wan2doit

Remster - Why would iFLY's lawyers be busy because of a different tunnel provider? Do they have a patent on the indoor skydive concept?

Yep, very heavy industrial neighborhood close to major railyards, 1/4 mile from I-5 and within about 3 miles of two airports. In the end I imagine the location has enough good points to justify the investment - I would think traffic in the evening wouldn't be bad since most everyone is gone by 5:00 pm.

Just Amazing albeit slow-mo! http://vimeo.com/105468279

"Perhaps if some time was set aside for people to do it. " Agreed. Possibly you could shoot BLM a comment to that effect at the email address in the original post here by Sep 25. Many folks are or stay down on the Feds when in reality they are just people. My idea is since the Federal agencies do whether we believe it or not listen and react to comments from the public if folks would enter issues that don't impact them directly so as to get agencies to be more flexible in management policies some of the vitriol against them could be reduced and everyone could benefit.

Quade - It isn't banned yet - that is why I put this item up here so as to provide folks the chance to offer am better alternative in place of BLM's knee jerk idea. Comment deadline - midnight their time Sep 25, 2014 If one reads my whole post one can see another option that I offered that folks could back up by commenting before the midnight September 25 deadline is for BLM to organize a schedule for rope use so that those who don't want to be around it can choose a day when rope use isn't being done. To me an interim plan such as that is far better than an up front 100% ban with no real justification other than managements easy solution. As far as Yosemite goes it was tragic what happened but IMHO that should have fueled the base jumpers resolve along with skydivers helping with comments to go the distance to get approved which sad to say is a 10 year or more process with NPS depending on when their plans come up for renewal. I may be a whuffo but I know about this Federal planning shit at a very detailed (way down in the weeds) level.

Yes in the minimal research I did on this I saw that deaths have happened. So, what does that mean - we shouldn't do dangerous things or make bad mistakes or ban all dangerous activities. If you read my specific comment and suggestions I don't agree that I was telling BLM they were bad or arbitrary but just asking them politely to consider what I thought would be a more inclusive, balanced and more reasonable interim decision until the 2 year study proved that a total ban was necessary and fully justifiable. There are other factors other than fatalities pressuring BLM to do this such as other user groups pissed off about people laughing and being vocal during the rope fun. The ironic part of this is that the arches wouldn't be as popular a destination if some rope swinging video hadn't gone viral bringing lots of attention and interest to the area. Truth be know though I am an outsider on the issue (never been or lived there) but am empathetic to what is happening due to having been through the same shit down here in So Fl for the last 16 or more years on a different Federally managed property.

Sadly rope line enthusiasts near MOAB Utah are looking at being banned from enjoyment of Corona and Gemini arches by BLM. After a recent land swap of by BLM and Utah it hasn't taken the Feds long for some reason to seek a ban of this minority of visitors. Comments can be emailed here: to blm_ut_mb_comm. Be sure to mention Corona Arch in the subject line. The comments I sent today are below the asterisks - BLM's info on this is here http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/info/newsroom/2014/august/blm_seeks_public_comment0.html Hopefully many or at least some here will assist these folks by commenting in their favor. ************************************************ Hello, I saw mention of this issue on the 6 o'clock news in Miami, Fl a few days ago. I am from Florida and do not have a huge stake in the outcome but have been subjected to many unacceptable restrictions over the years on my access to lands under Federal agency control (Big Cypress National Preserve) so I am empathetic to the folks losing out. It is interesting that Corona Arch and Gemini recently came under Federal agency control and within a short time frame a ban against a minority group of visitors is now in full swing (no pun intended). I am sure local BLM staff is intelligent and far from stupid. Here is what I can't understand - An immediate 2 year ban with no technical justification other than subjective guess work and reactions to complaints from one type visitor against another. In reality all visitors have more than likely bonded with and developed a sense of place regarding these arches for their own particular reasons - all being equally valid from each person's personal perspective. I do not believe BLM should have a right to determine the validity of another persons reason for loving the area or deny them access to it without documented proof that irrevocable harm will happen within BLM's 2 year study cycle. I will accept what BLM's spokesperson said on the news "there are other places in the area to do this" or something to that effect. I am sure you all at BLM are aware of the way form cultural and personal bonds with specific places. Rope persons are no different than wilderness entusiasts in that the bonds are often with particular places and not just any old place they are relegated to via government action in fact I would submit that BLM's proposed action in this case may promote more illegal activities in response to what looks to me like overkill due to the ban. In the end it is up to you and I would hope you resolve this in a more equitable manner than originally conceived. Therefore my suggestion would be for BLM to set up a schedule of allowable use of the arches by rope activity enthusiasts and advertise that schedule on their web sites so that those who enjoy the arches via rope activities or more tranquil/passive activities could choose when it would be best for them to visit the arches and enjoy them as they prefer to. One other suggestion would be that all BLM staff involved in the planning process participate in a similar rope activity to more fully understand the "quality and joys of life" you are looking to remove from a small minority's life.. Good Luck and Be Fair,

You are lucky I didn't find tunnels until 65+ so you are in better shape than me. I also love hunting and have done it a lot for over 50 years but now the money has to be divided and I think the tunnel will get more than half - maybe much more. LOL On the way back fromn iFLY Orlando last week I ran the car up to about 90 with the driver's window down - something sounded familiar and I realized the wind sound reminded me of the tunnel so than I stuck my arm all the way out and damned if it didn't feel a lot like the tunnel. This fast ass high speed air play really grabs a person tightly.

When I need a pick me up I watch one or more of these https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QByM5stcl6Q https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g56sDfUkrjc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5iLya1n7zE https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL34D5F2E111E55E53&v=CPATqmPVgr8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoPMGSEAylI The 1st one really helps when I have to go speak against some government plan to screw folks out of access to public land especially the feds at Dpt of Interior (e.g. NPS, USFWS, etc.). I have read how the feds have banned base jumping in Nat Parks. Too bad nobody picks up that issue so as to reverse them. It might be hard to do but I believe it could be accomplished if an organized group of smart people the likes of which skydive and participate here were to decide to do it.

After 6 initial minutes in the tunnel in Orlando I went back a few months later for a 30 minute overnite camp which was 4 of us in the tunnel doing 6 - 2.5 minute flights in rotation, then a one hour break , then 6 more 2.5 minute rotations. I had been doing exercises prior to the camp so thought I would be fine but was surprised. After 7.5 minutes my shoulders were killing me but it wasn't an out of position feeling but a burning sensation down in the joint. I made it through the 1st session thinking I might not be able to complete the 2nd. Mentioned my problem to the coach and he said we were doing quite a bit of flying and soreness can happen. I did a bunch of shoulder and back stretching during the one hour break and continued on to finish the camp but knew I had done something more physical than I expected. For 2 days I felt like I had a bad hangover w/o the head pains but w/shoulder soreness. I kept up my exercises throughout the next 90 days and went to another camp for 30 more minutes recently. Much different results - no shoulder pain whatsoever at the halfway point or at all the whole night. So in my case I think exercises with an increased focus on shoulder strength and flexibility exercises seemed to pay off big time. To reiterate though my problem was a burning slightly painful sensation in both shoulders that was more of a distracting irritant than debilitating situation possibly brought on by me improperly flying with my arms straight and out to my sides 90 degrees almost the whole time rather than in front of my head. That might have put heavier wind loads on the shoulder joints. On the other hand I corrected my arm position problem during the 2nd camp I attended and possibly (I don't know for sure) maybe began flying while more efficiently using my muscles by the body learning on it's own as I became more solid belly flying. If I had been having to put my shoulder back into position though I would have done what u did plus GO TO a Doctor to at a minimum to check for structural damage (minor?? partial) dislocation if there is such a thing. Hopefully this helps you.

If and when I skydive for real I would consult with tunnel coach/staff and probably defer to them if the time is correct for the progression to wearing a rig in the tunnel. Doing that makes perfect sense at some time to as closely as possible duplicate the experience of freefall with a rig on which I would assume (at my risk) is noticeably different than w/o a rig. I have read here that arching with a rig on can be more problematic due to good or bad rig fit as related to a persons physique.

I'm only a whuffo wanting to be a tunnel rat. I have 66 minutes in the tunnel in Orlando and am beginning to learn leg turns (much different than arm turning to me) and side slides but after the last 30 overnite camp I may slow my progression down myself to get better stability and turning skills which are real important basics from what I have experienced. I may have got ahead of myself wanting to progress. Using myself as a comparison to you I would guess you would benefit from 30 to 60 minutes more to get real solid on belly and turns. Possibly investigate overnite camps or other discount options that may be available in off peak time frames to save money. I would predict that with 5 to 15 more minutes you will lock in good to belly flying. In my case it was like a bright light bulb going on at around 15-20 total minutes in the tunnel over 3 different sessions.. Best of luck.

10-4 on that. I got truly confused with all the names I ran into while doing a bit of surfing to find out more on ship's tunnel. Thankfully you know what is happening.

Isn't there already a ship - the "North Star" that has an operating wind tunnel?

Doesn't seem to be too many details available online anywhere. May have to hunt a phone number like I did. I'd share it but lost track of it and don't have time to re-hunt it down. Good Luck

So far I am just a respectful whuffo with 1 hour in the tunnel but I have one question about these good photos. The gentleman in the red suit looks to have a parachute rig with no leg harness. Is that normal or some type of special set up? Just curious since I thought they all had leg harnesses or are they inside the suit?

Got this Huffington Post article from iFLY Orlando's facebook page http://www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com/video/337/i-can-fly-soaring-to-new-heights-with-skydiving-at-sea/ I believe the ship shown is North Star. Will be interested to hear of peoples 1st experiences on this tunnel.

Unless I'm mistaken I believe I read somewhere that this is a skyventure facility so possibly they will 1st seek volunteers, 2nd directly order some instructors to work on the ship - not really sure if skyventure can dictate work locations of instructors.

Thank You iFLY Orlando for this Aug 23 overnight camp. As usual it and the coaching was fantastic and from what I saw everyone was improving. Even after a bunch of trying I didn't get my leg turns down yet and it wasn't because Striker and Casey didn't work hard to teach me. I think I have a mental/physical block of some kind. I mean does it make sense that I have major problem dropping my leg vertically (mine leg bends into almost the horizontal plane) to turn but that night after 3 feeble attempts I was doing side sliding up, across, diagonally while ascending etc. All that but still can't do a leg turn that looks or is correct. In fact what I do best in leg turns is to turn left when I drop the left leg which is bass akwards ??? Here's a link to the problem https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIRu15H7zl8&feature=youtu.be I'm on at 0 - 1:40, 9:20, 19:20 any advise appreciated greatly. Admittedly I only have 1 hour 6 min in the tunnel hour as of the end of this camp and coaches said it would come with time. Anyone have any ideas to overcome a physio/mental leg turn challenge like this ?

I am fairly new to tunnels myself having only one hour in them You may want to go to specific tunnel facebook pages and study comments customers (frequent flyers) have made on them regarding certain coaches. Possibly searches here referencing specific tunnels may bring up some comments about excellent coaches. Somewhere in cyber space I have seen a thorough list of instructors, coaches with detailed lists of all skill levels they have been signed off on but haven't been able to relocate it. I think the listing was somewhere in the Int'l Bodyflight Association info but their web site seems to have changed since my last visit making the info hard to find.

Will be there also to work on leg turns etc. etc. etc. It's a pain being a beginner.

I don't know about that - this link shows a clear regular looking wind tunnel but not positive which Royal Caribbean ship it is on. http://www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com/video/337/i-can-fly-soaring-to-new-heights-with-skydiving-at-sea/

Hopefully good instructors present in the tunnel will prevent any serious injuries but even they aren't infallible plus some flyers do totally unexpected maneuvers nobody plans on which can catch the best instructor off guard.

Out of curiosity I just called Royal Caribbean and they said the only restriction was that one would have to sign a waiver. They also mentioned there would be an instructor to assist people and specified standard gear that would be worn in the tunnel. Also asked specifically about flying style (back, vertical etc.) restrictions and the assistant couldn't find any. Not to be worrisome but one might want to check on what medical facilities/staff are on the ship and what language the staff speaks in case of possible injuries. So, it looks like it is full speed ahead.

I have a little more than a half hour in the Orlando tunnel and during discussions with experienced skydivers that I have had they have all said that the tunnels very closely replicate the freefall experience which is why a tunnel is such an equally good training tool for the newbies as well as old pros. Think about signing up for an overnight tunnel camp where substantial discounts may be available. A 15 minute block of time still may seem expensive but one gets the freefall experience of about 15 skydive flights in about an hour with less anxiety if that is a problem. iFLY Orlando has a camp Sat night Aug 23 but I'm not sure there are any vacancies even although a few cancelled. Looks like there might be an opening at 12:00 am or 1:00 am for last minute reservations. No matter where one goes to fly in a tunnel it is REAL FUN + great training.