IFly supplies an indoor skydiving expertise that creates free fall situations with out having to leap out of an plane. The ability’s vertical wind tunnel generates 1600 horse energy from 4 highly effective followers, making a wall-to-wall cushion of air on which members can safely float. Whereas an leisure venue for the overall inhabitants, the wind tunnel is extra than simply enjoyable for the DoD personnel who use it for coaching functions.
“I’ve been doing the wind tunnel coaching for about six years and the coaching is the closest we are able to get to representing the sensation, movement and coaching to precise flight,” mentioned a Senior Chief Particular Warfare Operator stationed at NAVSAFECOM as a naval particular warfare security analyst. “This coaching is vital to me and others because it permits the chance to keep up soar qualification proficiency whereas stationed at a non-operational command.”
The wind tunnel is a low-risk ambiance that gives the jumper with a sensible expertise of falling by the air at 125 mph. Jumpers work on stability, 360-degree turns, facet slide and ahead or again actions. As soon as the fundamental actions have been mastered, jumpers can transition into emergency procedures and simulate every emergency process they may encounter on the “backside finish” of their soar. Not solely will jumpers observe their wave off process, however they’ll simulate and conduct a tough pull Emergency Process (EP), studying find out how to keep steady and nonetheless execute with fast however precision exhausting pull.
On this coaching day on the wind tunnel, members had their very own particular person areas they aimed to coach in. Individuals have completely different ranges of expertise and particular coaching targets to work towards.
“Immediately I labored on numerous free fall physique positions. Shifting ahead and again, left to proper in numerous varieties,” mentioned the Senior Chief Particular Warfare Operator. “The opposite factor I labored on was restoration stability, having the teacher push or pull me and roll me over and dealing on my restoration.”
Senior Chief Particular Warfare Boat Operator Brad Rumbaugh, a small boat security analyst with NAVSAFECOM, has over 200 navy free fall (MFF) jumps and numerous hours going into the tunnel. Rumbaugh’s coaching centered on his “Coach’s Place,” which makes use of legs to maneuver, liberating one’s fingers for hand alerts whereas instructing one other flyer.
“The place is for helping one other jumper. If somebody hasn’t jumped shortly or asks for somebody to leap out with them, that place permits for the “coach” to make use of his or her fingers to both assist or finally pull the rip twine if the jumper freaks out or freezes within the air and misses their pull altitude,” mentioned Rumbaugh. “When teaching it’s a must to be able to cease their spin, direct and talk corrections along with your fingers. You’ll be able to’t be utilizing your hand to maneuver and cross hand alerts on the identical time, so it’s a must to be taught to fly along with your legs so your fingers are free.”
The members know the worth of wind tunnel coaching and seize each alternative they should take part.
“Coaching like that is vital to DoD as a result of like all the pieces else it’s a must to keep present along with your abilities. You both use or lose your abilities with issues like capturing, skydiving, scuba diving, and so on.,” mentioned Rumbaugh. “Wind tunnel coaching permits navy free fall parachutists the power to knock the rust off, acquire extra expertise and enhance their confidence in emergency procedures previous to the true evolution of navy free fall.”
Chief Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Jeremy Marco, a NAVSAFECOM expeditionary warfare security analyst pressured the significance of the free fall emergency and survivability procedures and the chance the vertical wind tunnel supplies.
“Vertical wind tunnel coaching with procedures will increase the jumper’s in-air survivability and skill to face up to and deal with malfunctions and in-air emergencies that would happen,” mentioned Marco. “Immediately, I labored particularly on stomach fly, turns utilizing fingers and toes, situational consciousness and air area administration.”
Threat is inherent in all duties, coaching, missions, operations and private actions regardless of how routine. Whereas there isn’t a scarcity of inherent threat within the Navy’s expeditionary and particular warfare communities, coaching such because the wind tunnel stays key to readiness − Navy’s prime precedence. Immediately’s operational atmosphere calls for ships, plane, submarines, expeditionary forces, particular operations forces and personnel which might be able to struggle and win.
DISCLAIMER: The usage of IFLY by title on this article doesn’t indicate endorsement by the Naval Security Command.
