Origins of the sport
Skydiving began in the year 1797 when Andre Garnerin successfully sky-dived using hot air balloon. The technique was later adopted by the military as meant of saving aircrews and delivering troops to the field. Skydiving began as a sport around 1930s, before being internationally accepted in 1951.Evolution of the gear
Skydiving sport has evolved over time. Around 1950s, skilled divers would meet at the airport (drop zone) then compete for a fee. Cessna aircrafts such as C-182 were used then before Caravan C208 was adopted. Skydiving gear has evolved from the umbrella-shaped gear, the Da Vinci parachute. The gear had four triangles like pieces of cloth that formed a pyramid where the diver was suspended from via ropes. Later the Germans made an umbrella-shaped gear. However, the gear had central stem reinforcement. During the World War I gears that utilized smaller pilot chute were used. The Germans later modified the gear and named it the ‘Guardian Angel’
Today, the gears are of different shapes with different gasses used. The free fall parachutes have become very popular. Many players today used low opening parachutes (Australian Parachute Federation, 1). They are particularly built in a canopy shapes to allow the parachutist actually to steer themselves.Altitudes jumped
The typical altitude covered in 1950s was between 3,000 and 13,000 feet (Whitting, Julie, Mark and Bridget, 1135). However, with time, there have been major improvements. For example the world record was set in October, 2014 when Alan Eustace made history by jumping from an altitude of 135,890 feet. His falling time was 15 minutes.How it became a subculture
Skydiving became a subculture with the professionalization that led to its popularity in 1960s (Australian Parachute Federation, 1). The formation of an international body, FAI that has a global federation’s affiliation catapulted the sport into a subculture. Many enthusiasts became pilots, drop zone operators, trainers and fans. The popularity led to the formation of the United States, Canada and British Parachute Associations. The associations have effectively marketed the sport, thereby making it a subculture with millions of fans.Styles of flying
There are various styles of flying. The formation flying occurs where the divers form a given pattern during the float (Navy Seal Museum, 1). Free flying is characterized by divers’ freedom where they make any pattern and shape. Pond swooping occurs when a canopy of divers strive to touch down together and glide over the pool or body of water.Tiny Broadwick
The 19th century saw many women take up the sport, such as Kathe Paulus. Though the women were under 20 % among the skydivers, they began to take the sport seriously. on the scene. Kathe Paulus, a German and Tiny Broadwick, an American are renown female skydivers. For example, Tiny Broadwick is a celebrated professional parachutist. In 1913, she became the first woman to have jumped from an airplane. She was also the first woman parachutist to make a free-fall successfully in 1914.
Works Cited
Australian Parachute Federation. Early History Of Parachuting. APF Inc: Queensland
Navy Seal Museum. SEAL History: The Leap Frogs-Origins of the Navy SEAL Parachuting
Exhibition Team. Web. 1 Dec. 2014. <https://www.navysealmuseum.org/about-navy-seals/seal-history-the-naval-special-warfare-story/seal-histor-the-leap-frogs-origins-of-the-navy-seal-parachuting-exhibition-team>.
Whitting, John, Julie Steele, Mark Jaffrey and Bridget Munro. “Parachute Landing Fall
Characteristics at Three Realistic Vertical Descent Velocities.” Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine 78.12 (2007): 1135-142.
USPA. Skydiving history. Web. 1 Dec. 2014.
<http://www.uspa.org/AboutSkydiving/SkydivingHistory/tabid/118/Default.aspx>
