There is one extremely successful Latvian company that just begs to be described with every high flying metaphor you can think of. “Their business took off.” “They have reached new heights.” “They have gone above and beyond expectations.” “Their reputation is sky high.”
The Aerodium wind tunnels are nice after a day in the office.
Their name is Aerodium, and they make the world’s best vertical wind tunnels. If you can imagine skydiving without jumping from a plane, then you have an idea what vertical wind tunnels are all about. Most of the world was first exposed to Aerodium during the closing ceremonies of the Torino Winter Olympics in 2006, when Latvian flyers soared 25 metres off the ground in a breathtaking performance watched by billions of viewers.
Not only were the flyers Aerodium acrobats, but the equipment used to loft them in the air was specially designed by Aerodium engineers in Latvia. What may have seemed like a novelty a few years ago is now rapidly becoming one of the hottest new attractions in the entertainment and recreational industry. Aerodium’s state-of-the-art vertical wind tunnels are being used to add a spectacular new dimension to special events around the world. Since they seemingly appeared (out of thin air?) in Torino they have highlighted trade and sporting events in London, Turkey, and Dubai. They will also be the main attraction at Latvia’s pavilion at the World EXPO 2010 in Shanghai later this year.
While Aerodium uses highly skilled flyers to perform at shows, the company is turning the international recreational industry upside down by offering a totally new type of “ride” for amusement and theme parks. Call it bodyflight, body flying or indoor skydiving, the Aerodium experience is both a sport and entertainment. It is definitely something your grandfather never dreamt of (unless he was Leonardo da Vinci.)
Latvians have been getting high at the Aerodium facility in Sigulda, Latvia for years, and a permanent facility opened in Montreal, Canada in 2009, but soon there will be full-time Aerodium rides in Denmark and Thailand. Aerodium vertical wind tunnels have also been rented for recreational facilities in Egypt, Greece, Finland, and Russia.
You could say that the sky’s the limit in Aerodium’s future, because as they continue to refine and develop their unique technology, the potential market for this type of active entertainment will only grow. (If Walt Disney World is paying attention, guess what, you can now turn every customer into Peter Pan!)
In fact, the market for Aerodium vertical wind tunnels has already expanded beyond the entertainment and recreational industries. You see, flying this way is a great way to train for skydiving without ever getting into an airplane. Both the Pakistani and Saudi Arabian governments have contracted with Aerodium and installed units in order to train their military paratroopers.
Aerodium’s vertical wind tunnels come in six models of different designs and sizes which allow for mobile or permanent installation in any setting. They are equipped with diesel or electrical engines and are custom designed to meet every customer’s special needs. The Aerodium guys know how to get you up and will never let you down. (Metaphorically speaking, of course.)
Without a doubt, Aerodium is one of Latvia’s biggest business success stories in recent years. But there is another aspect to their story which is worth mentioning. You see, the first vertical wind tunnel was invented by a Canadian named Jean St-Germain in 1979. He established Aerodium Canada Inc. which for years was the global leader in vertical wind tunnel technology. In 2004, Ivars Beitāns and his colleagues in Latvia decided that they wanted to develop this technology further, so they established their own company, and began working with the Canadians. Their ambitions and ideas far exceeded what the Canadians were interested in, and in 2009, the Latvians made an offer to purchase Aerodium Canada Inc. lock, stock and tunnel. The offer was accepted, which may be the first case of a Latvian takeover of a Canadian company.
Thus, if you go to their web page (hwww.aerodium.ca), don’t be confused by the Canadian domain address. The owners, constructors and operators of this highly innovative and globally respected business still like to celebrate the Midsummer “Jāņi” holiday by jumping over bonfires in the Latvian countryside. They just tend to soar a bit higher than your average Latvian.
Ojārs Kalniņš is the director of the Latvian Institute. The Latvian Institute (Latvijas institūts) was established by the Latvian state to provide a wide range of information about Latvia, its society, culture and history. For more information visit www.li.lv.
Disclaimer:
Views expressed in the opinion section are never those of the Baltic Reports company or the website’s editorial team as a whole, but merely those of the individual writer.
