Bianca Coleman
WHO remembers Ally McBeal? In that show, the characters all lived out fantasies according the songs playing in their heads. I also always have a song playing in my head, and at the moment it’s I Believe I Can Fly.
It’s corny and it’s cheesy, but entirely appropriate since I visited the outdoor wind tunnel operated by City Flyers at Canal Walk. The massive and very noisy contraption is located in the parking lot across the road from Ratanga Junction and will be operating from 9am till 9pm daily until the end of January.
The brainchild of partners Jeremy Warner and Malcolm Girling, the wind tunnel was a year in the planning and is a first for South Africa, says Jeremy. Good news for me then, because it’s something I’ve always wanted to try and it is just as much fun as I thought it would be. No, more.
The wind tunnel comes from Latvia, complete with a set of handsome, tanned, blond, blue-eyed but apparently humorless Latvian instructors with names like Raitis, Nauris and Girts. Shame, maybe that’s not a fair assessment; perhaps they are just very serious about their jobs and, really, we do want some solemnity when engaging in an activity that requires an indemnity form and funny clothing.
The experience begins with a safety briefing in which everything is explained – what to expect, the body position to assume, hand signals, what to do should you “fall out” of the windstream, and so on. The kid to my right asked the question I wanted answered: What about somersaults and back flips? No, said Raitis without the hint of a smile, that is not for beginners.
The good news, however, is that this is a skill-based activity so you can learn and improve if you do it often enough.
Next, we moved on to another room where we were given our flying suits. Certainly not the most flattering or comfortable of outfits, but they do serve the purpose of helping to keep you up in the air. You also get goggles, a helmet, gloves and ear plugs. All loose items like jewellery, glasses and false teeth should be left in your locker.
This is followed by a little warm-up session outside to stretch the muscles. Flying is surprisingly strenuous; you are held aloft by a wind speed of upwards of 180km/h, which puts quite a bit of strain on the body. If you have neck or back problems, or are pregnant, this is not for you.
In fact, I could feel a sweet, gentle and rather pleasant ache all over for two days after. Going out dancing that night might have contributed, though.
Anyway, after all this it’s time to climb the stairs to the top of the tunnel. The flying area is surrounded by netting and a circle of cushioning. It’s very, very noisy and talking is futile. Hence the hand signals. Two families were ahead of me – the little kids looked like they were having the time of their lives. The one dad, on the other hand, looked like he was not. Grim-faced, I feared the poor man would lose his breakfast while he was busy not losing face in front of his wife and offspring. Another benefit of being smaller – and lighter – is that the children appear to fly higher and more easily.
There is an instructor with you the entire time to help you stay in the right position for optimum flight, and to stop the little ones from soaring off into the sky. It’s comforting to know he’s there, but he’s completely unobtrusive so you still feel like you are flying alone. Unless, of course, you are useless and keep flopping to the floor.
A basic package includes two flights of about 90 seconds each. It doesn’t sound like much, but trust me, it seems like much longer when you are up there. For the first flight the instructor allows you to get the feel of the wind, and during the second he flies with you, allowing you to achieve a greater height.
Here’s a tip – keep your mouth shut. It’s simple physics: if your mouth is open, your drool will stream out of it and in that kind of wind there is no way you can suck it back in. Just saying.
Flying is suitable for all ages from three years old upwards, and all shapes and sizes, provided you are in good health, and costs from R275, with group rates available. For more information and to book, call 0860 FLYERS (359 377), or see www.cityflyers.co.za