It is not known for certain when they first began to make jumps using something similar to the modern semblance of a parachute. Mentions of jumping from trees and small ledges exist in various legends of the peoples of the world. In the 13th century, Roger Bacon wrote an essay in which he suggested that it was possible to use concave devices for soaring in the air. Leonardo da Vinci used his idea in his drawings, the parachute of the great inventor resembled a tent and it was assumed that a person, jumping from any height, would not get injured, but simply slowly descend. And only in 1617 the jump was made for the first time, which was made by Faust Verancio, the scientist himself designed the parachute and successfully applied it. But the real benefit of the invention began to bring with the advent of aviation. Especially during both world wars, the parachute saved many pilots' lives and delivered a huge amount of valuable cargo.

Types of parachuting

In peacetime, such a concept as parachuting has appeared, which has found its fans all over the world, worthy of taking its place among other sports. Over time, the simple jump from an airplane has evolved into many disciplines.

Precision landing jumps

Jumping for precision landing, one of the very first competitions, appeared in about 60 years. Landing in a 100-meter circle was considered the pinnacle of skill, but an error of 80 meters was also counted. Now, any deviation from the goal is unacceptable.

Classic skydiving

Classic skydiving, currently the most popular, is divided into two exercises,

• the first is the accuracy of landing in a circle of 3 cm.,
• the second is the need to create pre-specified air figures.

Individual acrobatics

Individual acrobatics appeared at about the same time as precision jumps. But the main difference is that it is necessary to control not a parachute, but the body performing various tricks, somersaults and rotation.

Probably the most difficult thing in aerial acrobatics can only be group acrobatics. Competitions are held in the number of built figures, for a certain time. The number of athletes varies from 4 to 16 and looks mesmerizing. A world record was also set in this discipline, the number of people who took part was 296 people.

Para-ski

Para-ski is an interesting combination of parachuting and skiing... Similar features with other competitions, the accuracy of the jump, immediately after landing, the movement continues on skis to the finish line.

Dome acrobatics

In addition to regular and group aerial acrobatics, there is also a dome. About 8 athletes participate in the formation of formations. Freestyle, the newly emerging direction of this sport, consists in showing a variety of tricks. The complexity of the work of an aerial operator is also assessed, because it takes a lot of effort to make a successful video filming.

Swoop

With the advent of elliptical domes, it became possible to fly over the surface of the earth with great speed, which is called Swoop.

Having quickly gained popularity since 1999, competitions were even held in terms of range and flight speed.

Wingsuit flying

With the advent of new materials, it became possible to extend the free fall and use special Wingsuit flying equipment for this, hence the name of the sport. Equipped with special membranes, the jumpsuit allows you to float in the air, overcoming a considerable distance. The style of hovering is similar to many animals, for example, flying squirrels hover from a branch, straightening the folds of skin between the front and hind legs on the branch, most likely this was the idea for creating the costume.

Aviation and parachuting are inseparably linked. The invention of the parachute in the future brought a lot of benefits, spreading not only among the military, but also gave impetus to the emergence popular type sports.

Parachute jumps are training, sports, test, experimental and forced.

Training parachute jumps are performed according to training programs with the aim of mastering various types of jumps and gaining the necessary experience.

Training parachute jumps include jumps:

Introductory - parachute jumps performed for the first time;

Sighting - performed in order to determine the parachutist's attitude by the wind and select the point of separation from the aircraft;

Demonstrative - aiming at showing a certain type or element of a jump to a trainee;

Control - performed in order to determine the level of preparedness of the parachutist to perform the next exercise;

Training - performed to improve skills in jumping technique.

Sports parachute jumps are performed at educational and training sports camps, at competitions in parachuting, when setting parachute records, at aviation sports festivals.

Test parachute jumps are performed to test parachutes in the air.

Experimental includes the first few jumps with a parachute of a new design, as well as jumps from aircraft or aircraft positions, from which jumps have not previously been performed.

Forced parachute jumps are performed by the crew in order to preserve life in the event of an aircraft accident in the air. All skydiving is also subdivided into:

Simple and complex;

Day and night;

On land or on water;

Singles and groups;

With immediate deployment or with a delay in the deployment of the parachute;

Free fall or fall stabilization;

With forced, automatic or manual opening method;

From low, medium or high altitudes, as well as from the stratosphere;

At low, medium or high flight speeds.

Daytime skydiving is performed between sunrise and sunset, night jumps between sunset and sunrise, including twilight.

Jumping to land is performed with landing on land, jumping into water - with water landing on the water area of ​​lakes, rivers, seas or oceans.

A single jump is called a jump of one parachutist during one approach of the aircraft.

Group jumps are called parachute jumps performed by two or more parachutists during one approach of the aircraft.

Immediate deployment jumps are jumps performed with a parachute of any type, the introduction of which is carried out in a time not exceeding 5 seconds after separation from the aircraft.

Jumps with a delay in deployment are jumps with a parachute, the introduction of which is carried out 5 seconds or more after separation from the aircraft.

Jumps with stabilization of the fall are jumps with a parachute that structurally has a stabilizing device that slows down the fall and stabilizes the parachutist's body in the optimal position during the stabilization stage, and when the main canopy of the parachute system is activated, which is used when there is a delay in the opening of the main canopy of the system from 3- x and more seconds after separation from the aircraft.

Forced opening jumps include jumps when the parachute is forced into operation.

Jumps with forced opening of the parachute are subdivided into jumps with uncoupling of the parachute knapsack and pulling the cover off the canopy with an extension rope and jumps with uncoupling the knapsack with an pulling rope and pulling the cover off the canopy with pulling parachutes.

When making jumps with automatic deployment, the parachute is put into operation by the automatic deployment device without the participation of the parachutist.

Manual jumps are when the parachute is put into action by the parachutist by pulling out the pulling ring.

Jumping from low altitudes - parachute jumps performed from heights up to 400 m above the terrain.

Jumping from medium heights - jumps with a parachute, performed from heights of 400 to 4000 m above the terrain.

Jumping from high altitudes - jumps with a parachute, performed from heights of 4,000 to 12,000 m above the terrain.

Jumping from the stratosphere includes parachute jumps performed from heights over 12,000 m above the terrain.

Jumps at low flight speed are performed at a flight speed of up to 200 km / h.

Jumps at medium flight speeds are performed at a flight speed of 200 to 500 km / h.

Jumping at high flight speeds includes parachute jumps, which are performed at a flight speed of over 500 km / h. Such jumps are performed, as a rule, by the ejection method in the event of an emergency escape by the pilot of the aircraft.

Simple parachute jumps, performed singly or in a group, during the day, under permissible weather conditions, with a delay in the opening of the parachute or with stabilization of the fall up to 20 s, from medium altitudes and at low flight speed.

Difficult jumps are parachute jumps that are performed at night or during the day with a wind of more than 8 m / s, with a delay in opening the parachute or stabilization of the fall for more than 20 s, from heights of less than 400 or more than 4000 m, into the water, into the forest, on limited areas, in settlements, with the performance of figures in free fall or with open domes, in the clouds and behind the clouds, by the method of ejection.

Parachuting as one of the varieties extreme sports, is very popular. It is constantly evolving, new schools and clubs are opening so that anyone who wants to have the opportunity to make their dreams come true. If there are no health problems, you can take the risk and step into the clouds.

Parachuting - interesting facts

• The largest number of jumps (13800) was made by the domestic athlete Yuri Baranov.
• The oldest type of competition is precision landing, when you need to land at a strictly defined point. At this point, a special electrical sensor is installed, and the athlete needs to step on it with his foot.
• The main types of this sports direction include free fall and piloting.
• The distance to the point at which the canopy opens when jumping is 3 km. And the skydiver covers this distance in a minute.
• Going down under the dome, it is impossible to talk, even though we are used to seeing something completely different in movies.
• The oldest skydiver in the world is George Moise, he jumped from a height of 3000 m. Thus, he congratulated himself on his 97th birthday.
• In Japan, a jump called "Banzai" is widespread: first, a parachute is thrown out of an airplane, and then an athlete jumps out, catches up with him, puts on and opens it in the air.

Features of parachuting

Parachuting has a number of features that make it very attractive. These include:

• Risk and adrenaline. Everyone who makes jumps strives for one thing - to get a new portion of emotions, to prove their courage to themselves, relatives and friends.
• Quick addictive. Anyone who has ever tried to jump with a parachute may well become addicted to this sport and embark on the path of professional skydiving.
• Safety in compliance with all requirements. High quality tests and briefings are required before the flight. Also, athletes are consulted by a doctor in order to exclude the presence of contraindications.
• A few uniforms. Required inventory for the descent - helmet, goggles, gloves and overalls. And, of course, a parachute.

Types of skydiving

Today, athletes train and compete in parachuting in several main areas. Some types of jumps can be performed not only by experienced professionals, but also by almost everyone.

Single jumps

Anyone can independently make a jump, even if it is the very first time. But parachuting involves compulsory preparation, theory and practice. Anyone who wants to jump is trained for 7 hours and, after completing all the tasks, he is allowed to jump and equipment is issued.

If a person feels fear, then the coach goes down with him. He is there and watches everything that happens. The skydiving height is limited only for beginners (up to 1 km).

Tandem jumping

Parachuting is not only single jumps, but also in tandem with another person. Usually, when teaching, this is a trainer. Together with the coach, it is desirable to go down for the first time. This increases safety as most of the work is done by a professional.

If you have experience, you are allowed to jump with other people.

Free fall

This variety is available to those who are engaged in skydiving professionally, it includes several disciplines:

• Individual acrobatics is a direction in which an athlete is required to perform a certain number of somersaults, rotations and spirals in a set time.
• Group acrobatics - the performance of different figures and restructuring in the horizontal plane by several athletes.
• Freefly is a high-speed fall of two people, which is accompanied by the execution of acrobatic elements.
• Freestyle - gives free rein to the imagination of the athlete. Descending under the dome, he can do any pirouettes, showing his plasticity and coordination.
• Skysurfing is jumping with a special ski and performing various tricks.

Necessary equipment

The main part of the equipment is. It consists of:

• Parachutes: main, retractable and reserve.
• Automatic belay device.

All of these components are added to the knapsack.

Next important element in uniform acts shoes... The ankle in it must be securely fixed to reduce the risk of injury upon landing. Ankle boots are recommended for this purpose.

Professionals advise to wear two-layer gloves made of synthetic and cotton fabric. Gloves provide better grip and easier control of the canopy.

Parachutist jumpsuit

For one or two jumps, this accessory, of course, is not needed. But if you intend to engage in parachuting seriously and for a long time, then it is better to buy a special jumpsuit. Such clothing does not restrict maneuvers, insulates and protects against scratches and abrasions, which are easy to get when landing. The jumpsuit has a special shape to improve the aerodynamics of the athlete during the flight.

Helmet

This accessory is a must for parachuting. It can be soft or hard. Soft helmets are made from leather and textiles. They protect your head from the wind and prevent hair from sticking to your face. Hard helmets are made of plastic and carbon. They may be partially or wholly deaf, equipped with headphones and a microphone.

Glasses

Points are required if the athlete chooses an open helmet for himself. Their function is to protect the eyes from wind and ultraviolet radiation. There are certain criteria for choosing this accessory:

• It is undesirable for glasses to be very narrow, otherwise they will not provide adequate protection.
• Glasses should be chosen to be impact-resistant so that they do not cause injury by breaking.
• It is better to try on glasses at the same time as a helmet, since these two accessories are used together.

How to do parachuting

If you are sure that you are ready to jump with a parachute, go to a specialized club. It can be found on the Internet, but you need to read the available reviews, and also make sure that the organization has received all the necessary permits. The preparation usually takes from one to several days.

The rules for the first jump are the same everywhere:

• Parachuting is allowed for those who have passed a medical examination and have no contraindications. Therefore, the club will definitely require to undergo a medical examination and get an opinion.
• Pre-jump briefing is mandatory. It takes 5-7 hours. During the briefing, explanations are given on how to behave in an airplane, how to steer a parachute and land, what should be done in unexpected situations.
• Before the jump, the club employees take a receipt from the person - this is a formality that should not be scared.
• For the first descent, the parachute of the paratroopers is issued. It unfolds itself three seconds after the jump.

Which jump to choose

Jumping for the first time is scary, it is difficult to imagine your feelings in advance. Possible types of jumps for beginners:

• Independent. Height - 800 meters, preliminary training is carried out, the technique is mastered, possible situations and ways of getting out of them are described. The descent does not take much time, and the parachute itself unfolds automatically.
• Jump together. It can be done with an instructor. Everything you need to do this will be done by a professional, and you just need to relax and enjoy. With sufficient experience, it is allowed to jump in a pair with another person. Moreover, if both of you are doing this for the first time, it is better to go down under different canopies.

Falling speed when jumping with a parachute - about 200 km / h (60 m / s); after the opening of the dome - up to 5 m / s; the descent itself lasts up to 7 minutes.

Safety regulations

Parachuting, like any extreme sport, is always fraught with risk. Although, if all the established requirements are met, it is considered quite safe. Accidents, of course, are not excluded, but they are quite rare. In order not to replenish their number, you must:

• Perform the necessary actions clearly: open the spare canopy at the required height, do not make sudden maneuvers, take into account the weather and wind direction.
• Check that there is a reserve parachute and that it is properly stowed in order to avoid problems with opening.
• Avoid collisions with other skydivers.
• Observe discipline, avoid excessive self-confidence.
• Correctly group before landing to avoid dislocations and bruises, which are not dangerous to health, but very unpleasant.

Contraindications

There are certain types of diseases and conditions in the presence of which parachuting is not acceptable. These include:

• State of alcoholic intoxication.
• Cardiovascular diseases.
• Mental disorders.
• Hyperopia or myopia.
• Diabetes mellitus and epilepsy.
• Recent fractures.
• Anorexia or obesity.
• You should not jump if you are afraid of heights.

A little about parachuting. Disciplines, varieties. Personal experience. (10+)

Parachuting

It is customary to call parachuting a type of aviation sport or a sports discipline where a person with a parachute separates from an aircraft (balloon, airplane, etc.) and in free fall in the air, in a fall or gliding under a parachute canopy, performs some special movements (for example, a complex of acrobatic figures) followed by landing. An athlete needs a parachute to land successfully. It should be noted that the skydiver spends very little time in free fall. Only 60 seconds falls on a jump from a height of 4 thousand meters. On average, the speed of a parachutist's fall is 50-60 m / s (or 180-200 km / h). With the help of a similar speed, a parachutist can easily move freely in the air, using certain parts as a "rudder" own body(legs, arms, etc.).

But even in spite of its status as an extreme species, parachuting in last years managed to turn into one of the types of outdoor activities.

Varieties of sports with a parachute

If an athlete is involved in parachuting, then certain skills and abilities will be required from him to carry out free fall with the use of various acrobatic elements. He needs to control the descent and be able to land accurately and smoothly. Long gone are the days when the weight of the parachute equipment was 18 kg, and the maximum jump height was 800 meters, when in order to make jumps it was necessary to go through training for weeks and be sure to have an excellent physical fitness... Thanks to the use of modern materials and technologies, parachuting is becoming more accessible, widespread and more diverse. V modern world it is customary to distinguish 2 directions: parachute piloting and free fall.

Free fall

In parachuting, free fall is represented by the following disciplines:

• Group acrobatics or Relative Work (RW)... This type is the performance by athletes of different figures and rearrangements in the horizontal plane during free fall. In order to "build" a previously prepared formation, a certain base is formed by several parachutists. In the established sequence, floaters (other parachutists) fly up to it, at the same time forming different figures from their bodies.
• Individual acrobatics... In this variant, the parachutist performs certain movements for a while. Here, the athlete will be required to have perfect control of his body, because being in free fall, he must perform rotations, somersaults, spirals. In the classic parachuting competition in required elements includes the implementation of certain moments of individual acrobatics.
• Freestyle or FreeStyle... The parachutist makes a free fall within a minute, and this gives the most unlimited opportunities in order to embody the most unexpected ideas and perform the most difficult movements. Athletes in this type of parachuting demonstrate all their coordination of movements: plasticity, grace, grace.
• Freefly or FreeFly (vRW, vertical RW)... This species appeared not so long ago, but it is developing dynamically and is the most spectacular direction in parachuting. Here a team of 2 parachutists makes different acrobatic figures using various vertical positions of their own body: head down, standing, sitting. That is why their falling speed is much higher, it sometimes reaches from 250 to 300 km / h. It should be noted that all this is filmed by a special parachutist-operator flying alongside.
• Skysurfing... Here the parachutist performs different figures in the air with a special ski track. According to the recording of the operator jumping with the athlete, the judges evaluate the jump itself, which is why for the final result great importance has the synchronous operation of the parachutist and the operator, as well as their excellent interaction. It should be noted that at the competition there is a mandatory and free program... The aerodynamics of a skydiver on a board differs quite a lot from standard parachute jumps, which is why in order to participate in such competitions, an athlete must have a lot of experience, as well as years of training. The largest number of competitions today is held in this particular type of parachuting.

Dome piloting

In parachuting, canopy piloting has a special role in such areas as:

• Dome acrobatics (CreW, CRW, canopyRW)... Athletes in this type of parachuting in the sky line up various figures, performing rearrangements with an open parachute. At the same time, the parachutist must be fluent in the technique of separation / docking from other athletes, great experience and high individual craftsmanship. But the competition itself has several variations:
  • 8-way build... In this case, a team of 8 people builds a figure, which is set by the judges, in a minimum time.
  • 4-way lane change... In this case, the figures for construction will be chosen in advance by lot, they are assigned to a team of 4 people, and the conditions must be fulfilled in 30 seconds.
  • 4-way rotation... A team of 4 people is given 30 seconds to build the maximum number of arbitrary figures.
  It should be noted that all this is recorded by a special videographer, and the judges give marks based on the recording.
• Speedy landing or swoop... In this kind of parachuting main goal the athlete is that, before landing, he needs to make the longest horizontal flight along the ground at the highest speed. By the way, when approaching the ground, the speed can reach 100 km / h, while the height can be less than 1 meter. This type of parachuting is considered the most dangerous, and sportsmen are injured in almost any competition.
• Landing for precision or precision canopy... This type of parachuting is considered to be the "oldest". Its essence lies in the fact that the athlete should land as much as possible in the place that is marked in advance. Moreover, if earlier (about 60 years ago) it was believed that 80 meters of error when hitting a target circle at 100 meters is good result, then today the parachutist has to get into a small specially-installed electrical "target" sensor.

But as for Russia, in parachuting here, most of the competitions are held in individual acrobatics or on landing accuracy.

Parachuting safety

The basis for the safety of parachuting, like any other extreme sport, is strict adherence to the established rules, as well as control over the execution of all stages: preparation of equipment, then packing the parachute and the jump itself. A system of strict rules and regulations has been developed over the years of development of skydiving, and they are mandatory in order to ensure the safety of every athlete. This includes: rules for stowing the parachute, its laboratory regular checks, established norms for timely drying, storage conditions and re-stowage.

It is becoming clear that parachuting requires certain skills and level of training from athletes. Only knowledge, as well as the ability to use them, will help people involved in parachuting to accept correct solution in a critical situation. Therefore, it is so important to thoroughly know the structure of the parachute, how it behaves in different conditions. It is necessary to be able to act correctly in a variety of situations in the air. You can learn all this in theoretical classes, after which, in practice, work out the knowledge gained to automatism.

In addition to all this, a person involved in parachuting should have a psychologically stable state, a strong desire to go in for parachuting and a good level of self-discipline. A jump from a height of 4 thousand meters lasts one minute, so the skydiver needs to keep his concentration during this time, coping with unnecessary fears in time. But if a person has any doubts before jumping, then it is best to postpone the first time to a better and more successful time for this.

Parachuting is one of the most exciting sports. Nothing beats the thrill and adrenaline rush that you get when you hover and parachute. However, parachuting is always accompanied by a myriad of myths and misconceptions that stop millions of people from having this exciting experience. Statistics from recent decades prove that this sport incredibly safe. But, in order to regularly practice it, you will have to study for a long time, as well as obtain a special license. It is a long and expensive process, but worth it. If you have never jumped with a parachute, you should try to do it at least once in your life.
10. Ring of the opening of the parachute

Myth: Skydawers pull the ring to open the parachute.
In fact, parachutes with a deployment ring last time were produced in the 80s. Modern skydivers, however, use a new "ring" (a clever invention that includes a seat belt, a container and a parachute canopy) - a pilot parachute attached to the main parachute. The pilot chute fills with air, thereby pulling the main parachute, which then unfolds over your head. It's safe to say that if you want to jump with a parachute, you definitely won't have to pull anything.

9. Conversations during free fall


Myth: You can scream and talk to each other while free falling.

Without a doubt, you will not be able to hear another skydiver while free falling. Of course, if he shouts right into your ear, you may understand something, but you will not be able to conduct a conversation, definitely. The wind that sweeps past your ears at a speed of 160 kilometers per hour makes you virtually deaf. Also, during free fall, it is very difficult to fight.

8. Release the parachute


Myth: When the parachute opens, you are pulled back.

This is one of the most common misconceptions. The only thing that a parachutist cannot do is go back. What you see when the parachute is deployed is an optical illusion. After all, the videographer filming the parachutist continues to fall, while the parachutist slows down.

7. Unconscious fall


Myth: If you pass out during a free fall, you will die.

In fact, in modern parachuting there is special device, which automatically opens the parachute. But experienced skydivers refuse to use it for fear of technical failures. If you pass out on landing, the landing is likely to be harder and you could get injured or even die, but those chances are negligible.

6. Falling speed

Myth: Everyone falls at the same rate.

Many people think that the rate of fall depends on the person's weight (the more a person weighs, the higher the rate of his fall). This is not true. The position of the body and clothing affects the speed the most (baggy clothing slows down, and tight clothing speeds up). It is known that the average falling speed is about 200 km per hour. However, some advanced skydivers jump in a head-down or sit-fly position, which allows them to reach speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour! It's all about aerodynamics. Undoubtedly, it takes a lot of training to master techniques such as the arch (to accelerate), or the bowl to slow down and catch up with a group of other skydivers.

5. Parachute packing


Myth: A skydiver always folds his parachute by himself.

A good skydiver learns to fold his parachute himself, and does so throughout his career. However, there is no law that everyone should fold their own parachute. There are special people in the landing area who can pack your parachute. The cost of such a service is about $ 5-7. But, despite this, many skydivers still prefer to fold it themselves, according to their own taste, and would you want to entrust your life to someone? If you decide to use the services of a packer, be sure to leave him a very good tip. So, just in case.

4. Height of the parachute opening


Myth: You can deploy your parachute at any height.

The parachute should be deployed when the skydiver is aligned and in full control of his body. You cannot open it too low, as you must take into account the time for it to straighten out. In addition, speed and wind matter. The minimum height at which the parachute must be deployed is 700 meters (for licensed skydivers). It is said that during the Second World War, soldiers opened it at an altitude of 70 meters, and although most of them died from such experiments, many modern skydivers are thinking about repeating a similar trick. You should not play with fate and your self-control, because you can pay with your life for this.

3. Oxygen mask


Myth: On high altitude, you should definitely wear an oxygen mask.

Only on the plane. Hypoxia can begin at an altitude of 5,000 kilometers, so airplanes should always carry oxygen masks. Usually they jump from a height of 3,000 - 4,000 kilometers. But there are also "extra-high" jumps from 7000 km. For this, of course, extra money will be needed. Some planes offer masks, but usually it's just a tube hanging from the ceiling where you can breathe oxygen right up to the jump. Once you jump, you are only at that height for a couple of seconds, so there is no need for an oxygen mask.

2. The danger of heights


Myth: The higher the height, the more dangerous the jump.

Everything is exactly the opposite. Skydivers want to jump from the highest possible height. This not only gives you more time to enjoy the free fall, but also provides an opportunity to fix the problems that have arisen (if any). To reach the top speed, you need about 500 meters (speed 190 km / h). Considering 200-300 meters for the parachute to open, jumping from a height of less than 900 meters is just crazy.

1. Equilibrium speed


Myth: A person can survive extreme velocity impact.

We have all heard similar stories: "A man jumped from a height of 5,000 kilometers, his parachute did not open, he landed in a mud field and only broke his leg, or remained in a wheelchair, but survived!" There is always something wrong with stories like this. Most often they are simply invented, or their nuances are hidden. It is possible that one parachute did not open, or both (which is very rare), but even a half-opened parachute will significantly slow down the fall. And when you land on a soft surface or trees, at a speed of 70 kilometers per hour, you can really stay alive.