Fulfilling a dream by skydiving (by Robert)

[caption id="attachment_2038" align="alignnone" width="940"] Robert enjoying the dive![/caption]

Everyone has a few things that they really want to do. I’ve got three, Scuba-Diving, Skiing (I’ve done that now at the Snow Dome) and the one I most want to do - Sky Diving. Unfortunately you have to be a bit older than ten to do that extreme activity, so after looking and looking we found the next best thing: indoor skydiving.

A giant fan, an enormous tunnel and a skilled instructor is all it takes to “learn to fly”. After meeting Cameron, our instructor, we learnt all about exactly what we were going to do. As you can’t hear anything when indoor skydiving, the coach uses hand signs to tell us what we are doing wrong, so remember to follow them carefully. Then we put on our big red and blue suits, colourful goggles, a helmet and ear plugs. Do not forget to put the ear plugs on like I did, as the noise from the fan is so loud.

[caption id="attachment_2039" align="alignnone" width="940"] Jess and Brian getting ready beforehand[/caption]

Then we walked upstairs just in time to watch the last people from the group before us. We sat down on a bench and one by one were taken into the see-through wind tunnel. You can get two one minute turns or the more expensive, but longer, two, two minute turns. When jumping head first for your first go the air pressure may be a bit overwhelming and you may find it a little hard to breathe, but stick with it. The instructor - who is inside with you the whole time - puts you in the correct position before spinning you and throwing you around. In the first go you only go about three metres high unless you become a high flyer which costs £5. This means you go right up all the way to the top of the 13 metre tunnel at a whopping 165 mph.

[caption id="attachment_2040" align="alignnone" width="940"] Jess tries a skydive[/caption]

On the second way round you are more accustomed to the air rushing all around you, so everyone gets to go up high. Your instructor starts off by spinning you around really fast before zooming to the top with you. When you're there, you feel so high up and it was breathtaking before you plummeted down. Do not worry if you are about to crash into the floor or walls as it doesn’t hurt one bit and the instructor will help you.

You cannot take any loose belongings in the tunnel so that means no pictures or videos unless someone who isn’t flying takes pictures in the viewing area.

Our coach, Cameron, was extremely nice and told lots of jokes. Sometimes when you were skydiving he would spin you around like you were doing a somersault in mid air. He also performed an amazing sky diving routine when we had all finished.

[caption id="attachment_2041" align="alignnone" width="940"] Flying![/caption]

I loved every bit and I wished it could’ve gone on for longer. Now I need to find some new things I really want to do!

Robert, Jess and Brian tried out Airkix Indoor Skydiving at Milton Keynes, where Robert was offered a discounted media rate. The experience is suitable for all ages, and can also be given as a gift, via vouchers. Airkix have three tunnels, in Milton Keynes, Manchester and Basingstoke. The Kix-Start experience is the basic introductory one (done by Brian and Jess, although Robert flew for longer!) and includes two flights, from £29.99 per person. Children can also try out a Superhero Kix-Start - and be kitted out with a Superman, Batman or Supergirl flying suit. From £49.99.

Read about our trip to the Snowdome - where the kids tried skiing and sledging.