The first parachute was invented when Jack, tumbling haplessly from his titanium beanstalk, used a purloined pair of giant underpants to steady his fall. Glide to earth safely with today's deal: for $119, you get to go on a tandem jump with one of the trained instructors from Start Skydiving (a $239 value on weekends and holidays and a $219 value on weekdays), which is based at the Middletown Regional Airport, about a 50-minute drive from Cincinnati. Start Skydiving is currently open six days a week (every day except Tuesday) and will remain open on Saturdays and Sundays through the winter, weather permitting. Plan on spending up to six hours at Start Skydiving on the day of your jump.

Tandem skydiving is a great way for amateur thrill-seekers to get their inexperienced feet wet with something other than nervous sweat. Today's Groupon grants you the exciting skydiving experience with the security of having a trained instructor strapped to your back. And the experts at Start Skydiving are trained up to their nose-holes; certified by the United States Parachute Association, they also train year-round for formation skydiving with Team Fastrax. Before you actually take the plunge, your rendezvous with Start Skydiving will begin with up to 45 minutes of basic tandem-jumping instruction. The jump itself happens from a height of about 10,500 feet, after which you free fall for 50 seconds. Alight on the soft, springy earth below after four minutes of falling under the protective canopy of an oversized parachute built for two humans or one fortunate pachyderm.

Start Skydiving's spotless record and commitment to safety help anxious divers ease into the loving embrace of the harness. People who skydive say the feeling of pure freedom is unparalleled, the adrenaline rush is addictive, and facing their fears is a satisfying way to prove themselves to high-school bullies, old flames, and former accountants.