Inside iFLY Indoor Skydiving: The Ultimate Thrill for the Entire Family
If you are trying to plan a Chol Hamoed itinerary that satisfies a fearless teenager, an energetic seven-year-old, and parents who prefer to keep both feet (safely) near the ground, you need an attraction with universal appeal. iFLY Indoor Skydiving is one of the very few experiences that genuinely hits that sweet spot.
Instead of jumping out of an airplane, iFLY uses a massive, state-of-the-art vertical wind tunnel to create a smooth cushion of air that allows you to float weightlessly. It delivers all the adrenaline of free-falling, but in a completely controlled, fully indoor, family-friendly environment.
Because they have expanded rapidly over the last few years, you don’t even have to travel far to find one. There are multiple massive facilities scattered across the Tristate area, making it incredibly easy to slide into your trip itinerary.
The Essential Details
- Locations: They have several regional outposts, including Queens (Long Island City) and Yonkers (Westchester) in NY; Paramus and Edison in New Jersey; and King of Prussia in Eastern PA.
- Standard Gate Price: A standard introductory package (which includes two flights per person) usually starts around $100 to $110.
- Age Sweet Spot: This is the best part—virtually anyone can fly. The minimum age requirement is just 3 years old, meaning your kindergartener can safely fly right after your high schooler.
- Time Commitment: While the actual time in the wind tunnel is short, expect the entire experience (including check-in, training, and gearing up) to take about 1.5 to 2 hours.
What to Expect Inside
You don’t just walk in and jump into the wind tunnel. The entire operation is highly structured to make sure everyone feels safe and confident before they fly.
1. Flight School (The Briefing)
After checking in, your group is taken into a classroom for a quick video and a personalized briefing from your certified flight instructor. Because it is incredibly loud inside the wind tunnel, they will teach you basic hand signals (like “bend your knees” or “chin up”) so you can communicate while flying.
2. Suiting Up
Next, you head to the gear room. You will put on a full-body flight suit over your street clothes, along with earplugs, safety goggles, and a helmet. (The kids usually love this part because everyone looks like they are about to step onto a spaceship.)
3. The Flight Experience
Your group sits on a bench just outside the clear glass tunnel. When it is your turn, you simply step forward and lean into the wind. You do not jump or fall; the air catches you immediately, lifting you off your feet. Your instructor stays inside the tunnel with you the entire time, holding onto your flight suit to keep you stable and guiding your posture so you can float hands-free.
4. The “High Flight”
At the end of your session, the instructor will usually offer a “High Flight” (sometimes for an extra fee at the desk, so check your package). The instructor grabs hold of your suit, the operator cranks up the wind speed, and the two of you go spinning rapidly up to the very top of the multi-story wind tunnel and back down again. It is easily the most thrilling part of the experience.
Pro Tips for Your Visit
- Dress Code is Strict on Shoes: You will be wearing their flight suit, but you must wear well-fitting, lace-up sneakers. If you show up in slip-ons, sandals, or Yom Tov shoes, they will force you to buy or rent cheap sneakers at the front desk before you can fly.
- Manage Flight Time Expectations: A standard package includes two flights per person, and each flight lasts exactly 60 seconds. That sounds incredibly short, but 60 seconds is actually longer than the free-fall portion of a real skydiving jump! Because flying uses muscles you aren’t used to engaging, your body will actually be tired after those two minutes.
- Designated Photographers: The wind tunnel is completely encased in clear glass, and there is a viewing area with benches right outside of it. If you have grandparents or family members who don’t want to fly, they can watch the entire thing for free and get fantastic photos and videos of the kids floating.
