I came to Skydive Milwaukee to take Accelerated Freefall (AFF) courses. AFF begins with The First Jump Course (FJC). After that course, the student puts on her own parachute and then, accompanied by two instructors, she jumps out of a plane (AFF Level 1) and begins the progression toward complete solo flight. My FJC course lasted 4-5 hours and my instructor was very thorough. She taught me everything I'd need to know for a successful skydive. I didn't just jump into this (no pun intended). My first and only tandem was in 2001, and then I spent 2 years watching my he-pal do this. Once I decided to begin AFF, I spent 3 months sitting at SDMKE's picnic tables, observing instructors and learning "the rules" of this dropzone. I also did my research. This sport, when done mindfully and properly, was one of the safest of "extreme" sports. Maybe you're reading this because you're about to jump tandem, or maybe you're looking for a place to start AFF. Maybe you're in "the zone" and uber confident. I can tell you about my own experience: I was terrified. Regardless of the research I did, or how much I wanted to experience motor-less, human flight, none of that really registered when I was about to throw myself from an airplane. I read a female-skydiver's blog about her journey through AFF. She sounded so confident about each jump--even the ones she had to redo, she was just like, "Yay!" and "Woo hoo!" and "This Rocks!" I felt nothing but terror. Though I was 100% sure this was something I would enjoy (because I enjoyed tandem so much), every single cell in my body screamed, "NOOOOOOO!!!!! Don't do this!!!!" The weather was beautiful that day I finished FJC. The afternoon wind was nice. A good, steady wind is perfect for landing a canopy because you don't come ripping in, you just kind of softly float down, down, down. I wanted the weather to suddenly go bad, for the wind to just get wicked strong... I wished for an upset tummy, but when none of those happened I reluctantly manifested for a flight. RELUCTANTLY. Another AFF student was studying his workbook nearby and so I chatted him up to distract myself from my unrelenting anxiety. His name was Diego, he was a college student at UWM, younger than me by 20 years or so. I told him it was my first AFF jump. My voice was very obviously shaking. And I asked: "Did you feel scared on your first jump?" "Of course!" He said. And I felt so human when he added, "You're jumping out of a plane. It's scary stuff." Within 30 minutes I was ascending to altitude. My two AFF instructors for Level one, Josh and Hooch, coached me through the jump. Several times, Hooch asked how I felt. "Nervous," I replied each time. He gave me the hand signal for 'relax' and said, "Try to have fun." Easier said, you know what I mean? At 13.5K feet, I could feel my blood pumping in my ears. I took deep breaths and visualized a successful jump. At 13.5K feet, the lights to the right of the cabin door changed from red to yellow to green. I watched other skydivers leave. That was the scariest part of the entire jump... watching others seemingly vanish and feeling the airplane lurch from the loss of their weight. When the rest of the skydivers were gone, Hooch took position outside the plane, I crouched in the doorway and Josh was on my right. I looked into their eyes and I saw intense focus. I imagine they've seen everything from naturals to soup sandwiches. It was that moment I realized there was no turning back. Both of these men were gripping the fabric wrapped around my arms, and one of them was hanging outside of the plane. I didn't want to be a soup sandwich. All of my "why's" vanished, and the only WHY that remained was: Why the EFF am I doing this? But I jumped. I think I blacked out for a few seconds from the shock, but once I was focused, I completed the tasks assigned and deployed my pilot chute as directed. The parachute opened happily, I landed, and my instructors said it was a successful skydive. I'm now licensed with close to 200 jumps under my belt. I don't have the terror, but there's still fear and the fear helps me focus. It keeps me alive. And if anyone tells you to relax, cool. If they tell you to smile, give them the finger. We all handle situations differently, and if you skydive with a mean mug, then get "mean mug" stickered to your helmet and OWN IT. Anyway, it's one of the greatest things I've done in my life. It's pushed me physically and mentally, and I'm in love with the personalities I encounter in skydiving, and especially at Skydive Milwaukee. You can ride with the window down and stick your face into the wind or float in one of those fancy iFly tunnels, but there's nothing like this experience. And you can't ask for a better place than Skydive Milwaukee. Good luck! See you out there! read more

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I was a temporary "transplant" from another state when I started looking into skydiving and found Skydive Milwaukee last year. I wanted to do something bigger than myself, to challenge myself, and to finally cross off an item from my bucket list. What I expected: To get an adrenaline rush, a bunch of sweet pictures, and a great story to tell. What I got: A family of people who pushed me to better myself, looked out for me, laughed with me, and supported me when life was hard. Skydive Milwaukee is more than just a business, it's a community of passionate professional individuals who are genuinely excited to share their love of skydiving with you and will go to every effort to help you make your goals happen. From the moment you walk in the door and get a friendly "hello" from the office staff till the final heart-pounding seconds when you slap a final high-five with the other jumpers and exit the plane, Skydive Milwaukee will make you feel like you're a part of the club. Their friendliness and care will make you feel strangely at ease about jumping out of a "perfectly good airplane." And it's not just a feeling. The staff at Skydive Milwaukee is comprised of tens-of-thousands of jumps worth of experience and knowledge, and has the means to professionally guide you through the experience safely and soundly. I had plenty of doubts and concerns about skydiving, but interacting with the staff of Skydive Milwaukee quelled them as I experienced their professionalism, skill, and care. If you are even remotely interested in skydiving, spend a day at the Skydive Milwaukee dropzone and I guarantee that it will convince you. I went from being afraid of heights to completing a total of 27 jumps receiving my A-level License. I will never forget my summer with the Sky Knights, and Skydive Milwaukee will always be my "Home Dropzone," no matter where I go. read more

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I've never skydived prior to stopping in. The staff were super fun and welcoming. As to be expected I was reluctant, I was helped to feel comfortable by the staff. They have groupons that you can used for your jump. There are lots of papers to fill out and waivers as well as a video to watch which was about 20 minutes long. After you complete the papers and watch the videos you have to be weighed to make sure you meet the weight limits. So after that you will suit up and wait for the plane to pick up the jumpers. The flight to altitude took about 4 to 5 minutes and then its jump time. The jump and freefall wasnt long at all but it sure felt like it. I will do it again! read more

A friend and I decided to tempt fate and go skydiving! The "compound" was easy enough to find, but we went in through the wrong door and wandered around for a bit before finding the registration desk. The "jump at your own risk" movie is pretty scary, but by this time, you've already paid...so.... whatcha gonna do? I liked the patio area, which gave us a space to watch the other parachuters and relax a bit. I liked how they introduced us to the instructors and my instructor was good-humored and didn't mind answering all my nervous questions. I had an excellent jump and everyone was very professional. The DVDs we ordered were great and they took a million pictures! I highly recommend this place and they even offered us a discount for a same-day second jump! Thanks Kermit!!! read more

Skydive Milwaukee / Sky Knights SPC - Skydiving Near Me - East Troy, Wisconsin

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Skydiving was something I had always wanted to do. As someone in her early 50s, I thought I'd never have the chance. Then my sons asked me to go with them and I was thrilled! It was a great experience and so close to home. The instructors where greatt. It's quite a feeling to have the doors open and your legs hanging out 14,000 feet up. Soaring was incredible! Parachuteing was relaxing. I simply cannot wait to do it again. read more

Skydive Milwaukee / Sky Knights SPC - Skydiving Near Me - East Troy, Wisconsin

Great place to take a leap!!! Went for my first dive midweek, wasn't very busy and they gave us a ton of attention. Jumped out of a very small plane read more

Incredible first ever experience! My jump was delayed due to clouds but everyone was really friendly and welcoming, so it was a cool place to hang out! I got to watch a few people go before me so that helped calm my nerves. I'm terrified of heights, but, I was pretty confident about it until the door opened on the airplane and people started jumping. My instructor was awesome at walking me through everything and making sure I was comfortable. While we were in the air he was asking how I was doing, and making sure my stomach felt ok. He pointed out lakes and roads and even had a couple jokes as we floated. I really enjoyed the experience and felt very cared for comfortable-- which was huge as a first timer. When you're literally putting your life in a strangers hands, the first impressions of trust and respect are huge and I felt that from literally everyone on site-- but especially, Hoochie, my amazing dive instructor. The extra care and conversion during the fall made the experience relaxing and enjoyable-- even though I was very nervous. My advice? Do it even if you're scared. You're in great hands!! read more

Skydive? Wooooooo! Did this on a whim with some friends and it was great. After signing about a hundred waiver forms to say they are not liable for anything you get to watch a video. The first group went up (couldn't take all 5 of us at once) and we were able to watch them ascend and then like little flies fall back down to Earth. Suddenly it was our go and in a flash I was in the plane going up. The ride up seemed so short. The door opened. What the !#@! Onto the knees and edging closer to the edge. Why?! The cameraman leans right out of the plane and hangs on the side like it's an everyday occurence (probably is to them). The countdown begins.....nooooooooooo......and whoosh out the plane I fall (with my trainer attached to the back like some porno gone wrong). Your breath is taken away literally and your face gets smooshed soon afterwards. Take stock and enjoy this experience as you hurtle towards the Earth at terminal velocity. The dude attached to my back is waving his arm at me - what the hell do you want at this point?! Click - brain engages and flashback to I'll show you the altitude watch at the point when you need to pull the cord. Yank! Phew - the cord loosened and you feel the snap of the parachute arresting your fall thankful that today isn't going to be your last! Now you can enjoy the slow ride back to solid ground, serenely circling above the trees and recognizing the point where you started. Landing was no problem for my guide with the slightest of bumps. Hooray - I've done it. Price was ok and got the video and pics on CD. You just gotta do it for yourself somewhere. read more

I went there for my first 2 jumps. It was a totally awesome experience. The staff had a pretty fun attitude and were usually really good about calming nerves. As we were ascending to jumping altitude, they were playing music in the plane. It was Spirit in the Sky followed by All Along the Watch Tower. When it was time to hop out, the pilot leaned back and shouted to us, "The only good charlie is a dead charlie!" It sorta made the entire experience feel perfect. It was that sense of fun that I felt both times, the entire time while with the Sky Nights. I would highly recommend everyone to go skydiving at least once in life, and people in the North suburbs of Chicago should check out The Sky Nights of East Troy. read more

Absolutely the best decision ever to jump with these guys. This was on our 6 month wedding anniversary that we decided to write off skydiving from our bucket-list. We had a groupon and it was April, so we had a pretty sweet deal on two jumps. We set off from Chicago on a clear day to skydive Milwaukee, it was about an hour and a half drive, and this place is very easy to find. I loved everything, the training, the people, my tandem instructor and photographer. These people are professional and make you feel at ease. I absolutely loved my trainer Tim, he was very nice and my videographer, Lisa. They are the reason I enjoyed my jump this much. I am not a daredevil and never thought I'd do it. But I will jump again. Thank you skydive Milwaukee. You guys are awesome. read more

I loved it. These people are professional and very courteous. I came here for the first time and I would definitely recommend anyone who is coming for the first jump, this one awesome. The weather was nice (wonderful) and it did not take me much time to do the jump. read more

Skydive Milwaukee / Sky Knights SPC - Beautiful green place. - Skydiving Near Me - East Troy, Wisconsin

Boyfriend got me sky diving for Christmas, so I had six months to get used to the idea of sky diving. When our June date came up, we made the drive over to East Troy from Madison. After watching a short video and signing our rights to sue away, we were hustled into our suits. My bf's instructor gave him more instructions than mine did, so I eavesdropped. We were the first jumps of the day (schedule yours early so you don't get stuck waiting and have nerves building the whole time) so before I knew it, we were up in the sky and the only way down was to jump! Great experience. Almost too surreal to be scary. Beautiful views. Great instructors. Highly recommend! read more

I had a great time and got to check an item off of my bucket list. The staff was very friendly and professional, and the check-in was quick. I was nervous but the instructors and photographers put me at ease. The view is spectacular, even on a cloudy day I could see Milwaukee and Chicago in the distance. I had a tandem jump with Schue, who was great. He pointed out the local landmarks as we drifted down after chute deployment. I'd definitely go again! read more

Looking to skydive? This is the place to go! For Several Reasons. First, most of the time people who want to go skydiving get a group of people together and assume that they will get to jump with each other. However, a lot of the time the place will not have a plane big enough to accommodate multiple tandem skydivers. They will use a single engine cesna. This However is not the case at Skydive Milwaukee. They have a plane that can carry upwards of 13 skydivers. What does this mean to you? You will beagle to go up with some of your friends! Huge Plus! Secondly, They don't just have one of anything! Have a group of people who all want video? They have multiple videographers so you and all your friends can get pictures and video! This is the place to go if you're looking for an out of this world skydiving experience. read more

Skydive Milwaukee is awesome!! I did a tandem with a group from work and we had an awesome time. We watched a safety video filled out some paperwork and were introduced to our instructors. We didn't have to wait long at all and we were introduced to our tandem instructors and they took us to a room to brief us and gear us up. The instructors were top-notch, explained everything to us in detail and were very concerned for everyone's safety. They answered all of our questions and gave us the three rules of tandem skydiving (you'll have to do it to find out :) They also helped keep everything relaxed with the way they interacted with you. Thanks Joey, Kermit, and Rick!! The facility is very nice. There are various areas for your family and friends to observe and have fun. It's very family friendly. My wife and kids had a nice time as did the other families. There are nearby placed to eat, vending machines, picnic tables, a roof observation deck, and lots of beautiful things to see (the planes and helicopters taking off at the near-by airport for example; my son really liked that). The skydive itself is amazing. It's like the best, fastest roller coaster ride ever followed by a soft, beautiful parachute ride down. The scenery is really beautiful. There are lakes, rivers, country, and much more to look at. On the plane ride up you can see Milwaukee and even Chicago on a clear day. I highly recommend Skydive Milwaukee. I've been to two skydiving places and this one is by far the best. read more

Well, okay, so I learned to jump with them 44 years ago. What a fabulous group of friends. Sam, Duell, Mo, if I remember right. Great instruction, and great camaraderie. Safety oriented on the drop zone, hearty partiers at the tavern in East Troy after the sun went down. I made 40 something jumps there before moving to California, and never found a better drop zone. We were all jumping round canopies...the ParaCommander was the latest rage at the time. Came down like a feather during the middle of the winter. I would still be wearing my ragged old Sky Knights jacket if I could only fit into it. read more

These guys are ABSOLUTELY AWESOME!!! I took a trip there just to check it out from the ground, trying to conquer my fears of heights and planes, never EVER actually considering jumping myself. After spending the day talking and laughing with the most welcoming people at the drop zone, the pilot brought me up along for the plane ride of my life to show me how it all works. Naturally I was back the next day for my first tandem with the amazing tandem instructor, Marcello, who made all my nerves disappear by taking time explaining everything, answering all of my questions and making me feel 100% safe! After the first incredible jump I went straight back up for a second, and now I'm hooked for life. This is the greatest place to spend your day off! I just can't wait to go back next time I'm in Wisconsin! read more

Skydive Milwaukee was the best experience that my buddies and I could ask for. The staff was incredibly efficient and fast. Everything was very clean and organized. The instructors were very approachable and not afraid to joke around. I felt very safe throughout the whole experience. I strongly recommend this place whether it be; a first time jump, or learning free falls from a teacher. The experience was fantastic, I encourage everyone to go. It's an experience like no other. Thank you Sky Knights, it was a blast. read more

My first skydiving jump and I couldn't have picked a better company! I went tandem and the instructor (hooch or hoochie or somebody, sorry I didn't get his name) was awesome.! He was friendly and at no point during the entire experience did I feel uncomfortable or scared. I was booked for 4:30pm but went up around 5:30pm (the wait was the only negative thing but they do warn you about it beforehand). On the upside the setting sun brilliantly lit up the greenery and the lakes in it's golden rays. The photographer/ videographer, Nicole did an awesome job capturing my dive in photographs though the video turned out not as awesome I had hoped (There was initially some generic rock music, which when I asked not to be included and requested just the natural sound to be there, was replaced with silence). It was a memorable experience and I would recommend this company highly to anyone thinking of skydiving- it's not scary, just pure fun!! read more

Great experience. Everyone was really nice and fun. Make sure to get the video and pictures.

Check-in was fast - signed our lives away and watched a quick video. We had a large group but it moved quick. Everything was very organized. The pros were really nice and made us feel comfortable. Amazing experience and the photos are so awesome to have! The waiting areas were great too read more

Awesome jump. I was VERY nervous and my instructor made me feel safe and his light-hearted nature melted away my nerves. I almost didn't spend the extra $ for the pics/video and I am soooo glad that I did. FANTASTIC job with the pictures and video. Entire operation is well run and I, as well as my family, enjoyed the laid back/friendly atmosphere. Great time! read more

Instruction and training for my AFF was very good. I had a great time during my jump, but when I landed the skydiver recording my jump wasn't around. No one would say where he was and something seemed a little off. Just before leaving they finally told me that the skydiver realized his card reader was full and they had no video, but had some photos. The best they could do was give me a T Shirt and $50 off the video cost. Really?? Why am I paying for a video that didn't work? Great experience, but a very disappointing ending. read more