- January 22, 2025
Flying in wind tunnels, treated as an alternative to parachute jumping, is becoming more and more popular. With a blast of 300 km/h you can feel like in the first phase of a jump from an airplane. Tunnels already operating in Poland cannot keep up with the service of volunteers. In October, the construction of another tunnel will start - this time in Gdańsk.
- Indoor skydiving was originally intended to improve the technique of ski jumpers. Now it's fun for everyone, but it's also an autonomous sport, which is developing very dynamically," says Marcin Strzelczyk, president of Amber Fly, the new wind tunnel operator.
The wind tunnel is an alternative to parachute jumping. An air blast of 300 km/h makes you feel as if you're falling freely, even if you don't dare to jump with a parachute. Until recently, the military used such an offer, now it is an opportunity for everyone, not only for those who are preparing to jump with a parachute.
The price, although not among the lowest in comparison to airplane jumps, is very competitive.
- If you buy an hour in the wholesale in the tunnel, the rate for a single hour is about 50 zł. For one-time customers who want to try something new, the rates are higher. The 3-minute package costs 250 PLN, the tandem jump is 750 PLN for 45 seconds of free fall - says Strzelczyk.
Indoor skydiving is to be a show discipline at The World Games 2017, which is why Amber Fly relies heavily on flying sports.
- We intend to place a strong emphasis on sport, not only on fun. Even before the start of construction we have declarations from professional teams that would like to fly with us. The potential of this market is growing and will probably continue to exist for a long time to come," says President Amber Fly.
The company will build a new tunnel at the Energa Gdańsk stadium. Construction is expected to start in two months' time. The funds for the construction come from V Capital and Barton Capital, which contributed EUR 2.5 million. The equipment was ordered from the Czech company Strojírna Litvínov.
- We have chosen a technology supplier, we have a plot of land on which we will build. The investment cycle lasts about 12 months. We hope that at the end of next year's summer holidays, although the tunnel will be built by the end of next year," announces President Amber Fly.
In Poland this sport is only just gaining amateurs. Tunnels in Poland operate near Warsaw, Wrocław and Leszno. The new facility is to be distinguished by more effective silencing and constant flying conditions in a 6-meter flight chamber. Currently operating tunnels can't keep up with the service of the willing, the average waiting time is even half a year.
- The discipline flourished about 10 years ago. Currently there are about 170 objects similar to ours in the world," Strzelczyk points out. - Until recently, it was said that such a tunnel has a raison d'être in an agglomeration of more than 1 million inhabitants. Now up to 300,000 people are being created in cities. Sion is an invention on a global scale - with 30,000 inhabitants there is a fully operational tunnel, in which every year about 1,000 people are flew out. 3,000 hours. More and more cities in Europe have two or more tunnels, e.g. three are in Madrid.
Amber Fly, President of the Management Board, points out that the investment is expected to pay for itself within 4-5 years. In addition to the aerodynamic tunnel in Gdańsk, there will also be a swimming pool with an artificial wave, where surfers will be able to train. Only one facility of this type has been built in Europe so far.
The company has ambitious plans - it plans to open similar facilities in Poland (three) and abroad (two).
- I think that the first one to be built, apart from that in Gdańsk, will be the tunnel in Warsaw, although there are also two more locations where talks are similarly advanced. I don't want to mention places now, because we are not even at the stage of letters of intent, but investors are interested in business development, just as we see the potential in the market - emphasizes Marcin Strzelczyk.
