Skydive New England

What Skydive New England does

Skydive New England is a private, veteran- and woman-owned skydiving dropzone and resort established in 1984, operating on a 240-acre private skydiving-only airport at 40 Skydive Lane in Lebanon, Maine. The business runs a 900HP Blackhawk Caravan (N87RM) turbine jump plane seating 17 plus a 675HP backup Caravan, supported by dual-parachute systems with MARDS (Manual Assisted Reserve Deployment System) and computerized Automatic Activation Device (AAD) safety hardware. It positions itself as the biggest and most unique dropzone in New England and is the only facility in the region offering 18,000 ft high-altitude tandem jumps with supplemental oxygen (June–September). The company holds USPA Group Member Dropzone status and adheres to FAA regulations.

The core product portfolio centers on tandem skydiving from 14,000 ft (standard $299) and 18,000 ft (premium $499), supplemented by three video packages (Extreme Hand Cam $125, Pro Media $165, Rockstar $205) plus a $19 raw-footage add-on. The company also operates an Accelerated Free Fall (AFF) training program ($4,270 for full A-license, $1,941 AFF Bootcamp) to convert first-timers into licensed skydivers, and serves experienced jumpers with lift tickets, jump blocks (10/50/100 packs at $36/$35/$34 per jump), gear rental and sales, and rigging services. On-site resort amenities include The Ripcord Cafe (open Friday–Monday), bunkhouse lodging ($35/night), RV camping (70 slots), free tent camping, and a swoop pond.

The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer: bookings are made through a Burblesoft-powered online platform (with $75 deposits) or by phone, and customers physically visit the Lebanon, Maine dropzone. The company targets drive markets 1–2.5 hours away — Boston, Manchester, Portsmouth, Portland, and Cape Cod — via city-specific SEO landing pages, a 62-article content blog, and active presence on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, TripAdvisor, and Yelp. Customer segments span first-time adventure seekers, corporate and college group bookings (10+ people at $269/person), aspiring licensed skydivers progressing through AFF, and recurring licensed jumpers. Pricing incorporates tiered discounts for weekdays, military/students, birthdays, and groups. Revenue is seasonal (May–October, 7 days/week), with no public funding, no parent company, and no disclosed financials.

Name

Skydive New England

Legal name

Skydive New England

Website

https://skydivenewengland.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Skydive New England is a private, 40-year-old skydiving resort in Lebanon, Maine, operating a 240-acre private airport with the only multi-turbine jump fleet and 18,000 ft oxygen-equipped tandem capability in New England. It serves first-time jumpers, corporate groups, AFF students, and licensed skydivers with tandem jumps, training, video, lodging, and gear.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adventure Skydiving Services

NAICS

Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation (481211), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation (487)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Air Transportation, Nonscheduled (4522)

akta.pro primary industry

Skydiving Experiences (Tandem, AFF, Scenic Jumps) (THAAAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Tandem skydiving
• Skydiving training
• Adventure experiences
• Skydiving resort
• Dropzone operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Lebanon

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Tandem Skydiving: Core revenue stream from first-time tandem skydivers jumping from 14,000 or 18,000 feet. Standard pricing at $299, with discounts for weekdays ($269), military/students ($269), birthdays ($239), and groups of 10+ ($269).
2. AFF Training Program: Accelerated Freefall training program for learning to skydive solo. Includes ground school ($165), progressive jump pricing ($234-$280 per jump depending on level), and full A License program ($4,270).
3. Video/Media Packages: Pro Media Package ($165), Rockstar Video Package ($205), Extreme Hand Cam ($125), and Raw Footage Add-on ($19). All packages include digitally uploaded video and stills.
4. Licensed Jumper Services: Lift tickets ($37-$45), jump blocks (10/50/100 packs at $36/$35/$34 per jump), gear rental ($47), and rigging services.
5. On-site Amenities: The Ripcord Cafe restaurant (open Friday-Monday), bunkhouse lodging ($35/night), RV camping ($20/night), and gear store sales.
6. Gift Certificates: Electronic gift certificates available in any amount, valid for any services at the dropzone.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Skydive New England operates a skydiving resort and dropzone in Lebanon, Maine, offering tandem skydiving experiences from 14,000 and 18,000 feet, the USPA-endorsed Accelerated Freefall (AFF) solo skydiving training program, video/media packages, group bookings, corporate events, and licensed skydiver services including lift tickets, gear rentals, and rigging. The 240-acre facility supports these offerings with a 900HP turbine jump plane, dual parachute safety systems, the on-site Ripcord Cafe restaurant, lodging (tent, bunk house, RV), and a gear store.

Product overview

Skydive New England operates as a skydiving resort and dropzone offering a comprehensive suite of services centered around tandem and solo skydiving experiences. The core product portfolio includes tandem skydiving jumps from 14,000 feet and premium 18,000 feet high-altitude tandem jumps, complemented by video capture services (Pro Media Package, Rockstar Video Package, and Extreme Hand Cam). For training, the company offers the Accelerated Freefall (AFF) program and AFF Bootcamp for those learning to skydive independently. The company serves first-time jumpers, groups, corporate teams, and licensed skydivers through services including group bookings, corporate events, fun jumper lift tickets, and jump blocks. Supporting amenities include the on-site Ripcord Cafe restaurant, gear store with equipment sales and rentals, rigging services, and lodging options (tent camping, bunk house, and RV camping). The company operates a 900HP Blackhawk Caravan aircraft and maintains a rigging loft with professional riggers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Ripcord Cafe: On-site restaurant at Skydive New England offering chef-driven menu with smashed burgers, chicken fingers, and seasonal options. Open to the public for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Products and services

• Tandem Skydiving First-time tandem skydiving experience where customers jump attached to an experienced USPA-certified instructor from 14,000 feet, experiencing approximately 60 seconds of freefall at 120 mph before parachute deployment. Standard pricing $299 with weekday ($269), military/student ($269), and birthday ($239) discounts.
• 18,000 Feet High Altitude Tandem Skydive The highest tandem skydive available in New England, reaching 18,000 feet (3.5 miles) altitude with 90 seconds of freefall. Available June through September with supplemental oxygen and panoramic views of the White Mountains and Atlantic Ocean. Priced at $499.
• Accelerated Freefall (AFF) Program USPA-endorsed step-by-step solo skydiving training program designed to build skills jump by jump until students can fly independently. Includes ground school ($165), progressive jumps from dual-instructor to solo, and the complete A License program at $4,270 total.
• AFF Bootcamp Intensive accelerated training option running Wednesday through Sunday where students complete ground school and prepay for 7 skydives at $1,941, with complimentary on-site bunkhouse lodging included.
• Pro Media Package Professional videographer captures the skydiving experience from a bird's eye perspective, including digitally uploaded video and stills. Priced at $165.
• Rockstar Video Package Comprehensive video package capturing both selfie-style footage from the instructor's wrist camera and outside perspective from a professional videographer. Priced at $205 with digitally uploaded video and stills.
• Extreme Hand Cam Up-close selfie-style footage captured from a camera mounted on the instructor's wrist, providing an intimate first-person perspective of the skydive. Priced at $125.
• Group Skydiving Packages Group bookings for parties of 10 or more with discounted per-person pricing at $269. Includes access to classrooms and on-site restaurant, with a dedicated group booking process.
• Corporate Events Team building experiences for companies and college outdoor adventure clubs with groups of 10 or more, including access to classrooms and the on-site Ripcord Cafe.
• Fun Jumper/Licensed Skydiver Services Services for experienced licensed skydivers including lift tickets ($37-$45), jump blocks (10/50/100 packs at $36/$35/$34 per jump), gear rental ($47), rigging services, coaching, and load organizing. Features a 900HP Blackhawk Caravan aircraft and amenities like the swoop pond and campground.
• Gear Store Skydiving gear sales and rental service featuring products from major manufacturers including Performance Designs, Sunpath, LB Altimeters, Aerodyne, PMI Glide/Falkyn, Alti-2, CYPRES, Vigil, Mars, Infinity, Mirage, JYRO, Sunrise Rigging, and Wings. Offers try-before-you-buy rentals and on-site professional rigging services.
• The Ripcord Cafe On-site full-service restaurant open to the public serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a seasonal menu featuring smashed burgers, chicken fingers, and grab-and-go options. Spectators can watch jumpers land while dining. Open Friday-Monday.
• Lodging (Tent Camping, Bunk House, RV Camping) On-site accommodations including free tent camping (first-come first-served), bunk house rooms for AFF students and licensed jumpers ($35/night/person), single queen room ($70/night), and RV camping for licensed jumpers ($20/night).
• Gift Certificates Electronic gift certificates available in any amount, redeemable for any services at the dropzone. Valid for 2 years from purchase with promotional value expiring while amount paid never expires.

Quantifiable outcome

• Skydiving safety rate of 0.0002% fatal incidents for tandem skydiving (compared to 0.99% for car accidents)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Skydive Long Island: Long Island-based skydiving dropzone offering tandem, AFF training, and fun jumper services. Direct competitor operating the same business model - commercial tandem skydiving with USPA-certified instruction - in an adjacent Northeast market that overlaps with Skydive New England's drive-market geography.
• Start Skydiving: Ohio-based large skydiving operation with extensive tandem, AFF, and group event offerings. Comparable as a destination dropzone targeting regional drive markets with multi-revenue stream business model including training and video services.
• Skydive Danielson: Connecticut-based skydiving center offering tandem skydives, AFF training, and licensed jumper services. Direct regional competitor in southern New England with the same core offering (tandem and solo training) and overlapping drive market from Boston and Providence.
• Paraclete XP Skyventure: One of the largest skydiving centers in the US (North Carolina), offering tandem, AFF training, and freefall coaching. Comparable as a multi-service destination dropzone with extensive training program, gear store, and resort-style amenities similar to Skydive New England's ecosystem.
• Skydive Spaceland Dallas: Texas-based large skydiving center operating tandem, AFF, and fun jumper services from a major airport. Closest business-model comparable outside the Northeast - full-service dropzone with multi-revenue streams including training, video, and gear - though in a different regional market.
• Skydive City (PA): Pennsylvania dropzone offering tandem skydives, AFF training, and licensed jumper events. Closely comparable full-service dropzone with similar drive-market positioning for Northeast population centers.
• Jumptown Maine: Long-established Maine-based skydiving operation on the coast of Maine offering tandem and solo skydiving. Most direct geographic competitor given shared Maine drive market and similar seasonal New England operating model.

Broad incumbents

• Skydive Perris: One of the largest and most established skydiving centers in the US (California), offering tandem, AFF, and advanced disciplines. Comparable as a destination dropzone with substantial scale, but operates at a much larger national-branded scale than Skydive New England.

Others

• Blue Sky Ranch (helicopter tours): Helicopter sightseeing and charter tour operator offering aerial adventure experiences. Adjacent player in the broader aerial-adventure tourism space, sharing the thrill-seeking tourist customer base and complementary experiential offering to skydiving.

Emerging players

• iFLY Indoor Skydiving: Global indoor skydiving franchise offering vertical wind tunnel experiences for first-time flyers and training. Adjacent competitor in the introductory extreme-flight experience category, drawing urban customers and corporate events away from traditional outdoor dropzones.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@skydivenewenglandME
• Facebookfacebook.com/SkydiveNewEngland
• Instagraminstagram.com/skydivenewengland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/skydive-new-england

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Skydive New England