Tandem skydiving in Michigan

A Tandem Skydive in Fowlerville

The tandem skydive offered at Maple Grove Airport includes preparation before boarding, the necessary equipment, and the plane ride up to 10,000 feet. After exiting the aircraft, the freefall lasts about 35 seconds and can reach a stated speed of 120 mph, or about 193 km/h, before the parachute opens and the descent under canopy begins.

The site is affiliated with the United States Parachute Association, and flight activity is governed by Federal Aviation Administration rules.

Where to Go Skydiving Near Detroit?

The drop zone used for these activities is not located in Detroit itself but at Maple Grove Airport, at 7080 W. Sherwood Road in Fowlerville, in Livingston County, about one hour from Detroit and less than one hour from Ann Arbor, Lansing, and Jackson, making it a suitable starting point for people looking for skydiving in this part of Michigan.

The booking should therefore be organized with the trip to Fowlerville in mind rather than by looking for an airfield in downtown Detroit. On the day of the jump, it is advisable to allow half a day, as the time spent at the drop zone can reach five hours depending on how the rotations are organized and, above all, on weather conditions.

How Does a Skydive Near Detroit Work?

The skydive begins at Maple Grove Airport, in Fowlerville, where a short ground preparation covers the essential instructions before putting on the tandem harness and boarding the plane with the instructor.

The plane ride up is already an important part of the experience, as the aircraft gradually gains altitude above Livingston County, in an area located between Detroit, Lansing, Ann Arbor, and Jackson, with a landscape that is much more rural than the Detroit metropolitan area.

Once jump altitude is reached, the tandem exits the aircraft for the freefall phase, then the opening of the parachute completely changes the pace of the jump and allows the descent to finish more slowly above Fowlerville before returning to the drop zone.