Skydive billings mt

WHERE TO FLY

Missoula is a hot spot for hang gliding. Mount Sentinel in Missoula is the oldest registered inland hang gliding site in the US, offering great conditions and good seasonal access. Road access opens May 1, allowing hang gliders to drive there, whereas paragliders can hike up anytime. 

Mount Jumbo also has a launch site but it is foot access only, limiting the flying to mainly paragliders. Pilots are asked to call the Missoula Air Traffic Control Tower when flying in the Missoula area to avoid any problems with aircraft.

Other popular Montana launch sites include the Hogback near Livingston, the East Ridge above Butte, Waterloo and the Bowls near Whitehall, and the M Trail close to Bozeman.

Bozeman is a great place to learn paragliding. People come from around the world to learn from Andy Macrae of Bozeman Paragliding (406) 581-2955. Andy has been teaching paragliding since 2002, and he is an internationally competitive flyer.

A skydiver killed at the Livingston Roundup Rodeo executed a maneuver too close to the ground and descended too fast, a companion skydiver said.

The victim died Thursday evening when he crashed into the arena during a performance of the rodeo. The Park County coroner was expected to release the man’s name Friday.

Skydiving is a regular part of the Roundup, which is held here each July 2-4. Jumpers try to land in the arena and two skydivers had landed safely during an earlier jump.

So did Bob Rux, a Billings skydiver who jumped with the victim.

“He was a very confident person who made a bad decision,” Rux said. “He just executed a very radical turn too close to the ground.”

The accident occurred around 9 p.m. Thursday.

According to Rux, the victim was an experienced skydiver with more than 500 jumps.

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See Billings from an entirely different perspective! Skydiving in Billings isn’t for the faint of heart, but it’s a fantastic way for thrill seekers to really take in the beauty of the region. With Billings Skydiving, you get the experience and professionalism that only a team of professionals can provide. Whether it’s your first skydive or you want to get certified to dive solo, this is the most established outfit in the area.

Skydiving promises a 200 foot-per-second drop, and your first tandem fall is an experience like no other. Freefalls last for about sixty seconds before your guide opens the parachute, and you’re treated to a gentle decline. For those who want to get certified while in Billings, you need to complete the Accelerated Freefall (AFF) training program which includes ground school lessons followed by training jumps.

Sky High

Another fantastic outfitter is Skydive Billings which guarantees safe, thrilling falls for all ability levels. Make sure to opt for a photo and video package to capture your unique bird’s eye view fall! Certification and first falls are also on special.

Whether it’s for Dad’s day or just to up your adventure quotient, skydiving is a one-of-a-kind way to experience Montana.