Prague is well known for its old world charms such as its architecture, Christmas markets and beer.  Now it is making a name for itself in the modern world of adrenaline sports.  As any large city it has its share of paintball arenas and skateboard parks; balloon flights, paragliding, and bungee-jumping can all be found as well.  On any nice day you will see a tethered balloon flying over old town for those whose adrenaline is easily stimulated.

What most people don’t know is that Prague is home to the only wind tunnel with a circular glass flight chamber in the world.  The Skydive Arena has made sky diving available at the Letany Shopping Center, Prague 9.  Their flight chamber is 4.3 meters in diameter and 14 meters high with wind speeds up to 160 mph allowing for feeling free fall and acrobatics.

Generally speaking any healthy person over 5 years old and not visibly pregnant can participate.  The instructors say everyone learns to control their body in free fall after a few tries.  Prices start at 1,500 Kc ($75) for 3 minutes in the chamber and can be reduced per minute with various packages.  You can memorialize your gracefulness with a DVD for extra charge.  More details at Skydive Arena

A completely different flight and adrenaline opportunity can be found at iPILOT flight simulator for only 999 Kc ($50) for 15 minutes.  Near the Ujezd tram stop in the down town area (Mala Strana) you can experience your choice of 24,000 airports around the world at the control of a realistic Airbus 320 passenger jet simulator like pilots use for training.  Hong Kong Kai Tak and London Heathrow are the popular favorites.

I am glad to see they also have a Fear of Flying course as Karin conquered her fear of flying years ago when a pilot friend explained how airplanes work and what all the noises during flight are.  iPilot has refined all that and include actually taking control of the aircraft to demystify the whole experience of flying commercially–well worth it for any nervous flyer.  More at Fly iPilot  

Prague is such a great combination of the old and the new!  I love it.