A closer look at the forced-air equipment.
Workers install the forced-air equipment at the iFly Indoor Skydiving Center near Topgolf on Monday
Workers prepare the forced-air equipment at the iFly under development in Jacksonville.
At iFly, "skydivers" will float on a cushion of air produced by giant fans.
An artist's rendering of a completed iFly.
IFly Indoor Skydiving is installing equipment that creates the cushion of air “skydivers” will float on when the facility opens in November.
The project is under development on 1.14 acres at 10579 Brightman Blvd., south of Topgolf near Butler Boulevard and Interstate 295.
On Monday, general contractor Arco/Murray Construction Co. of Tampa was installing the forced-air equipment on the 60-foot-tall facility.
Large fans are to be installed Thursday.
The equipment will generate an air cushion of between 90 and 180 mph. Fans force air through large plexiglass tubing on two sides of the building, down approximately 25 feet below ground, where the air is cooled by water-encapsulated vents before entering the simulated skydiving flight chamber. The air is then recirculated.
Chester Schwartz, managing partner of iFly Jacksonville LLC, praised the city.
Schwartz, who has been developing iFly facilities across the country, said Jacksonville was the most professional and straight-forward city with which he has dealt.
Schwartz said iFly offers programs to give back to the community. That includes interactive presentations and wind tunnel lab classes for students in STEM - science, technology, engineering and mathematics — and an “All Abilities Night” for those with special needs.
iFly plans to open by Nov. 19.
