WHAT DOES SKYDIVING FEEL LIKE?
Perhaps you’re thinking about jumping out of a plane or just wondering what does skydiving feel like as a first-time skydiver. We’re going to take a deep “dive” into the sensations of skydiving and what it is like to jump out of a plane as a first-time skydiver.
HOW FAST DO YOU FALL WHEN SKYDIVING?
On the average tandem skydive, you’ll be falling at around 120mph or more. It’s pretty fast!
How long do you fall when tandem skydiving?
Depending on the altitude you’re jumping from, you’ll be in freefall for 30-50 seconds. Buyer beware: some skydiving centers offer “cheap” skydives by giving you less freefall time. Be sure to confirm the altitude you’ll be jumping from when you see a crazy-good discount. At Skydive Midwest, we always try to jump from 14,000ft and we never “upsell” altitude. Check out our blog How Much Does Skydiving Cost to learn more about upsell scams and how to the skydiving experience that is right for you.
Can you feel how fast you’re falling in freefall?
Because there are no objects relative to you, like trees and houses flying by out of a car window, there isn’t as much perspective of speed. The biggest indicators are the sound of wind in your ears and the feel of it on your skin.
Does skydiving feel like falling?
Skydiving feels more like flying than falling. The sensations of rapid acceleration, stomach drop and ground rush are notably absent when skydiving. You are already traveling at a high speed when you exit the plane, so there is no rapid acceleration. During freefall, you are too far from the ground and relative objects to experience ground rush.
Does skydiving feel like a roller coaster?
The average roller coaster achieves speeds of 50-70 miles per hour. Compared to 120+ miles per hours when skydiving, that’s not even close. The tallest roller coaster in the world is 156 feet. At Skydive Midwest we jump from 14,000ft. That’s more than 2.5 miles above the ground!
Does your stomach drop on a skydive?
Depending on the aircraft you’re jumping from, there is NO stomach drop sensation. That feeling is caused by rapid acceleration. When jumping from a turbine aircraft, you are already traveling with a horizontal speed of around 100mph. When you exit the plane, your horizontal speed is converted to vertical speed, rather than pure acceleration to terminal velocity. This eliminates stomach drop.
What does it feel like to open a parachute during freefall?
When your parachute is deployed, you can feel your descent being rapidly slowed. You might notice the pressure of your harness straps pulling against your body. People sometimes say it feels like being pulled back up into the sky, rather than still falling toward the ground. The perception is often heightened when jumping with a videographer as you watch them continue to fall away from you as you deploy.
What does it feel like to fall through a cloud?
Clouds are made up of tiny water molecules. If you’ve ever been outside in thick fog, the sensation would be quite similar; the air is dense and humid. However, clouds create an additional risk when skydiving because they diminish visibility. Because of this, we always avoid jumping into clouds.
Is skydiving scary?
There’s definitely an intimidation factor when it comes to jumping out of an airplane. It’s totally natural to feel nervous or even downright terrified. Our most apprehensive customers often find the experience the most rewarding. The anticipation is almost always more stressful than the moment you actually leave the airplane. For in-depth analysis of how skydiving affects your brain, read: The Science Behind Being Scared.
What does it FEEL like to skydive?
We’ve answered the most asked questions about the physical experience of skydiving, but we haven’t exactly hit on the heart of it. The real “feeling” of skydiving can often be more about the mental/emotional experience and it’s a little different for everyone.
For most people, skydiving forces you to be present and in-the-moment. It’s impossible to think about your worldly troubles, work, finances, and the stresses of daily life. People report feeling empowered, feeling free, and feeling like they can do anything after they jump.
Skydiving is breathtakingly beautiful. There’s something about the freedom of falling into the big blue sky that lights people up. The cloud formations, deep blue Lake Michigan, the city skylines of Chicago and Milwaukee….and nothing between you and all of it; it’s an experience you can’t have any other way.
EXPERIENCE IT FOR YOURSELF!
The one thing almost everyone agrees on is that skydiving is unlike anything else. It’s one of those things that can’t be fully articulated, so if you want to know what skydiving is like, you have to take the leap.