Indoor Skydiving Centers, Skydiving Simulators, Vertical Wind Tunnels Locations Locator Map and Directory

A vertical wind tunnel (often abbreviated to "VWT") is a wind tunnel propelled by air moving up in a vertical column. Vertical Wind Tunnels are always recreational in nature, although they do serve a somewhat important purpose as training tools for skydivers. VWTs are typically found in gyms, arcades and other recreation areas, where they're advertised as "bodyflight" or "indoor skydiving." Skydivers report that the sensation of being in a vertical wind tunnel is extremely similar to skydiving.

The appeal of vertical wind tunnels is that they allow you to fly completely suspended in the air, without the aid of planes, parachutes, etc. Wind is generated vertically at approximately 120 mph (adjusted for the participant's weight), counteracting the terminal velocity of a falling human body.

Bodyflight is specifically defined as the art of flying your body in a totally controlled manner. Maneuvers performed by humans in bodyflight include rolls, turns, lateral movements, fall rate manipulation, and acrobatics. Skydivers practice bodyflight in vertical wind tunnels to make it possible for them to fly closer together in formation while skydiving (including linking). Other athletes who take advantage of bodyflight and vertical windtunnels include ski jumpers and snowboarders, who train themselves to increase their jumping distance by contorting their bodies to become more aerodynamic and airfoil-like. Frequent air tunnelists are called "tunnel rats."