Introduction to indoor free fall in Argenteuil, 2 min from 15 years old

This indoor free fall baptism takes place in a vertical wind tunnel in Argenteuil, about twenty kilometers from Paris. It is aimed at anyone aged 15 and over who has never flown and does not require any skydiving experience. You fly for 2 minutes in a glass tube 4.80 m in diameter and 7 m high. This roughly corresponds to the free fall time of three parachute jumps from 3,800 m altitude. As everything takes place indoors, the weather has no influence on your flight.

Procedure for the baptism: you arrive 30 minutes before your time for reception and registration. You are then given a one-piece suit and a full-face helmet, two pieces of equipment required during the flight. Anything that could come loose stays in a secure locker, from watches and phones to jewelry and glasses. Your instructor then gives you the briefing: he shows you the flight position and the essential gestures, then the communication signs he will use in the tube and the safety rules.

You enter the air vein with him. Getting into flight begins at ground level, without starting at height and without space under the feet. The wind that carries you is adjusted to your weight by twelve variators connected to motors installed in the basement. During the 2 minutes, the instructor stays by your side to correct your position and adapt the power of the wind to your profile. To finish, he takes you with him to the top of the flight zone: this is the final takeoff, the only moment of the baptism where you really gain height in the tube.

The people accompanying you do not stay at the door. The visitors area overlooks the tube and a large screen broadcasts your visit. If you want to keep images, a photo and video option is also offered in addition to the baptism.

Good to know: come in comfortable clothing and with closed shoes. Participants aged 15 to 17 must present parental authorization. From the age of 65, you need a medical certificate of no contraindication of less than one year or a valid annual skydiving license, and the certificate is also required from people with disabilities. Flight is contraindicated in cases of heart disease or pregnancy, but also with an unoperated dislocated shoulder, a herniated disc, epilepsy or a surgical operation less than three months old. If in doubt, the information sheet to fill out before the flight allows you to check your situation with your doctor.

If this is your first time in a wind tunnel, a good part of the time is spent discovering the wind and looking for support while understanding the instructor's signs. This 4-minute flight formula is split into two 2-minute passages so that you return to the airstream with these landmarks already in mind. It is open from 15 years old in Argenteuil, 20 minutes from Paris. It is suitable for a first flight as well as for a person who has already had a first flight and wants to fly for longer.

After the welcome, the equipment and the briefing, the first passage resembles a baptism. You enter the glass tube with your instructor at ground level, and it adjusts the wind power to your weight while you find the flying position. You then come out of the tube, which gives you time to catch your breath and know what needs to be corrected.

On the second pass, the sensation of the air no longer surprises you and you recognize the monitor's signs. We can then work on posture: the placement of the arms, legs and head, but also stability and the way of remaining in the center of the air flow without drifting towards the window. The instructor stays next to you until the final takeoff, which takes you to the top of the flight zone.

In figures, 4 minutes of flight is approximately six parachute jumps from 3,800 m and double the 2-minute baptism. The wind is produced by twelve electric motors placed under the tube. Its power is adjustable from zero to 200 km per hour and it follows your weight and your level.

The conditions are those of baptism: parental authorization before the age of 18, medical certificate from the age of 65 and contraindications to be checked on the information sheet. Bring loose clothing and closed shoes, as the one-piece suit and full-face helmet are provided on site.

The maxi pack has 10 minutes of flight. This is five times the time of a 2-minute baptism and, at the rate of three jumps from 3,800 m for two minutes of wind tunnel, this represents the equivalent of around fifteen free falls by parachute. These minutes are personal and the formula is aimed at children from 7 years old as well as adults who want to progress in flight after an introduction or from the start, in the Argenteuil wind tunnel near Paris.

With this volume of theft, we go beyond discovery. You can work on your position and stability, then the movements and rotations that the instructor judges to be appropriate for your level.

The level of each practitioner is assessed by the technical team of the wind tunnel, who also determines the supervision conditions. If you have never flown in a wind tunnel, your first flights must be done with an instructor at your side in the air stream. The wind power is adjusted from zero to 200 km per hour by twelve variators and it follows your weight, then your progress as you gain comfort.

You fly in a wind tunnel which is also a training organization recognized in wind tunnel flight and certified Qualiopi. We prepare for the CQP Flat Flight Instructor in a wind tunnel, the qualification which trains people to welcome practitioners and supervise them until they become independent.

The briefing and equipment are included in the package, as is support from an instructor. They count the time spent in the air vein, reception and equipment taking place outside. The one-piece suit and full-face helmet are provided and your personal items remain in a secure locker. The conditions of participation are those of baptisms, with a representative adult present for ages 7 to 14 and a medical certificate from age 65. To steal, a loose outfit and closed shoes are enough, the watch and jewelry remaining in the locker.