Paraclete XP and SkyVenture Build World’s Largest Vertical Wind Tunnel
Everything about Paraclete XP SkyVenture is massive. The 16 foot, 2000 HP behemoth with six training rooms and multiple meeting spaces sets the new standard that all other training facilities will have to follow.
Raeford, NC, May 26, 2007 --(PR.com)-- Paraclete XP SkyVenture is located just outside of the city of Raeford, North Carolina, 7 miles from the Raeford skydiving center and less than a mile away from the Fort Bragg military base. It will serve the increasing demand for free-fall training by the JFK Special Warfare School. While military freefall candidates will make up much of Paraclete’s business, there will be training programs for sport skydivers and entertainment customers as well. The project also includes an on-site hotel and restaurant.
Construction began just two months ago, starting with a foundation consisting of 760 cubic yards of concrete and 120,000 pounds of steel and totaling more than three million pounds.
“This project has been amazing,” states owner Tim D’Annunzio, “There have been many challenges. This model would normally be buried over 22 feet in the ground, but due to the water table we had to raise the facility to a more shallow depth.”
Structural steel supporting an 11,000 square foot building is already in place. An elevator will connect to a bridge corridor that will lead directly to the flight deck. The flight chamber includes all standard SkyVenture features, but is larger than anything previously built and has been re-designed to optimize visibility. “The chamber is so large that we intended to fly not just one, but two sets of spotters and flyers at a time” says D’Annunzio.
“It is quite an engineering feat,” says SkyVenture head engineer Mark Arlitt, “The flight chamber is the first of its kind, built from an acrylic cylinder with minimal seems. It is round, clear and simply massive!”
Much of the technology that makes this the most efficient vertical wind tunnel ever built is not even visible to the public. Banks of exotic, airfoil-shaped aluminum turning vanes are tucked into each corner of the tunnel. If you laid them end to end they would extend almost three miles. Numerous other advances minimize power consumption and reduce sound output.
“We basically designed a perfect environment for training and built it around the largest, fastest and most advanced wind tunnel in the world. The business is custom tailored to our clientele which will consist of equal parts military, skydivers and experience thrill seekers.” says World Champion skydiver and operator of Paraclete XP SkyVenture Kirk Verner.
Even though it will be the largest vertical wind tunnel in the world at 16.42 feet in diameter at its narrowest point, it will only require 2000HP to produce speeds in excess of 165 MPH. The next largest tunnel in the world requires twice as much horsepower (and twice as much electricity).
Paraclete XP plans to set the four, premium efficiency 500HP SkyVenture fans in early May. After that, the flight chamber, staging area and control room will be installed. Once these components are in place the inlet contractor will be lifted into position, completing the flow-path.
One thing is certain … Paraclete XP SkyVenture is going to break records in every category.
About SkyVenture, LLC:
SkyVenture is the world’s largest and most experienced designer and builder of vertical wind tunnels. It has sold twenty-five VWTs in nine different countries across the globe. SkyVenture’s wall-to-wall airflow, multiple overhead fans and other unique technologies provide the safest and most accurate freefall simulation possible. These technologies are protected by multiple patents in 32 countries worldwide.
Contact:
Brannan Johnson
SkyVenture, LLC
+1.512.674.9200
www.skyventure.com
###
Construction began just two months ago, starting with a foundation consisting of 760 cubic yards of concrete and 120,000 pounds of steel and totaling more than three million pounds.
“This project has been amazing,” states owner Tim D’Annunzio, “There have been many challenges. This model would normally be buried over 22 feet in the ground, but due to the water table we had to raise the facility to a more shallow depth.”
Structural steel supporting an 11,000 square foot building is already in place. An elevator will connect to a bridge corridor that will lead directly to the flight deck. The flight chamber includes all standard SkyVenture features, but is larger than anything previously built and has been re-designed to optimize visibility. “The chamber is so large that we intended to fly not just one, but two sets of spotters and flyers at a time” says D’Annunzio.
“It is quite an engineering feat,” says SkyVenture head engineer Mark Arlitt, “The flight chamber is the first of its kind, built from an acrylic cylinder with minimal seems. It is round, clear and simply massive!”
Much of the technology that makes this the most efficient vertical wind tunnel ever built is not even visible to the public. Banks of exotic, airfoil-shaped aluminum turning vanes are tucked into each corner of the tunnel. If you laid them end to end they would extend almost three miles. Numerous other advances minimize power consumption and reduce sound output.
“We basically designed a perfect environment for training and built it around the largest, fastest and most advanced wind tunnel in the world. The business is custom tailored to our clientele which will consist of equal parts military, skydivers and experience thrill seekers.” says World Champion skydiver and operator of Paraclete XP SkyVenture Kirk Verner.
Even though it will be the largest vertical wind tunnel in the world at 16.42 feet in diameter at its narrowest point, it will only require 2000HP to produce speeds in excess of 165 MPH. The next largest tunnel in the world requires twice as much horsepower (and twice as much electricity).
Paraclete XP plans to set the four, premium efficiency 500HP SkyVenture fans in early May. After that, the flight chamber, staging area and control room will be installed. Once these components are in place the inlet contractor will be lifted into position, completing the flow-path.
One thing is certain … Paraclete XP SkyVenture is going to break records in every category.
About SkyVenture, LLC:
SkyVenture is the world’s largest and most experienced designer and builder of vertical wind tunnels. It has sold twenty-five VWTs in nine different countries across the globe. SkyVenture’s wall-to-wall airflow, multiple overhead fans and other unique technologies provide the safest and most accurate freefall simulation possible. These technologies are protected by multiple patents in 32 countries worldwide.
Contact:
Brannan Johnson
SkyVenture, LLC
+1.512.674.9200
www.skyventure.com
###
Contact
SkyVenture, LLC
Brannan Johnson
512 674 9200
www.skyventure.com
Brannan Johnson
512 674 9200
www.skyventure.com
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