An unstable economy and rumblings of a recession have parents everywhere pinching pennies while the cost of living continues to increase. However, families still want to have fun and make memories. And they want to relish exciting experiences, such as iFLY.
Have you ever wanted to skydive but are scared of jumping out of a plane strapped to a parachute? At iFLY, there’s no jumping or canopy necessary. Instead, the parachute and aircraft have been replaced by a state-of-the-art wind tunnel powered by a massive generator. It’s such a unique family bonding exercise.
Even better, it’s an adventure that almost anyone can enjoy. Whether you’re 3 or 103, you can experience the thrill of free-falling inside one of the 100 vertical wind tunnels worldwide; 50 of them are owned and operated by the Austin, Texas-headquartered company.
At iFLY, visitors lean into the vertical wind tunnel and live through the adrenaline rush of flying on a cushion of air. It’s as thrilling as skydiving without any of the worries traditionally associated with free-falling. “The technology has been developed to create an environment which is completely enclosed, controlled, and can deliver that flight experience in a very comfortable manner,” stated CEO Matt Ryan.
The company concentrates on delivering an incredible experience to families and expanding its customer base. The free publicity that comes from word-of-mouth feedback and recommendations from those who go through the thrilling sensation inside the vertical wind tunnel can be a significant asset to the company’s expansion.
To join the proficient team, the company only picks those who prove they’re genuinely excited about flying inside vertical wind tunnels. “Just about anybody who experiences it, whether it's a customer or a part of the iFLY team, is really passionate about the experience,” said Ryan.
Families comprise 80% of its customer base. “They're our core customers,” stated Ryan. “They come for a family experience. They experience flight as individuals, but they experience iFLY as a family.”
Ryan added, “As long as families continue to grow and babies are born, this business is here to deliver what they can't find anywhere else. You can't jump out of a plane as a family with a 6-year-old, a 3-year-old, or an 11-year-old. And that's why it's so impactful.”
It’s true. The company ascends over other similar types of entertainment by offering a variety of ways to feel the thrill of floating on air. After all, it’s hard to stop flying.
Delivering the Dream of Flight to Kids and Teens
The Flight School program allows children and teenagers up to age 16 a chance to spread their wings. Students enrolled in the program discover varied skills, starting with flying on their bellies in an enjoyable group setting. Then, participants learn how to evolve their flying chops in an entertaining group environment led by a capable flight instructor. These exhilarating yet educational two-hour sessions make Flight School one activity that kids don’t mind waking up for on Saturday mornings.
A highly trained instructor heads up the educational program. In addition, the instructors are certified and skilled in safety standards set forth by the International Bodyflight Association. The IBA, established in 2003, set the standard of safety utilized by the industry. It supports over 42,000 flyers, instructors, and coaches in more than 85 tunnels worldwide.
The company offers an immersive, educational STEM program to make learning about science, technology, engineering, and math more fun. Skilled STEM educators wow students, based on their grade level, with their enlightening presentations and explore math and physics through eye-opening experiments inside the vertical wind tunnel. However, the most thrilling aspect is that each student gets a one-on-one flying event with one of the certified flight instructors. It’s a field trip they’ll never forget.
“We believe we're the coolest field trip out there,” Ryan stated.
CEO Matt Ryan: “iFLY Transcends Culture”
Toddlers to centenarians, and anyone in between, can appreciate the thrill of floating around a vertical wind tunnel. “iFLY transcends culture, class, ethnicity; if you're in there, you're flying,” said Ryan. It’s an excellent place for families to bond with members who have disabilities, too.
“Often, it delivers an experience for an individual with a physical or mental disability who typically can't participate with family members or friends,” stated Ryan. “It doesn't matter if you've got no legs or arms; [you] can fly [here] because the instructor's holding onto you. That makes it a great experience.”
The company works closely with local family groups to organize events for disabled children. “It goes out of the way to support that community at our locations worldwide,” stated Ryan.
Chris Barrett, president of the retail division, stated, “The instructors love what they do. So if they can help others who never dreamed of walking again learn flight, it's something that they [revel in]. They just love it.”
See for yourself what all the excitement is about at any of iFLY’s exhilarating vertical wind tunnel locations worldwide.
