What Skydive Pepperell does

Skydive Pepperell (legal entity Pepperell Skydiving Center) is a privately held, woman-owned and -operated skydiving dropzone founded in 1971 at Pepperell Airport on the Massachusetts–New Hampshire border. Under Fran "Fast Frannie" Strimenos's continuous ownership since 1990, the company operates from a private 60+ acre skydiving-only airport at 165 Nashua Road, Pepperell, MA, serving the broader New England market and positioned as the closest dropzone to Boston (approximately 50 minutes by car).

The company's product suite covers the full skydiving lifecycle: first-time tandem skydives from 10,500 feet (priced at $300 per individual with volume discounts for groups), the Accelerated Freefall (AFF) training program taking students to a USPA A-License at a total program cost of approximately $3,980, and recurring services for licensed skydivers at $35 per jump across multiple altitude tiers. Add-on revenue includes hand-cam and outside video packages ($125–$180), gear sales and parachute repacks performed by three Master Riggers, gift certificates sold through the Dizio App reservation system, and group/corporate event packages capable of accommodating up to 100 tandem students per day. Underlying equipment is led by a PAC 750 XL aircraft (acquired in 2022) carrying up to 14 jumpers per load with GPS-based pilot spotting and AAD-equipped reserves, supported by a winter partnership with the SkyVenture NH indoor skydiving tunnel 15 minutes away.

Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer, driven by the company website, organic search, social media (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok), email marketing, radio advertising, university club partnerships, and word-of-mouth referrals. The operation is highly seasonal, running seven days per week from May through October with weather-dependent shoulder-season activity, and is staffed by approximately 20 named employees including USPA-rated instructors, AFF instructors, coaches, Master Riggers, load organizers, manifest staff, and a world wingsuit champion. The business carries USPA Group Member, PIA, MAC, and FAA certifications, and is bootstrapped with no disclosed external funding or parent company.

Name

Skydive Pepperell

Legal name

Pepperell Skydiving Center

Website

https://skyjump.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Skydive Pepperell is a privately held, family-owned New England skydiving dropzone on the Massachusetts–New Hampshire border, closest to Boston, offering tandem skydives, AFF license training, and licensed-jumper services from a private 60+ acre airport with a PAC 750 XL aircraft.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Skydiving Services

NAICS

Other Nonscheduled Air Transportation (481219), Nonscheduled Air Transportation (4812)

SIC

Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Services (4581), Air Transportation, Nonscheduled (4522)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Skydiving Experiences (Tandem, AFF, Scenic Jumps) (THAAAMAA), Paragliding, Skydiving & Airborne Adventure Sports (THAJABAJ)

Keywords

• Tandem skydiving services
• Skydiving training programs
• Licensed skydiver jumps
• Corporate group events
• Parachute rigging services

Headquarters

HQ city

Pepperell

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tandem Skydiving: Primary revenue stream from first-time skydivers participating in tandem jumps with experienced instructors. Exit altitude of 10,500 feet with approximately 45 seconds of freefall and 3-4 minutes under parachute. $300 per individual, with volume discounts for groups.
2. AFF Training Program: Accelerated Freefall training program for becoming a licensed skydiver. Includes First Jump Course ($150), Phase One jumps ($210-$250 each across Categories A-H), Phase Two solo jumps ($150 each), and A-License Check Dive ($210). Total program approximately $3,980.
3. Video Services: Professional video and photo packages including Hand Cam Video + Digital Stills ($125) and Outside Video + Digital Stills ($180). Captured by professionally trained third-party videographers or hand cams worn by instructors.
4. Equipment Sales and Rigging: Full-service packing loft offering T-shirts, hats, skydiving equipment, parachute repacks, and gear ordering. Staffed by 3 Master Riggers including owner Fran Strimenos, a Master Rigger and former Designated Parachute Rigger Examiner for New England.
5. Experienced Skydiver Jumps: Jumps for licensed skydivers at various altitudes: 10,000-13,000 feet ($35), 6,000-10,000 feet ($35), 3,000-5,000 feet ($35). Additional services include coach jumps, training camps, and B-License water training.
6. Gift Certificates: Online gift certificate sales for all jump types available through pepperell.reservations.dizio.app/giftshop.
7. Group and Corporate Events: Corporate group discounts and special event packages. Can accommodate up to 100 tandem students per day and groups up to 75 people. Affiliations with area hotels for discounted accommodations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Skydive Pepperell is a private skydiving dropzone operating from a 60+ acre airport on the Massachusetts/New Hampshire border, providing tandem skydiving for first-time jumpers from 10,500 feet, the Accelerated Freefall (AFF) training program to earn a USPA A-License, jump tickets for licensed skydivers, and group/corporate event packages. Revenue is generated primarily through per-jump service fees for tandem, AFF, and licensed jumps, supplemented by rigging services, merchandise, video/photo packages, and equipment sales.

Product overview

Skydive Pepperell is a skydiving dropzone offering a suite of services for beginner, student, and experienced skydivers. The core offerings include Tandem Skydiving (first-time experience with instructor), the Accelerated Freefall (AFF) Training Program (for becoming a licensed skydiver), and services for licensed skydivers. Add-on services include professional video/photography packages, group/corporate packages, and indoor skydiving tunnel access for winter training. The operation uses PAC 750 aircraft and hosts the Annual Pepperell Boogie event. All services are conducted from their private 60+ acre skydiving-only airport on the Massachusetts/New Hampshire border.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tandem Skydiving First-time skydiving experience in which the participant is harnessed to a certified tandem instructor and exits the PAC 750 XL at 10,500 feet, with approximately 45 seconds of freefall at ~120 mph and 3–4 minutes under parachute. Targeted at adults 18 to 80+ seeking a one-time thrill experience, milestone celebration, or gift-certificate redemption. $300 per individual, inclusive of all airport fees, lift tickets, packing, and instructors.
• Accelerated Freefall (AFF) Training Program Comprehensive training program that takes students from a First Jump Course ($150, 5–6 hours of ground school) through Phase One Categories A–H jumps ($210–$250 each), Phase Two solo jumps ($150 each), supervised solo jumps ($80 each), and an A-License Check Dive ($210), totaling approximately $3,980 inclusive of training, instructor fees, equipment rental, and aircraft ticket. Exit altitude of 13,000 feet for Category A. Targeted at individuals who have completed a tandem and want to become licensed USPA A-License skydivers.
• Hand Cam Video + Digital Stills Video and digital still photography captured by the tandem instructor wearing a hand-mounted camera during the skydive, sold as an add-on to the tandem jump experience. $125, can be added at check-in.
• Outside Video + Digital Stills Professional third-party videographer service that captures the skydive from outside the aircraft for higher-quality footage than the hand cam option, sold as an add-on to tandem jumps. $180, can be added at check-in.
• Licensed Skydiver Jump Tickets Jump tickets for USPA-licensed skydivers at $35 per jump across three altitude bands: 10,000–13,000 feet, 6,000–10,000 feet, and 3,000–5,000 feet. Additional USPA Coach Jumps available at slot plus $20. Includes access to organized loads on weekends and holidays, load organizing, coaching, training camps, B-License water training, and advanced specialty disciplines including wingsuit flying.
• Group and Corporate Skydiving Packages Tiered volume-discount tandem skydiving packages for groups of 5–29 jumpers (from $290 down to $250 per person) plus custom pricing for groups of 30 or more. Group organizer jumps free with 16+ participants. Capacity for up to 100 tandem students per day and groups up to 75 people handled end-to-end in less than 24 hours. Targeted at corporate team building, birthdays, anniversaries, motivational seminars, and nonprofit special events (e.g., Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Special Olympics). Includes affiliated hotel discounts.
• Equipment Sales and Rigging Services Full-service packing loft offering T-shirts, hats, skydiving equipment, parachute repacks, and gear ordering. Staffed by three Master Riggers including owner Fran Strimenos (former Designated Parachute Rigger Examiner for New England). Includes a climate-controlled rigging loft and on-site Parachute Shop. Targeted at the dropzone's own students and licensed skydivers needing gear and airworthiness services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ages served: 18 to 80+
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United States Parachute Association (USPA)coreOthersSkydive Pepperell is a USPA Group Member, meaning they have pledged to provide service and conduct business within accepted ethical guidelines and comply with USPA Basic Safety Requirements (BSRs). USPA is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the promotion and safety of skydiving, representing more than 34,000 members.
• Parachute Industry Association (PIA)coreOthersSkydive Pepperell is a member of PIA, which is dedicated to promoting the highest principles of honesty, integrity, fairness, and professional behavior. Members pledge to provide proper, safe, and airworthy equipment and aircraft maintained in safe and airworthy manner.
• Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission (MAC)coreOthersSkydive Pepperell is inspected annually by MAC, which licenses and certifies instructors along with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
• Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)coreOthersSkydive Pepperell operates under FAA oversight and is inspected annually alongside MAC to ensure compliance with aviation safety regulations.
• SkyVenture NHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndoor skydiving tunnel facility located 15 minutes from Skydive Pepperell, used during winter months for practice and training when outdoor jumping is not possible.
• Area Hotels (DoubleTree, Sheraton, Holiday Inn, Motel 6, Homewood Suites)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAffiliated hotels in Nashua offer discounted rates for Skydive Pepperell customers. Includes DoubleTree by Hilton (9 miles), Sheraton by Marriott (7 miles), Holiday Inn (10 miles), Motel 6 (5 miles), and Homewood Suites by Hilton (7 miles).

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Skydive Long Island: Long Island, NY-based skydiving operation offering tandem and AFF services. Comparable offering but different geography — a useful benchmark for East Coast regional pricing and capacity dynamics.

Broad incumbents

• Skydive Perris: Large California-based dropzone and skydiving school with multiple aircraft, full AFF program, and large-scale boogie events. Comparable product/menu and business model, though at significantly greater scale, making it a useful scaled benchmark.
• Chicagoland Skydiving Center: Long-established Midwest dropzone offering tandem, AFF, and sport jumping operations. Comparable in service mix and private-airport model, useful as a regional benchmark outside the Northeast.
• iFLY (Sky Venture Holdings): Largest indoor skydiving chain in North America with multiple tunnel locations. Comparable as an alternative skydiving experience (especially for first-timers and training), and a broader incumbent competitor for the beginner experience market.

Direct peers

• Jumptown: Orange, Massachusetts dropzone offering tandem jumps, AFF training, and licensed jumper services. Highly comparable operating model — regional competitor drawing from the same Boston/Worcester feeder market.
• Skydive Danielson: Connecticut-based tandem and AFF dropzone operating a turbine jump aircraft; directly comparable as a New England skydiving center competing for the same regional customer base within Skydive Pepperell's 75-mile price-match radius.
• Skydive the Ranch: Gardiner, New York dropzone with turbine aircraft and full tandem/AFF/licensed jumper services; comparable scaled competitor in the broader Northeast region targeting similar demographic and corporate segments.

Emerging players

• SkyVenture NH: Indoor vertical wind tunnel in Nashua, NH, and an explicit Skydive Pepperell winter partner. Comparable as a skydiving-skill-development offering and as a substitute/feeder for outdoor skydiving demand in the same region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SkydivePepperel
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC2xCG5rlDTtGleDjCzLp2xg/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/skydivepepperell
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/skydive-pepperell

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Pepperell