By Stacy Parker

Warren “Biggie” Tucker earned his wings long ago when he piloted airplanes and, once, when he jumped out of one.

But when Tucker, 94, stepped into the iFly wind tunnel Monday morning, he revived those wings and received a round of applause from residents of two local retirement communities.

Tucker, part-owner of the Virginia Beach Fishing Pier, was the oldest person so far to try the new indoor skydiving facility at the Oceanfront.

“I kind of lost my breath,” he said after his flight.

At iFly, industrial-sized fans draw air from the facility’s large basement into a vertical wind tunnel that’s 14 feet across and 50 feet tall. Fliers are lifted off their feet as soon as they step into the glass tunnel and remain suspended on a cushion of air throughout a flight. An observation area is on the second floor.

Most people flew in air blasting between 102 and 115 mph at the morning session where dozens of senior citizens gave it a whirl. A flight instructor accompanied them one at a time and helped adjust their body positions.

The skydiving experience works muscles in the arms, legs and small of the back. It tires many people trying it for the first time, said Dan DeRosa, an instructor.

“It’s very unnatural at first to fly,” he said. “You have no muscle memory.”

Two one-minute flights cost $59.95 per person. The price includes the use of equipment – helmet, flight suit, shoes, goggles and ear plugs – and a short class in which an instructor teaches hand signals used in the tunnel. Other packages are available for more flying time.

Tucker, who lives in Atlantic Shores, said trying indoor skydiving was a welcome break from staying at home five days in a row because of snow. He wants to come back with his grandchildren.

Mary Woodhouse, 74, a Westminster-Canterbury resident, had never tried skydiving before iFly and, after two flights, wished for more time. She had loosened up by her second flight, and the instructor helped guide her more than 30 feet in the air.

“When you relax, you do better,” Woodhouse said. “I especially liked going up and coming down.”

IFly Virginia Beach opened in January at 2412 Pacific Ave. Customers have included first-time fliers and experienced civilian and military skydivers who wanted to practice their skills.

“Everybody always has that dream of flying,” DeRosa said. “Regardless of age, this is a good opportunity to try it without having to jump out of an airplane.”

Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com