7 Parachuting Questions You Always Wanted to Ask

The indescribable sense of freedom of skydiving was the way South African Georgina Harwood chose to celebrate her 100th birthday in March 2015. Long skydiver? Nothing! The healthy grandma had made her first leap just eight years earlier at age 92. Like her, thousands of people around the world fall in love with the sport at any time in their lives, regardless of age, gender or geographical location.

No wonder that the demand for skydiving increases every year, after all it is increasingly safe, with first-rate equipment and highly trained professionals for any situation. After jumping from a plane at 1, 200 feet (4, 000 meters), freefalling at over 200 km / h and gently flying a parachute for 6 minutes until your feet touch the ground again for sure. You will see the world in a different way. Here's the answer to the 7 most common skydiving questions and experience this adventure!

1 - What if the parachute doesn't open?

This is the biggest fear of anyone thinking of skydiving, of course, but nowadays the quality, proper maintenance and careful overhaul of the latest equipment make it increasingly unfounded, so much so that the sport gains thousands of new fans every year. year. Over time, parachutes have evolved to such an extent that today they are equipped with safety devices that trigger the automatic opening (DAA) of backup equipment in the event of a major parachute failure - or even in the event of pure forgetting, if you be overjoyed at the view. Existing technology today ensures the safety of hops.

2 - How much does parachuting cost?

There are several types of packages, with the price varying according to your choice, from simple jump to video and photo record, to keep a physical reminder of this unforgettable moment. As the value depends on what you choose, the tip is to make a projection on the Sky Company skydiving school website.

3 - Who invented the parachute?

The history of the parachute dates back to ancient China around the year 1300, when acrobats leaped from great walls holding only a kind of huge umbrellas. It is true that Leonardo Da Vinci, as early as the 15th century, gave a closer shape to what we know today when designing equipment based on bird flight, but even patented it was not until 1783 by Sebastian Lenormand. He made several jumps, but it is Andre-Jacques Garnerin who, a few years later, in 1797, was considered the world's first skydiver, breaking the record by jumping at 8, 000 feet in London. In Brazil, skydiving arrived in 1931 at the hands of Charles Astor, who would form the first Brazilian skydivers in his air club in Sao Paulo.

4 - Can chubby people jump?

Double jump is the easiest way to realize the dream of skydiving, but it has its limitations. The minimum age for skydiving, for example, is 16 years according to the Brazilian Skydiving Confederation. On the other hand, the weight limit for the double jump is 99 kg; above that, the instructor should be consulted. It is also not advisable to jump with the flu or congested nasal passages and it is prohibited if you have been diving within 24 hours of the jump.

5 - How many seconds does the parachute open?

The sensation of free fall is described by athletes as one of the most delicious: the body itself does not feel the fall, only the support of the wind. In parachuting the fall is quick, only 45 seconds, but even faster is the parachute's opening speed, which in just 4 seconds is fully open and slowing down by 20 km / h. From there to the ground is a gentle swing until the feet touch the ground.

6 - And if at the time of the jump, you get sick?

Like any other sport, parachuting should not drink alcohol for the past 24 hours, and any adverse physical condition should be evaluated by a physician in advance, such as dizziness, heart, orthopedic or breathing problems, maze, fainting or seizures. However, if you still faint while falling, the parachute has a safety device called the Automatic Activation Device (AAD) programmed to open at a certain time and works regardless of whether the skydiver is aware or not.

7 - Is it possible to jump without instructor?

To jump alone anywhere in the world without an instructor, you must first take the Accelerated Free Fall (AFF) course, the most modern and safe skydiving instruction method developed in the United States. You don't start jumping on your own, but the feeling is amazing, since from day one you already jump with the parachute in your own body, only accompanied by two instructors side by side. The course consists of 10 hours of lectures on skydiving techniques and eight jumps that correspond to eight levels, preceded by a 30-minute briefing and post-jump assessment. In total you do 4 minutes of jumping with the open parachute and get graduated to practice skydiving.

Via advice.