Ever wanted to go skydiving but didn't think you were up for the whole jumping out of a plane bit? Then make like Cindy Crawford and head to Universal Studios City Walk in Hollywood where you can try out indoor skydiving. No plane needed. Heck, you don't even have to jump off a bench or anything.

That's because iFly Hollywood is essentially a vertical wind tunnel. Here's how they describe it:

Simply put, iFLY is flying; you will soar on a column of air inside a vertical wind tunnel....iFLy uses superior technology and is unique; multiple fans located at the top of the flight chamber produce a wall-to-wall airflow that is smooth and fun to fly in.

]]> juliana 2009-07-30T09:40:22-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/10/5/15552/1478

If the idea of climbing Mount Everest isn't extreme enough for you, how about skydiving over Everest to the world's highest landing zone? That's exactly what a group of three adventurers did this weekend in a feat organized by a British tour company called High and Wild. The trio from Britain, New Zealand, and Canada ponied up 13,500 British pounds each for the experience, which involved a one-minute free fall above the world's highest mountain, oversized parachutes, oxygen tanks, exposure suits, and a gentle return to earth on a flat drop zone. While the experience isn't for the faint-of-heart - most participants have several hundred jumps under their belts - it seems a heck of a lot easier than trudging up the mountain on foot from base camp. Still, it represents the fulfillment of organizer Nigel Gifford's longtime dream to combine his two loves: Himalayan Mountaineering and skydiving. A total of 32 people will make the "Everest Skydive" over the next two weeks, before the company's permits expire and the mountain must once again be tackled the hard way.

[Photo: Sky News]

Related Stories:
· British Skydiver Makes First Jump Over Mount Everest [Daily Telegraph]
· Skydivers Complete Everest Leap [BBC News]
· Skydiving Coverage [Jaunted]]]> Victor Ozols 2008-10-05T15:05:52-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/8/13/83045/6195

Slip the name James Bond into anything touristy and we will be there like a shot. It's embarrassing but true, and the latest Bond-related place of interest is the Bodyflight indoor skydiving facility in Bedford, England.

Two things: First up, some of the scenes from the "Quantum of Solace" Bond movie were filmed here so you, too, can fly in the same wind tunnel that Daniel Craig did.

And second: you can go one step further than Craig, because they're about to open a new ride called Bodyflight Vertigo. It's a 120-foot jump, the tallest in Britain, and you're free-falling for two thirds of the way. This pleasure (or terror) will only cost you £30 (US$57) or you can combine it with a trip through the wind tunnel for some simulated skydiving. The fun kicks off in September, two months before the new Bond movie hits theaters.

Related Stories:
· Bodyflight [Official Site]
· James Bond + Vertigo [eTravel]
· Spy Travel: Bond 22 Filming Wastes Perfectly Good Car [Jaunted]

[Photo: Bodyflight]]]> amandak 2008-08-13T09:00:09-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/2/7/213723/6206

Just north of New York City, Skydive the Ranch gives New Yorkers and Big Apple visitors the chance to get out and take in some fresh air. Like, a lot of fresh air. Because when the Ranchers take people out, they take 'em to 13,500 feet.

Don't be scared. If Ann Curry and Kristin Davis can do it, so can you. On the first jump, you'll go tandem with an instructor who will help make sure you don't get into any trouble on the way down. That said, you still get to do the fun stuff like pull the rip cord and steer the chute.

The Ranch isn't super-close to the city, but its Ulster County location is easy enough to reach even without a car. Adirondack Trailways runs daily service upstate from the Port Authority Bus Terminal near Times Square. (Transportation deets are here.) Your first jump will cost you $189, but after that it's only $165 to go again.

Related Stories:
· Skydive the Ranch [Official Site]
· Jaunted's Active Travel coverage [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2007-02-08T13:02:20-05:00 41.6715510 -74.153881 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/