With the call of "Standby!" the butterflies in my stomach start to dance.
Effortlessly, my instructor, Kazuki Suzuki, steps out. As I follow him, letting go of the doorway, the sheer force of the wind takes my breath away. All I can do is gulp air. Flight suit billowing and cheeks jiggling, I try to adjust to this remarkable, indescribable feeling of weightlessness.
Within seconds, adrenaline kicks in and I recall the pose I need to adopt; it was carefully explained by Suzuki during pre-flight training. By straightening my legs and holding my head up, I'm soon steady, but keeping my arms up and out proves tricky. Luckily, Suzuki is by my side, guiding me.