Zero G: Walking on Air in Vegas
Some would say just being in Las Vegas is an adventure, but those who visit regularly and are familiar say there’s much more than dining, shows and gaming behind the neon.
So put flying on that list and prepare for the ride of your life. Zero G takes gravity out of the equation and gives humans the chance to fly, right here on earth or just over it. Taking off from Las Vegas McCarran International Airport May 29, the Boeing 737 thrill rides are worth waiting for – and hopefully worth saving for -- with per person rates starting at $4,950 + 5% tax.
No doubt equal parts fright and thrills, passengers basically float, bump and surrender through an arcing flight that captures the experience of zero gravity force. The plane, emptied of seats and galleys with windows covered, takes around two dozen people at top speed into the upper altitudes of commercial air space.
Passengers start out by lying prone on the base of the plane and float upwards as the plane dips and arches in a series of parabolic maneuvers, ultimately mimicking the effects of weightlessness for the riders. Passengers get their fair share of 20- to 30-second floats during a three or four-hour flight. They float to piped-in music and take a champagne toast to their accomplishments upon landing.
To sweeten the sensation, now TAO Nightclub at The Venetian gives Zero G floaters a little VIP treatment with a premium access pass to TAO Nightclub, LAVO Nightclub and TAO Beach.
The airline company also offers Platinum Flights to those who have it all and want more of it. The ticket bumps to $6,800 + 5 % tax and includes more time in the air, more space on the plane, more food and libations, more service, more merchandise and some high res filming. Non-flyer buddies can join in the pre- and post-flight activities for $195.
New to the set are the marrying kind who want to say their vows in the jet stream. Zero G is now in the wedding business, taking on couples with family and friends in a small weightless wedding celebration with flowers, vows and a lot of wows.
The company took physics professor and author Stephen Hawking for a test flight. The scientist who is paralyzed from Lou Gehrig's disease and is known for his contributions to the fields of cosmology and quantum gravity, especially in the context of black holes, was able to live out one of his dreams and float against the laws of gravity without constraint. Perhaps this is as close to freedom as it gets in Las Vegas.
Posted by Lark Ellen Gould
