Parachute sky diving is a popular sport’s activity which is enjoyed by thousands of people worldwide. Being capable of viewing the beauty of nature from so high up must certainly be a tremendous experience. However, parachute sky diving is not as easy as one day deciding to jump from a plane. No, parachute sky diving requires plenty of planning. All equipment must be tested to ensure there aren’t any defects. At thousands of feet in the air, nobody wants to suddenly learn their parachute is damaged or defective. Every sky diver packs two parachutes, one main parachute intended for deployment and a second one as a back-up. Both parachute systems are carried on the sky diver’s back. Packing for parachute sky diving is extremely important and requires close attention.

Planning for parachute sky diving involves the jumpers and the pilot of the aircraft. The exit plans must be coordinated properly. Before actually getting into the aircraft, the sky divers practice their skills and techniques. They also make plans regarding the order for jumping as well as plans for a successful landing. When the sky divers are ready to enter the aircraft, they do so in reverse order. Once inside the aircraft the jumpers affix themselves to the aircraft either by straps connected to the floor or seat design specifically for jumping.

The parachutes have been properly packed, the plan has been made and the sky divers are stowed away in the aircraft, what’s next? The pilot begins his/her climb to get to the jumping point. In parachute sky diving, the jumping site is determined largely by the weather conditions. The pilot and sky divers with their plan all coordinated approach the jump site. In preparation the sky divers line up at the door of the aircraft. Sometimes in preparation for short parachute sky diving, the individuals hold hands which allow them to exit the aircraft together in hopes of remaining close together during the fall.

Once the aircraft reaches the jumping site, the door is opened and one by one the sky divers step out and begin free falling. In parachute sky diving, an average individual falls about 1050ft to 1480ft every five seconds, traveling at speeds of 190 to 240 km/hr. These sky divers are really moving. Sky divers also have the option of moving in a horizontal position. In this case they usually hit speeds up to 80 km/hr. While free falling in parachute sky diving, the individuals can position their bodies in various ways in order to carry out different maneuvers. Using body positioning allows a sky diver to control their speed.

When the sky divers reach around 3.900 ft, it’s time for the ski divers to think about deployment of their parachutes. At this point they set themselves up in a head-position and signal each other to deploy their parachutes. Following the appropriate steps the sky divers deploy their parachutes, forming a canopy. This process only takes from 2 to 5 seconds. This canopy then helps the people parachute sky diving to land. The canopy slows the parachute down which can be assisted by the sky diver using two toggles that are gripped above their heads. Experienced divers will land on their feet when parachute sky diving.

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From the first demonstration by a girl in 1914 to the final jump in the Pacific in the World War II, military parachuting proved to be of great value in military operations.

The year 1914 marked the first occasion that the military considered the use of airborne attack during battles and attacks. The use of parachuting was demonstrated by Charles Broadwick through his adopted 20 year old daughter Tiny. She gave perfect steering and landing but she was never seen after the jump. The design then was a basic backpack container which resembled a sleeveless coat.

While the military officers who witnessed the demonstration were enthusiastic about the project, the Army never approved of it, dismissing the benefits that could have otherwise turned the war in their favor. Later in the World War I, the pilots were made to fly without parachutes due to the belief of the generals that these men would abandon their planes in the slightest sign of provocation.

However, the Germans were already using parachutes for their military operations. While the design is rather basic, composed only of a canopy, several suspension lines and a container for the parachute, the parachutes gave the Germans good advantage over their enemies. The mechanism was a bit crude but it was a cause of envy among pilots.

After which, the Army was forced to adopt the use of parachutes in their operations which caused different results. In Normandy for example, of using parachutes yield great results in spite of the fact that the troops were highly disorganized thus the paratroopers went in different directions.

Several developments were made on the military parachutes. Nowadays, there are several designs that are being used for military operations. These are highly sophisticated designs that were made exclusively for military use. Also, there are some military divisions that are dedicated to the use of parachuting to deliver men and supplies to ground.

Special Operations Force, for example, performs high altitude jumping to accomplish missions. They include forces like Navy SEALS and Army Green Berets. On the other hand, Pararescue PJs make use of the HALO/HAHO as an important component of their paramedic operations.

HALO and HAHO jumps, High Altitude Low Opening and High Altitude High Opening jumps respectively are very unlike static-line jump which is the basic type of military parachuting and is done at a maximum altitude of 1000 feet. Static-line deploys paratroopers at the quickest way possible.

In the HALO or military skydiving, the jumpers freefall in groups. In sport sky divers this means no-contact RW. On the other hand, HAHO is similar to cross country skydiving where the jumper glides from an altitude of 25, 000 feet.

HAPPS or High Altitude Precision Parachute System (also popularly known as stealth parachutes because these cannot be seen easily on the ground) is the skydiving rig used in military operations. This rig is quite similar to the ones used by sports skydivers; the only main difference is that there are attachments in the HAPPS that allow for other items to be carried.

Also, there is a harness for the O2 gear. For both canopies, the usual size is 360 sq feet. Oftentimes, the soldiers have to carry 150 lbs of equipment when deployed in remote areas which require special features that will support this weight.

Military parachuting, with all its sophistications and advancements, is made for tactical operations alone and not for recreation.

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The use of parachutes for military purposes has been long gone. Although the military can still use it for their own tactics, they are popularly known for extreme sports and children’s games. The use of parachutes has changed along its development. They can now be used by ordinary civilians for recreation.

Most of the time, they are used in extreme sports. A thrill opted for adrenaline junkies and curious people who have enough guts. Sky diving is not the extreme sport. There are different variations of parachute sports and games nowadays.

Parachute sports are also included in the Olympics. There are many events held for enthusiasts and competitors. They are also included in X games, an event that hosts extreme sports including skateboarding and snowboarding.

Parachute games, from mild to extreme

There are many parachute games for children. Different variations have been made and usually involve children that foster cooperation rather than competition. This includes parashuffle, paraswap, parasight, paraseek, paraball, lucky 7, round the plughole, and shoe shuffle.

Adults tend to take things into a more extreme level. People often engage in extreme sports for excitement and to be able do something different than the usual routine of everyday living. There are many sites to engage in parachute sports. Resorts offer parasailing. There are also skydiving clubs that you can join to undergo training. You can choose to make tandem jumps or get a skydiving course.

Safe and milder forms of parachute sports are paragliding and parasailing. The first one is a competitive sport while the latter is recreational. A paraglider is a free flying type of aircraft that is launched by foot. Parasailing is wherein a person is towed behind a boat while being attached to a parasail. Paragliding does involve some degree of risk but not as dangerous as the following sports.

An extreme sport variant is the speed skydiving. Unlike the conventional method these one entails a skydiver to jump from an aircraft 13,000 feet above ground. The skydiver accelerates vertically in a head first position into a predetermined measuring zone. The measuring zone begins from 8,850 feet up to 5,570 feet. Altimeters are attached to participants during their jump to measure their average speed as they go through the measuring zone.

Skysurfing on the other hand, as the name suggest uses a board similar to that of a snowboard. The board, which is attached to the skydiver’s feet, enables him or her to do different stunts. Skydivers can land while the board are still on and slide on the ground or kick it off before landing. Skysuring can be very dangerous and only experienced skydivers engage in such sport.

BASE (Buildings, Antennas, Spans [bridges], and Earth [cliffs]) jumping involves jumping off of fixed objects. This is very dangerous because if the parachute is not deployed at the right moment the jumper will die. Base jumpers need to have sharp reflexes because they don’t have enough altitude to free fall.

They need to deploy their parachutes at the right moment because if it’s too late may lead to a bad landing that can cause grave injuries. They should also be skilled in parachute packing to make sure that it will deploy correctly and in controlling their canopies for a harmless landing.

Parachute sports can be exciting but it does involve a lot of risk. If you are interested it’s best to start with the basic and apply for a skydiving course.

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Parachuting is, as they say, not for the weak-hearted. That is why it is considered as an extreme sport. While only a handful would actually try it, there are quite many enthusiasts who enjoy it just by watching skydiving shows and exhibitions. But exactly what does parachuting and skydiving entail? Where did it originate and why is it popular even up to this day?

Parachuting has been around far longer than we thought. It traces its roots back in 852 A.D., when Arman Firman, wearing a large cloak, crashed and landed after jumping from a tower in Spain. Most did not consider this as the first parachute jump ever made, since he was only wearing a cloak. While many tried to do the first jump, the first recorded jump was in 1797, when Andre Jacques Garnerin used a silk chute after jumping off a hot-air balloon.

As airplanes have become more popular, so has the parachute. During World War II, it was used by soldiers and airplane pilots during emergencies and to transport supplies and equipment in war areas.

Since then parachutes are popularly used in shows and exhibitions. Skydivers jump out of an aircraft flying at an altitude of about 4000 meters. They free fall for a short period until a specific altitude when they activate the parachute and cause their speed to decelerate as they land. Cords are used to control direction and speed, so they are able to land at a specific spot.

Together with the rise of its popularity is the invention of its many designs, all to make the parachute stronger and safer to use. The key is to slow down the opening of the chute and minimize oscillations and sudden jerk that parachutists often feel during descend. To allow more control, holes and slots are added to the canopies. Also, with the many different uses come different designs as well. There are designs for high speed and high altitudes, cargo and sport jumping. Parafoils are also added to provide ease in “flying.”

Usually, first-time skydivers are strapped together with a professional or experienced skydiver, who activates and controls the parachute. But after experiencing a few jumps and mastering one’s flying skills, you’ll have the courage to jump on your own until you are hooked with the sport.

The sport may seem dangerous, but surprisingly, there are lesser fatalities now. With innovations and safety measures adopted in the US and in most parts of the world, fewer deaths and accidents have occurred in the past years. Among the safety measures is the requirement of a reserved parachute, which must be inspected by a certified parachute rigger.

Also, an automatic activation device or AAD is used to activate the reserve parachute at a specific altitude should the skydiver fails to activate it. Altimeters, both visual and audible ones, are also used to let the skydiver know the altitude he’s in during a jump.

Anyone can experience parachuting and skydiving, for a thousand and one reasons. But before doing your first jump, make sure that you learn the basics and safety measures that this dangerous sport demands. And as any professional skydiver or trainer may tell you, always remain calm and enjoy the moment.

After all, the thrilling, exhilarating feeling is what brings people to love this sport.

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There is something about an individual that is willing to jump from a high place, attached to a rubber band. This modern extreme sport, known as bungee jumping, seems to have it’s own culture attached to it. It’s almost ethereal, hard to put your finger on it, but it is there. Perhaps it comes from the past, or is a morphing into a new spiritual experience, but the bungee jumping culture can be seen and felt.

So what is the bungee jumping culture? Where did it come from? Where is it going? The origins of the sport itself gives us a clue as to where the bungee jumping culture came from. Originally a religious ritual used on the South Pacific island of Pentecost to appease mother earth, it was supposed to proved for a good yam crop. It was also a demarcation, a rite of passage, for young boys to become known as men. Since as long as anybody can tell, these natives have conducted this ritual every spring, literally for thousands of years. The prevailing culture of the original land divers was definitely a spiritual one.

Re-discovered in the 1950s and promoted heavily in the modern world during the 1980s, bungee jumping has grown by leaps and bounds. The modern bungee jumping culture doesn’t consist of primitive natives trying to appease the mother earth. However, there is a back-to-earth element to this extreme death defying outdoor sport. It provides a thrilling adrenaline rush that is next to nothing else on earth. Perhaps space travel could rival this effect, but I doubt it. The bungee jump goes beyond the limited religious and cultural conflicts of our modern day, and appeals to something more primitive, more basic. The modern bungee jumping culture is a multi-ethnic, multi-generational, and multi-socio-economic group, all looking for the thrill of their lives.

So what does the modern bungee jumping culture look like? It defies logic. Both young and old alike flock to bungee jumping events. There is simply a mystique that permeates this sporting event like no other. Back to mother earth, defying death, and telling the tale – all of these are the bragging rights of successful bungee jumpers. They all share in common this aspect of the sport – survival. Jumpers face a primeval fear, the ultimate loss – death, and overcoming that fear to complete a jump. There is a sense of accomplishment and victory that goes beyond mountain climbing and other extreme sports.

Taking the back-to-nature theme to the extreme, there is a new movement within bungee jumping called nude bungee jumping. It typically appeals to the green back-to-earth movement, as well as the frugal bungee jumpers. Commercial bungee jumping outfitters usually provide a discount, or even a free jump, if someone decides to go the full monty. This type of jump is usually done with a partner, for a spiritual bonding that goes beyond the everyday realm. This is yet another evidence that the bungee jumping culture is evolving beyond normal boundaries, and we have yet to truly see what it will become.

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