Parachuting as a Sport

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Play parachute games and songs

Parachuting is, as they say, not for the faint-hearted. It is extreme and demanding. The courage of the selected few who take up this sport has beckoned many people to participate as loyal viewers. What is parachuting and were does it come from?

You may be surprised to know that it is a very old sport that dates back to ancient times. It began when Spanish Arman Firman jumped from a tower wearing a large cloak and arrived unharmed at the bottom. He was wearing a cloak so most people would not define this as a parachute jump. In 1797 Andre Jacques Garnerin made it to the pages of history books by becoming the first person to perform a successful parachute jump.

The need for parachutes grows as airplanes become more popular as a form of transportation. It is used by passenger and pilots to exit airplanes in times of emergency and to transport weapons during the Second World War.

Since then parachutes are popularly used in shows and exhibitions. It is breathtaking to see how performers jump from very high altitudes (around 13,000 feet) using a parachute and then fall gracefully to the ground. For a few heart stopping moments, they will fall freely to the ground before activating the parachute. The use of cords attached to parachutes allows divers to decide their speed and direction with great accuracy.

It is becoming very popular as people learn the wonders of parachuting and creates a demand for stronger and safer parachutes. During descend it is imperative to slow down the unfolding of the chute and the oscillations so common during parachute jumps. The use of holes and slots can be helpful. Today we can see colorful parachutes being used. Some are designed with speed in mind while others are used for sports. The use of parafoils makes flying so much easier.

For the first timer, they are usually strapped together with the experts and do not have control over the parachute nor the timing when the chute will be activated. After a few sessions with the masters, you will definitely feel compelled to start jumping on your own.

The sport may seem dangerous, but surprisingly, there are lesser fatalities now. There has been plenty of innovation made all over the world, so there is less risk involved. Today, all divers must be equipped with a reserve parachute and those 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. The use of altimeters will enable divers to know which altitude they are at all times.

Those who are interested can experience skydiving and parachuting. You need to make sure you have got all the safety equipments in place. As any professional skydiver or trainer may tell you, always remain calm and enjoy the moment.