A Little History on the Vertical Wind Tunnel

[Bodyflight.Net 0]

At the request of piisfish, here we go.

(Only around 30 are operational today.)

Adren-l-n - completed in 2003; manufactured by Jus’ Fly; propeller driven; 1st prototype; currently operating successfully
Aerodium - propeller driven machine built 1980-1981; patented in 1982; operational for 5-7 years after opening. Closed for unknown reasons, business is being carried on by the children of the inventor.
Aerodium Mexico - built 2002 for military; small propeller driven; inadequate for training;
Aerokart - completed in 2002;fan driven; french training facility; currently operational
Airodium Zurich - completed in 1991; propeller driven; currently operational and successful. The swiss tunnel is keeps current with technology and currently sell a portable vwt design.
Airodium Gran Canaria - completed in 2000; propeller driven portable tunnel; operating successfully since completion this tunnel moves little around it’s home in the Canary Islands
Airofly #s 1 - 8 - propeller driven machines delivered to different locations; built to be movable with slow airspeeds of approximately 83mph; it is believed that all are out of commission as a result
Airpower Arena - completed in 1996 after success with the portable unit they built first; currently operational
Airpower Arena Portable - completed in 1985; propeller driven; possibly available for rentals.
Airzone - propeller driven portable; location unknown; no other information is available
American Dream Flying Machine - completed in 1991; changed ownership 3 times and is currently for sale; slow airspeeds of 80-90 mph
Appalachian Amusement Center - completed in 2003; unique design, superior airflow & quiet, operational since 2004
Blue Skies America - completed in 1990; propeller driven; closed due to lack of demand
Bodyflight Skydive Simulators LTD - purchased an old canadian propeller driven tunnel; considering operations, little progress since 2000
BodyFlying SportanLagen - completed in 1997; constructed for an exhibition; disasembled 1 year later
Dr’Homme Volant - little is known about this facility which seemed to surface in 2002, extremely large suits have indicated extremely slow airspeeds;
Egyptian Military - completed in 1998 by the Swiss Airodium Manufacturers; built for paratrooper training; currently operational with no public access
Wright Patterson Air Force Base - completed in 1943 for military testing; in 1946 Jack Tiffany flew in this tunnel making him the first human to fly in a Vertical Wind Tunnel and making WPAFB VWT the first VWT used for human flight; closed. Moved operation to Ft. Bragg
Flyaway Japan - completed in the mid 1980’s; propeller driven tunnel; operational for just a couple of years
Flyaway Las Vegas - completed in 1982; propeller driven tourist facility; currently thriving*
Flyaway Pigeon Forge - completed in 1982; propeller driven tourist facility; currently operational (*same owner)
Freefall Xtreme - completed in 2002; mechanics unknown, fast airspeeds, currently operational
Free Flight Indoor Skydiving - completed in 1990; not open to the general public; prototype
Free Flight Skydiving School - completed in early 90’s operated on a DZ; small propeller driven tunnel; original burned down; rebuilt and disassembled due continued to structural failures
Jetfly - much is unknown about this tunnel other than it was manufactured by Mistubishi and has been available for flights in Japan
Ft. Bragg - completed for the military; no public access; fan driven; currently operational
Bodyflight Bedford - refurbishing a military defense testing facility; currently planning to open in 2005
Mobile Aerodium - propeller driven portable; operational for several years in a water park; currently disassembled an in storage; reason for closure is believed to be a result of the water park closure/lost location
Onera, France - science facility, used for human flight once for fun :)
Party Zone - portable propeller driven tunnel, used for promotion of a Russian brewing company
Powerflyte - completed in 1994; propeller driven; successful on a portable tour; changed ownership twice; refurbished by new owners; currently non operational due to budget
Aerodium Isreal - unknown start date; operational until approx 2002; dismantled
Skydive LTD - propeller driven portable; currently for sale
Skyflyer - tiny 3 fan driven portable tunnel; no other information available
SkyVenture Genting - completed in 2002; fan driven; currently operational tourist facility
SkyVenture Orlando - completed in 1998; fan driven; currrently operational for skydiving training & tourism
SkyVenture Perris - completed in 2003; fan driven; currently operational on a drop zone for skydivers
Sundsvall Swededn - completed in 1999; propeller driven; currently run by a swedish skydiving team
Terminal Velocity - completed in 1999; closed due to noise restrictions; for sale
Tokyo Roof - unknown; no information is available
Brazillian Portables - 3 propeller driven portable tunnels used as rentals and promotional aids throughout Brazil
Twister -Nancy-Azelot, France, enclosed transparent tube, fixed
Vertical Velocity - propeller driven portable unit; small and easy to move; currently operating successfully
X-treme Air (now Lifted Entertainment) - propeller driven portable unit; purchased in 2002; currently operational
Vuelo Libre #1 & 2 - slow speed propeller portable unit; sold & resold


DISCLAIMER: Those are just the tunnels that have been built or were operational, that we could track and what we know. In most cases we had a photo that we had to track back to a tunnel, most of the time we are successful. Many more facilites have been announced but have still not completed construction on their projects and so are not listed here. If we missed someone.. please let us know! Also this post is long to edit, so please excuse typos!!!

[PhreeZone 15]

Quote

Wright Patterson Air Force Base - completed in 1943 for military testing; in 1946 Jack Tiffany flew in this tunnel making him the first human to fly in a Vertical Wind Tunnel and making WPAFB VWT the first VWT used for human flight; closed. Moved operation to Ft. Bragg

The tunnel building is still there and I'm pretty sure so is the equipment. I'll get my bro who is stationed there to swing by and get me the info. But its still showing as being there on WPAFB's website.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[nzfallfree 0]

Freefall Xtreme Bodyflying,Powered by 944hp Detriot
driving a DC3 Prop,Flight Dia 3mt up 4mt high (restriction put on by OSH govt dept). Air speed not known at this time but it is good enough for 2way etc

Regards

Ron

[piisfish 135]

thank you very much, very interesting.

scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM