| "Bodyflying
is not some "New Extreme Sport" it's a way of
life, a way to fitness and spiritual health!" |
The
following information and images have been provided in part
by Bodyflight Network
www.bodyflight.net.
Extreme
Sports Cafe would like to extend it's thanks to Dawn Suiter
and Bodyflight Network for information about Wind Tunnels contained
in this page.
What
is a Vertical Wind Tunnel?
Technically speaking, the wind tunnel, although it appears in
myriad forms, always retains the five identifying elements italicised
below:
• This simple device consists of an enclosed passage through
which air is driven by a fan or any appropriate drive  system.
The heart of the wind tunnel is the test section, in
which a scale model is supported in a carefully
controlled airstream, which produces a flow of air about
the model, duplicating that of the full-scale aircraft. The
aerodynamic characteristics of the model and its flow field
are directly measured by appropriate balances and test instrumentation.
What is Bodyflight?
• The ability to fly your body through the air in a controlled
manner as in free fall or a vertical wind tunnel; the sport
of piloting your body with purpose and control in a vertically
oriented airstream.
Are all Vertical Wind Tunnels created equally?
No they are not. Vertical Wind Tunnels, like people, come in
a variety of shapes & sizes, each with their own features
and flaws.
Basically, there are two overall types
1. Sucker/Vacuum Pressure Suction
2. Blower/Air-Pusher
The first type of tunnel is completely reliant on the walls
that closely surround the air column which work together with
a fan or multiple fans above or below the flight area to create
enough pressure/air speeds to allow people to fly. You
don't normally see any padding or soft landing places at these
facilities.
The second type of tunnel is non reliant on any external configurations
and therefore can be used with walls or without, or perhaps
even both. These tunnels have a variety of safety nets &
air bags surrounding them some shaped like cones, and others
are simply open with a large airbags or catch-nets surrounding
the air column.
Is one type of VWT better than the other?
If your a first time flyer, the answer is "Not Really",
it's likely that you will have a GREAT TIME
no matter which tunnel you visit first.
As you become a more disciplined flyer you will likely become
most proficient at the VWT located nearest to you, at which
time we highly recommend investing some time & money into
learning to fly at other facilities as well. It goes without
saying that the more experience you have in a variety of environments
the better skilled you will be as a flyer, and the more body
awareness you will have. The worlds best bodyflyers do not limit
themselves to only one machine, and can also appreciate the
different skills required to maintain controlled flight under
a variety of circumstances.
Click
Here to learn more about the history of Human Flight & Vertical
Wind Tunnels
Is
flying in vertical wind tunnels dangerous?
This is the one question we never know how to answer.
Honestly, the legal answer would be Yes, because the risk of
injury can be great. The risks of injury include every
injury you could sustain from low impact sport injuries; strains,
breaks, dislocations and in a severe case a bad fall could result
in death. HOWEVER,
it is important to note, that to our knowledge in over 20 years,
no one has ever died as a result of participating in this sport.
Assessing the risks:
You are at the greatest risk in the first 5 minutes you spend
as a student learning to fly. As you are learning to fly, your
brain is busy consuming the new information and therefore places
you at an 'awareness level' that's below average. You
have spent your entire life walking & being oriented vertically,
and flying is done in a horizontal orientation and will take
your brain a few minutes to comprehend. After a few minutes,
your brain begins to settle down and process the flying just
as it does anything else. Once you can understand what
you are doing, and have learned the basic skills required, your
risk of injury drop exponentially. At this point in time
you are in control of your body, you are able begin performing
manoeuvres. Each time you learn a new manoeuvre your risk
increases slightly and then decreases again with proficiency.
The risks involved with Wind Tunnel Flying should not be compared
with the risk of death or injury possible when skydiving/parachuting.
In fact Vertical Wind Tunnel flying bears little resemblance
to the sport of skydiving, but is intertwined due to the benefits
skydivers experience when practicing their freefall skills in
the tunnel. They are able to realize the skills required
to become expert skydivers in a fraction of the time and cost
it would've taken them in the sky.
Understanding
the Sport...
Vertical Wind Tunnel flying or bodyflying, is a sport open to
everyone, not just the risk takers of the world. Children and
adults both love the challenge it presents and physical skills
required to fly. It is a great way to stay in shape and
a fun way to spend time with your family. Once you know
how, it's honestly as easy as toasting bread! The physical benefits
you will receive from flying are countless, it's a fabulous
cardio workout and would certainly be considered aerobic.
But because of the low-impact nature of bodyflying, nearly anyone
of every age can participate. The truly fun part of flying
is the endless possibilities, the oddly relaxing act of bodyflying
is therapeutic and enlightening like yoga, and for many becomes
a way of life or at least a life changing experience.
You'll find that it can be as extreme and risky as you would
like it to be, or as safe, and low impact as a brisk stroll
through the park, the only difference is the freedom of movement.
How
can I have a go?
There
are several ways...
1.
Extreme Sports Cafe has access to the only Wind Tunnel in Asia
near Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.
If you would like to buy time on the Wind Tunnel you can book
through us at $45RM for each 2 minutes
block.
That is $12US for 2 minutes, or £6.50
in Pounds Sterling.
Compare that to your local prices, if you have a local Wind
Tunnel!! Go to our online
store to book now... (Use the 15min, 30min and 1hr deposit
payments - and multiples of those to book your required time.)
2.
Extreme Sports Cafe is organising Wind Tunnel training camps
utilizing the Wind Tunnel in Malaysia, which will run alongside
a full AFF camp simultaneously, starting in 2005. Contact
us for dates and more info.
Complete novices can attend, as well as experienced skydivers,
and recently qualified AFF students; who may even have finished
their course at the AFF camp running alongside the Wind Tunnel
Camp in Malaysia.
3.
Over the coming months Extreme Sports Cafe will be adding several
Wind Tunnels with special rates for Extreme Sports Cafe customers
to take advantage of. At all of these Wind Tunnels; coaching,
training and advice will be on hand for all levels of Skydivers
and Bodyflyers.
4.
In 2006 Extreme Sports Cafe plans to build an outside Wind Tunnel
at our new Drop Zone
in Thailand.
For
more information check out our Skydive
Thailand web site.
| Tunnel
Camp Dates & Booking Individual Tunnel Time... |
2006/2007
Tunnel Camps |
|
|
|
|
Malaysia |
Jan.
4th - 10th |
Flat
& Free coaching available. |
No
AFF camp before at
present. |
|
Malaysia |
Aug
/ Sept |
Flat
& Free coaching available. |
|
PLEASE
NOTE: You may actually book tunnel time
at any time that suits you.
|
| Genting
Sky Venture, Malaysia. |
 51
km North East of Kuala Lumpur in the City of Entertainment
Operating Hours
Monday - Friday: 12.00 noon to 10.00 pm
Saturday/Eve of Public Holiday: 12.00 noon - 12.00 midnight
Public Holiday/Sunday: 10.00 am - 10.00 pm
Restrictions
Minimum height: 1.2m
Minimum weight: 36kg
Maximum weight: 113.6kg
Description
An attraction ride that is part of an indoor "future"
theme park; so there is plenty to do for friends and family
members who may accompany you on the trip... that is if they
don't fancy some body flight!
GET
IN TOUCH WITH US NOW TO START THE ADVENTURE…
For
a personal consultation, or to book a course why not give us
a call, or log on for a live online chat...
For
an information pack please complete our On-line
Enquiry form.
Alternatively,
drop us an email: info@extremesportscafe.com
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