. The tunnel flies about 120 mph, so to sustain FFing, you need more drag...hence, bigger suits. They're still not as big as the suits at other tunnels, though.
The one in Perris will be strong enough for sustained head-down...at least that's what they're telling me.
There is a pretty standard program in place developed by tunnel staff and FF coaches (Mike Swanson, Dave Brown, Blincoe, etc) that is being used for FF progression. Basically they assess your general stability. Then they teach you to backfly first, perform transitions from belly to back and back to belly. Then there is a 1/2 hr minimum of tunnel time before it goes any further.
You gotta understand, headdown in the tunnel is unforgiving so the precision HAS to be there. But it's alot of fun playing in there and once you do it, you realize how much more there is to learn. I'll tell you what's cool ass, though. Seeing Juliana and Fabian simultaneously carving on their heads in the tunnel. Those 2 are bad-ass!
I hope this answers some of your questions. If not, let me know and I will find the answers to your questions...unless you ask me the meaning of life. Then, all bets are off.
blues, arlo
p.s. Sitting "at tunnel speed" is great for hybrid dives!! Maybe we should be the hybrid tunnel. :)
Thanks, Arlo! I love being able to guide people in your direction concerning tunnel questions. You are always so helpful and informative for all of us.
So what you're saying is people like me would be basically screwed if they wanted to do any sort of FF in the tunnel.
Hey Dave-
yeah, pretty much, you're dead on. 6' tall must be less than 230 lbs. Over 6' less than 250 lbs.
This tunnel in orlando was a prototype built for john q. public. the whole "benefit to the skydiving world" came after the fact. If you're within the weight range, then you can probably sit, but with a big-ass suit. belly flying can happen all day long (as a bottom feeder) but then again, you don't spend much time on your belly now, do ya?
sorry 'bout all that, but fans can only do so much maxed out. :)
Take heart -- the tunnel that will be opening the end of summer 2003 at Perris is -supposed- to have a much faster airstream which -will- allow for normal freefly.
The Tunnel makes everything harder as well! I sit well enough in the real air (play base or fly to base), I tried backflying in the tunnel with my RW suit on last Feb. I was all over the place, definately go with a big baggie suit! Even if it looks goofy. Ya gotta look goofy before ya can look cool!
Yeah, seeing how I'm 6'2" and weigh 250lbs nekid, then no dreams of tunnel glory can be reached in Orlando, huh?
Dave,
I have only been to SkyVenture once. I had a lot of fun, but really didn't get anything accomplished; I weigh about what you do and am 4 inches shorter.
I spent most of my time just trying to stay stable but did, after a while, get up to the mirrors and stayed there for a while. This was in my slowest RW suit with my swoop cords working to their max. On my last session I was just praying for that light to come on, I was pooped to the max.
I would have been disappointed, but when the owner (for the life of me, I can't think of his name right now) came up to me after my second session, asked what I weighed and upon being told, said "Wow, I'm impressed you were able to get up so high!", I felt a lot better.
I think I may have to try the new one out if it is going to be faster; they really ran it at max for me and I appreciated it, but I think us monsters have to wait for the next generation of SkyVenture to really get what these lightweights do from it.
(This post was edited by jceman on Dec 12, 2002, 4:12 PM)
Yeah. And for me all of this discussion is just that, discussion, I'm no where near having the amount of money needed to get my butt to a tunnel much less fly in one.
I was told by one of the camp instructors that at 5'10" being 200 lbs or less would be a good idea for freeflying. So, I'm on a diet! RW's another story.
I've been thinking about making a trip to the tunnel but now I'm wondering if I would be better off spending the money on coached jumps.
Those of you who've been to the tunnel for freefly training, did you find it beneficial? I'm a small person (110 lbs.) so I can go really slow in a baggy suit.
What do you all think would be best for progressing in freeflying? Coaching or tunnel time?
Those of you who've been to the tunnel for freefly training, did you find it beneficial? I'm a small person (110 lbs.) so I can go really slow in a baggy suit.
What do you all think would be best for progressing in freeflying? Coaching or tunnel time?
you'll have zero problems sustaining most attitudes of freeflying in the tunnel. I would recommend booking a freefly tunnel coach to do this. It's 50-55 seconds per jump in the air vs. ~120 seconds at a time in the tunnel. I would recommend calling someone such as the freefly training center in Sebastian (who's tunnel coaches include Mike Swanson and Rook Nelson...current world freefly champions, and Dave Brown...who is outstanding. These guys have a professional attitude and are just fucking good. :)
who's tunnel coaches include Mike Swanson and Rook Nelson
I watched a bunch of video of Mike and his buddies in the tunnel when he came up for a boogie here. Those guys can rip it up in the tunnel. Of course...they are all small and or lanky types. You'll learn much!!
I would recommend calling someone such as the freefly training center in Sebastian (who's tunnel coaches include Mike Swanson and Rook Nelson...current world freefly champions, and Dave Brown...who is outstanding. These guys have a professional attitude and are just fucking good. :)
hope this helps, arlo
Dont forget Juliana and Fabian, at skydive Deland they are always available for coaching and two of the best tunnel flyers I have ever seen.
Take heart -- the tunnel that will be opening the end of summer 2003 at Perris is -supposed- to have a much faster airstream which -will- allow for normal freefly.
how about the Phoenix tunnel? do you know if its the same design?
although Perris is just a close as Phoenix once I'm in WA..
perris, phoenix, UK, and CO will all have updated designs. same basic design of having the fans at the top of the tunnel (sucking not blowing). they will all be "souped up" versions in that the fans have higher HP. I'm thinking that a couple of those will be recirculating too. This is great for the colder environments. :)
hope this helps, arlo
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Dec 18, 2002, 6:12 PM
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