GeGe 0 #1 December 28, 2006 Since December 23rd we have our own windtunnel here in The Netherlands: www.indoorskydive.com. It's a closed circuit design with a diameter of 4.27 meters (14+ ft) and is big enough for a 4-way team. The airflow can be varied and it doesn't need to shutdown for entering or leaving the flight chamber. On the 23rd there was a "skydivers only" day as a try-out and it was great! My team booked around 100 minutes and enjoyed it immensely. Clean strong air, solid walls, creeper area, bar+restaurant: it looks pretty complete to me! Anyway, now that I have a tunnel almost next door (ok it's a 1 hour drive), I've got something new to do in winter time except from watching the clouds go by Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tunnelfly 0 #2 December 28, 2006 Quote...strong air, solid walls, creeper area... I heard a rumor one of the glass walls got broken already...is that true? No.1 reason NOT to be an astronaut: ...You can't drink beer at zero gravity... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dazzle 0 #3 December 29, 2006 Why is the video on that site filmed in bedford? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Paulipod 0 #4 December 29, 2006 QuoteWhy is the video on that site filmed in bedford? The guys came over to do training with us prior to their opening... Bodyflight Bedford www.bodyflight.co.uk Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nigelh 0 #5 December 29, 2006 QuoteWhy is the video on that site filmed in Bedford? That 'student' is a mighty handsome chap Nigel-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Sponored by NZ Aerosports, CYPRES 2, Tonfly & L&B Team Dirty Sanchez #232 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dragon2 2 #6 December 29, 2006 Did our first few tunnelminutes ever here today. This is FUN! ciel bleu, Saskia Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tunnelfly 0 #7 December 30, 2006 There's a video shot in the new tunnel here. It's in dutch, but you can see Flow (Bodyflying Switzerland), Bernd (Bodyflight Bedford) and some locals I don't know (yet). No.1 reason NOT to be an astronaut: ...You can't drink beer at zero gravity... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GeGe 0 #8 December 30, 2006 QuoteQuote...strong air, solid walls, creeper area... I heard a rumor one of the glass walls got broken already...is that true? Apparently someone (not one of the locals) collided with a glass panel mounted above one of the doors (if my info is correct) in a headdown angled attitude. Judging from the resulting damage it would seem he was pretty much out of control and in a way lucky that the window absorbed that much energy.... Of course it's been repaired already. Got another half hour of booty flying in today... Awesome! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
schnizzle 0 #9 January 3, 2007 The tunnel looks pretty cool, but can anyone tell me if its fast enough for genuine freefly? Having looked at the video, the guys that clearly have experience look as though they are presenting an awful lot of surface area to the wind to maintain lift in freefly positions. How is it for serious head down and what about 4-way? Is it in the same 'power and speed' class as the likes of Colorado, New Hampshire, Airkix, Arizona etc????? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tunnelfly 0 #10 January 3, 2007 AFAIK the design is more similar to the Aerokart tunnel in Paris. Below the net is another "test section" with smaller diameter (for higher speeds) and separate entry/exit doors. Besides that, the tunnel has only just started it's operation, and I haven't heard of ANY tunnel so far going to 100% right from start... No.1 reason NOT to be an astronaut: ...You can't drink beer at zero gravity... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GeGe 0 #11 January 4, 2007 QuoteThe tunnel looks pretty cool, but can anyone tell me if its fast enough for genuine freefly? Having looked at the video, the guys that clearly have experience look as though they are presenting an awful lot of surface area to the wind to maintain lift in freefly positions. How is it for serious head down and what about 4-way? Is it in the same 'power and speed' class as the likes of Colorado, New Hampshire, Airkix, Arizona etc????? No idea about freefly (I'm a belly flyer), but 4-way is very comfortable as they can adjust the speed to the team's speed and they've got enough power to suit any team I would say. I haven't seen any headdown yet, but I'm not there on a daily basis Sizewise it's bigger than Skyventure Orlando or Arizona, but smaller than Bedford. Compared to Paris it has no nets so a more effective diameter to work in (in Paris if you get too close to the nets you drop down on the padding at the sides of the tunnel). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VincentVL. 0 #12 January 4, 2007 Do these tunnels (or this one particularly) ever have sales? As in 30% last minute discount etc. Or is the cost of operating it (electricity) too high to give out cheap minutes that are unspoken for? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GeGe 0 #13 January 4, 2007 QuoteDo these tunnels (or this one particularly) ever have sales? As in 30% last minute discount etc. Or is the cost of operating it (electricity) too high to give out cheap minutes that are unspoken for? Roosendaal opened just two weeks ago, so they're first trying to make money and fill the tunnel. They're not running up to capacity. So no sales or last minute discount, but you can get bulk discount. I heard they were thinking about offering cheap rates when they've got a cancellation, but I guess that would only happen once they get a decent turn over. And this rate would only be for frequent flyers or something. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflydemon 0 #14 January 5, 2007 look nice.... how far is from amsterdam? how much is the hr in U$? how many hp do you have? how fast can it go (mph)? how many engines does it have? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dragon2 2 #15 January 5, 2007 Amsterdam - Roosendaal is ca 1.5 hrs by car. Prices: Prijzen - Tarieven 2 minuten tunneltijd € 40,- 15 minuten tunneltijd € 300,- 30 minuten tunneltijd € 600,- 60 minuten tunneltijd € 1.150,- Team Prijzen 1e, 2e en 3e uur (tarief per uur) € 1.150,- 4e, 5e en 6e uur (tarief per uur) € 1.100,- 7e, 8e en 9e uur (tarief per uur) € 1.050,- +10 uur (neem contact op met hoofd tunnel marshall) *MAIL* At the moment, EUR 1 = 1.24 USD. Basically it's EUR 20/ USD 25 per minute, cheaper than jumping here anyway. ciel bleu, Saskia Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dragon2 2 #16 January 5, 2007 Some specs: Tunnelhight : 23,5 meter Tunneldiameter: 16 meter Diameter flying room: 4,27 meter Power : 6000 Ampère Windspeed : 250 km/hr Aircapacity : 3.500.000 m³/hr ciel bleu, Saskia Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
betsi 0 #17 January 6, 2007 The prob in Holland, Belgium,...it is very hard to get on jumping in the winter,..then it is quiet cool to know we can go to spend even a short time inthere just to get the week stress out...and have fun! And it is very near too! But unfortunattly, for european tunnels, people who want to spend more than 30min, and have few days, it is woth to go to Usa where you get it for half price... So, should european tunnel put they prices lower, or do they get enough people to fill the time schedules? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Adriandavies 0 #18 January 6, 2007 Airkix and Bodyflight don't seem to have any problem filling their tunnels at £600 per hour, with Bodyflight even getting teams over from America to train! I also know of 4 way FS teams in the UK who are booking up to 16 hours of tunnel time in order to hone their skills for the upcoming season. They also intend going to the States for a skills camp with a coach but the bulk of their training will be done in the tunnel in the Uk and will be spread over the winter and spring. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VincentVL. 0 #19 January 7, 2007 Just a few thoughts on the cheaper than jumping thing. Let's take the half an hour for 600€ deal, and assume that you get a minute out of a jump (yes...I know it's less etc.) 15€ a jump in Belgium, although that is most likely going to change because of a change in kerosine tax laws for non-profit oranisations thank you very much. 600/15 = 40 jump tickets as opposed to 30 minutes. Plus you don't get the views you usually get. So I'd have to conclude that tunneltime is mostly for relative teams who buy a lot of time at once. The average "up jumper", or whatever it's called in the us, will definitely get more out of a regular jump. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
artbel 0 #20 January 7, 2007 If you calculate it like that you are right but what if you have a bunch of friends (2,3 or 4) that have someone or a hired one who is willing to coach them. These friends can share the price and save a few Dinero's they can use when the weather is better in the Blackmountains. Their skill level can increase a lot over winter with a minimum of (financial) input. With 600 divided by 2 jumpers you already have a 20/30 minute balance instead of 40/30 minutesYou don't need a parachute to jump but YOU DO if want to do it again. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jurgencamps 0 #21 January 8, 2007 QuoteJust a few thoughts on the cheaper than jumping thing. Let's take the half an hour for 600€ deal, and assume that you get a minute out of a jump (yes...I know it's less etc.) 15€ a jump in Belgium, ... 600/15 = 40 jump tickets as opposed to 30 minutes. Plus you don't get the views you usually get. So I'd have to conclude that tunneltime is mostly for relative teams who buy a lot of time at once. The average "up jumper", or whatever it's called in the us, will definitely get more out of a regular jump. Don't forget the coach, so 1 jump with a coach = 2 X 15 € = 30 € Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eule 0 #22 January 10, 2007 QuotePower : 6000 Ampère [geek]Er, that's actually just current. Power would be measured in watts. Not sure what voltage that is but if you assume 230 V you get 1.38 MW or about 1,840 hp (perfect motors, etc.) which is probably in the right ballpark. I'd think that with motors that big you'd run them at 400 V, but that would give 2.4 MW or about 3200 hp, which I think is at least twice as much as most other tunnels and so is probably not the right number.[/geek] It could be that the motors are actually running at 400 V (or more), but that the current has been calculated based on 230 V in order to make it sound more impressive easier for people to relate to. EulePLF does not stand for Please Land on Face. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dragon2 2 #23 January 10, 2007 QuoteQuotePower : 6000 Ampère [geek]Er, that's actually just current. Power would be measured in watts. Yeah I know that But these are all the specs they give on the website.... Maybe I translated it wrong, they say its "Totaal vermogen" AFAIK that's total power. ciel bleu, Saskia Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Paulipod 0 #24 January 10, 2007 There are 12 x 200kW motors Bodyflight Bedford www.bodyflight.co.uk Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydiverek 63 #25 October 23, 2008 Few questions about this tunnel: 1. How many fans does it have? 2. Are they located below or above the flyer? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites