dolphinka

Wow..... some crazy prices... I get it is London, but it is almost cheaper to fly to Dubai and back....

https://www.udinetoday.it/cronaca/base-jumper-morto-matt-munting.html

Hi HelmetSky, I don't know the specs of tunnels, can only talk from my persional experience, did 20+ hours so far. I flown in 4 types of tunnels: 1. Bedford - the oldest tunnel, if you are not in the UK I don't think they even have those types of tunnels elsewhere, but I might be wrong. The wind isn't the best, but it is wide, unstable wind compensated with the space you have. 2. iFly 12ft - pretty wobbly next to the glass, and due to size it is hard not to fly close to it. 3. iFly 14ft - I quite enjoy it, again I don't think you can avoid unsable wind, but it is large enough to notice it much really. 4. HurracaneFactory 14ft - bigger than iFly and a bit choppier wind, but more powerful than iFly. If I had to start my journey again, I would pick bigger tunnel quicker and a good coach that stays with you through out your jorney. My first 2 hours was with probably 10 different coaches, each had their own idea of how to teach, what speed to choose and I feel I would've progressed quicker if I just sticked to one. Hope this helps somehow.

I hope some AFF instructors will respond, but my understanding that 4way will be great training for you, and if so, 10ft is a bit too small to fit 4 people. Just for you or 2 people I think it should be possible to practice. Why don’t you just go and try it?:)

All UK tunnels were closed today due to coronavirus. Any suggestions for a home training so we don’t loose the skills?

That’s also great, I was just too eager to learn transitions, they looked more cooler to me than knee flying:)))

I practiced knee flying for few minutes before starting to learn transitions. But real knee flying came way after sit flying. It was relatively easy to learn static knee flying, but took a while to learn to fly on knees around the tunnel. I am still rough on outface carving though, which you do on the knees too.

Hi Arthur, If I translate it correctly, 2.5m = 8ft tunnel, and 3m = 10ft tunnel? I only tried 12ft and 14ft tunnels, but friend of mine was in Moscow last year in 8fter. She did 10 hours sitfly/head down, and said it was okay for static flying only. Again, depends on what you want to achive in the tunnel. I started in 12ft until I moved to sitfly and dynamic (carving, layouts) flying, then 12ft became too small (I am quite tall - 183cm/6ft). I actually tried to do layout once in 12ft... landed face down and broke the visor opening mechanism on my helmet :))))) Enjoy and good luck!

Hi blouberg, Great to hear about your progress! Happy New Year to you too! Knee flying can be very challenging indeed... I figured the knee flying long after I mastered sit flying:) what other skills are you learning? I like variety, when something doesn’t work I would just leave it for a while, and concentrate on something else. My goal is to master head down this year! I am almost ready to fly unassisted:) I also have a goal to sort all my videos and post some of them.

Do you mean this one?

It seems that you have flown for a while since we last spoke! How is your progression?

Blouberg, how did it go with a new suit and a new helmet?:)

I agree with everyone who commented, it all depends on your goal, your body and ability to process. If I do 5 day camp, I like to mix 30/45 minutes per day to give my body chance sometimes to rest. I always prefer 15 mins sessions 6x2:30. However, if I do one day per month after work type of flying, then I’d prefer 2x10 mins sessions, as I get too tired after work to do more. Having a coach makes a lot of difference, so definitely agree with that advice too:)

Welcome blouberg! Nice videos! Always great to see someone new who is hooked on flying as much as you are wait and see when you start backflying, and then transitions too. For me to do my first half barrel roll was something more than amazing;) building strength and stretching is super important as want2doit said, and don’t forget to warm up before you get into the tunnel too. You are super lucky to have a tunnel so close by! It takes me 2 hours one way to get there... but maybe it’s good, otherwise I’d spend too much Time there.... hehe what suit did you go for?

Hi wind tunnel friends, I have been trying out head down flying for quite a few months few minutes here and there, but only recently I made it my goal to progress. I got comfortable on low speeds on the net, but the moment the speed go up, I really struggle to keep strong arms and legs, so have no idea how I can lift without a support from a coach.... I do have a rather weak body, even though I swim, go to the gym, do yoga... I can’t pull up or push up.... I am trying, and work with personal trainer, but I do think it will take me months before I become stronger. And I don’t want to spend months on the net :)) oh and I can only do shelf, I can’t even keep balanced in Duffy, and I am not even trying anymore:)) any ideas? Suggestions? What can I do to progress quicker? Thanks!

Agree with everyone, most I ever did is 15 mins in 30 mins session, 2,5 minutes x 6 session is my preferred set up. I did 5 hours in 5 days tunnel boot camp last year, which was tough for the body. Now I prefer not to do more than 30 mins per day, usually splitting it into two goes with at least 1 hour break in between them.

Btw, I am also from UK, Wizz Air flies from London Luton directly to Poprad, Slovakia. From there it is just 1 hour train ride which costs about €7 and €3 taxi cost from train station to the tunnel! So cheap!

Hi philh, I would highly recommend Hurricane Factory Tatralandia in Slovakia. You can stay in Tatralandia Holiday village right next door which also has access to aqua park. I was there already twice for coaching camps and going again end May! Can not wait!! It is becoming my home tunnel, though some 2000 miles away from my home:)) All instructors in the tunnel speak English very well. I would highly recommend Ivan Farbak as a coach, he also has usually good deal for time+coaching. I believe it is €550 per hour. But you can also buy direct time with the tunnel, let me know if you would be interested and I can give you some contacts. Whilst you are there, if you would rent a car, you can also do hikes in the mountains. There is a lake close by to the tunnel (10 mins walk), I swam there in September last year after a day in a tunnel, a great way to cool down:)

Hi jarrko not sure if this is what you are looking for, but I found these in the past https://www.tunnelflight.com/uploads/documents/20171012_Formation_Skydiving_Coaching_manual.pdf And https://www.tunnelinstructor.com/wp-content/themes/tunnel/images/tunnel_book.pdf hope this help.

Hi Paul, I’d say you have at least two more options, before you bury the tunnel flying for good. First, go to Bedford BodyFlight instead, they are more flexible and catering for skydivers (remember iFly is mainly catering for first timer fun, while BodyFlight is a skydiving tunnel). Another option if Bedford is not easy to get to, go for AFF coach. They will be with you in the tunnel and deciding on the speed, etc. And they will be concentrating on correct body position too. Good luck!

Haha I think that will be me with head down. I think I already did at least 30 mins HD and I only lifted once for 5 seconds while two instructors were holding me everywhere Ahahah :))) I think it depends on drop zone plus it has been years ago, things change! :)) Speed skiing is a good idea of course :)))

For me sitfly was all about the back, but my back and the rest of me is actually hyper mobile, so it is an advantage:)) this is my first sitfly attempt at around 4 hours of flying. and this was 10 hour mark, so an improvement, but not sure if it is quick enough or not.:))) I stopped comparing myself to kids long ago....... they are way too good and learn too quick hehe the only question I ever have is who are they parents and how they can afford it :)) Skydiving is not on an agenda at the moment :))) but everyone tells me I should do it :))) I had a few static line jumps when I was 14 (no free fall), I was part of drop zone and had to even pack my own canopy before every jump. So I know the atmosphere and experience of soaring under the Shute... so I don’t feel huge attraction to do it again:))) I’d rather ski;)

Paul, I am sad to hear about your experience. I’ve been flying at Milton Keynes for a year now and never had any issues, but I was a complete newbie and started with the position they told me to, I didn’t mind as I didn’t know any better. It took a while for me to stop flying with straight legs, and I suppose if you don’t want to become a tunnel rat, you don’t want to spend that long on relearning. I know one thing for sure, I had tons of fun, straight legs or not and really liked the instructors at MK who know how to pump up your enthusiasm. Moving now between different tunnels and coaches, I noticed that first 2-4 mins they always spend on basics to test your skills before they give you higher speed. It is like skiing... a ski instructor will never take you to black slope without first testing your skills on blue, no matter what you say your experience is. They call in “let’s warm up”:) I wish you’d try it again, and go for 10 minutes at least, it will make a huge difference too!

Airhunger, I am not a skydiver, so all my experience is pure in the tunnel. I did hear that sitfly is easier if you don’t use your strength. I saw a couple of guys once who could sitfly and standfly after 5 hours total and they were super strong with huge biseps. But they didn’t look controlled or graceful. So while it made me feel like I didn’t progress as quick as them, I realised that my skills are more refined:))) Did it take you 3 hours to sit still or also move up/down/sideways? Sideways was the hardest for me. I am trying to figure out one leg stretched sitfly now.... I can’t get it and my leg doesnt want to bend the way coach wants me to bend it haha you definitely didn’t start late, I am few more years older:)

I only did 12 hours, I have signed off IBA level 1,2,3 after 8 hours, while also exploring all level 3 dynamic moves. Good with belly face in carving too:) By 10 hour I could comfortably sitfly carve, comfortable with help of a coach to do back to belly layouts and a bit less so with belly to back layouts. I was okay with back in face carving but at slow speed, getting there with knee flying and outface carving. I also did about 20 mins Head down by then, but I struggled a lot... I still do and I only lifted once for a few seconds with help of a coach and a spotter.... so that will be a long road for me. I found it hard to compare to other flyers, I was eager to learn quick, but other who had more physic did learn certain things quicker. I had to learn to fly (especially sitfly) without using my arms as they are weak... hehe