Thrill seekers with a yearning to fly will soon get the chance at a new vertical wind tunnel in western Sydney.
Publicly listed company Indoor Skydive Australia has already put 157 tonnes of concrete in place as it constructs its first Australian facility at Penrith.
The Sydney-based outfit, which listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in 2011, plans to build similar facilities in Melbourne and Queensland’s Gold Coast over the next three to five years.
Vertical wind tunnels give tourists, skydiving enthusiasts and military personnel the sensation of flight, propelling them within a flight chamber using powerful fans.
They were first built for recreational use in the 1970s.
Indoor Skydive Australia says it has already installed a glass flight chamber five metres in diameter, making it one of the largest in the world.
“This flight chamber provides an uninterrupted view for flyers and spectators,” the company said.
The company says all of the initial infrastructure for the project is now in place.
Chief operating officer Danny Hogan said the breadth and height of the wind tunnel could now be appreciated as the facility takes shape.
“Completing the big lifts was a major construction milestone and, together with the work completed over the new year period, positions us well during this critical construction stage,” Mr Hogan said.
During the next stage, the company will focus on mechanical and electrical infrastructure.
Completion of works at Penrith is expected to occur during the first quarter of 2014.
Indoor Skydive Australia added that it is now searching for a location for a vertical wind tunnel in Melbourne.
Western Sydney and the Gold Coast are already home to large fun parks and leisure attractions.
Over the past 12 months, shares in the company have more than tripled.
At 1230 AEDT Indoor Skydive Australia were flat at 60 cents.
Original article is available here.