Skydiving landings are executed with precision using advanced parachutes, making them generally smooth and not physically taxing, often feeling like stepping off a curb or sliding feet-first. A landing is conducted by flaring – pulling the toggles to decrease forward speed and descent – to come to a stop at a designated area. 

A skydiving landing isn’t as intimidating as many people make it out to be in their minds! When you see the mechanics behind it, you’ll no longer wonder about how skydivers jump multiple times per day, or if a skydive landing takes a major toll on the body. Skydiver landings are done with intentionality and precision (and really good parachutes). Let’s take a deeper dive into how skydiving landings work. 

What Is A Flare? 

When we land a parachute, we do something called flaring. This is when the steering toggles are pulled down, causing the steering lines to pull the back (or tail) of the parachute slightly down and slow the forward speed and descent rate of the parachute. 

To envision this, think of a parachute like a bicycle. When you use the rear brakes on a bicycle, you can feel the rear wheel slow down significantly and eventually come to a complete stop, while the front wheel still has some momentum, similar to the nose of the parachute. 

What Does A Skydiving Landing Feel Like? 

Does it hurt when you land after skydiving? Typically, no! Of course, mistakes can be made and injuries can happen – after all, skydiving is an extreme sport with inherent risk. We’re just diligent in mitigating those risks wherever possible. 

A typical skydiving landing has the potential to feel like a few different things, depending on the type of jump you make:

• Tandem & Solo Skydivers
  
  Hopping off a curb and taking a few steps. Sometimes, tandem skydiving pairs stand up their landings! These landings entail taking a few awkward steps (there are four legs working at once!) and coming to a stop.
  
  Sliding – feet first. Sliding in is the most common way to land a tandem skydive, as it’s generally the easiest. Think: a really docile baseball slide.
  
  How are you supposed to land when skydiving tandem? It depends on a few factors, such as wind speed and the ability of the tandem student. For example, tandem students who don’t have the ability to lift their legs to slide in may be asked to stand up on landing. Tandem students have one priority while landing: Listen to your instructor. 

• Solo or Experienced Skydivers
  
  Running. Many experienced skydivers choose to stand up or run out their landings. Depending on how fast they’re going when landing, they will either take a step or two, or go into an all out sprint!
  
  Tucking and rolling. When skydivers are learning how to skydive solo, they’re figuring out the timing of their flare. Solo skydiving courses account for this learning curve by teaching skydiving how to land safely without the finesse someone has with hundreds of jumps. They do this with something called a Parachute Landing Fall (PLF).
  
  A PLF is a technique that distributes the force of a rougher landing across stronger parts of the body. It is conducted by keeping your keet and knees together, your knees bent, and rolling over your shoulder and to your back with momentum from when your feet touch the ground.
  
  Geez Louise … how hard do you hit the ground when skydiving? On a normal skydiving landing, not very hard at all! But, if a student hasn’t figured out their flare timing, they may feel like they’re jumping from a chair or countertop, rather than a curb, which would result in performing a PLF! 

What Is A Landing Pattern? 

A landing pattern is the pattern flown by a canopy pilot (a skydiver under their parachute) before they land. Similar to airplane pilots, skydivers fly a downwind, base, and final leg to landing. Why? Predictability! Flying this pattern makes you a predictable skydiver, which is critical for the other people landing at the same time as you. Here’s a deeper look into each leg of the landing pattern: 

• Downwind. Although experienced skydivers may make adjustments to the altitudes associated with their landing pattern, the downwind leg is started right around 1,000 feet. 

• Base. Skydivers will make a 90 degree right or left hand turn onto their base leg around 600 feet. 

• Final. From the base leg, skydivers will make another 90 degree turn onto their final leg around 300 feet. They will use this remaining time to suss out exactly where they’re going to land, and they will eventually reach an altitude of about 10 feet to start their flare to land! 

Throughout the entire landing pattern, skydivers are keeping their eyes on where they intend to land, other canopies in the sky, and their altitude. Their heads are always on a swivel! 

As a solo skydiver, if you find yourself landing with the wind instead of against it, what should you do? Just land as you normally would! Your landing will be a bit faster, but  remember your landing priorities! 

1. Land with the wing level.
2. Land in a clear area.
3. Flare symmetrically to at least half brakes.
4. Land into the wind.

How Does Wing Loading Affect Landing? 

Different canopies at different wing loadings will have different flight cycles. Whoa, what? Let’s break it down. 

• Canopy. Not all parachutes are created equal. Some are designed to fly aggressively and with a steep dive, while others are more docile. 

• Wing loading. The ratio of the weight of the jumper plus the weight of their gear compared to the size of their canopy. A higher wing loading results in a quicker descent rate. 

• Flight cycle. A flight cycle is the act of a parachute going from full flight to a full flare, and then back to full flight. When a flare is released (when the toggles are returned to their neutral position and the skydivers arms are extended upward) the canopy will go into a slight dive as it refills with air – think of it like the flare making the canopy want to gasp for air and diving head first into the sky to do so. This all happens in a few seconds, and after the canopy is happy again, the flight cycle is over.

If a skydiver is loading their canopy highly, the flight cycle may produce a steeper dive or a quicker loss of altitude than a lesser wing loading. This is why people increase their wing loading as they gain experience and expertise in the sport and not when they’re first starting out. 

Where Do You Land When You Go Skydiving?  

Skydivers land at the landing area, which is usually back at the dropzone (where they took off from)! Modern-day canopies are easy to guide around the sky and make where we land easily predicted. 

What if you exit the airplane too far away? Ah, the long spot! Because parachutes are so advanced, they’re designed to be able to be responsive to the skydiver’s inputs. For example, if the skydiver wants the canopy to stay afloat as long as possible, they can do so. And, if they want to get to the ground as quickly as possible, they can make that happen! 

If a skydiver exits the airplane far away from the landing area, they’ll maneuver their canopy in specific ways to make it back. These ways vary depending on if they’re upwind or downwind from where they want to land. 

If a skydiver is going toward the landing area with the wind (they are upwind), they’ll go into half brakes. This means that they will pull their steering toggles midway down (not all the way – that would be a flare!) and coast with the wind back to the landing area. A canopy in half brakes going with the wind will have more lift than a canopy flying at full flight. 

Contrarily, a skydiver who is going toward the landing area against the wind (they are downwind) will initiate rear riser input to maneuver their canopy in a way that gets the most efficient forward movement and the least amount of descent. 

Ready to come see what a skydive landing is all about? Book your skydive today! 

The post Skydiving Landing: How It Works appeared first on Skydive Perris.

Skydiving has evolved significantly since the first parachute was designed back in the 1480s. Today, sport skydiving exists as a hobby, participated in by thousands of skydivers across the globe, and tandem skydiving appears on most people’s bucket lists.

Here are ten key moments in skydiving history that brought us to where we are today.

1483: Leonardo Da Vinci and the World’s First Parachute

Leonardo Da Vinci (Leo to his friends) was an incredibly talented artist with an eye for detail. But even more than that, he was an exceptional scientist and engineer.

His intricate study of the world around him led him to create great works of art. It also led him to theorize much about the human anatomy, architecture, sculpture, music, engineering, geology, hydraulics and the military arts.

He took a keen interest in flight and sketched a conical parachute design in 1483, which is recognized as the first parachute. An accompanying note read: “If a man is provided with a length of gummed linen cloth with a length of 12 yards on each side and 12 yards high, he can jump from any great height whatsoever without injury.”

In the year 2,000, Adrian Nicholas became the first man to jump with the Da Vinci parachute, proving that it was, in fact, the first working parachute ever designed.

1911: The World’s First ‘Skydiver.

It was sometime between Da Vinci’s sketch and the first skydive as we know it today (though some scripture suggests parachute descents were made in China in the interim). Credit for the first modern skydive is split between Grant Morten and Albert Berry, with controversy rife to this day over who actually jumped first.

Morten was reportedly the first skydiver when he jumped from a Wright Model B airplane over Venice Beach, California using a folded silk parachute. It has been argued that he was actually beaten to it by Berry, a US Army Captain, who jumped in March 1912. Records aren’t clear, meaning we’ll probably never know – but suffice to say, the first skydive was made sometime around 1911-1912!

1914-1945: Skydiving and the Military

Much of skydiving’s development from that point on can be attributed to the use of parachutes in the World Wars. During this time, it was widely recognized that parachutes served a great purpose as a life saving device. It was first proposed by American General Billy Mitchell that parachute troops be used in 1917, with the Italian military credited with the first combat jump in 1918.

In 1933, the Soviets staged the first mass parachute drop when they dropped 62 parachutists from three bombers. They greatly expanded their parachute units and in 1936 dropped 1,800. Parachute regiments became commonplace in World War II, and many armies still retain their parachuting arms to this day.

With parachutes used so much in war, their development was accelerated. When the war ended, the parachutes became available for non-military use, helping to bring parachuting to the masses.

1946: USPA (United States Parachute Association) founded

The USPA is the governing body for the sport of skydiving in the USA. The USPA provides guidance and sets rules in place to keep the sport safe, and oversees its ongoing progression. Today, the USPA is a huge part of skydiving in this country and is the body which awards instructor ratings and skydiving qualifications.

The USPA was founded in 1946, in Mineola, New York, as the National Parachute Jumpers-Riggers, Incorporated. At the time, it represented around 100 members. It was renamed the Parachute Club of America in 1957 and renamed itself again to the United States Parachute Association in 1967. Its inception was an important point in skydiving as it marked the recognition of skydiving as a sport and hobby.

The 1960s: First Ram-Air Parachute Design

The first parachutes were round in shape. This meant they could pivot on their centre, but controlling their speed, direction, and glide ratio was pretty much impossible.

This led to the invention of the first ram-air parachute design by Domina Jalbert in the 1960s. Jalbert was a kite maker, who recognised that the kite shape was much more efficient as a wing. This is because the ram-air (or parafoil) design allows air in through the front ‘cells’ and then retains that air, forming a rigid wing that can be controlled by its pilot much more effectively than round parachutes ever could.

Today, the vast majority of skydivers use ram-air parachutes, with which they perform high-performance ‘swoop’ landings as well as being able to adjust their speed and descent.

1964: First Vertical Wind Tunnel Flight

Skydiving wind tunnels are what we call vertical wind tunnels (VWT). These differ from traditional horizontal wind tunnels which are used to test the aerodynamics of planes or cars.

The first person to fly in a vertical wind tunnel did so in 1964 in Ohio. It was a flight that started a new era for indoor body flight. The first wind tunnel intended for people to fly in was built in 1978 by John St Germain who wanted his children to experience freefall in what he considered being a safer environment.

Since then, indoor skydiving has progressed significantly. Dozens of wind tunnels now exist in the world and many of those are intended solely for the use of skydivers and those who want to experience body flight. Skyventure at Skydive Perris was one of the first wind tunnels for skydivers and remains one of the only wind tunnels situated on a skydiving drop zone. You can find out more about our wind tunnel here.

1978: The Three Ring Release System

The three-ring release system was invented by Bill Booth and patented in 1978 as a means of attaching (and detaching) a canopy from its harness.

It is accepted by skydivers that their main parachute doesn’t always work. This is why modern skydivers jump with a spare, or reserve parachute. But in order to use their reserve, skydivers must first detach the malfunctioning main canopy.

Prior to the invention of the three-ring release system, this detachment was done using capewells, which were cumbersome and could malfunction themselves. The three ring system makes cutting away the malfunctioning parachute much quicker and easier; this is because the design of the system means the mechanical advantage is multiplied by each ring in the series, allowing for the force needed to cut away to be greatly reduced.

The 3-ring is widely recognised as one of the greatest safety innovations in the history of skydiving.

1982: AFF Gets Approved by the USPA

Traditionally, skydiving students learned to skydive solo via static line, which meant that their initial jumps did not include any freefall time. Although there are positives to this method, the downfall was that their eventual introduction to freefalling was a bit rocky. The solution to this was allowing instructors and students to jump out solo, but alongside one another. If a student was unable to nail the freefall alone, it was common for an instructor to jump out with them while holding onto their harness. This is essentially what a modern-day Accelerated Freefall (AFF) jump is!

The issue arose because people were doing this despite the Basic Safety Requirements (BSRs) of the USPA. In 1970, Paul Poppenhager was granted a waiver to the BSRs and was permitted to use freefall as a way to train solo skydiving students at his dropzone.

Today, AFF is the primary method of teaching solo skydivers. It is the most comprehensive and efficient way to train new jumpers. And yes, it’s approved by the USPA. Thanks, Paul!

1980s: Tandem Skydiving Receives Sport Status

Tandem skydiving is a type of skydiving where the ‘student’ jumps from a plane attached to a qualified instructor, sharing one set of parachuting equipment between them. These days, tandem skydiving is the most popular way to experience the first jump – but it’s not always been that way!

In the early 80s, tandem skydiving was still in ‘experimental’ status. This means it was being tested but had yet to be classified as a full sport. The FAA (Federation Aviation Administration) waived the experimental status, opening the door for tandem skydiving to grow in popularity.

1989: Invention of the Cypres AAD

As skydiving has progressed, there have been significant improvements in the safety of the sport. The invention of the Cypres AAD is recognized as one of the most important of these safety innovations.

An AAD, or automatic activation device, is a small device which monitors air pressure and speed. It automatically opens the reserve parachute if it finds it is still falling at freefall speeds by a given altitude. This means that it will ensure the skydiver has a parachute over their heads even if they are knocked unconscious or lose altitude awareness during their descent.

Prior to the invention of the CYPRES, there were a number of AADs on the market but none were considered reliable. Today, the majority of skydivers use AADs, primarily from CYPRES and its rival company Vigil.

1991: Point Break Brings Skydiving to the Masses

Point Break was a film first released in 1991 and later remade in 2016. Its storyline revolved around an FBI agent who goes undercover to catch a gang of surfers who might be bank robbers.

In a plot similar to that of the later film, Cutaway, the main protagonist finds himself drawn into the adrenaline-fuelled lifestyle of the criminals he has been sent to catch. The group persuades the lead character, played by Keanu Reeves, to ‘jump from a perfectly good airplane’ in a scene which shows the skydivers talking to one another mid jump and having an awesome time!

Point Break was one of the first major box office hits to show skydiving, bringing the sport to the masses (although its viability as a true representation of skydiving is questionable!).

2006: 400-Way Formation Skydiving World Record

On February 8, 2006, 400 skydivers crushed the world record for formation skydiving in Udon Thani, Thailand. This is arguably one of the most important moments in skydiving history, because of the sheer amount of inspiration it spread across the skydiving community.

Records of this nature pose questions like: What else is possible? Can we go even bigger and better? And, how did they achieve something so incredible? This accomplishment wildly inspirational for avid skydivers and novices, alike. Inspiration in the sport is integral for growth, which brings us to the next two notable moments in skydiving history…

2012: Felix Baumgartner Shatters The Sound Barrier

In 2012, Felix Baumgartner was the first person to break the sound barrier in freefall. He jumped from 38,969.4 meters above the earth, meaning his fall from the stratosphere was 24 miles above the earth. We would like to express our deepest condolences to Felix’s loved ones, as he passed away in 2025. Long live the legend!

2014: Alan Eustace Does The Highest Freefall

Alan Eustace holds the record for world highest freefall. He fell from a height of 135,890 feet in 2014. He also shattered records for maximum vertical speed with a drogue (822mph!) and distance of fall with a drogue.

Are you Ready to Skydive?

Skydiving is an amazing experience and one which has evolved over more than 500 years. Each year, approximately 500,000 people in the US try skydiving for the first time. Today, more than 10 million men and women throughout the country can say they’ve made at least one skydive.

If you’re ready to join them, book your tandem skydive today. If you’ve got any questions, our team is here to help – contact us!

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In Summary
Choosing the right skydiving canopy depends on your experience, currency, goals, and exit weight. Size, wingloading, and canopy type all affect performance and safety, making it important to understand your options. Canopy courses are strongly recommended — especially when changing wings — and at Skydive Perris, you can demo or purchase canopies on-site.

There’s something so exciting about investing in your very own skydiving canopy. It’s more than a piece of gear – it’s your wing, your ride back to Earth, your partner in the sky! Choosing the best skydiving canopy is as intimidating as it is thrilling, so it’s totally normal to have questions. That’s why we’re here! 

This guide will break down everything from the significance of parachute size and what to look for when buying a canopy, to answering the question, “How long does a skydiving canopy last?” The decision on what to buy and when to buy it is more personal and strategic than many may think! Let’s dive in. 

Note: This article discusses main parachutes and is not referring to reserve parachutes.

Factors To Consider When Choosing A Canopy 

There are a few major factors that can help to determine the best parachute for you: 

• How many jumps do you have? 
• How current are you (and how current do you plan on being throughout your time in the sport)? 
• What are your goals in the sport when it comes to canopy flight? 
• What is your exit weight? 
• How much training do you have? 
• What canopy/ies have you previously jumped? 
• How much time have you spent in the sport? 

Each of these factors go into play when choosing a canopy. 

Why does jump number matter? 

Someone with 10 skydives isn’t going to be placed on a high-performance wing! Someone with hundreds, or thousands, of skydives may have this as an option. That being said, if someone has hundreds of skydives but often falls out of currency, the jump number is in some ways, trumped.  Although jump number doesn’t necessarily directly correlate to skill level, it’s definitely a factor. 

What is currency? 

How current you are refers to how often you skydive! Are you skydiving once per month, or 10+ times per month? Choosing a more forgiving and docile wing is better for those who often become uncurrent. Although, to maintain a high standard of safety-mindedness for yourself and others, currency should be of top priority. 

What goals are we talking about?

eEach canopy has different characteristics – some have a really great recovery arc, while others don’t, and some are incredibly responsive, while others are less twitchy. If there’s a specific canopy-focused discipline you’d like to go into, the class of canopy you buy may directly represent this. 

What is your exit weight? 

Exit weight refers to your body weight plus the weight of your skydiving gear – it’s how much you weigh when you exit the airplane (which is the same weight you’ll be under your parachute)! 

How much training do you have? 

Have you taken a canopy course or trained with a canopy coach? Understanding the flight dynamics of your current canopy can help you understand what you may be looking for in a new wing. 

What have you previously jumped? 

If you’ve only ever jumped semi-elliptical canopies, and you’re looking to downsize, it would be recommended that you transition to a smaller semi-elliptical canopy, rather than changing sizes and platforms. Consider what your experience level is on certain types of canopies! 

How long have you been skydiving? 

This one is a bit controversial, as everyone is different. Some people may do hundreds of jumps in their first year jumping, while others may do 50. That being said, time in the sport plays a part in understanding certain canopy flight foundations. Simply put, the longer you’re around something (in this case, the skydiving world), the more you know about it! 

Does The Size of A Parachute Matter?

The size of a skydive canopy matters … a LOT. A higher wingloading (AKA, a smaller wing) is less forgiving, as the canopy is more responsive, whereas a lower wingloading is more docile and has a slower rate of descent. 

The skydiving canopy size chart by the USPA (United States Parachute Association) provides skydivers with recommendations of canopy sizes based on jump number and exit weight. Like we mentioned above, there are other factors that go into play when determining the right canopy for you – such as currency – but this chart provides a great basis. 

What is wingloading? 

Wingloading is the ratio of a skydiver’s exit weight to the surface area of the parachute. In the US, we calculate wingloading by dividing the skydiver’s exit weight in pounds by the canopy’s surface area in square feet. 

Does someone with more jumps have a small wingloading? 

Downsizing – the act progressively using smaller parachutes as experience, jump numbers, and time in the sport increases – is not synonymous with higher jump numbers. What we mean is: Skydivers with more experience have the opportunity to downsize, but they don’t have to. Upsizing or maintaining your current wingloading is cool! 

Does The Class of Parachute Matter? 

Yes, the style (or class) of canopy matters! Parachutes are designed for different purposes, such as CRW work, accuracy, or high-performance landings (AKA, swoops). Each canopy has specificity to its design (that’s why there are so many on the market!) that affects the lift, pitch (or dive), yaw, openings, roll, and so much more. 

What is considered a high-performance canopy? 

Any canopy sized at 150 (square feet, that is) or smaller is considered high-performance across the industry and by the USPA. According to the USPA, any canopy can be considered high-performance based on the wingloading, regardless of parachute size. 

What is the difference between a 9-cell and 7-cell canopy? 

Two cells, hehe! Seven-cell canopies have fewer cells, ribs, and lines, and generally pack a bit smaller. Nine-cell canopies are known for having higher flare power and for gliding a bit further when coming in for landing, and canopies with 7 cells are great for flying in deep brakes and sinking in – woo-hoo skydiving canopy control and accuracy! Deciding between a 7-cell canopy and a 9-cell canopy is simply personal preference. 

When Should You Take A Canopy Course? 

Anytime that you have the opportunity to indulge in a canopy course, DO IT. At a bare minimum, experienced skydivers should be taking canopy courses for their USPA B License (as this achievement places a high concentration on canopy skills and knowledge) and every time they change wings. Even if you’re upsizing? Yep! Receiving instruction on how to effectively and safely fly your parachute is paramount. Whether you’re downsizing, upsizing, or changing platforms, a canopy course is a smart move. 

At Skydive Perris, we have a gear store on-site where you can demo canopies and buy gently used ones! 

The post How to Pick The Best Skydiving Canopy For Me appeared first on Skydive Perris.

If you’re looking for a world-class skydiving experience near San Diego – welcome to Skydive Perris! Our dropzone has been serving Southern California for over 40 years and is the destination for Hollywood’s most famous stars who seek life’s greatest adventure (just as you do!).

Skydive Perris is the training home to some of the world’s greatest skydiving athletes and military elite forces as well as a large community of skydiving hobbyists who venture to us from not just San Diego and Los Angeles, but throughout the entire world!

Despite the accolades we’ve received through 40+ years of operation, what we’re most well-known for is our passion for skydiving, reputation for customer service and our safety culture. This is the ultimate reason why first-time skydivers and licensed skydivers make the short drive from San Diego to jump with us.

We believe that we’re only as good as our last operational day and we strive to ensure that all who arrive at our campus are treated with respect. It is our goal that all of our guests depart feeling as if they’ve had a world-class, and even life-changing experience. We invite you to see why residents of San Diego and the So Cal region have chosen Skydive Perris for decades!

San Diego Skydiving – We’re Closer Than You Think!

Skydive Perris is located approximately 80 miles due north of the city (about an hour and 20-minute drive) straight up I-15 N followed by a quick ride on I-215 N. Upon arrival, you’ll be amazed by our skydiving campus which includes an on-site indoor skydiving facility, a restaurant, and bar, a comprehensive fleet of aircraft (the largest in California), a massive landing area (read: lots of space for landing) while being amongst some of the world’s most decorated skydivers starting with our General Manager, Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld – a member of the International Skydiving Hall of Fame for his achievements which include multi-World and National Championships.

Why Is There No Skydiving in Downtown San Diego?

If you Google, ‘skydiving near San Diego’ or search for any skydiving center near any major city, you’ll discover that most skydiving centers are located at least 30 minutes or more from the city and the reason for this is airspace – we need to skydive without a lot of interference from the major airlines! It’s for this reason why we jump in Perris Valley! We have clean airspace as well as lots of land which allows us plenty of room to expand our facilities and a large space for landing whether it be for tandem skydiving operations or major world record skydiving attempts.

Closest Skydiving to San Diego?

Skydive Perris is not the closest skydiving center to San Diego, and we want to be transparent about this to avoid any confusion. That said, we are a popular skydiving destination for residents and visitors of San Diego for all the reasons mentioned above, but most of all, we want you to take away our ultimate value proposition which revolves around a more complete skydiving experience.

We believe a great skydiving experience goes beyond the simple aspect of exiting an aircraft, free-falling, and landing safely. Just like eating out at a restaurant, a great dining experience goes beyond just the food. Skydive Perris is a family-owned business driven by owners who care about the complete experience which starts at how people are treated. Our values are tied to the Golden Rule – treat others as you wish to be treated. Though we skydive every day, we recognize that skydiving is indeed scary and not without risk. We want all of our guests to feel cared for and be allowed to experience the joy that skydiving in an environment that celebrates each of our guest’s achievements!

Are You Ready To Skydive?

Whether you’d like to join us for an indoor skydiving or an outdoor skydiving experience (or both in the same day), booking couldn’t be any easier! Click the ‘Book Now’ button in the upper right-hand corner of our website and choose your adventure. The rest is easy! Also, be sure to check out our specials page to ensure you get the best possible promotion!

The post San Diego to Skydive Perris: An Experience You Can’t Get Closer To Home! appeared first on Skydive Perris.

What’s In A Skydive Gear Check? 

We’ll get into more detail later. First let’s take a look at what we check and what we’re checking for when we perform a skydiving gear check. In short:

• 3-rings. Are they routed properly? Are they free of filth? 
• RSL. Is the Reserve Static Line properly routed and connected? 
• Straps. Are the chest strap and leg straps routed through the metal friction adapter properly? Is there any wear and tear on them or the friction adapter? Is their excess cleanly stowed? 
• Handles. Are the cutaway and reserve handles seated correctly and securely? Are the cutaway cable and reserve cable able to move at will? 
• Reserve pin. Is the pin seated correctly and is it sealed by an FAA-certified rigger? 
• AAD. Is the AAD turned on, and was it turned on here, today? 
• Main pin and closing loop. Is the main pin placed properly through the closing loop, and does the closing loop have less than 10% wear? 
• Bridle. Is the bridle routing correct? 
• Pilot chute. Is the pilot chute able to be reached comfortably by the jumper? 
• Altimeter. Is the altimeter showing a reading of “zero” on the ground? And, is it set to the proper setting if it’s a digital altimeter? 
• Helmet. Do the helmet and goggles (if using an open-face helmet) fit well? 
• Shoes. Are shoes tied or otherwise secured to the jumper’s feet? 

What’s The Check of Threes? 

The Check of Threes is commonly used to remember critical components of parachute gear checks. 

• Three rings. The three-ring release system – created by the iconic Bill Booth – uses a series of large, medium, and small metal rings that loop through each other and are secured by the cutaway cable. This clever design spreads the effect of gravity on the skydiver and the forces of canopy flight across the rings, reducing the overall strain and demanding less force needed to cut away the main canopy.
  
  The RSL, which is connected to the main risers near the three-ring system, is also inspected at this point in the Check of Threes to ensure it’s properly routed and securely attached to the correct grommet. 

• Three attachment points. The harness of the skydiving rig has three straps – a chest strap and two leg straps. Each of these are routed through a metal friction adapter. When we’re checking the attachment points, we’re ensuring there isn’t wear on the straps or adapter, and that the strap is routed properly through the adapter. It’s common to see skydivers checking others’ straps by not only looking at them, but tugging on them. 

• Three handles. Skydiving rigs are equipped with three handles – the hacky on the pilot chute (which initiates deployment of the main parachute), the cutaway handle, and the reserve parachute handle. When we check these, we’re ensuring that they’re secure! They’re held in place by strong velcro – seriously! And yes, the velcro really withstands the speed of a skydive. 

The Nitty Gritty of Skydiving Gear Checks

With the basics behind us, let’s take a more in-depth look into the components we consider with each skydiving gear check:

• Main closing pin and loop. When we check these, we’re making sure they’re in good health and in the right spot! The main closing loop should have less than 10% wear. How do you measure 10%? A good rule of thumb is: if you’re debating, it’s time to change it! Closing loops that are too frayed can result in a premature deployment of the main canopy. 

• Reserve closing pin and loop. How much wear can a reserve closing loop show? Zero percent! Reserve parachutes have a sort of zero-tolerance policy – they need to be in pristine condition. This is one reason they’re unpacked, inspected, and repacked by an FAA-certified rigger every 180 days. Yes, this happens regardless of if you’ve used the reserve or not! 

• Automatic Activation Device. AADs are small computers situated in the container designed to deploy the reserve parachute in the event that the skydiver is unable to. They perform using a pressure and velocity system – if they determine the skydiver is falling too fast (velocity) and is too low (air pressure), they are designed to activate a small blade to cut the reserve cable, which deploys the reserve parachute. AADs save lives! 

• Altimeter. Altimeters show us how high we are – they’re pretty darn important in the skydiving world! When we check them prior to a jump, we’re making sure they’re displaying “zero” and are fastened snugly on the skydiver’s hand or wrist. 

Wondering how much full skydiving gear costs? It depends. Many people buy used gear, with the full setup costing a couple grand. Others (normally as they progress in the sport) might spend more than $10,000 on gear. It may sound like a lot, but you can’t put a price on something that will save your life and enable you to do something that brings you much joy! 

Do You Ever Check The Parachute? 

Although the parachute is inside the rig during a traditional gear check, it’s checked before every single jump when it’s packed! Every parachute packer – whether that’s you or someone you’ve hired – will consciously check the status of the risers, grommets, lines, canopy, pilot chute, deployment bag and bridle during every pack job. 

Pro tip: Take care of your parachute packer! They take a great deal of responsibility into their hands when they prepare your canopy for deployment and landing, i.e. their work saves your life! What are we hinting at? The answer to this frequently asked question: Do you tip your skydive parachute packer? You can! Tipping is never expected, but it’s always appreciated. Tipping isn’t always about money; packers work hard for long hours and save you the hassle of having to spend time sweating on the mat instead of grabbing a snack (if you’re at Skydive Perris, check out the Bombshelter Restaurant’s menu!) before your next jump. So, maybe bring them something too, like an electrolyte drink or a sandwich!

How Often Should You Gear Check? 

You should gear check so often that it becomes second nature. Gear checks are expected to be done by the jumper using the gear prior to putting it on and after putting it on. Before boarding the airplane, it’s customary to get a gear check from at least one other qualified skydiver – a second set of eyes could save your life! Many jumpers also check their own gear and others prior to leaving the aircraft. This is trickier to do in a crowded airplane, but it’s possible and common! Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld (a.k.a. Dan BC), one of the greatest skydivers in history and a fierce advocate of safety in skydiving, reminds jumpers regularly that they should always “expect everything that could go wrong to go wrong on every jump” 

What is the fatality rate of skydiving? According to the United States Parachute Association’s 2024 report, there were 0.23 skydiving fatalities for every 100,000 skydives made last year. To put this ratio into context, that’s approximately one fatality for every 434,783 jumps. This number represents the lowest number of annual skydiving deaths in recorded history – a statistic we have been able to achieve, in part, through diligent safety checks, individual accountability, and a commitment to keeping complacency at bay. We are acutely aware that skydiving is an inherently risky sport, which is why we are so meticulous about mitigating risk wherever possible.

Have questions about skydiving gear checks, or anything else related to our industry? Feel free to reach out to us! We’re here to support you and to responsibly advance the sport of skydiving. Blue skies!

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As a first-timer, the idea of pushing your body into a big column of air might be a bit intimidating. But here’s the truth: the drive to the wind tunnel is way scarier than the flight itself. Why? The unknown, of course! Our brains tend to work up the worst-case scenario when we aren’t sure what to expect. That’s why we’ve created this guide, to give you all the reassurance you need. 

Read on for a step-by-step on indoor skydiving, a video sneak peak of fun in the tunnel, and answers to several frequently asked questions so you can start your flight with confidence! 

Step 1: Arrival 

When you arrive on site, you’ll be welcomed by our awesome staff. No need to show up hours early, just give yourself enough time to beat traffic and arrive by your scheduled flight time. If you’re late by 10 minutes or more, we may have to reschedule your flight, simply due to other bookings overlapping at that time. 

Step 2: Briefing & Waiver 

Before you become one with the wind, an expert instructor will brief you on what to expect – this overview tends to mitigate the anxiety of the what ifs and unknowns. They’re prepared to answer all of your questions, from “Is indoor skydiving hard on your body?”(it can be, in a fun workout kind of way) to “Can you do tricks in the tunnel?” (yes, even beginner indoor skydivers can do a few). 

During this step, you’ll also sign a waiver. Our team is here to answer any questions you may have to ensure you feel as confident as possible before your flight. 

Step 3: Gear Up 

Once you’re checked in, the real adventure begins! We’ve got you covered with a super cool flight suit, helmet, and goggles. What should you wear for indoor skydiving? Don’t worry too much, the flight suit will go on top of whatever you’re wearing. Best bet: go for close-fitting clothing that’s flexible and comfortable.

If you wear glasses, no problem – our goggles are designed to fit securely over them. Just remember to bring closed-toed shoes, as they’re a must for safety.

Step 4: Wait in The Chamber 

Where do you wait your turn for indoor skydiving? In the chamber! The chamber is located around the perimeter of the wind tunnel. Think about a donut – if the hole in the center of the donut is the wind tunnel, then the actual glazed goodness is the chamber, or rather, the waiting room. Here, you can sit and watch flyers knock it out of the park before you. Or, if you’re up for it, you can go first! 

Step 5: Flight Time! 

When it’s your turn, you’ll step into the tunnel and the wind will lift you off the net in a rush. Don’t stress, you won’t be on your own, your instructor will be right there, giving pointers, maintaining eye contact, and making sure you breathe. 

Can you breathe while indoor skydiving? Yes! Similar to real skydiving, you can breathe, but some people get a bit overwhelmed (understandably!) and simply forget to take some deep breaths. 

Does indoor skydiving feel real? About as real as it gets without actually leaping from a plane! So real, in fact, that a lot of professional and competitive skydivers prioritize time in the tunnel to hone their freefall skills. Indoor skydiving gives people who are not yet 18 years old (and as young as 3!) or who may want to experience skydiving for the first time in a less intense environment the chance to do so.  

Each flight lasts about one minute, which is comparable to the freefall time of an actual skydive. 

Step 6: Debrief & Celebrate

You DID IT! After your final flight, you’ll exit the tunnel with the biggest, most accomplished smile on your face. You’ll remove your flight suit and chat with your group and instructor about the experience – what you loved, what surprised you, and how you’re feeling overall. This is your chance to relive your time in the tunnel and talk with our team about options we offer for those who want to pursue tunnel flying more regularly. 

Video of Indoor Skydiving: Why It’s Worth It

Similar to videos of skydiving for real, indoor skydiving videos just don’t do it justice! Indoor and outdoor flights are really just something you need to experience for yourself. Indoor skydiving boasts tons of benefits – from facing fears to building a strong sense of confidence and community. 

Have any further questions? Never hesitate to reach out to us – we’re here to help you reach your highest potential in all things skydiving!

Ready to fly? Book your indoor skydive today!

The post Indoor Skydiving: See How It Works appeared first on Skydive Perris.

Before we dive in to learn about different types of skydiving world records, the legends behind the jumps, and the drive behind these epic achievements, let us state today’s date: April 28, 2025. Why? Because records are meant to be broken, and this article is meant to be outdated … soon! So if you read this a couple of years from now and know our info is uncurrent … reach out! We’ll update it ;) 

What Is World Skydiving Day? 

What is the world record skydive for most skydivers jumped in one day? Launched in 2024, World Skydiving Day is an annual global celebration of skydiving! It’s a day where first-time jumpers and experienced skydivers are encouraged to take to the skies to contribute to a world record of skydiving: most jumps in a day, across the world! The world skydiving record in 2024 was 30,351 jumps made in a single day! (538 of those jumps were made at Perris – come break this record with us on July 12, 2025!)

From Highest Jump To Largest Formation: What’s In A Record? 

Skydiving records capture the sport’s most dedicated flyers by showcasing their courage, skill, and innovation. Records are neat, because the same characteristics can be measured across multiple disciplines. For example, we can measure speed in freefall and we can measure speed while swooping in for landing under a parachute – both of these are categories of records people compete to be the best in! Here’s a look at what can go into skydiver records: 

Altitude. 

How high can you go!? The highest skydive in the world was achieved by Alan Eustace when he jumped from 135,899 feet, just a few months after the highly-publicized RedBull jump by Felix Baumgartner … How is that for your fun fact bank?!? – yeah, you read that right. Advances in technology will undoubtedly allow people to go higher and faster, but for now, Alan takes the cake for highest skydive. 

Formations. 

Formations come in all shapes and sizes. You can have good ol’ belly Formation Skydiving (FS), Vertical Formation Skydiving (VFS), Canopy Formations (CF), and even wingsuit formations, where wingsuiters ‘flock’ together. 

What is the world record for big way skydiving? There are few exciting ways to look at this. The largest skydive on record is an FS jump completed in Thailand in 2006 with 400 skydivers from 29 countries! 

On August 22, 2025, a decade-old Vertical Formation Skydiving (VFS) world record was shattered! At Skydive Chicago, 174 skydivers used nine airplanes to successfully complete a head-down formation. This record showcases precision, teamwork, and undeniable skill.

What about sequential records? These jumps entail docking, everyone un-docking, and re-docking. There are two phenomenal sequential records set in 2024, both of which had two points – meaning everyone docked (held hands), un-docked (let go), and re-docked (held hands again in a different formation)!  

In October, 64 ladies took to the skies to achieve a new, female, full-break sequential record right here at Skydive Perris. In November, a 151-way total-break sequential record was set at Skydive Arizona. A big year for big way!

Speed. 

How fast can you reach max-speed in freefall? What about while gliding over a pond under your parachute?! Speed competitors in freefall wear super slick suits and pointy helmets. They exit the aircraft and assume a head-down position, which allows them to reach max speeds. There are legitimate studies that go into assessing the aerodynamics of skydivers to determine how they can reach new limits in velocity. 

At nearly 330 mph, Marco Hepp holds the world record in speed! When it comes to canopy flight, Curt Bartholomew flew a standard 70-meter course in 1.747 seconds and holds the world record in speed when it comes to swooping – WILD. Curt’s rockstar wife, Jeannie Bartholomew, holds multiple national and international records, too. Talk about a power couple! 

Accuracy. 

While some are all about the largest skydive or fastest swoop records, others focus on landing their canopy with accurate finesse. Being able to land a parachute in the right spot is pretty darn important, but these canopy pilots take it to a whole new level.

 In true accuracy competitions, not zone accuracy, skydivers are judged on how close they can land to a predetermined target and it’s measured in mere centimeters. The current world record is held by Thomas Jeannerot who landed two centimeters from the target over an accumulated 10 jumps. 

Wingsuiting. 

Wingsuit skydiver records deserve their own category! Flying a wingsuit poses extra challenges to control the suit, which is why it takes a minimum of 200 skydives to be considered to enroll in a wingsuit course. Just like many non-wingsuit records, these come in solo and group categories: 

Sebastián Álvarez just shattered three world skydiving records in wingsuiting: speed, distance, and flight time. He is officially the fastest person on earth, cutting through the wind horizontally at 342 mph – UNREAL! His helmet and suit were both engineered specifically for this skydive at West Tennessee Skydiving with an exit altitude of over 40,000 feet. 

What is the largest skydive in vertical wingsuiting? A 38-way! Nearly 40 wingsuiters soared the skies above Skydive Perris to achieve this feat. This was a no-grip wingsuit formation, meaning skydivers were judged on if they flew into their correct spot, at the correct time, and with the correct distance between each jumper. These jumps are extremely precision-based and judged using gridlines like shown below. 

photo by Nikko Mamallo 

How Many Jumps In 24 Hours? 

What is the world record for the most skydive jumps in 24 hours? Jay Stokes did 640 skydives in 24 hours! He did these skydives from low altitudes, rather than going through a minute of freefall every time. Many experienced jumpers are impressed by five or so jumps in a day, so this number is nearly incomprehensible! 

Age Is Just A Number!

Skydiving age limits don’t exist. Yes, there’s an age minimum of 18, but you can be as old as you want and still jump out of an airplane! In fact, to encourage old-timers to stay active in the sport, there are designated groups: Parachutists Over Phorty (POPS), Skydivers Over Sixty (SOS), Jumpers Over Seventy (JOS), Jumpers Over Eighty Society (JOES), and even Jumpers Over Ninety Society (JONS). Each of these demographic groups set and break records all the time! 

In 2023, at Skydive Perris, SOS jumpers set two world records! They achieved the record for largest skydive of SOS-qualified jumpers with 101 people, and then largest sequential formation with 99 people!  

On November 20 2021, Pat Moorehead, the founder of Skydivers Over Sixty, did nine jumps at Skydive Perris to celebrate his 90th birthday! Ten years before, in 2011, he did 81 (yes, eighty-one) jumps to celebrate his 80th. Some skydiving records are downright mind-blowing.  

What About SANS Records?  

It’s worth mentioning that the Society for the Advancement of Naked Skydiving (SANS) set a world record in formation skydiving (FS) in 2024 with a 32-way! And yes, once you get licensed, you’re able (although not always welcome) to skydive in the nude! Beware of sliding in when you land!!

Who Can Be On A Record? 

We all start somewhere! The awesome thing about skydiving is that every single legendary, world-record-holding jumper started at the beginning, just like you. Getting a solid foundation and discovering what discipline(s) you like are your first steps in becoming a world record holder in skydiving. Enrolling in camps, such as big-way camps to learn about safe FS flying, and getting coaching in your discipline of choice is the way to go! 

Skydivers are constantly discovering new limits and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the best ways, and these achievements ignite inspiration. Start your journey to being on record-shattering skydives by booking a tandem skydive!

And of course, you can attempt to have your first official skydiving record by joining us this next July 12, 2025 at Skydive Perris for World Skydiving Day!

The post Skydiving World Records appeared first on Skydive Perris.

Luckily, there are plenty of tried-and-true tactics for managing that stress and making the most of your skydiving experience, and it has just as much to do with what you should do as what you should not do before skydiving.

Read on for our top five tips to prepare for your jump – and don’t land with a “what I wish I knew before skydiving” list!

1. Know What to Expect

Diving into the unknown is half the battle when it comes to being less scared of something, and that includes skydiving. Having a good idea of what your time with us will look like, knowing how to prepare for the big day, and even getting in a little bit of practice beforehand will do wonders to calm your racing heart. 

You can even stop by the dropzone before jump day and hang out at the Bombshelter Restaurant to watch other people making their own first skydives! Understanding the process and seeing other people having the time of their lives is the best way to feel more confident in your decision to take the leap.  

2. Do Your Research

Whether you’re someone who lives by numbers or not, understanding the statistics and risks of skydiving can switch your brain into a more logical gear. According to the most recent numbers from the governing body of skydiving in the US, the United States Parachute Association (USPA): 

“USPA members reported making 3.65 million skydives in 2023. In the same year, there were a total of 10 civilian skydiving fatalities in the United States. Both 2021 and 2023 saw this record low number since record keeping began in 1961. When the numbers are placed into a rate index, that comes out to 0.27 deaths per 100,000 jumps.” 

3. Practice Self-Care

It’s impossible to overestimate the value of self-care in both life and skydiving. If you can get yourself in tip top mental and physical shape, your skydiving experience is going to be that much better.

Take some time before you head to the dropzone to do what you know works best for you, whether that means going for a run or laying in bed cuddled under the blankets. Get your mind right before your mind-blowing experience! 

Is it okay to eat before skydiving? Absolutely! You need to take care of your body, too. In fact, you should eat a complete and balanced meal to start your day so that you can feel energized and alert. You can even bring snacks and water with you to the dropzone to keep yourself feeling good throughout the day, but no worries if you didn’t remember! We’ve got you covered at the Bombshelter, with snacks and drinks for before and after your jump. 

Save the party for AFTER your jump! While it might be tempting to go all out the night before to process some of your nerves, a hangover doesn’t make for an enjoyable skydiving experience. And, even worse, we won’t be able to take you on your jump at all if you’re still under the influence or are too sick. Plan to celebrate your life-changing experience with all of your friends after you land. Or, better yet, bring them with you! 

4. Visualize the Outcome

Give your brain permission to let go of the reins for a little while. Meditation and visualization leading up to your jump – whether that’s days or seconds before you leave the airplane – will help every bit of your mind and body feel calmer. 

Picture your jump going exactly as you hope it would be, imagine yourself whooping with joy as you fly through the air, sailing under the beautiful big parachute, and sticking your landing to cheers from loved ones. Try to conjure what it might feel like to freefall through the air at 120 mph and allow your body to embrace the sensation. Deep breathing is also a fantastic way to regulate the nervous system, even in the excitement of the moment.

5. Ask Questions

Your instructor is here for one thing and one thing only – to take care of you while you’re on the ride of a lifetime! Their main focus is for you to feel comfortable, confident and excited. They have hundreds if not thousands of skydives under their belts, have completed intense training, earned several ratings, and have extensive experience in the art of the tandem skydive, so don’t be afraid to tap into them as a resource!

Ask them any questions you have before, during, and after your jump. They’re more than happy to share their knowledge and passion with you. You can even reach out beforehand with questions – we’re all here to support you.

Are you ready to put your fear aside and take the leap? Book your tandem and let’s get to it! 

The post Top Tips if You’re Skydiving Tomorrow and Scared appeared first on Skydive Perris.

One of the best parts of being on the West Coast is being situated smack dab in the middle of countless Cali experiences. And this time of year, that translates to an opportunity to give some unique California Christmas gifts – like skydiving! Read on for a list of our favorite Skydive Perris presents! 

The Classic: Tandem Skydiving

This tried-and-true gift is bound to surprise and delight whoever is lucky enough to be on the receiving end! Tandem skydiving sits atop many a bucket list, and how wonderful to have the privilege of being the person to help someone check that off. 

Giving the gift of a first skydive is so much more than just a jump from an airplane. Going skydiving for the first time changes lives! People who go skydiving, even once, find that they are more confident, happier, and have a better outlook on life after taking the leap.

You can even make the gift better by going along on the adventure and making it a bonding experience. The memory of jumping out of an airplane together will be one that you can share for years to come. Talk about a gift that keeps on giving – you can’t go wrong with the gift of a tandem skydive! 

The Cutting Edge: Indoor Skydiving

Looking for a gift for someone who loves the idea of skydiving but not the reality of it? Look no further than our indoor skydiving tunnel. Skydive Perris is one of only a handful of dropzones in the world that offers both indoor and outdoor skydiving at the same location!

An indoor skydiving gift certificate is the perfect present for getting the thrill of body-flight without having to journey miles above the Earth to get it! In fact, the sensation of flying in the tunnel is so much like that of skydiving that professional skydivers often use the indoor tunnel to train for their jumps. 

Every tunnel flight includes one-on-one guidance and support from a professional instructor, allowing your gift recipient to maximize their time in simulated freefall that’s equivalent to a skydive from 12,500 feet!

Pro tip: Indoor skydiving is also a great choice for people who don’t meet the age or weight requirement of traditional skydiving. Kids as young as three years old can make an indoor skydive – make it a group gift the whole family can enjoy!

The Relaxer: A Day at the Dropzone

Not everyone wants to throw themselves out of an airplane or float around in a windy tube, and that’s ok – we have something for them, too! Even if you have someone in your life who isn’t the adventurous type (or, perhaps, isn’t anymore), spending the day chilling at Skydive Perris can still make a fantastic gift.

Watching skydivers landing in all their glory is a fun and inspiring way to spend a sunny day. Our top-notch facilities include the world-famous Bombshelter Restaurant and a sparkling swimming pool, both of which overlook the landing area. The recipient of your gift will feel like they’re visiting an adrenaline resort! 

The All-Inclusive: Ticket to Perridise 

Have someone on your list whose socks you’re wanting to knock clean off? Go for the gold and treat them to the ultimate adrenaline-fueled, life-changing, unique California experience: playtime in Perridise! At the center of this best-gift-ever is the Adrenal-IN Experience that offers indoor and outdoor skydiving – check it out:

• Indoor skydiving flight training and gear
• 2 x indoor skydiving flights
• Souvenir Flight Certificate
• Tandem skydiving training and gear
• Tandem Skydive from 12,500 feet
• Souvenir Jump Certificate

Want to up the ante even further? Plan an overnight or weekend getaway that includes everything Skydive Perris and the surrounding area has to offer. There are a number of local accommodation options in our backyard that range from affordable digs to luxurious spas.

There’s still plenty of time to snag the most unique California gift of all and earn your title as the best gift giver this holiday season – securely purchase Skydive Perris gift certificates online! Have questions? Check out our FAQs or get in touch. Blue skies!

The post Unique California Experience Gifts for the Holidays appeared first on Skydive Perris.

Read on to learn about the crown jewel of our fleet, including her history and journey back to the skies, what it’s like to skydive from a jet plane, and how YOU can have a piece of the action. It is the closest you can come to skydiving out of a 747!

How It All Started 

First, a little back story on our magnificent DC-9.

Just 10 of these aircraft were built for Scandinavian Airlines for use at airports at high elevations with short runways. These “Series 21” models entered service in 1969 but, due to their highly specialized design, were discontinued for lack of additional orders. The Douglas Aircraft Company went on to focus on other variants of the DC-9 family that had broader market demand, leaving most of these perfect-for-Perris aircraft to aviation history.

In the case of our DC-9-21, it was destined to a scrapheap in Victorville, California after facing an expensive engine repair – a fate DZOs Ben and Diane Conatser couldn’t bear to accept. With the Perris Valley Airport located at an elevation of 1,420 feet and featuring a 5,100-foot runway, the aircraft had the potential to offer a novel experience of absolutely epic proportions.

Bennie purchased it in 2003, bought QEC engines, brought it to Perris, and began to work with the Douglas Aircraft Company and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to prepare it for skydiving operations.

Unprecedented Modifications

To ready our DC-9 for human flight, Bennie implemented several modifications, including:

• Removal of Ventral Stair Steps
  The aircraft’s rear ventral airstair, originally designed for passenger boarding and deplaning, was removed to create a clear and unobstructed exit path for skydivers.

• Structural & Safety Enhancements
  The fuselage was reinforced around the exit area to withstand multiple jumpers exiting in quick succession. Additionally, safety features such as handrails and non-slip surfaces were installed near the exit to assist jumpers during egress.

Once modified, all that was left was FAA approval. As luck would have it, there was an FAA inspector in Windover, Illinois who had experience with flying a commercial jet with the rear staircase open! Approval in hand, we proudly flew jumpers at the 2006 World Freefall Convention in Rantoul, Illinois. 

And the rest, as they say, is history. 

The Specs

For those who can’t get enough of our jumping jet plane, check out these facts and stats about our Douglas Commercial Subvariant Series 21:

• Tail number N127NK (“November Kilo”)
  
• Birthday was April 15, 1969
  
• Holds up to 80 skydivers; maximum take-off weight of 100,000 lbs
  
• Shorter fuselage; larger, improved wings than earlier versions of the DC-9 body

• JT8D Pratt & Whitney improved engines

• Latest, heaviest landing gear produced by Douglas for the DC-9
  
• Similar plane to the one hijacker D.B. Cooper infamously jumped from with today’s equivalent of $1,500,000 in ransom money, never to be seen again!

Labor of Love

Owning a skydiving jet isn’t all fun and games. Despite the hefty investment required to save our DC-9 from the scrap yard and equip it for greatness, she’s had her ups and downs. After helping to deliver supplies and evacuate victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 (while we were hosting the 2005 Nationals!), N127NK was put in storage, not to reemerge until 2024.

In the intervening years, the best-of-the-best airplane mechanics – including Bennie, his son Patrick, grandson Ryan, and the Skydive Perris maintenance crew – worked tirelessly to get our jet back in the air. This effort cannot be quantified as it involves hundreds of maintenance hours and a significant financial investment. 

What’s more, the parts needed for our specialty aircraft are nearly impossible to find in the US because of her age and country of origin. So, between the new engines, a radio, escape slides, tires, and the ADSB (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) technology mandated by the FAA, let’s just say that we operate our beloved jet more for love than money! 

But we think it’s worth it, and here’s why …

Jumping a Jet

Skydiving from a DC-9 Jet is unlike any experience on the planet! Everything from the ride up and the exit to the freefall is different from your typical skydive. In truth, our amazing pilots and happy-go-lucky skydivers have a mutual admiration society!  

First of all, sitting in an airplane with 79 other skydivers is incredible! All of that anticipation and excited energy swirling around the cabin before the door even opens sets the stage for the jump of a lifetime. Imagine being in a room with 80 people … now fly that room into the sky and start a skydiving party! 

From there, things only get better. The rear door of the jet opens and it’s all systems go! Whether you want to pretend you’re on a secret mission, pulling a heist like D.B. Cooper, or are just jonesing for a whole new perspective of our sport, this door is nothing short of a dream come true!

Even the transition into freefall is unlike any other skydive you can make. The extreme speed of the DC-9 means that you DECELERATE to terminal velocity! 

Jet-Setting Events

If you’re a member of our DZ family, you know full well that Skydive Perris knows how to throw a party. What planes do we use for skydiving? All of them! And now that our game-changing DC-9 is a permanent fixture, our events are the talk of the town. (Humble brag: by town, we actually mean globe.) 

We are proud to have recently hosted some phenomenal female skydivers from the 1960s, ’70s, ’80s – giants in the sport, all three – who did tandems from the jet on the same pass: Kim Emmons Knor, Donna Wardean Dann, and Nancy Gruttman Tyler. In fact, International Skydiving Hall of Fame inductee, Kim Knor, is currently on a quest to make tandems all over the country as she strives for her 1,000th jump and her Gold Wings distinction! 

And that’s what having a skydiving jet will bring you: camaraderie, community, and heaping helpings of adrenaline and excitement. Every ounce of love we put into the DC-9 is our way ofpkeeping a legacy alive. 

So, if you’ve ever wondered if you can skydive from a jet plane, the answer is YES! And you don’t have to be a licensed skydiver to do it – you can join us for a Jet Tandem!! Our upcoming Holiday Boogie is a perfect opportunity to hitch a ride to altitude in the DC-9, and then we’ll start our cycle of jet-worthy boogies again in 2025. Blue skies, jet setters!

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