Skydiving in Virginia

Virginia has several active skydiving centers, with options ranging from tandem jumps for a first freefall experience to AFF training to learn how to jump solo, as well as indoor wind tunnel options in northern Virginia and along the coast. The advantage is being able to choose your experience based on the area where you are staying, with departure points near Washington, near Richmond, or near Hampton Roads, avoiding the need to cross the entire state just to book a jump.

Tandem skydiving in Virginia

Tandem skydive in Orange for Northern Virginia

In Orange, Skydive Orange is based at Orange County Airport, and this location is often chosen when you are looking for a tandem skydive in Northern Virginia without heading toward the coast. The airplane departs from this airfield, and tandem remains the most direct option if you want to experience freefall with an instructor who handles everything, followed by a canopy descent that gives you time to observe the surroundings of Orange before landing on the drop zone.

Tandem skydive in Suffolk for the Hampton Roads area

In Suffolk, Skydive Suffolk operates from Suffolk Executive Airport, and it is a logical option if you are coming from Virginia Beach, as access is easier than traveling north across the state. Tandem skydiving is the most popular format at this site, with an organization designed for beginners, and you can also add video options depending on what the center offers at the time of booking.

Tandem skydive in West Point with river region views

In West Point, No Limits Skydiving uses Middle Peninsula Regional Airport, and the area is known for its views toward the confluence of local rivers, offering scenery very different from a jump organized inland. This option is suitable if you want to combine a tandem skydive with a river-oriented setting, without specifically looking for a mountain location.

Learning to skydive solo: AFF in Virginia

AFF training is the standard pathway in the United States to move from discovery to autonomy, with step-by-step progression, a ground school, then supervised jumps before continuing with consolidation jumps. In Orange, Skydive Orange highlights its AFF program and long-established skydiving activity, which appeals to those who want more than just a first tandem experience. In Suffolk, Skydive Suffolk also promotes training and student support, making it possible to stay with the same center if you begin with a tandem and later decide to continue with a student program.

Packages and courses in Virginia: booking multiple jumps over time

In Virginia, a “package” is not always presented as a single product, and the most effective way to book is often to request a complete progression rather than stacking individual jumps, with a realistic schedule over several weekends. In Orange, the advantage is being able to combine tandem and AFF at the same drop zone if you want to keep the same team from start to finish. In Suffolk, the benefit is proximity to the coast, which simplifies logistics if you are staying near Virginia Beach and plan to return multiple times.

Indoor skydiving in Virginia

Indoor wind tunnel in Ashburn, Northern Virginia

The wind tunnel is useful if you want to experience the freefall body position without an airplane, or if you want to work on stability before starting an AFF-type progression. In Ashburn, iFLY Loudoun is a reference for Northern Virginia, with convenient access from Loudoun County.

Indoor wind tunnel in Virginia Beach on the coast

In Virginia Beach, iFLY Virginia Beach offers the same approach on the coastal side, avoiding the need to travel back toward the Washington area when you are staying near the ocean, while the Tukwila center also provides an indoor skydiving option inland.

Seasonality: an important point to check before booking your jump

In Virginia, some centers operate year-round, while others close for part of the winter depending on their organization, which can affect available dates even if you book in advance. In West Point, No Limits Skydiving publishes seasonal information, which is useful if you are planning for January or early February. Regardless of the center, the best practice is to check the published schedule and book with some flexibility, as traveling on site can result in a reschedule if wind or daily weather conditions do not allow jumping.