If you have ever considered skydiving but are afraid of actually taking "the plunge", you may be a candidate for simulated sky diving. Those who have tried IMAX theater experiences, where the screen is able to faithfully replicate a real world experience will understand how close simulated visuals can be to the real thing. When you add the true movement of a plane, add the wind pressure and the falling experience to a visual simulation, you will have as close to the full experience of skydiving without actually doing it.

The history of this interesting sport began in 1964 when, at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, wind tunnels were developed in order to train military paratroopers to learn to sky jump. There were successfully used in the training of the elite Golden Knights, the Strategic Army Corps Parachute Team. This group still is in existence today.

Simulated skydiving for the general public was introduced by Flyaway Indoor Skydiving of Las Vegas in 1982. They expanded into a second location shortly thereafter by opening their Pigeon Forge Tennessee operation. This forward thinking company has made it fun, safe and economical for almost anyone to enjoy the excitement of skydiving.

Here is what simulated skydiving is: a skydiver enters a tunnel, equipped just as any other skydiver would be dressed in goggles, helmet and jumpsuit. This vertical tunnel has air propelled through it at over 120mph. Because of the propulsion of the wind against the body of the jumper, he has the ability to skydive in the tunnel. This is the safest way to experience skydiving without jumping out of a plane, and it is good for anyone, as long as they meet certain minimum and maximum weight requirements.

You do have to be instructed to a certain extent, so don't think that you will skip the training period of skydiving altogether. You will view some instructions as to how to align your body during the "flight", what the proper hand signals are to the operator, and how to "fall" safely. You are not actually falling, although you have the sense of it. You feel as though you are falling from a plane, but there is no danger whatsoever.

Outside of the small instructions necessary, you don't have to have special training or skills to try . Falling through the air as if from a plane is easy and fun and something that everyone in the family, except for the littlest ones, can enjoy together.