Zero G Flights
in Russia
What
It's Like: Cosmonaut for a Day
By adventure travel photographer Max Dereta:"I
got the chance to find out how living on Mir actually feels -
in the zero-g simulator - a Russian IL-76 MDK aircraft better known
as the Flying Laboratory. This plane goes up and makes a series
of exotic parabolic maneuvers in the sky to simulate zero gravity
for its occupants. Each one lasts approximately 25 seconds. |
 I
go up with 11 others, eight men and three women, from Italy, Holland,
Malaysia and the US. "Get ready", says a voice on the
loudspeaker and suddenly invisible forces press us all to the floor.
For a few seconds we feel twice as heavy as normal and then we all
rise from the floor majestically, totally weightless.
We float all
over the airplane bouncing into each other, the walls and the ceiling.
One woman pushes herself off the wall and then flies the length
of the cabin, while another performs mid-air forward rolls...
"Twenty-five
seconds. Get down!" Abruptly, the zero-g ends and we all tumble
to the floor. The maneuver is repeated 10 times before we return to
Chalovsk airport. The total time we've spent in zero gravity was just
under four minutes, but every second was an adrenaline rush."
Video: Weightless in Space
|
|
Zero-Gravity - Sample Itinerary |
| You
can arrange your own hotel and transfers within Russia, or we'll
gladly do it for you. Here's how a sample of how your itinerary
would look if we arrange everything but your air travel to Moscow: |
| Tuesday |
Arrive Moscow. You'll be met at the airport by an Incredible Adventures representative and escorted to your hotel near Star City. After dinner, you'll have the evening free to relax. |
| Wednesday |
Enjoy breakfast in your hotel. Transported to Star City for special guided tour, including a visit to the Museum of Cosmonautics. You'll have lunch in the cosmonaut dining hall. Mid-afternoon, you'll meet with the Star City doctor for your pre-flight evaluation and complete your pre-flight zero-gravity safety training. You'll be back in your hotel in time for dinner. |
| Thursday |
After breakfast, you'll depart for Star City. After a final safety briefing, you'll climb aboard the Russian Space Agency's IL-76 MDK for your incredible zero-gravity flight. After your flight, you'll receive your flight certificate and celebrate over a late lunch or early dinner with Incredible Adventures staff. You'll then return to Moscow and check into a luxury hotel near Red Square. |
| Friday |
Breakfast in your hotel. Met by Incredible Adventures guide and escorted on a personalized tour of Moscow. Rest of day free. (This day is your back-up day and may be used for flying in the event of bad weather, etc. on Thursday.) |
| Saturday |
We'll get you to the airport in time for your flight home. |
next
E-mail or call Incredible Adventures today for further details: 800
644-7382 |
...........................
ZERO G FLORIDA |
Click
to enlarge photos 