2. Skydiving, also known as Parachuting, is the action of exiting an aircraft and returning to earth with the aid of a parachute. Parachuting is performed as a recreational activity and a competitive sport.
3. History of skydiving The history of skydiving starts with Andre-Jacques Garnerin who made successful parachute jumps from a hot-air balloon in 1797. Early competitions date back to the 1930s, and it became an international sport in 1952.
4. A typical sky dive : From an altitude of 1000-4000 m. If jumping from a lower altitude the parachute is deployed immediately.
5. By manipulating the shape of the body in freefall, a skydiver can generate turns, forward motion, backwards motion, and even lift.
6. Safety Fatalities are rare. In US , around 30 skydivers are killed per year. AAD (automatic activation device) which deploys the parachute in emergency. Carry two parachutes. Wear a oxygen mask if diving from a high altitude.
7. Parachuting and weather Parachuting in poor weather, especially with thunderstorms, high winds, and dust devils can be a dangerous activity. It can cause cannopy collisions.
13. Drop zones In parachuting, a drop zone or DZ is the area above and around a location where a parachutist freefalls and expects to land. It is usually situated beside a small airport, often sharing the facility with other general aviation activities.
14. Some Records Largest formation -400 linked persons 8 Feb, 2006 thailand
15. Largest head down formation -108 linked persons 31 july, 2009 chicago
16. Worlds largest canopy formation 100 persons 21 Nov, 2007 Florida , USA.