The Difference Between 14,000 and 18,000 Feet

Most skydiving centers here in the US jump from a typical altitude height of around 14,000 feet (around 4.2 kilometers or 2.6 miles). From this altitude, jumpers get around 60 seconds of freefall time which is enough for your basic skydive. If you want to experience something extra special, 18,000 feet is where it’s at! Here’s why…

Extra Freefall Time

The skydiving freefall is possibly the greatest thing about the sport. Nothing compares to the feeling of falling through the sky at a terminal velocity of around 120mph. It feels more like being cushioned by air and all of your worries and stresses dissipate with the wind.

Particularly if this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for you, you’ll want to get as much out of it as possible. That’s why we take our skydivers to 18,000 feet rather than 14,000! From here, you’ll be in freefall for approximately 20 extra seconds, giving you even more time to feel the rush of the skydive.

For experienced jumpers, having this extra freefall time means you’ll get to complete more points and make more moves during the jump. Whether you’re practicing a new skill or simply chilling out with friends, extra freefall is everybody’s friend!

Experience Oxygen Supplements on the Way to Altitude

18,000 feet is above the point where commercial aircraft need to pressurize their cabins. This is because the air up there is thinner than it is down here and as humans, we struggle to breathe as easily in thinner air – you’ll know what we mean if you’ve ever hiked a big mountain, for example.

For this reason, anyone jumping from 18,000 feet needs to use oxygen. Some people say it makes them feel like an astronaut, traveling to the edge of space! Others find the novelty of the experience really appealing.

Find out what it feels like to be Felix Baumgartner (well, sort of!) with an 18,000-foot oxygen-fuelled adventure!

The ULTIMATE Skydiving Experience

Thousands of people make their first skydiving here in the US each year. Whilst we’ll never take away from what an incredible thing that is, there’s something extra special about jumping from an altitude few others have jumped from.

Skydive Tecumseh is one of few dropzones in the US to jump from 18,000 feet. So you know that, no matter how many other people make the leap, you’re one of a select few to have done so from such a high altitude.

Ready to Jump?

Are you ready to experience the country’s highest altitude skydive? Skydive Tecumseh is one of the very few dropzones in the US to jump from 18,000 feet. If you’d like to book your skydive with us, you can do so online now or contact one of our team and we’ll be happy to help with any queries you may have.