People often say that the sky’s the limit, and when it comes to humans it’s true. While walking, running, and even swimming come naturally to us, there’s no way we can propel ourselves into the air. But in the modern world, technological developments, the spirit of exploration, and a bit of foolish daredevilry have come together to make our wildest dreams a reality. If you want to travel through the skies you can come to Wiltshire, board an aircraft and ascend above the ground, before throwing yourself out of the door and plummeting down to Earth. This is the sport of skydiving, and it’s not for the faint hearted. There are no ropes or safety nets here, just the force of gravity which accelerates you to speeds of 125 miles per hour before a parachute opens, and you return to the ground, safe and sound.

This region is a popular choice for parachute jumps experiences. The Salisbury Plains have been used by the military for generations, and many aeronautical developments took place here. It’s also home to a reintroduced population of great bustards, the heaviest flying birds that are able to fly in the world. We can take inspiration from these unlikely fliers by taking to the skies ourselves, and a professional team of skydive instructors are waiting to make it happen.

Where to go skydiving in Wiltshire?

This activitytakes place at Old Sarum airfield, in Salisbury on the heart of the central South Coast, where you’ll find the only team in the country dedicated solely to tandem jumps. This means that you’ll be a kind of passenger during the parachute jump, attached to the front of an expert skydive instructor. You’ll step out of the plane together and take up the freefall position, facing downwards with your arms and legs spread, until the crucial moment when they will open the parachute. As they’ll also take control of the landing, your role is just to enjoy yourself and let them worry about safety. But the height from which you want to jump is your decision:

What kinds of parachute jumps are available?

- 7,000ft: Known as a taster jump, from this height you’ll experience freefall for just 10 seconds. This is a great option if you’re nervous about the experience, or if you’re more interested in the parachute descent that comes after the fall. This will last about 5 minutes and is a serene ride through the skies. You’ll be able to take in views of the Cathedral and the Salisbury plain just as a bird in flight contemplates the landscape below.

- 10,000ft: A more daring option, a 10,000ft jump allows for 30 seconds of freefall. This is such an unusual experience that it will probably feel more like 30 minutes! Your body is completely unsupported during this stage of the jump, the only things you can feel are the pull of gravity and the wind rushing past your ears. For many people this is an addictive experience, and if that’s the case for you, you might consider the next option for your next jump.

- 15,000ft: The highest tandem skydive that you can do in the UK, a jump from 15,000ft starts with a full minute of freefall. This is the option for you if you want to know what flying really feels like, or if you want to spend as much time at terminal velocity as possible. In all three jumps, the parachute opens at the same altitude, so you’ll also enjoy the 5 minute cruise to landing at the end which will give you a chance to catch your breath.

Also, this are the perfect option for charity fundraisers. In this drop zone, the team helps over 2000 people a year to complete their first skydive, all in the name of giving something back. If you’re raising money for charity, doing something crazy is the best way to get people’s attention and donate generously. This option is guaranteed to inspire people to open their hearts, and their wallets, and help you make a difference for a good cause.

Can you take photos or videos?

When exiting the plane, freefalling and descending under the parachute, you’ll need to have your hands in specific positions, which means that you can’t take a camera with and record your own jump. But don’t worry - the team in Wiltshire can make sure that you have photos and videos to commemorate your gravity defying stunt forever.

One option is for your instructor to jump with a camera in their hand. With this, they can capture shots of your jump, including selfies and wide angle photos that show the sky above and Earth below during the freefall stage. After the parachute opens, they can focus on the views of the landscape. This sport gives you vistas of 360º which is a lot to take in all at once, so we recommend that you get it on video to enjoy again and again from the comfort of your home.

On the other hand, you can jump with your instructor and another enthusiast who is also a keen freefall photographer. They’ll get everything on camera: from the moment that you jump out of the plane, through the freefall stage, to the parachute descent, with a variety of photo and video, and from a variety of different angles. You can be the protagonist of the coolest movie ever in Wiltshire!

Requirements to do this activity

If you’re going to throw yourself out of a plane it’s necessary to know the risks and understand them. For that reason, around the country, you need to be 16 years old to consent to taking part. On the other hand, has no upper age limit: the oldest person to complete a tandem parachute jump here was 100 years young!

The team is also comfortable jumping with people of all shapes and sizes. Whereas most jump centres in the UK place an upper limit of 15 stone or 95 kilos skydiving, here you can jump so long as your weight is under 18 stone or 115 kilos.

Is it a safe sport?

Your safety comes first for the team of professional skydivers from this center. They’re a regulated, experienced group of enthusiasts who want you to have a good time so that you spread the good word and get even more people involved. For that reason, safety and making you feel secure are paramount. To achieve this, they use the top of the range, well maintained equipment. Parachutes have a 99.9% success rate, but that doesn’t mean that you have a 0.01% chance of something going wrong, because skydivers take two parachutes on every jump.

Follow your instructors advice carefully before and during the jump and you should be fine. You’ll be told how to step out of the plane, how to hold your body during freefall, and what to do when you land, and if you keep a cool head and do as you're told, you should be absolutely fine. Besides, the instructor has their own safety to worry about so it’s in their interests to get you back onto the ground in one piece.