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China’s New Indoor Skydiving Facility: A Game-Changer for the Region
Catch up with Vice Preseident of the Hubei Sports Bureau Aviation Sports Management Centre to find out about the growth of indoor skydiving in China.
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After hosting three major indoor skydiving competitions this spring, including the World Cup and the very first Asian Championship, China has yet another exciting announcement for this year. In the heart of the country, Hubei province is getting a groundbreaking facility set to reshape the indoor skydiving landscape in the region. Provided by wind tunnel technology geeks, Tunnel Tech, the machine will embody the gold standard of the industry: a 14-footer with an 8-meter-tall glass section and a complete set of safety features to ensure the best experience for both entertainment and professional flyers. Today, Mr. Xie, Vice President of the Hubei Sports Bureau Aviation Sports Management Centre, uncovers insights regarding indoor skydiving in China and this thrilling development.
How popular is indoor skydiving in China currently?
“Indoor skydiving is an emerging sport in China. There are very few wind tunnels available for commercial operations, and the general public knows little about the sport. However, those who have experienced it find it to be novel, cool, and very fun. As far as I know, compared to other developed countries, this sport is still in its infancy in China from an entertainment perspective. However, in terms of professional competitions, it has reached a world-class level.”
How does the development of indoor skydiving facilities in China compare to those in other parts of the world?
“Currently, the General Administration of Sport of China is actively promoting and advocating for the development of aviation sports. Coupled with China’s large population, indoor skydiving, which serves both professional training and recreational purposes, has broad market prospects.”
Where will the facility be located?
“The wind tunnel project we are building is in the Flight Town of Zhanghe New District, Jingmen City, Hubei Province.”
You’re known to have personally compared different technologies available on the market. Could you walk us through the decision-making process? What unique features does Tunnel Tech offer that made them the preferred choice over other suppliers?
“Tunnel Tech stood out due to its superior technical indicators and aesthetic design, which perfectly align with our performance and cost-effectiveness requirements. Their wind tunnel equipment not only meets our high standards but also excels in key areas such as noise control, providing a much quieter experience compared to other options. This combination of advanced technology and practical benefits made Tunnel Tech the clear choice for our new facility.”
So far, Tunnel Tech’s signature model has been the 15-footer TT45 PRO. After successfully completing a 17-foot facility a couple of years ago, they are now ready to introduce a smaller model, 4.3 meters in diameter. Here’s what the CEO, Svjatoslav Lisin, revealed to us:
“TT43 Smart represents a new series of wind tunnels in our lineup. It features all the technologies and engineering approaches from our flagship TT45 PRO but in slightly reduced dimensions, which allowed us to reduce the price by approximately 20%. Just like its big sister, TT43 Smart has vertically oriented motors in the return ducts, carbon fiber blades, chemically strengthened glass, and 50cm chord turning vanes at a 3/1 chord-to-spacing ratio. The main difference is that we removed passive cooling, also known as ventilation, which does not offer advantages when the outside temperature averages above 30°C. This configuration is widely used in other technologies and has its own benefits, such as the absence of an airlock and therefore faster transit to the flight chamber.”
Rumour has it that this project might be the fastest-built wind tunnel in history with a record timeline of just 10 months. When should we expect the launch?
“The planned completion date for this wind tunnel project is October 25th of this year, and it is expected to be operational in November. Currently, all work is progressing smoothly, and we believe a top-quality wind tunnel is about to be born.”
Published: September 5, 2024 | Last Updated: September 5, 2024
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