Skydive Iowa, Des Moines

Since 1979, Bruce Kennedy has leapt from airplanes more than 5,900 times. He opened Skydive Iowa in 1991, turning his love of thrilling free falls and bird's-eye views into a business. He and his team of USPA-licensed instructors teach visitors safety concepts and skydiving techniques before accompanying them into the air. At a height of 3,000 feet, skydivers leap for tandem or solo jumps. Jumpers drift above the earth for up to five minutes before a radio guides them toward a soft landing. Many of Skydive Iowa's instructors specialize in videography and can capture photographs or videos of skydivers for posterity.