ParadropVR received the ultimate endorsement recently when a group of Red Devils paratroopers put one of its virtual reality simulators through its paces in the UK.
The team of adrenaline junkies from the British Army’s official parachute display team dropped into iFLY Basingstoke on February 11. After their experience, they gave the 2-seat paragliding attraction a resounding thumbs up.
Paratroopers’ seal of approval
“We’re really grateful to the British Army’s Red Devils freefall parachute display team for giving up their time to come and fly ParadropVR,” says Matt Wells, CEO of Frontgrid. “It was great fun to see the guys competing against each other and trying to beat the high score!”
The indoor skydiving destination in Basingstoke, Hampshire, is one of three iFLY sites in England. Wells believes there is great potential for ParadropVR here and at other attractions in the UK and beyond.
“As the world’s largest indoor skydiving company, it’s been great to work with the team at iFLY and hear the positive feedback from guests,” he says. “We know from discussions with other leisure operators that there’s growing demand for immersive attractions which offer an active, skill-based experience that encourages repeat play.”
Spectator appeal
“We’ve been delighted with the feedback from customers since launching ParadropVR at our centre,” says iFLY Basingstoke general manager, Tracy Goffin. “Now visitors can not only try their hand at indoor skydiving but also experience the sensation and freedom of paragliding – all under one roof! As an operator, the spectator experience is a big part of the appeal. As soon as visitors see guests on the ride, they want to have a go themselves.”
Since launching ParadropVR onto the market last year, FrontGrid has made several installations in Europe. The virtual reality attraction is available in configurations ranging from 1 to 40 seats. Announcements are promised about several new global locations over the coming months. The company is also working on a virtual sightseeing version of the attraction called ParadropVR CityFlyer in Bangkok.
