Falling great distances can be a scary experience for some people, but one organization on campus does that kind of thing for fun.

The ISU Skydiving Club offers the opportunity for a free falling experience while focusing on all safety aspects that go along with the sport.

“Our objective is to provide an opportunity for students to gain experience and find recreation in sport parachuting, and also promote a greater interest in the sport and to increase safety awareness,” said Rob Meyer, president of the club. “Our safety standards are very, very high.”

Increasing membership is a high priority at the moment. “Right now, we have nine people in the club,” Meyer said.

The group uses a static line program for new members during their first few jumps. “Static line means that the parachute is attached to the plane,” Meyer said. “The chute opens without the user having to pull a rip cord.”

A fee of $641 is part of the membership, which includes 15 jumps (five of which are static line), rental gear, ground training and insurance costs.

All ISU students and faculty can join at this time. A decision will be made later whether non-ISU affiliates may join the club.

Just what does it feel like to fall from heights of up to 13,000 feet?

“There is no feeling of ground rush,” Meyer said. “Once you reach terminal velocity, which is about 120 mph, it feels like you are lying on a cushion of air. There’s no sensation of falling, although it is rather loud and windy.

“Skydiving is as close as a human can come to flying,” he continued. “Your body becomes an airplane, with your arms acting as the wings. You can do somersaults, stand upright or plummet head-first.”

Jumps take place year-round in the club at their drop zone in Boone. “We usually jump on the weekends,” Meyer said. “The cold is not a problem. If it is clear out, we can usually get a pilot that is willing to go up.”

Meyer did say that it is sometimes difficult to get a pilot to go up on any given day.

“It can be hard to get a pilot to drop whatever he has going on to go up, but we usually have someone willing to do it.”

The club takes trips to different events throughout the year. A recent trip brought the group to Fort Dodge, where an event called Couch Freaks took place. “It’s been going on for many years,” Meyer said. “People come from all over the country and spend about four or five days there during Labor Day Weekend.”

A Thanksgiving trip is in the works, as the club plans to head to Sky Dive Dallas, which will take place just outside of the aforementioned city. “We’ll get a little warmth in and just have a blast,” Meyer said.

During the training session, members learn to pack the main chute but not the reserve chute. “The reserves are packed every four months which stand up to FAA rigor standards,” Meyer said.

Meyer does not worry about the reserve chutes. “In 429 jumps, I have never had to use my reserve chute, but if I did, I would be very comfortable using it,” he said. “I am sure it would work.”

An informational meeting on the club will take place tonight in Bessey Hall, room 104. The meeting starts at 7 p.m., and anybody remotely interested is welcome to attend.