My whole body was tingling after my pseudo skydiving experience at iFLY.
The feeling of weightlessness followed by the feeling of vibration is unforgettable – and it’s a sensation not many people get to experience.
Fortunately for Penrith locals, we have the most powerful indoor skydiving facility in the Southern Hemisphere right next door to Panthers Leagues Club.
All packages at the facility include training, flight gear, and a minimum of two flights per person with an instructor. The standard flight is 50 seconds, which is slightly longer than a 14,000ft tandem skydive.
My experience started with a quick run-down from the receptionist Charlise, who explained how my lesson would look and directed me towards the lockers so I could keep my belongings secure.
After that, I sat down to await my flight, intently inspecting the wind tunnel in the middle of the room.
The tunnel had a net at the bottom, a blue ring of light at the top, and it was surrounded by couches where onlookers could sit to watch flyers.
Over the speakers was energetic music that fit the adrenaline-filled atmosphere, and I couldn’t help but laugh to myself when I heard Fall Out Boy’s ‘Sugar, We’re Going Down’ start playing.
I watched as the group before me filed into the tube and listened as the tunnel whirred to life.
The beginners were wearing orange and blue flight suits, helmets and goggles, while the experienced instructor was easily distinguishable in all black. The instructor used hand gestures to communicate with students, with the key messages being head up, legs straight, and arms out.
After the newbies, an experienced flyer took to the tube and made me question the existence of airbenders.
He expertly moved around the tunnel as though the wind was under his control – a stark contrast to how I looked when I leaped in.
I was part of a group of nine complete beginners, five of which had a slight language barrier. Despite that, our instructor Brett was able to communicate how the flight would go.
We learnt what Brett’s hand signals would mean, how to fit our flight gear, and how to enter the tunnel – once that was done, we were ready.
Watching people fly still doesn’t prepare you for your own experience. When I made the leap into the wind tunnel, it took my breath away (almost literally).
It’s strange going from standing on solid ground to floating in a roaring tunnel, and I’m sure my stunned mullet expression conveyed that to onlookers.
However, with help from Brett, I was able to work with the wind and position my limbs in the best way to keep me afloat.
As someone who has zero desire to jump out of a plane, this is the perfect kind of adrenaline rush.
Find the facility at 123 Mulgoa Road, Penrith.
Ally Hall
Ally Hall joined the Weekender in 2024, and focuses on entertainment and community stories. She's a graduate of the University of South Australia and has previously worked as a Video Journalist with Southern Cross Austereo and as a News Reader with Australian Radio Network.