skydiveperris.com

Skydive Perris is a skydiving center in Perris Valley, Southern California, positioned as the closest major dropzone to Los Angeles and Hollywood. It offers tandem skydives, a learn-to-skydive path, indoor wind tunnel flying, and services for already-licensed skydivers. What sets it apart from a typical dropzone is its combination of an on-site wind tunnel, an on-site restaurant and bar, and a rare DC-9 jet jump — the only DC-9 airliner in the world rated for skydiving, according to the site. It's a fit if you want a full-service destination with multiple ways to fly; it's less relevant if you're looking for a small, quiet local operation.

Experiences offered

The site groups its offerings into four main tracks:

The tandem jump is the entry point for most first-timers. The high-altitude and DC-9 options are premium, lower-frequency experiences — the DC-9 in particular is described as rare and restricted to adults 18 and over.

What makes it different

Several features distinguish Skydive Perris from a standard dropzone:

• On-site wind tunnel. The center was among the first dropzones to build an indoor skydiving simulator into its operations and describes itself as one of the only dropzones in the world with an on-site tunnel. This matters practically: you can try bodyflight indoors before committing to a jump, and families with children as young as 3 can participate.
• DC-9 jet jumps. No other dropzone operates a DC-9 airliner rated for skydiving, per the site. The tail-door exit and jet deceleration make it a genuinely different jump than a standard turbine jump ship.
• Aircraft fleet. The center uses twin turbine planes and says it operates the only rear-exit tailgate jump ships in California, with full-time mechanics maintaining the fleet.
• Safety leadership. General Manager Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld is described as a world record holder and six-time skydiving world champion with more than 30,000 jumps; the center states it operates with a zero-tolerance safety culture.
• Hollywood connection. The site claims more skydiving scenes are filmed here than anywhere else, and that A-listers, VIPs, and influencers choose it — a signal of its proximity to Los Angeles and its media profile.

On-site facilities

Beyond jumping, the dropzone functions as a destination:

• Restaurant and bar. The Bombshelter is open all day, every day, with indoor and poolside dining, a full event calendar, and live music.
• Wind tunnel. Open to ages 3 and up, so non-jumping family members can fly too.
• Event hosting. The site has a dedicated "Plan Your Event" page, suggesting group and private event bookings.

Location and context

Skydive Perris sits in Perris Valley, marketed as the closest skydiving center to Hollywood and the largest and most trusted on the West Coast. It also hosts events such as USPA Nationals, which indicates it operates at a competitive and organizational level beyond recreational jumps.

How to decide if it's right for you

• Choose Skydive Perris if you want a one-stop destination with multiple experience tiers, an on-site wind tunnel for nervous first-timers or kids, and the option of a genuinely unusual jump (the DC-9).
• Look elsewhere if you want the cheapest possible tandem with no extras, or a small, low-key dropzone without the crowds and event traffic that come with a large, media-frequented center.
• Check availability and pricing directly. The site lists "from" prices and marks some experiences (like the DC-9) as rare, so confirm current rates, age limits, and booking windows before you plan around a specific jump.

Indoor skydiving at Skydive Perris takes place in an on-site vertical wind tunnel that simulates the feeling of freefall without any aircraft, altitude, or parachute. It is open to ages 3 and up, making it the one experience at the dropzone that the whole family can do together. If you want the sensation of skydiving but don't want to get on a plane — or you want a low-commitment first taste before booking a tandem jump — this is the option to consider.

What the indoor wind tunnel actually is

Skydive Perris was among the first dropzones to build an indoor skydiving simulator into its operations, and it remains one of the few dropzones in the world with a wind tunnel on site. Rather than jumping from an aircraft, you step into a vertical column of moving air that holds you up. The result is the body-flight position and airflow of freefall, contained in a controlled indoor space.

Because there is no plane and no parachute, the experience removes the two things first-timers most often cite as barriers: the aircraft ride and the exit.

Who it's for

• Families with young children. Ages 3+ are welcome, so this is the only activity on the property that can include small kids.
• People who don't want to board an aircraft. No flight is involved at any point.
• Anyone curious about freefall before committing to a tandem. It lets you feel the airflow and practice the body position first.
• Groups looking for a shared activity. Everyone can participate rather than watching from the ground.

If your goal is the full skydive — aircraft exit, 60 seconds of freefall, and a parachute ride over Perris Valley — indoor skydiving is not a substitute. It replicates the freefall sensation only.

The Bronze Package

The entry-level option is the Indoor Skydiving Bronze Package, which includes two one-minute flights in the on-site wind tunnel. Each flight is equivalent to roughly the freefall portion of a skydive, so two minutes gives you a chance to settle in and adjust after the first minute rather than having the experience end as soon as it starts.

How it compares to the tandem options

The tandem prices above come from the site's featured adventures listing. The Bronze Package price is not stated in the available material, so check current pricing when you book.

What to expect when you go

1. You're at the dropzone, not a separate facility. The wind tunnel is on site at Skydive Perris, alongside the tandem operation, aircraft, and the Bombshelter restaurant and bar.
2. You fly in one-minute intervals. The Bronze Package is structured as two separate one-minute flights, not one continuous session.
3. No aircraft, no altitude, no parachute. The entire experience happens in the tunnel.
4. It's a family activity. With a 3+ age minimum, parents and young children can both take part.

Practical considerations

• Booking: The site directs visitors to check availability and book; the tunnel is part of the same operation as the tandem jumps, so book ahead rather than assuming walk-up space.
• Combining activities: Because the tunnel, restaurant, and tandem operation are all on site, a group can split up — some flying indoors, some jumping tandem — and meet at the Bombshelter afterward.
• If you're unsure between indoor and tandem: Use indoor skydiving to test how you feel about the airflow and body position. If you enjoy it and want the real thing, the standard 14,000 ft tandem starts from $199, with the 18,000 ft high-altitude version at $399 and the DC-9 jet jump at $999.

The key decision point is simple: choose indoor skydiving if you want the freefall sensation without an aircraft and with no age barrier beyond 3. Choose a tandem if the aircraft exit, altitude, and parachute ride are the parts you actually want.

Skydive Perris offers three tandem skydives that differ mainly in exit altitude, freefall time, aircraft, and price: the standard Tandem Skydive from 14,000 feet (from $199), the High Altitude Tandem from 18,000 feet with supplemental oxygen ($399), and the DC-9 Tandem Skydive from the world's only skydiving-rated DC-9 airliner ($999, minimum age 18). All three are tandem jumps with an instructor, so the choice comes down to how much freefall time and what kind of aircraft experience you want.

Quick Comparison

Standard Tandem Skydive (14,000 ft)

This is the most popular option and the baseline for comparison. You jump from 14,000 feet MSL attached to a tandem instructor, freefall for about 60 seconds at 120 mph, then ride the parachute for 5–10 minutes over Perris Valley.

• Available: All week
• Price: From $199
• Best for: First-time jumpers who want the classic experience at the lowest entry price. The site notes the Early Bird slot beats the heat and gets the best price, so morning slots are worth considering.

High Altitude Tandem (18,000 ft)

This jump adds 4,000 feet of altitude over the standard tandem, which translates into roughly 30 extra seconds of freefall — about 90 seconds total. You use supplemental oxygen on the ascent, which is standard practice at this altitude.

• Price: $399
• Best for: Jumpers who have already done a standard tandem (or don't mind paying roughly double) and want more freefall time. The site describes it as a "rare opportunity for tandem students," so availability may be more limited than the standard jump.

DC-9 Tandem Skydive ($999)

This is the most unusual option: you exit by the tail door of the only DC-9 airliner in the world rated for skydiving. After exiting, you decelerate to terminal velocity — a different sensation from jumping out of a smaller jump plane.

• Price: $999
• Minimum age: 18
• Availability: Rare
• Best for: Experienced jumpers or anyone treating the jump as a bucket-list event and willing to pay a significant premium for the aircraft itself. If the DC-9 is the reason you're booking, confirm dates early since the site lists it as rare.

How to Choose

• Lowest price, standard experience: Standard Tandem from $199.
• More freefall time: High Altitude Tandem at $399 buys you roughly 50% more freefall.
• The aircraft is the point: DC-9 Tandem at $999, age 18+.
• Not sure yet: The standard tandem is the natural first jump; you can step up to the high-altitude or DC-9 option on a later visit.

One practical note: the site's pricing shows "from" for the standard tandem, so the final cost may vary by time or date. Check availability and current pricing on skydiveperris.com before booking, especially for the DC-9, which the site lists as rare.

If you're booking your first skydive at Skydive Perris, the short answer is: pick your jump type first (tandem, high-altitude tandem, or the DC-9 jet), confirm you meet the age and health conditions for that option, then book an early slot to avoid the heat and get the best price. The DC-9 is the strictest — it requires a minimum age of 18 and is described as a rare, limited-availability jump. Everything below explains what each option involves and how the first-jump process works so you can decide before you pay.

Choose your jump before you check requirements

Skydive Perris lists three tandem-style experiences for first-timers, and the requirements differ by option. The DC-9 is the only one where the site explicitly states a minimum age.

The standard tandem also includes a 5–10 minute parachute ride over Perris Valley. The high-altitude jump is described as a rare opportunity for tandem students specifically. The DC-9 is the only DC-9 airliner jet in the world rated for skydiving, which is why it's priced and scheduled differently from the rest.

Age, weight, and health: what the site does and doesn't state

The site confirms a minimum age of 18 for the DC-9 jump. It does not publish a general minimum age, weight limit, or medical checklist for tandem jumps in the material available here, so don't assume the DC-9 rule applies to every option — and don't assume there are no limits either. Before booking any jump, confirm the current age, weight, and health requirements directly with Skydive Perris, since these are the conditions that determine whether you can jump at all.

One family-friendly data point: the onsite indoor wind tunnel welcomes ages 3 and up, so non-jumping family members can participate even if the outdoor requirements exclude them.

What the first-jump process looks like

The site outlines the flow through its booking and experience pages rather than a single step-by-step guide. Based on what's published, expect this sequence:

1. Check availability and book. Each experience has a "Check Availability" or "Book Now" action. Booking ahead matters most for the DC-9, which is marked as rare.
2. Choose your time slot. The site notes the Early Bird beats the heat and gets the best price — morning slots are both cooler and cheaper for the standard tandem.
3. Arrive and check in at the dropzone, then complete any required training and paperwork for your jump type.
4. Get geared up with your instructor before boarding.
5. Jump. For the standard tandem, that's a 14,000 ft exit, about 60 seconds of freefall, and a 5–10 minute canopy ride.

The high-altitude jump adds an oxygen step on the way up before a longer freefall. The DC-9 involves a tail-door exit rather than a side door, which changes how you leave the aircraft.

Why the early slot is worth it

Two concrete reasons from the site: the Early Bird beats the heat, and it gets the best price. Perris Valley in summer gets hot, and you'll be in gear on the ground before and after the jump. A morning slot means less time waiting in heat and a lower fare on the standard tandem. If you're set on the DC-9, availability — not time of day — is the constraint, so book as far ahead as you can.

Practical notes that affect your day

• There's an onsite restaurant and bar, the Bombshelter, open all day every day with indoor and poolside dining, plus live music and events. Non-jumping friends have somewhere to wait.
• There's an onsite wind tunnel, and Skydive Perris was among the first dropzones to build one into operations. If you're nervous, an indoor session is a low-commitment way to feel what freefall is like first.
• Aircraft are maintained by full-time mechanics, and the fleet includes rear-exit tailgate jump ships — relevant if you're weighing the DC-9 tail exit against a standard side exit.
• The dropzone is the closest to Hollywood and the West Coast's largest, so it's used to first-timers and VIPs alike.

Bottom line

Book the standard tandem if you want the simplest, cheapest first jump and can go in the morning. Choose the high-altitude tandem if you want a longer freefall and don't mind the higher price. Choose the DC-9 only if you're 18 or older, want the jet experience, and can plan around rare availability. In all cases, verify current age, weight, and health requirements with Skydive Perris before you book, since the site only publishes the DC-9's minimum age.

Skydive Perris is a strong choice if you want a large, safety-focused dropzone close to Los Angeles and Hollywood, with aircraft variety, an on-site wind tunnel, and a full-service restaurant and bar. It suits first-timers booking a tandem, licensed skydivers looking for turbine aircraft and events, and families or groups who want indoor flying or a place to watch and eat. The main reasons to pick it are location, safety culture, aircraft, and on-site facilities.

Location and reputation

Skydive Perris describes itself as the West Coast's largest and most trusted skydiving center and the closest to Hollywood. According to the site, A-list celebrities, VIPs, and influencers choose it, and more skydiving scenes are filmed there than anywhere else. If you are coming from the LA area, that positioning matters: you get a major, established dropzone rather than a small regional operation.

The center is also marking 50 years at Skydive Perris, which speaks to how long it has operated in the region.

Safety leadership

The site points to its General Manager, Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld, a World Record holder and six-time skydiving World Champion with more than 30,000 jumps. It states the organization leads from a "zero tolerance culture of safety."

For a first-time jumper, this is the kind of signal to weigh: a named, highly experienced leader and an explicit safety stance. It does not replace your own review of instructor credentials or current procedures, but it tells you safety is presented as a core operating principle rather than a side note.

Aircraft

Skydive Perris says it uses "the industry's safest and most reliable aircraft," including the only rear-exit tailgate jump ships in California. All twin turbine planes are monitored and maintained by full-time aircraft mechanics.

Aircraft type affects your experience in practical ways:

• Turbine planes typically mean faster climbs to altitude and more consistent operations.
• Rear-exit tailgate aircraft change how you exit and can be part of the appeal for experienced jumpers.
• On-site mechanics suggest maintenance happens at the dropzone rather than being outsourced.

The site also notes the DC-9 tandem skydive — described as the only DC-9 airliner jet in the world rated for skydiving — with a minimum age of 18 and a price of $999.

On-site wind tunnel

Skydive Perris was among the first dropzones to add an indoor skydiving simulator, and the site says it remains one of the world's only dropzones with an on-site wind tunnel. Ages 3+ are welcome.

This matters if you want to:

• Try bodyflight before committing to a full jump
• Add indoor flying to a group or family visit
• Practice or warm up while at the same location

The Indoor Skydiving Bronze Package includes two one-minute flights in the on-site wind tunnel.

Restaurant, bar, and events

The on-site Bombshelter restaurant and bar is open all day, every day, for indoor and poolside dining, with a full calendar of live music and events. That makes the dropzone usable as a full outing: jumpers can fly, and friends or family can watch, eat, and stay for the event schedule.

The site also references hosting events and USPA Nationals, which indicates the facility operates at a competitive level, not just for tourist tandems.

Jump options and prices

The site notes that the Early Bird "beats the heat…and gets the Best Price," so if price and comfort matter, ask about earlier time slots when you check availability.

Who should choose Skydive Perris

• First-time tandem jumpers near LA who want a large, established center with a strong safety message.
• Licensed skydivers interested in turbine aircraft, tailgate exits, and events like USPA Nationals.
• Families and groups who want indoor skydiving (ages 3+) plus a restaurant and bar on site.
• Anyone seeking a rare jump — the DC-9 tandem is presented as unique, though it costs $999 and requires age 18+.

If your priority is the lowest possible price or the smallest, quietest dropzone, this may not be the fit. If your priority is scale, safety emphasis, aircraft variety, and on-site amenities near Los Angeles, Skydive Perris is built around exactly that.

To move forward, check availability for your date and ask which aircraft and jump type are running that day, since the DC-9 and high-altitude options are described as rare or limited.