iFLY

What iFLY does

iFLY (legally SkyGroup Investments, LLC / iFLY Holdings, LLC) is a privately held indoor skydiving operator founded in 1998 and headquartered in Austin, Texas. Its core technology is a vertical wind tunnel that creates a steady, controlled column of air allowing individuals — ages 3 to 103, including those with disabilities — to experience simulated freefall in a safe, climate-controlled environment without a plane or parachute. All instructors are required to hold International Bodyflight Association (IBA) certification, which the company treats as the global safety standard for the category.

The company operates 42 U.S. facilities and licenses the brand to operators of more than 100 wind tunnels worldwide, blending corporate-owned and franchise models. Revenue is generated across a diversified set of streams: individual flight experiences and gift cards (the primary consumer stream), birthday and group party packages, corporate events, social events and private buyouts, K-12 STEM field trips, Scouting America and Girl Scout programs, accredited U.S. military free-fall training, tourism and travel agency channels (including an API-integrated Viator partnership), and advanced coaching/AFF training. Pricing is unit-based, with promotional bundles (such as the May–July 2026 'World Plays. We Fly.' package starting at $109 per flyer) and military discounts verified via GovX.

iFLY is led by founder and CEO Alan Metni, has 501–1,000 employees, and has accumulated 54+ million flights flown and a 4.8-star Google rating across 38,000+ reviews. The business combines a capital-intensive physical asset base with high-margin franchise royalty potential and recurring institutional contracts (military, education, scouting, tourism).

Name

iFLY

Legal name

SkyGroup Investments, LLC

Website

https://iflyworld.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

iFLY operates 42 U.S. indoor skydiving facilities and 100+ global wind tunnels under a corporate-franchise hybrid, offering simulated freefall experiences to consumers, corporate clients, K-12 schools, military, scouting organizations, and tourism operators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Indoor Skydiving

NAICS

Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394), Flight Training (611512)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Skydiving Centers & Drop Zones (Tandem, AFF Training) (THAAAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Extreme Sports Training, Certification & Coaching (Skydiving/Bungee Safety Courses) (THAAAMAJ)

Keywords

• Indoor skydiving experiences
• Vertical wind tunnels
• Recreational flight services
• STEM education programs
• Corporate team building events

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Individual Flight Experiences: Per-person flight packages ranging from single flights to multiple flight options; includes training, gear, and instructor guidance. Primary revenue driver with booking through website or walk-in.
2. Birthday Party Packages: Private party packages (Cloud Nine, Sky Master, Custom Built) including flights, private room, food, drinks, decorations, and media. Catered for children, teens, and adults.
3. Corporate Events: Team offsites, leadership retreats, client celebrations with private or shared flight experiences and event spaces.
4. Group/Social Events: Bachelor/bachelorette parties, reunions, fundraisers, youth group outings with group discounts and private buyout options.
5. STEM/PE Field Trips: Educational programs for K-12 combining science curriculum with flight experiences; aligned with STEM standards.
6. Scouting Programs: Scouts America and Girl Scouts programs with merit badge opportunities and STEM Nova Award completion.
7. Gift Cards and Vouchers: Flight vouchers and gift cards for specific packages or open-value cards redeemable at any location.
8. Military Training Programs: Accredited airborne training for U.S. military branches including basic, sustainment, and advanced free-fall training; 24/7 access and multiple locations.
9. Tourism/Travel Agency: Partnerships with tour operators, destination management companies, and Viator travel agent portal with wholesale and commission-based arrangements.
10. Flight Coaching and Training: Advanced coaching for skill development, AFF/solo skydiving training, and flight school programs for kids and adults.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

iFLY operates a network of indoor skydiving facilities powered by vertical wind tunnel technology, enabling customers ages 3–103 to experience the sensation of free-fall flight in a safe, controlled, weather-independent environment without a plane or parachute. Its offering spans individual recreational flight experiences, group events (birthday, corporate, social, private buyouts), educational STEM field trips, scouting badge programs, accessible "All Abilities" sessions, accredited U.S. military free-fall training, advanced coaching/AFF instruction, tourism wholesale partnerships, and gift cards/vouchers.

Product overview

iFLY is a vertical wind tunnel indoor skydiving company offering a portfolio of experience-based products centered around the core iFLY Indoor Skydiving Experience. The core product is the indoor skydiving experience using vertical wind tunnel technology for individuals ages 3+. The product ecosystem includes educational programs (STEM Field Trips, Scouting America, Girl Scouts), specialized programs (All Abilities, Military Training), recreational offerings (Birthday Parties, Corporate Events, Social Events, Private Events), skill development (Coaching, Flight School for kids, AFF Training), and tourism partnerships. A limited-time summer promotion called 'The World Plays. We Fly.' offers bundled packages. Gift Cards/Vouchers and a Refer a Friend program round out the consumer offerings. All programs share the common wind tunnel infrastructure and IBA-certified instructor workforce.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• iFLY Indoor Skydiving Experience

Quantifiable outcome

• 54+ Million flights flown globally
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Viator (TripAdvisor)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTravel agent portal partnership allowing real-time availability and bookings for FIT (Foreign Independent Travel) segment. Platform supports bookings and payments in multiple currency options. iFLY's signature 2-flight package is available on the platform with API integration for seamless booking experience.
• IBA (International Bodyflight Association)coreTechnology or IntegrationGlobal certification standard for indoor skydiving. iFLY maintains highest safety standards, training and competitions in accordance with IBA standards. All instructors must be IBA-certified and maintain up-to-date credentials. This certification ensures consistent safety and training protocols across all locations.
• Tour Operators and Destination Management CompaniesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCompetitive wholesale rates offered to tour operators for all group types. Each facility accommodates groups from 7 to 60 with ease, with flight, food and beverage, and meeting space packages available. Groups of 60+ accommodated via customizable half or full day facility rental options. Partners earn ancillary commission on every sale.
• Scouting AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTEM Nova Award program partnership allowing Cub Scouts, Scouts, and Venturers to earn the STEM Nova Award at any U.S. iFLY location. Includes lab activities, physics demonstrations, and indoor skydiving experience completing the Up and Away Nova Award requirements.
• Girl Scouts of the USAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership offering STEM Career Exploration Badge opportunities, PE field trips, and exclusive Cookie Rewards program for Girl Scout troops. Curriculum available for kindergarten to college level with evening time slots available with advance notice.
• U.S. Military BranchescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-time accredited airborne training partner providing basic, sustainment, and advanced free-fall training. Training available 24/7 outside normal business hours at over 35 U.S. locations. Benefits include increased safety and cost-effectiveness versus airborne maneuvers, and controlled weather-independent environment. Advanced training covers equipment flight, emergency procedures, and instructor certification.
• Franchise PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFranchise business model allowing independent operators to open iFLY locations under brand license. Corporate locations and franchise locations operate across the U.S. Some promotions and referral programs exclude certain franchise locations.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Main Event Entertainment: Main Event is a large U.S. family entertainment center chain offering bowling, laser tag, gravity ropes, and group events; it competes with iFLY for the same group party and corporate event bookings across major U.S. markets.
• Sky Zone Trampoline Park: Sky Zone is the largest U.S. trampoline park franchise and a broader incumbent in the indoor family recreation category, overlapping with iFLY on birthday parties, group events, and active family entertainment demand.

Emerging players

• Urban Air Adventure Park: Urban Air is a U.S. franchise operator of trampoline and adventure parks that competes for the same family and group-outing discretionary leisure dollars as iFLY's party, group, and family experiences.
• Defy Trampoline Parks: Defy (formerly CircusTrix) operates a national U.S. network of trampoline and adventure parks targeting families, birthday parties, and group events — a comparable indoor adrenaline-experience operator competing with iFLY for share of family leisure spend.

Direct peers

• FlyStation: FlyStation operates indoor skydiving tunnels in Russia and internationally using vertical wind tunnel technology, serving the same consumer recreation, training, and sport-flying segments as iFLY.
• Paraclete XP: Paraclete XP SkyVenture in Raeford, NC is one of the original and largest vertical wind tunnel operators in the U.S., serving both consumer flyers and U.S. military freefall training — directly competing with iFLY's military and consumer offerings.
• SkyVenture: SkyVenture operates multiple indoor skydiving wind tunnels in the U.S. (including Colorado Springs) using vertical wind tunnel technology nearly identical to iFLY's, targeting the same first-time flyers, military trainees, and experiential customers.

Regional players

• Windoor Realfly: Windoor Realfly operates one of Europe's largest indoor skydiving wind tunnels in Empuriabrava, Spain, with the same vertical wind tunnel model targeting tourists, sport flyers, and military training — a leading European counterpart to iFLY.
• Airkix Indoor Skydiving: Airkix operates indoor skydiving tunnels in the UK using the same vertical wind tunnel technology, offering first-time flights, coaching, and parties — directly comparable to iFLY's core UK-adjacent experience offering.
• Airborne (iFLY Brisbane / Bodyflight): Bodyflight operates indoor skydiving wind tunnels in the UK and beyond under the Bodyflight brand, competing directly with iFLY on first-time flyer experiences, coaching, and AFF training.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/iflyus
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/iflytunnelvision?feature=results_main
• Facebookfacebook.com/iFLYUS
• Instagraminstagram.com/iflyus
• TikToktiktok.com/@iflyus
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iflyus

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about iFLY