Lifestyle

Gallery: Indoor 'skydiving' (not exactly) reaches Detroit area this month

July 08, 2021, 12:49 PM by  Alan Stamm

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Novi gets the 36th U.S. site of this attraction. Four more photos are below(Photos: iFly)

Metro Detroiters feeling down about a lost year-plus of carefree fun can get a lift at an "indoor skydiving experience" setting up in Novi.

The 36th U.S. location of iFly, which started in Florida in 1998, plans to open July 24 at Adell Center, just off Novi Road. This first Michigan site will offer an activity known as bodyflight -- hyped as "indoor skydiving," though there’s no jumping, falling or parachute.

After a lesson, customers enter a vertical wind tunnel with four large fans spinning the air in a loop that lifts and suspends people. It's pitched as a thrill "for daredevils who want to skydive without the risk."

Actually, "skydive" is just a marketing way to describe being raised by air to float as if weightless. The company's "What to Expect" page uses "indoor skydiving" six times before acknowledging near the bottom:

Still, a Detroit weekly's latest issue gushes about "a thrilling indoor skydiving complex" above a story that begins: "Many metro Detroiters will soon have an opportunity to check 'skydiving' off of their bucket lists."

That bucket list checkoff standard is lower than ours, though iFly looks like a cool diversion for $65 to $160 (depending on time and number of flights). Souvenir photos are extra, naturally.

These cautions are posted: "Those with back, neck and heart issues [should] first check with a doctor. iFLY discourages indoor skydiving for people with prior shoulder dislocations and women who are pregnant." It's also not for the obese.

Plan a visit:

  • Where: 26975 Adell Center Dr., just off the Novi Rod southbound exit of I-96 (map)

  • Website | • Facebook

  • Phone: (313) 730-4359

  • Cost: $65 for 2 flights per person, Monday-Thursday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; $85, 2 flights/person, evenings/weekends; $110, 3 flights/person, eves/weekends; $136, 4 flights/person, $160, 5 flights/person; $320, 10 flights shared by 1-5 people, plus 5 video clips.  

Gallery (company photos):


Advanced participant demonstrates freestyle flying, a competitive sport.

iFly instructors show their skills in this promo shot and the one below.

 



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