Life

Key question about Belfast indoor skydiving centre: When can we go again, mum?

Jenny Lee, treats her son on the ultimate adrenalin-fuelled family day out, as they take flight at Belfast's new indoor skydiving centre

Jenny Lee's seven-year-old son Noah gets a thumbs up from instructor Artis at Vertigo Indoor Skydiving
Jenny Lee's seven-year-old son Noah gets a thumbs up from instructor Artis at Vertigo Indoor Skydiving Jenny Lee's seven-year-old son Noah gets a thumbs up from instructor Artis at Vertigo Indoor Skydiving

IN MY early 20s, I almost jumped out of a plane; all in the name of journalism. However, weather conditions cancelled the flight and the opportunity passed. Now, almost 20 years, two pregnancies and a few injuries later, a more fearful me would never contemplate such an undertaking.

However, an invitation to the safer, controlled environment of Ireland's first indoor skydiving centre, was the perfect opportunity to fulfil the dreams of my younger self and to give my adrenalin-seeking seven-year-old son Noah an experience he will never forget.

So on the opening day of Vertigo Indoor Skydiving in Belfast's Titanic quarter, off we headed – Noah with youthful excitement and myself with nervous apprehension. The £1.5 million state-of-the-art facility, developed using world-leading Aerodium technology, is the newest venture from Belfast-based adventure centre We Are Vertigo.

The innovative technology that's the basis of indoor skydiving has been used by the movie industry to film stunts for blockbusters, including the final fight scene in Jackie Chan’s Chinese Zodiac, and it has become an increasingly popular as a sport in recent years. The wind tunnel works by pushing air from the bottom to the top – at speeds of up to 200km per hour – allowing you to be lifted up in the air, as if free-falling.

After completing our registration details and a medical questionnaire on the computer check-in and receiving our helmets, we watched a short video which outlines training tips and details hand signals that the instructors will give you during your flight.

Next, it was time to get kitted up with our jumpsuits, goggles, helmets and earplugs; then we had a couple minutes of warm-up exercises and stretches with our instructor, Artis.

With the butterflies leaping in my stomach, our group of five fliers were led into the wind tunnel. My first impression was that it looked a giant trampoline. When we were asked who wanted to go first, Noah didn't delay in putting up his hand and went inside without hesitation.

He flew with ease, imitating his hero Superman and even giving a thumbs up. All too soon, it was my turn to take a leap of fate, positioning myself at the edge of the tunnel with back arched and arms in the air. As I'd imagine is the case when you're at the plane door facing with an aerial skydive, I was glad of the instructor giving me a gentle push into the wind tunnel.

He stays with you to keep your body in the correct position, as any slight movement means you can drop or rise suddenly. The wind certainly left me breathless and you do have to make a conscious effort to breathe out.

My favourite part was when Artis grabbed hold of my hands and took me higher up the wind tunnel. At that point I felt weightless, like Wendy soaring through the sky with my very own Peter Pan.

Having felt like I'd just survived a hurricane, my legs were wobbly when I landed back on solid ground. As I regained my footing and breath, my son appeared beside me, still jumping with excitement.

With an age limit of just four years old (weight range between 20kg and 140kg), indoor sky diving can be a perfect adventure for the whole family. Non-jumpers can join in the excitement by watching from the viewing gallery.

On the car journey home, as I was singing Take My Breathe Away, from 80s movie Top Gun, Noah was asking when he could do skydiving again.

:: Packages start at £45 for a two-minute-long, 24,000 ft indoor skydive. Booking in advance at Wearevertigo.com is advisable.