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Parachuting can be taken on as a competitive sport in the form of accuracy landing. In ‘Accuracy Landing’ events, parachute jumps are made from a height of 1000 metres. Competitors must land with their toe or heel exactly on a yellow disc of 3 cm diameter in the centre of a marked square.
Many other parachute techniques are used in international competitions:
Freefall Style
Jumping from a height of 2200 metres, the parachutist must perform a series of six mandatory figures in freefall in the quickest time. These figures must be executed precisely using three reference axes, which are turns to the right, to the left and somersaults. Any faults are penalised with added time.
Formation Skydiving
As they freefall, teams of 4, 8 or 16 carry out a series of set figures. Jumps start at 3000 and 3800 metres respectively and the series is repeated as many times as possible in the time allowed.
Canopy Formation
Teams of 4 or 8 parachutists jump from 2000 metres, and link in formation by joining hands or touching the parachutes of teammates with their feet.
Freestyle and Freeflying
Freestyle competitors present a choreographed freefall made up of mandatory and freestyle figures, similar to gymnastic and trampoline competitions. A film of the jump is taken by another parachutist, which is then used to judge the performance.
Freeflying is a choreography for two parachutists, normally including more unusual figures like head-down rotation and falling from a vertical or sitting position.
Skysurfing
Skysurfing consists of figures carried out in freefall with a skysurf board, which creates lift and allows for quicker and more exaggerated movements.
Equipment
The parachute has three essential components; the main chute, pilot chute and stabilisers.
The main chute is rectangular in shape and usually has 7 to 9 cells, which are divided by an internal membrane. As air fills the cells, the chute develops the properties of an aerofoil.
The pilot chute is a miniature chute that reinforces the main chute.
The stabilisers are triangular pieces of fabric on either side of the chute.
The parachutist is attached to the main chute by a harness, and wears a suit, helmet and goggles. The one-piece overall is specially designed to avoid any risk of being caught up in any parts of the parachute itself.
The helmet is usually leather, and can sometimes be made of plastic which gives better protection but is not as comfortable.
History
In 1797, Andre Jacques Garnerin from France allowed himself to fall from a balloon with an open parachute and basket.
The first jump from an aeroplane took place in USA in 1912.
Parachuting was first used for military purposes - allowing a pilot to escape from a damaged plane or to provide equipment to paratroops. As techniques and equipment improved, civilians began to parachute in the USA and Europe in the late 1940s.
The first world championships involving accurate landing on to a target area took place in 1951, when the International Parachuting Commission (IPC) was founded.
The World Air Games, first held in 1997, had competitions in freestyle, Skysurfing and Paragliding.
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