ABU DHABI // At two years old, Skylar Gray has just started to master walking. Learning to fly was much easier. Completely in her element, she likes nothing better than being buffeted by winds of 120km/h, suspended in mid-air, in a simulated freefall that would test the nerve of most grown-ups. With both parents avid skydiving enthusiasts, it was only to be expected that a love of flying would be in her genes, but Skylar has shown an extraordinary natural ability a little earlier than most. "She started when she was 15 months," says her mother, Bonnie, proudly.
Skylar's father, Chris, is chief instructor at SpaceWalk in Abu Dhabi, the first indoor skydiving facility in the Middle East. Here participants can enjoy the same sensation as jumping out of an aeroplane, though at much less risk to life and limb. Skylar's maiden flight came one day when her father took her with him to work and her excitement proved irresistible. Now the little girl, who turned two this week, thinks nothing of being shot up to 10 metres off the ground and "freefalling", accompanied by her dad who keeps a close hand on her for safety, as she is, of course, still far too young to try it on her own.
First impressions of the SpaceWalk are intimidating. The machine gives off a low rumble, which grows to a roar as you approach. The front gate trembles. Air is sucked in and out of the three-metre wide chamber at a controlled rate that generates a ferocious wind capable of lifting people off their feet. Skylar arrives wearing sandals and a polka-dot green and white dress. Mr Gray takes his daughter's hand and leads her outside, past the roaring launch pad, and into a silver lift.
Shooting up two floors, they emerge in the equipment room where Skylar is dressed in a red and blue jump suit. She is so small, her father has to pull the sleeves up to stop them dangling over her hands. He stuffs her helmet with an elbow pad to make it a tighter fit. Next he bites an earplug in two and places the tiny pieces in her ears. "Skylar is pretty high energy," says Mr Gray, helping his daughter into pink shoes with Velcro straps and blinking lights.
"The child has to want to do this. And I think it takes a special kind of child to want to do it." Putting on Skylar's goggles takes two people. Mr Gray adjusts the strap and passes it to his wife kneeling in front of her. She then positions it on the back of Skylar's head and makes sure it is tight enough. Mr Gray met his wife Bonnie at a skydiving party, or "boogie", in Florida. They are both American.
Skylar can hardly contain herself, letting out a yelp. "Oh man!" she screams with excitement. "Oh man!" A staircase poses the first challenge for Skylar. Mr Gray hoists his daughter on to his shoulders as they descend the metal stairs leading to the flight chamber. Her legs are too short for the steps. But the moment they reach the bottom, Skylar cries to get down and makes a break for the hatch: she is ready to fly.
""You have to wait your turn," Mrs Gray says, scooping her up just in time. The flight chamber is in the shape of an octagon, and functions like a massive vacuum cleaner. The switch is thrown and the fans high above fire air in and out of the chamber producing what is known as the Venturi Effect. With cheeks flapping and wind howling in her ears, Skylar is lifted off the ground. Her father glides through the air, flying around in spirals and somersaults. At first sight, it looks as if he is swinging a doll. Suspended in mid-air, Mr Gray leans over and gives his daughter a kiss. Novices describe their first time in the SpaceWalk as one of utter helplessness, where the slightest movement can produce dramatic effects. Shift your arm the wrong way and you are careering into the wall or spiralling uncontrollably upwards. With practice, the more technically adept can soon pull off breathtaking moves with worrying names such as "back layout launcher". Fortunately, an instructor is always on hand. Eugency Gruzden, the manager of SpaceWalk and a seasoned skydiver from Moscow, who taught at the drop-zone in Umm al-Quwain, has taken part in more than 12,000 jumps.
"Indoor skydiving is very safe," he said. "You have an instructor assisting at all times. When you become a frequent flyer they will give you some slack, but they will still be watching. The experience is very close to real skydiving, and a great way for skydivers to improve their skills." In the past few years indoor skydiving has become a sport in its own right, with more than a dozen facilities around the world. Ten more are planned, including two in Dubai. Tunnel competitions are also taking off. The annual Bodyflight Bedford World Challenge took place in Britain last April with four-person and two-person teams performed complex manoeuvres for more than Dh130,000 (US$35,000) in prize money. The SpaceWalk tunnel was designed by aerodynamic, acoustical and mechanical engineers. Ken Mort, one of the design team, worked at Nasa for 38 years. Trevor Thompson, the vice president of operations at SkyVenture, the firm making the wind tunnels, said: "The experience is exactly the same as a freefall. And it can be physically demanding. Imagine speeding down the highway - stick both arms out and try to keep them still for one minute. That's what a standard flight can feel like." SpaceWalk, which is now open to the public, has nine instructors from around the world - Americans, an Italian, a South African and an Indian. First-time flyers receive coaching in back-to-back, two-minute sessions at a cost of Dh180. Frequent flyers can soon progress from maintaining a curved belly posture to navigating the flight chamber with flips and somersaults. While Skylar is certain to remain the star attraction at SpaceWalk, the Grays say they will not be pushing her into proper skydiving. Not yet, at least. "We just want her to be happy and have fun," says Mr Gray. jtodd@thenational.ae
