Welcome to Maxx Sports Guides
Taft Skydiving Article
. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for further reading, click here.
Parachute Sky Diving Involves Detailed Planning, Preparation
from: Maxx Sports GuidesParachute skydivers marvel at being able to experience the beauty of nature from such great heights. Thousands of people worldwide enjoy parachute sky diving as a popular sports activity.
However, parachute sky diving is not as easy as just deciding one day to jump from a plane. On the contrary, parachute sky diving requires much planning and preparation.
Equipment Tested for Defects
All equipment must be tested to make certain it has no defects. When you're thousands of feet in the air, nobody wants to realize that suddenly 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.
The sky divers practice their skills and techniques before actually getting into the aircraft.
The sky divers and the pilot meticulously plan the order for jumping as well as a successful landing. When the sky divers are ready to board their aircraft, they enter in reverse order.
Once inside the aircraft the jumpers attach themselves to the aircraft either by straps connected to the floor or to seats designed specifically for jumping.
Weather Determines Jump Site
With the parachutes properly packed, the plan made and the sky divers stowed away in the aircraft, the pilot climbs higher to reach the jumping point.
In parachute sky diving, weather conditions largely determine the jumping site.
With their plan now coordinated, the pilot and sky divers approach the jump site. The sky divers get ready by lining up at the aircraft door.
Sometimes when preparing for a short jump, the sky divers hold hands so they can exit the aircraft together in hopes of staying close together during the fall.
At the jumping site, the door is opened and one by one the sky divers step out and start free falling. An average parachute sky diver falls about 1,050 feet to 1,480 feet every five seconds, traveling at speeds of 190 to 240 km/hour. These sky divers really move fast as they plummet towards earth.
Sky divers can also choose to move in a horizontal position. In this position they usually hit speeds up to 80 km/hour.
Body Positioning Used
While free falling, sky divers can position their bodies in various ways to carry out different manoeuvres. A sky diver can also use his/her body positioning to control their speed.
When the sky divers reach about 3,900 feet, it's time for them to think about opening 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 two to five seconds. This canopy helps the parachute sky divers to land.
The canopy slows the parachute down. The sky divers can help slow the rapid descent by using two toggles gripped above their heads.
Experienced parachute sky divers will usually land on their feet as they return to terra firma.
Taft Skydiving News