If you are looking for an extreme and different activity, I recommend you add the wind tunnel to your list of things to do in Las Vegas. This is an activity that takes place in a special place capable of creating a vertical column of air. Taking advantage of this airflow, people can experience a safe body flight.

This is a recommended activity for anyone who is attracted to the idea of flying. It can even be an alternative option for those who do not dare to fly with a parachute. In these sessions there is very little risk as each person has to wear a safety suit and everything around them is padded. Do you like the idea? Then let's fly!

Wind tunnels were originally created as a research tool for studying the effects of air movement on solid objects. It is used to study how air affects aircraft, buildings and how it affects the speed of cars. However, they are also used as an attraction that will make you fly safely.

If you want to experience a flight but don't yet dare to go skydiving or paragliding, a wind tunnel in Las Vegas is the ideal option for you. This activity is done in an enclosed and totally controlled space. The floor is padded and each participant wears protective equipment such as helmets and knee pads. This prevents any bumps or falls that may occur.

After putting on all the equipment, the wind machine will start up. What happens is that a wind column is activated which helps you to practice body flying. Within the skydiving world this term refers to moving within a flow of air.

Some take wind tunnel flying as a discipline that even has an international game called Wind Games. In this event participants compete by demonstrating all the stunts they can achieve within a flow of air. Would you like to give it a go?

Booking a wind tunnel flight in Las Vegas is easy. Just go to the company's website and book a session. The hours you can attend are from 10am to 7pm, so you can add this experience to any time of the day.

If you make a booking you can go straight to the scheduled time and wait for your lesson to start. Sessions start every 30 minutes, which is something to bear in mind especially if you don't make a reservation. In that case you will have to wait on a first come first served basis.

You can experience a wind tunnel flight at any time of the year and on any day of the week. Remember that it is an activity that takes place inside specialised facilities. Therefore, the weather outside does not affect the flight, unless there is an unexpected power failure.

This is a plan that you can include among the things you can do in 7 days in Las Vegas as it adapts to any itinerary. I recommend it if you will be in this city for a week as it is not one of the main attractions, but it is worth doing as it is the only one that allows you to go against gravity.

Traveller Tip
For all the tours you plan to do in Las Vegas or any other destination, I recommend you to always book. This can help you save time and money. However, always keep in mind that last minute inconveniences can occur. That's why I also encourage you to have backup plans so that your holiday isn't ruined.

The different wind tunnel flight sessions include a variety of services and can last from one and a half hours to one hour. Included in this time is an introductory lesson where participants learn the basics of indoor skydiving, safety precautions, flying positions, among other things.

After the lesson it is time to put on the special flight suit. This is a full suit that helps you to fly and stay in the air. The flight itself lasts on average 15 to 20 minutes. However, some companies only allow 2 to 5 minutes flying time, this will depend on the participant and the rules of the company.

Sometimes the flight time is even shorter, but don't be discouraged! Flying times are short because the effect it produces is like what you would feel in a free fall. Therefore, your body experiences an adrenaline rush that you won't feel in any other sport. It is so intense that flying in a wind tunnel has been shown to help you lose weight.

My first recommendation is to eat at least three hours before your wind tunnel flight to avoid accidents. It is preferable that you eat after leaving the tunnel. As you know, Sin City doesn't sleep, so if you go out at night, no problem, you can still enjoy your day with a food tour of Las Vegas.

On the other hand, I recommend that you wear all the safety equipment provided by the instructors. This includes a special suit that allows you to fly more easily, a helmet, among others. Also, earplugs are an indispensable item to protect you because inside the tunnel there is a lot of noise due to the air flow.

Before you start the flight you will receive instructions on how to fly or how to move in the air. Postures are important, for example, if you move your head downwards, your body will rise, if you move your head upwards, you will descend. When you receive the instructions you should pay close attention to all the details explained to you in order to have an excellent experience.

In addition to these specific movements, your instructor will explain to you what signs you can do in case you don't feel well or need help. You should memorise these quickly before you start the flight. Don't worry about these details as the instructors will always be monitoring the flight to make your experience the best it can be.

In order to fly you need to meet several requirements and restrictions. Before flying, instructors must weigh all participants. Weight limits for indoor skydiving are based on aerodynamics. If the person does not meet the ideal weight, they will not be allowed to fly.

Weight limits vary for men and women due to their centre of gravity. While men's centre of gravity is located at the top of their chest, women's centre of gravity is located near their hips. This is why men can weigh a little more than women to be able to fly.

Height also influences the flight. The minimum allowed height is 1.37 metres and weight of 45 kg for women and 54 kg for men. People who are 1.83 metres tall must weigh a minimum of 95 kg for women and 111 kg for men.

Although flying in a wind tunnel is more harmless compared to skydiving in the open air, in some cases it is not recommended. Flying requires the use of all the muscles of the body, therefore, the person who wishes to fly in the tunnel must be in a healthy physical condition.

If you have a neck, back or shoulder injury, it is best not to do this activity. The air pressure and flying positions can cause pain or worsen your injuries. If you have hip, knee or foot injuries, it is best to talk to your doctor about whether or not you can fly in a tunnel.

It is also not recommended if you have cardiovascular disease. Strong emotions can cause side effects that can affect your health. This also applies if you are very afraid of heights.

Pregnant women are also prohibited from body flying for their safety and that of their baby. In addition, people who have taken drugs, medication or alcohol are not allowed to participate, even if they have only had one drink. It is also not recommended to fly if you have eaten less than two hours ago.

Flying in a wind tunnel is definitely one of the things you can do with kids in Las Vegas. In this attraction they can fly and feel like superheroes. Some of the costumes are even decorated like Superman or Supergirl. Ask the instructor if they have such outfits available.

Although children can participate, there are certain restrictions, which I explained in the previous section. The minimum height is 1.37 metres for girls and boys. The minimum weight is 45 kg and 54 kg respectively.

All children tend to get very excited when you tell them what the day's activities are. So before you tell them that you are going to take them flying, I advise you to check that they meet these requirements, so that you can avoid disappointment.

If you can't take them to the wind tunnel, don't worry, Las Vegas has a lot to offer the little ones at home. I recommend taking them to a Cirque du Soleil show or the Madame Tussauds Museum in Las Vegas.

The price of a wind tunnel flying session may vary depending on the flying time. The "Learn to Fly" session is designed for first time flyers and has an average cost of 85 €. This session includes a safety equipment training lesson and two flights per person. The whole session has an average duration of one hour.

The other session is The Indoor Skydiving Experience. This is a deluxe package where participants can fly for much longer than the previous package. It costs on average €150.

This last package also includes a training lesson, the flying equipment, personalised instructions and a souvenir T-shirt. It also includes digitised photos and videos of your experience which are sent to your email address. If you are interested in all these extras, I recommend this package. If you buy the photos, the shirt and an extra flight, the final price would be almost 200 €.

On the day you go to a wind tunnel it is best to wear sportswear. It should be as comfortable as possible so that you can move freely. You should also wear comfortable socks and tennis shoes. When you arrive at the wind tunnel facility in Las Vegas you will receive a full body suit before flying.

This suit is worn over the clothes you are wearing. It is made of a design and material that helps you fly more easily. You will also wear a special helmet with lenses that protect your head from bumps and your eyes from the wind. Finally, you will need to wear earplugs, as the noise inside the tunnel is very loud.

If you are afraid of heights, but want to know what it feels like to fly, the wind tunnel can help you do it without vertigo. Indoor skydiving or flying in a wind tunnel is similar to the free fall you experience when you jump out of a plane with a parachute.

The free fall from an aircraft can last approximately 60 seconds. In wind tunnels, technology is used to help control the air by generating the same sensation, but with a wider range of time. In the wind tunnel, you can reproduce the high speeds that are reached in a free fall.

Also, flying in a wind tunnel can help you reduce stress. This is due to the fact that in this practice you use all your musculature as you have to do postures of muscular tension and elasticity. On an emotional level, this activity increases the feeling of happiness thanks to the speed and adrenaline of the moment.

The wind tunnel simulates a free fall from an aeroplane, however, the sensation is not the same as what you would feel if you jumped from approximately 4000 metres above the ground. For many this is a great advantage as skydiving is more complex and involves more risk.

On the other hand, skydiving requires an instructor to accompany you at all times. Unless you are a professional, you will not be able to fly alone. To fly in a wind tunnel, on the other hand, all you need is a short training lesson. Within a few minutes you will be able to experience safe, indoor flying.

Please note that in wind tunnels you do not need a parachute to fly. This element is included in skydiving to help you land. This makes it a more complex discipline, whereas in a wind tunnel you only experience the free fall and the machine slows you down so that you descend gradually.

Another notable difference is that in skydiving a person must be at least 16 years old to be able to practice it. However, in the wind tunnel , children weighing at least 45 kilos can take part. There are even wind tunnels that allow children as young as 5 years old.

Finally, the wind tunnel does not depend on weather conditions, while skydiving does. This means that you can go to a wind tunnel as part of your sightseeing plan in a city like Las Vegas, whereas if you opt for skydiving, you have to go to the outskirts.