ifly Seattle is the northwest's newest thrill ride but the vertical wind tunnel in Tukwila which held its grand opening/ribbon cutting on Friday Sept. 23 is far more than a just a ride or a really fun experience.

It's a flight training center.

It joins some 22 other vertical wind tunnels in the SkyVenture franchise across the nation (the first one went public in 2000 in Orlando) and does in fact train those who come to be lifted by the powerful blast of air, rising up through a mesh floor at speeds from 116 mph (for beginners) to 155mph or faster for advanced or expert flyers.

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This one is owned by husband and wife Bill and Lisa Adams and it began as a dream for him when he was in the military as a green beret and part of a HALO (High Altitude Low Opening) team. In HALO the parachutist opens his parachute at a low altitude after free-falling. During training Adams was in an experimental wind tunnel (secret at the time) in 1988 and he recognized that a civilian version of the technology might be very successful.

He sought ways to make that happen in the ensuing years and today the Adam's opening of this new facility is a realization of that long held dream.

Located at 349 Tukwila Pkwy, iFly Seattle is situated in a former military recruiting center and at the ribbon cutting, attended by Tukwila Mayor Jim Haggerton, members of his city council and former Seahawk running back Mack Strong, Adams touched on the fact that the military heritage of the building means a lot. So much in fact that the business often opens early to provide genuine flight training for members of the military looking to improve their parachuting skills. Adams himself uses the facility every day. "I try to get in for 10 to 15 minutes and fly around. It's fun! I fly around with my family. The more you do it the funner it gets." Adams noted that "kids are the best, seeing them fly is like watching their dream come true." But he became extremely emotional when he related the story of a paraplegic friend. "For him to be able to come in here and fly around is spectacular. There wasn't a dry eye in the place. It chokes me up thinking about it. He said it was the first time he was able to get out of his wheelchair and be free."

For the public the introductory flight packages start at $59.95 for one flyer and two flights. "It comes with the gear (they equip you with a flight suit, googles and helmet), comes with the professional coach and training," said General Manager Elle DaSilva, "there's a natural progression the more you come back, so really we are a flight school, it's not a carnival ride. You can progress (…) We have four positions we teach students. Belly flying, which is where beginners start, back flying, then sit flying and the ultimate position that every student wants to achieve, head down flying vertical position (…) This is for people who have dreamt about flying but never want to jump out of an aircraft."

There are limitations on who can fly of course.

Flyers may be as young as three years of age. Inside the wind tunnel a professional can maintain control through holding on to the flight suit so it's not dangerous for children. There is no upper age limit. All flyers must be in good health and physical condition. Those less than 6 feet tall must weigh less than 230 pounds, and those over 6 feet must weigh less than 250 pounds. Children under 18 years of age need to have a parent or guardian to sign their waiver. If you have a prior shoulder dislocation or back or neck problems you should not fly. iFly reserves the right to refuse service to anyone at any time.
Groups can fly, up to 12 can be in the tunnel at a time (the world record is 20) and the company also offers corporate events, birthday parties, and more.

The tunnel has a 14-foot diameter circular glass flight chamber with wall-to-wall airflow meaning those inside can't fall (still those flying must sign a waiver) . It is powered by four high-efficiency axial fans mounted in the upper leg of the tunnel. An airlock allows the operator to exchange flyers without pausing operation. The tunnel is also outfitted with an automated, state-of-the-art photo and video recording system letting customers take their flight experience home when they leave.

The facility is open 11 am to 11 pm but does open early for military training when required.

20 people are employed by iFly Seattle but the real impact of the business in the community was summed up by Mayor Haggerton. "We've had a lot of new businesses come into the area and in my state of city address this year I noted that there are 317 new businesses that had come in over the previous year. This is one more big addition. We've always been known as a heavy retail center with a lot of restaurants and a lot of hotel rooms we're trying to make ourselves known more as an entertainment capital not only of King County but the State of Washington. This goes a long way toward that." He said he has a bet with Mayor of Sumner who challenged him. "He said I'll do it if you will and I said, hold that thought."

It is a partnership between Chester Schwartz, Bill Adams and SkyGroup Investments, LLC.

You can see a larger version of the photo above by clicking the link above.