Tandem Jump in Nebraska

Nebraska gives skydivers room to breathe. The eastern farmland runs to the horizon in neat squares, the Sandhills roll through the middle of the state like a frozen sea of grass, and the whole thing sits flat enough that the wind tends to behave. Most drop zones operate near Omaha and Lincoln, which keeps a first tandem or a weekend of fun-jumping within easy driving distance and puts clear skies and open ground under nearly every load.

A first tandem here is about as good an introduction as the sport offers. Strapped to a certified instructor, you get the shock of freefall and then the calm of the canopy, all while the Platte River winds below and the section lines of the farm fields stretch out toward a distant town skyline. The established drop zones run these jumps with a full ground briefing and real instruction, and the wide, quiet sky makes a forgiving backdrop for a first leap.