Wikipedia

Draft:AltitudeX Singapore

AltitudeX Singapore (formerly iFly Singapore) is an indoor skydiving facility and experiential entertainment company based in Sentosa, Singapore. The facility operated under the name iFly Singapore from 2011 to 2025 before rebranding to AltitudeX Singapore. Located at 43 Siloso Beach Walk, Sentosa, it operates one of the world's largest vertical wind tunnels designed to simulate free-fall skydiving conditions and has been recognised as the world's first themed indoor skydiving facility.[1]

Background

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Indoor skydiving is a sport and recreational activity in which participants are suspended in a column of high-speed airflow generated by a vertical wind tunnel, simulating the sensation of free-fall skydiving without the use of an aircraft. The sport is governed internationally by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) and the International Bodyflight Association (IBA), which establishes training and safety standards for indoor skydiving instructors and wind tunnel operations worldwide.

History

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Founding and development

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The concept for iFly Singapore was developed in the mid-2000s by Singaporean entrepreneur Lawrence Koh, a former Singapore Armed Forces parachute instructor and leader of the SAF Red Lions parachute display team, with the aim of making indoor skydiving accessible to the public.[2]

Opening and early operations

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iFly Singapore officially opened in May 2011 at Siloso Beach Walk, Sentosa. The facility caters to recreational visitors, first-time participants and professional skydivers. The wind tunnel, designed and manufactured by SkyVenture (now iFLY Tunnel Systems), features a flight chamber measuring approximately 5 metres (16.5 ft) in diameter and 17 metres (56.5 ft) in height.[1]

The facility hosted the iFly Singapore Indoor World Skydiving Championships in December 2012.[3]

The event attracted more than 400 competitors from countries including the United States, Russia, Canada and Singapore, and was broadcast by ESPN.[4]

Safety and training

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Participants attend a mandatory pre-flight briefing before entering the wind tunnel. The briefing covers body positioning, hand signals, flight procedures and safety protocols. Participants are provided with a flight suit, helmet, goggles and earplugs, and are accompanied inside the flight chamber by a certified instructor throughout each flight session.[5]

According to Sentosa, instructors undergo a structured recruitment and training process that includes physical fitness assessments, scenario-based training and supervised practical instruction before being certified to conduct flights.[6]

Rebranding as AltitudeX Singapore

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Following the expiry of the iFly brand licence, the facility rebranded as AltitudeX Singapore on 7 November 2025, adopting a new Singapore-based brand identity.[7]

The rebranding was officially launched on 12 December 2025 at a ceremony attended by David Neo, Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Senior Minister of State for Education.[8]

As part of the rebranding, AltitudeX Singapore announced plans to invest more than S$1 million over three years to support the development of indoor skydiving in Singapore through athlete development, community programmes and partnerships with social service organisations.[8]

According to the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, the rebranding marked the transition from an internationally licensed brand to a locally owned Singapore company.[8]

Facility and operations

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Wind tunnel

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AltitudeX Singapore operates a vertical wind tunnel designed to simulate free-fall skydiving within a controlled indoor environment.[1]

The structure stands approximately 17.2 metres (56.5 ft) tall and features a flight chamber measuring approximately 5 metres (16.5 ft) in diameter. The tunnel generates wind speeds of up to 300 km/h, allowing participants to experience sustained bodyflight without the use of an aircraft.[1]

The flight chamber features an 18-foot acrylic viewing wall overlooking the South China Sea.[1]

Operations and participants

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The facility offers indoor skydiving experiences for recreational visitors and first-time flyers. Participants are required to meet minimum age requirements and complete a pre-flight safety briefing before entering the wind tunnel. [9]

The facility has also been used for training purposes, including by competitive indoor skydivers and instructors. [10]

The Singapore Armed Forces has used the facility for vertical wind tunnel training as part of its parachute training programme, simulating freefall conditions for trainees. [11]

Sky Garden Sentosa

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Sky Garden Sentosa is a rooftop event venue located above the indoor skydiving facility. The venue is used for corporate functions, private events, product launches and hospitality activities. [12]

Awards and records

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Guinness World Records

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iFly Singapore has been associated with several Guinness World Records related to indoor skydiving activities conducted at the facility.

In August 2013, the facility was recognised by Guinness World Records as the world's largest indoor skydiving wind tunnel at the time, based on an internal flying volume of 373.190 m³, a height of 56.5 ft, and a diameter of 16.5 ft.

In 2015, iFly Singapore instructor Jonathon Loh Hui Jie set the Guinness World Record for the most head spins in a wind tunnel in one minute, achieving 50 complete revolutions. [13]

In 2016, the iFly Singapore team achieved the Guinness World Record for the most tandem indoor skydives in eight hours, completing 227 tandem skydives. [14]

Kyra Poh, who trained at the facility, also set a Guinness World Record for the most backward somersaults in a wind tunnel in one minute in 2013. [15]

Role in sport and competitive development

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AltitudeX Singapore (formerly iFly Singapore) has served as the primary training base for Singapore's competitive indoor skydiving community since 2011. The facility has supported the development of competitive indoor skydiving locally, including training programmes for youth and national-level athletes.

Team Firefly and international competition

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Kyra Poh and Choo Yi Xuan began competing as "Team Firefly" in 2012.[16]

In 2016, Poh won the junior freestyle category at the Indoor Skydiving World Cup in Warsaw, Poland, at the age of 14.[17]

In 2017, Poh was recognised as the "World's Fastest Flyer" after winning the Wind Games in Catalonia, Spain, where she rode wind speeds of 230 km/h inside a vertical wind tunnel. [18]

In 2018, Poh and Choo won gold at the World Cup of Indoor Skydiving in Bahrain.[19]

Poh holds four Guinness World Records and, in 2022, became the first athlete from a sport not featured in the Major Games to receive the Sports Excellence Scholarship (spexScholarship), a national-level sports scholarship programme in Singapore. [20]

FAI competitions

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Singaporean indoor skydivers trained at the facility have competed at multiple editions of the FAI World Cup of Indoor Skydiving (WCIS). At the 5th WCIS held in Macau in April 2024, Singapore's 21-strong contingent won four WCIS medals (two golds, one silver and one bronze) and six Asian Indoor Skydiving Championships medals.[21]

Kai Minejima-Lee, who trained at the facility, was named Singapore's 2025 Sportsboy of the Year at age 16 after winning four gold medals at the FlySpot Polish Open against 232 competitors from 22 countries. He was also Singapore's second spexScholar in indoor skydiving.[8]


Community engagement and accessibility

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Inclusive and charitable programmes

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iFly Singapore conducted community outreach initiatives during its 10th anniversary celebrations in 2021, including providing indoor skydiving experiences for beneficiaries and caregivers from community organisations.[22]

iFly Singapore partnered with organisations including AWWA and the Singapore Disability Sports Council to provide indoor skydiving experiences to persons with disabilities, underprivileged children and caregivers.[8]

Following the 2025 rebranding, AltitudeX Singapore expanded these efforts by partnering with SG Enable alongside existing partners as part of its community commitments announced with its S$1 million investment pledge.[8]

Educational outreach

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The facility has been involved in educational outreach programmes which introduce students to the principles of flight and aerodynamics, and iFly Singapore announced plans to expand into Singapore's education sector through a proposed Sports Education Programme for students aged 7 to 16. [23]

See also

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References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "AltitudeX Singapore (formerly iFly) – Indoor Skydiving Tickets & Price". Sentosa. Sentosa Development Corporation. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  2. ↑ "iFly, So Can You!". Defence Pioneer. Singapore Armed Forces. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  3. ↑ ESPN Part 5 (4 way VFS) - Indoor Skydiving World Championships 2012. iFly Singapore. 2013-01-29. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  4. ↑ "2012 Indoor Skydiving World Championships". Air Sports Net. 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  5. ↑ "FAQs". AltitudeX Singapore. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  6. ↑ "Kumar Jayakrishnan's soaring career as an indoor skydiving instructor at AltitudeX Indoor Skydiving". Sentosa. Sentosa Development Corporation. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  7. ↑ "About AltitudeX Singapore". AltitudeX Singapore. 7 November 2025. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "AltitudeX Official Launch". Ministry of Culture and Youth. Government of Singapore. 12 December 2025. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  9. ↑ "Frequently Asked Questions". AltitudeX Singapore. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  10. ↑ "About AltitudeX Singapore". AltitudeX Singapore. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  11. ↑ "Jump of Unity: Fact Sheet" (PDF). Ministry of Defence Singapore. 6 July 2025. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  12. ↑ "Sky Garden Sentosa". Sky Garden Sentosa. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  13. ↑ "Video: Watch Singaporean daredevil spin upside down in wind tunnel for new Guinness World Records title". Guinness World Records. 2015-06-23.
  14. ↑ "Most tandem indoor skydives in eight hours (team)". Guinness World Records. 2016-06-03.
  15. ↑ "Most backwards somersaults in a wind tunnel in one minute". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  16. ↑ "Team Firefly". TODAY. National Library Board Singapore. 16 May 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  17. ↑ "Singapore teen Kyra Poh wins junior freestyle gold in Indoor Skydiving World Cup in Poland". The Straits Times. 16 October 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  18. ↑ "Kyra Poh: The 14-year-old girl who is the 'fastest flyer'". BBC News. 7 February 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  19. ↑ "Team Singapore Indoor Skydiving Set for World Championships with Powerhouse Lineup and Return of Kyra Poh". SportPlus.sg. 15 April 2025. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  20. ↑ "Indoor skydiver Kyra Poh among 17 new athletes selected for Sports Excellence Scholarship programme". Channel NewsAsia. 31 May 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  21. ↑ "Singapore Indoor Skydivers Win Two Golds at 5th FAI World Cup of Indoor Skydiving". SportPlus.sg. 22 April 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  22. ↑ "DSA News December 2022" (PDF). Down Syndrome Association Singapore. 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  23. ↑ "iFly Singapore to expand into Singapore education sector with indoor skydiving". Singapore Business Review. 13 May 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
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