iFly in Dallas

As a belated birthday gift The Mrs. had booked a spot for us with iFly. For those that don't know what iFly is, it's a 3 story tall building built around a glass tube about 14' in diameter. It has 2 huge fans underground which blow air up through the tube. Airspeed through the tube is adjustable, but ranges from around 85 mph to 115 mph. You enter the tube in skydiving gear, and essentially do a stationary free fall. It's pretty incredible. The instructors/spotters are seasoned skydivers, and at the end of each session do a little solo freestyle demo for the crowd. These guys are impressive, doing things you'd never imagine possible. One guy even had a Spiderman routine, which looked just like Spiderman climbing up the wall, shooting spider webs then suddenly flying 3 stories up in the air, then plummeting back down stopping his fall just inches from the bottom netting. Spinning upside down, it was like an aerial ballet. Our instructor had around 900 skydives (real ones) to his credit, so he just flew around inside the tube like it was second nature. When we each got in the tube, you would have thought we were suffering from Parkinsons and Turrets simultaneously. Drool flying everywhere, thrashing about like we had just urinated on an electric fence. Quite a sight. And we paid money to do it. Just imagine.

Registering upon arrival. Taylor showing her fear.

This is Alissa on her first flight.

The Mrs. acting like she's not terrified.

Quick training session for everybody.

All suited up and ready to fly. Scott joined us since we had 5 passes.

This is some random kid in the tube. It gives you an idea what it's like.

It gives you a whole new appreciation for those weathermen 

who stand outside reporting during hurricanes.

And there you have it.

To Air is Divine

Taylor's Spring Break is this week.

Not long ago Taylor had asked me quite a few questions about what training was like when I got my pilot's license. I figured any explanation I could give wouldn't give her a true sense of what it's really like, since you're moving in a horizontal as well as vertical plane. I made a few calls and lined up a discovery flight for her at a local training academy while she was on break. These are some photos I took early Tuesday morning this week.

Here she is with her flight instructor doing the preflight on the aircraft.

There's nothing like the feeling of strapping into the left seat for the first time ever.

Slipping the surly bonds of earth.

Unfortunately, I had to borrow Jen's camera since mine is no longer functional. 

And of course the camera's battery died just after they began the climb out.

She had a great time, and walked away with a much greater appreciation 

for what her Uncle Tony does as a pilot flying all over the globe for FedEx.

And there you have it!