Parachuting

Parachuting, or skydiving, is a recreational activity, competitive sport and method of deployment of military personnel (and occasionally, firefighters). It involves the breaking of a free fall from a height through the use of a parachute.

Other Fun Stuff

In addition to the various "disciplines", for which people actually train and purchase specialized equipment and get coaching, the recreational skydiver finds ways to just have fun.

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Hit and Rock

One example is "Hit and Rock", which is a variant of Accuracy parachuting devised to let people of varying skill-levels "compete" for fun, while spoofing the age and abilities of some participants. It is a good way to have fun on days when the cloud-cover is high enough to be legally jumpable, but too low for meaningful freefall.

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In classic accuracy, the parachutist exits at 800 meters, flies a big, boxy, purpose-built parachute toward a dinner-plate sized target with a 3-centimeter dot in the middle. Near the ground, the parachutist aligns above the target and then sinks elevator-style until the target can be poked with a heel. The target has electronic sensors that show the precise distance of that heel-strike from target center.

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In swoop accuracy, the parachutist exits at whatever altitude, flies a zippy, high-aspect-ratio wing to the vicinity of the target, then executes a diving turn that levels out into a long, high-speed swoop, close over the ground. At some point in that swoop, the parachutist (... excuse me, "canopy pilot") passes over the target and attempts to stab it with a foot on the way by.

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Both of those styles involve considerable skill, such that junior parachutists would have little hope against people with years of experience. So, to add some fun and frivolity, the target is replaced by a rocking chair.

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The object now becomes: to land as close as possible to the chair, doff the parachute harness, sprint to the chair, sit fully in the chair and rock back and forth at least one time. The contestant is timed from the moment that feet touch the ground until that first rock is completed.

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Pond Swooping

Pond swooping is a form of competitive parachuting wherein parachuters attempt to touch down at a glide across a small body of water, and onto the shore. Events provide provide lighthearted competition rating accuracy, duration spent skimming the surface of the water, and style. Points and peer approvement are reduced when a participant "chows", or fails to reach shore and sinks into the water.

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Hit and Chug

Very similar to Hit and Rock, except the target is replaced by a crate of beer bottles with screwtop caps. Contestants are timed from the moment their feet touch the ground until the they drink a bottle of beer and place the empty bottles upside-down.

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Of course, it must be mentioned that dropzones enforce strict rules prohibiting anyone from jumping any more that day once alcohol has been consumed.

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Cross-Country

Some days, the winds at ground level might be acceptable (barely) for safe landings, but the winds aloft are blowing strongly, such that parachutists must fly some distance upwind in order to arrive back at the intended landing area.

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That is, if they opened their parachutes directly over the dropzone, the forward speed of the wings would be insufficient to counter the wind, and they'd find themselves backing up, until the wind abated near the ground.

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In those conditions, somebody sometimes suggests a "cross-country" jump. Let's purposely go a long distance away, exit at relatively high altitude, open our parachutes immediately, and see if we can glide all the way back.

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Participants dress comfortably and pack a lunch, a cell-phone or change for payphone, and perhaps two-way radios if those are available. The group examines local maps if needed and, considering the wind conditions at various altitudes, determines a distant exit point from which they think they can fly all the way back to the dropzone. The idea is to choose an exit point such that everybody should get back, but those who find themselves unable to get back will be able to find a safe area in which to land.

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Those who are most skilled at getting the maximum horizontal glide from their parachutes can arrive back at the dropzone with just a little altitude to spare -- if the exit point was properly chosen. Those with less skill, or those who have misjudged the glide-ratio of their equipment get to walk at least part of the distance, or beg a ride. Two-way radios can allow the participants to chat with each other -- or heckle each other when somebody begins to fall behind. The radios or cell-phones aid in the recovery effort when friends finally relent and drive out to retrieve those who overestimated their abilities.

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A wise choice of off-site landing, combined with an ingratiating manner has netted some "cross-country" participants a nice free lunch from a friendly farm family. A poor choice has netted some participants an encounter with a bull, a tree, a swamp, or a freshly-manured field. Either way, a cross-country jump usually yields a few stories to tell around future bonfires.

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Tracking jump

Tracking is assuming a body position that maximizes horizontal speed while minimising vertical speed. It is most commonly used at the end of freefall to gain enough separation from other skydivers for a safe parachute deployment. The tracking body position is generally assumed by tilting the body with the head slightly downwards toward the earth, holding the arms closely to the body, and curving the body slightly in the shape of an airfoil. Because of its head-downwards position, many novice skydivers often confuse the Track with a Delta Dive position; at first glance, the inexperienced skydiver would expect such a position to increase the fall rate. If two skydivers begin with the same fall rate, one will appear to float at the same place relative to the other--neither appearing to drop below nor float above the other. If one skydiver assumed a very good Track position, the other skydiver would see the Tracking skydiver not only accelerate quickly away but quickly upwards (relative to one another) as well.

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A tracking dive is a skydive where the intention is to track for the entire duration of freefall. One person, usually the most experienced tracker, is designated the leader (or "rabbit"). The rabbit directs the direction of the group and maintains the groups tracking speed. Other participants chase the rabbit and try to maintain a relative position.

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Because a good Track body position can lead to significant horizontal speed and because the body's curved and slightly head-down position can cause less-experienced skydivers to be aware of a reduced area around them, novice jumpers should train themselves to be aware of what is going on around them in all directions for a greater distance while tracking. Mid-air collisions during tracking that could have been avoided have caused amputations and deaths.

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Camera Flying

In camera flying, a cameraman jumps with a group and films them. The cameraman often wears specialized equipment, such as a winged jumpsuit to increase maneuverability and helmet-mounted video and still cameras. Some skydivers specialize in camera flying and can earn significant fees for filming students on coached jumps, first-time jumpers, and professional skydivers.

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Night Jumps

Skydiving is not always restricted to daytime hours. Experienced skydivers sometimes perform night jumps. For obvious safety reasons, this requires more equipment than a usual daytime jump and in most jurisdictions requires both an advanced skydiving licence and specialized training (night rating). A lighted altimeter (preferably accompanied with an audible altimeter) is a must. Skydivers performing night jumps often take flashlights up with them so that they can check their canopies once they deploy, so they can be assured that the canopy has opened correctly and is safe to fly and land. Visibility to other skydivers and other aircraft is also a consideration; FAA regulations require skydivers jumping at night to be wearing a light visible for three miles in every direction, and to turn it on once they are under canopy.

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