Feb 14, 2011, 6:02 AM
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Favorite Tunnel design and why?
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MY EMBA project has....let's say started developing some leggs. And a very important question came up...."What's the best tunnel design?"
And by best, more specificaly what is best for the average person who has never ever been in the air to become stable?
I personally have flown in the Skyventure in Montreal as well as what appeared to be a prehistoric tunnel in Niagra Falls.
My personal experience from watching others was that the skyventure model was significantly easier to use and to get stable than the Niagra Falls design.
We are talking ease of entry and exit and most importantly laminar air flow.
Feb 14, 2011, 6:08 AM
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Re: [shah269] Favorite Tunnel design and why?
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my favorite would be the Bedford type, for the ease of entry/exit between slots (by this I mean the access to pre-flight chamber). If you need to pee after 2 minutes, you can go pee, and not need to wait for the next 15-30 minutes...
Feb 14, 2011, 6:44 AM
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Re: [shah269] Favorite Tunnel design and why?
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it's a Bodyflight tunnel, recirculating, round. More a tube than glass walls, onaly a couple of windows here and there, so not the best for viewers, but great for flyers, Less distraction. And generally (at least with adult skydivers) the flyer is the payer, so better for them....
Feb 14, 2011, 6:45 AM
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Re: [Remster] Favorite Tunnel design and why?
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4m ish? I think that's more or less what you will need to assure tourists that all is well. People don't enjoy spending large sums of cash to be placed in small tubes. I can't see from the picture, is that the "tube" type tunnel?
Feb 14, 2011, 7:03 AM
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Re: [piisfish] Favorite Tunnel design and why?
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I was reading on the technology, yeah a bit more than 4m
I'm looking at all these designs and I have to say Skyventure and other companies who lay their turbines on their sides really do have an advantage over the pusher / puller systems. Ease of access is the biggest issue and next from the looks of it per some slight math, they offer the most stable column of air. Which for a first timer is critical.
When I flew Niagara Falls...how can I put it....No one got stable. It was like jumping on a greased beach ball. Every one left with a smile on their face but it looks as if no one thought it was really "worth" the cost.
Feb 14, 2011, 7:44 AM
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Re: [shah269] Favorite Tunnel design and why?
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you could run it with 2 200lbs big kids/students. But as I am not a tunnel coach of any sort, don't know if it is a great idea to fly multiple first timers at the same time.
Then you have the Dubai twin tunnel to fly two in parallel tunnels
Feb 14, 2011, 7:53 AM
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Re: [shah269] Favorite Tunnel design and why?
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I'm thinking, two 100lb kids + two instructors on eather side of a 5m tunnel may work...really increase your income.
not REALLY.. you need to double your instructors, plus it wouldn't be the safest. In addition a 5m is MUCH more expensive than say a 4m, and it uses much more electricity too....
Feb 14, 2011, 8:50 AM
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Re: [piisfish] Favorite Tunnel design and why?
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Yeah I just got a note from Derek regarding the subject. From a quick look it's about $1mill/1meter. So yes a 5m tunnel would cost an extra $1mill of financing and more power to run the thing. So if you go big with a 5m tunnel you better have it running 24/7 for 5 years to make your money back. It's going to take a bit of calculus to get the optinal size. Big would be sexy, small would be just sad but maybe just right will work just right? It's a numbers game....
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Feb 14, 2011, 5:10 PM
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Re: [FrancoR] Favorite Tunnel design and why?
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I've heard the airlock design on this design beats all others hands down. It allows you to step in and out of the airlock while the tunnel is running so if you forgot something its not an issue or if you just want to get a drink at the bar or creep again you can!
Feb 15, 2011, 12:14 AM
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Re: [PhreeZone] Favorite Tunnel design and why?
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I've heard the airlock design on this design beats all others hands down. It allows you to step in and out of the airlock while the tunnel is running so if you forgot something its not an issue or if you just want to get a drink at the bar or creep again you can!
I guess the system is "Bedford-like". It is soooooo good to be able to get out of the preflight chamber to debrief, brief, pee, eat and drink or go back to your regular activities, all this independently...
Feb 16, 2011, 2:06 AM
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Re: [shah269] Favorite Tunnel design and why?
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It is horses for courses really.
I have flown in 2 tunnels that are very different.
1) Zurich has an open air tunnel. It requires much more skill to stay stable as the airflow isn't very smooth and you can "fall off" the column of air onto the cushions around the edge. The big positive on this is it is very cool to be able to "fly" up above the building (it is on top on a multi-story building) and see the countryside.
2) Bedford. I suspect it is unfair to compare this to commercially derived tunnels as it started its life as a Military test facility. This probably gives it huge headstart in terms of the money and engineering that was originally put into it - never mind what the Bodyflight guys have done to make it suitable for human flight. It is very large allowing you to learn without constantly hitting the walls, airflow is smooth and powerful. Note following one of your other posts - you couldn't double up newbies in a larger tunnel as it doesn't take long to travel 2 or 3m and that could result in bloody noses etc.
Feb 16, 2011, 3:37 AM
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Re: [nigel99] Favorite Tunnel design and why?
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Bedford are now routinely putting 2 fliers and 2 instructors in there. They do a 1st flight on you own then (I think) 2 flights with another person in there, so the punter gets 3 flights for the price of 2. That's a fairly recent development in there.
The airlock system is somewhat different to SkyVenture as Bedford doesn't require the doors shut, it's a noise control issue whereas SkyVenture design requires a degree of "pressurisation". That is my understanding at least.
Feb 16, 2011, 4:08 AM
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Re: [Dazzle] Favorite Tunnel design and why?
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Bedford are now routinely putting 2 fliers and 2 instructors in there. They do a 1st flight on you own then (I think) 2 flights with another person in there, so the punter gets 3 flights for the price of 2. That's a fairly recent development in there.
The airlock system is somewhat different to SkyVenture as Bedford doesn't require the doors shut, it's a noise control issue whereas SkyVenture design requires a degree of "pressurisation". That is my understanding at least.
Ok I stand corrected, although I am sure if you were unstable/not ready they wouldn't double things up.
Feb 16, 2011, 7:18 AM
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Re: [nigel99] Favorite Tunnel design and why?
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As far as training is concerned I somewhat like a smaller tunnel, it forces you to really learn to precisely control your movements. For someone who has never done it before, maybe a little bigger is better. As far as marketability (not sure if that is a word or not) the best tunnel design I have see is hands down iFly Hollywood. The flight chamber is a plexiglass cone shape that is right at street level as soon as you walk out of the parking garage and into universal citywalk. So everyone walking by sees it and sees exactly what it is, on top of that they have huge monitors playing promo videos that can be seen from pretty far away.
Feb 16, 2011, 7:37 AM
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Re: [Gators1240] Favorite Tunnel design and why?
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The flight chamber is a plexiglass cone shape that is right at street level as soon as you walk out of the parking garage and into universal citywalk. So everyone walking by sees it and sees exactly what it is, .
as a lousy flyer, I wouldn't want people to see me try
Feb 16, 2011, 8:31 AM
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Re: [Dazzle] Favorite Tunnel design and why?
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Quote:
Bedford are now routinely putting 2 fliers and 2 instructors in there. They do a 1st flight on you own then (I think) 2 flights with another person in there, so the punter gets 3 flights for the price of 2. That's a fairly recent development in there.
SEE...that's what I'm thinking. Any one will fly once...so why come back? Why spend 25 min and $300+ on tunnel time if you don't skydive? SO YOU CAN FLY WITH A FRIEND! It's all about getting people to experience something new from the same investment.
Lots of great data out there, lot of amazing people. My team is always amazed at what level of data skydivers and tunnel operators can bring to the table.
This may work. This may fly. Crossing fingers and toes.
BUT......I just have to be more down to earth. As sexy as a 4M tunnel is....and it is sexy....a 3m tunnel may be more affordable. But the thought of a 4-5m tunnel, wall to wall....5m....oh that so sexy!
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