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Parachuting, also known as skydiving, became an international sport in the early 1950s. Originally an emergency device for pilots when need to evacuate their planes, parachuting has evolved into a recreational activity.

Skydiving involves exiting an aircraft and falling towards Earth for a certain amount of time before deploying a parachute. Skydiving centers may be located at airports, air clubs, or other commercial operations. Skydivers are taken up on a light aircraft between 3,000 to 13,000 feet (1,000 to 4,000 meters) to give them time to free fall. Parachutes are deployed around 2,600 feet (800 meters) slowing the descent of the skydiver and granting control over the direction of landing.

During free fall, skydivers can manipulate their body’s to create drag, which allows them to move forward, backward, turn about a vertical axis, and also lift (relative to other objects in free fall). Before leaving the aircraft, skydivers have forward momentum due to the aircraft (granted if the aircraft is moving forward). Moments after initiating free fall, skydivers are still traveling forward, as well as downward, and will notice a transition of the wind from horizontal to vertical, known as “relative wind”.

Typically, skydivers exiting a moving aircraft do not feel any sense of falling due to the presence of wind moving around them at 50 mph (80 km/h), with the exception of balloons and helicopters. Humans reach terminal velocity around 120 mph (190 km/h) for torso-to-Earth orientation and between 150 to 200 mph (240-320 km/h) for head down orientations.

There is actually a low rate of fatalities despite the perceived dangers. There are roughly 21 skydivers killed annually in the U.S. To put that in perspective, that is 1 death in every 150,000 jumps. Parachutists have two parachutes they wear, a primary chute and a reserve chute. Some reserve parachutes deploy automatically, activated when a device called an altimeter detects a certain altitude has been reached while the individual is still free falling. The reserve parachute is required to be checked by a FAA-certified parachute rigger. They examine and repack the reserve parachute regardless if the chute has been deployed or not.

Other dangers of parachuting include changes in wind direction, canopy collisions, and malpractice by the parachutist. Around hot land areas, parachutist may be caught in downdrafts close to the ground, pushing them toward the ground. Canopy collisions occur when two parachutists collide with each other. This usually results in their parachutes deflating and their canopies becoming entangled. If they are high enough they may jettison their chutes. BASE jumping, wing suit flying, and sky surfing pose a higher risk factor due to lower mobility for the jumper and a higher risk of entanglement. In addition, inexperienced jumpers may not deploy their parachutes in adequate time to land safely.

Hang gliding is a thrilling sport that delights thrill seekers around the world. This air sport has existed for thousands of years, allowing its users to reach for the sky. Pilots fly these unmotorized aircrafts known as hang gliders, which are composed of mainly aluminum alloy framed fabric. For safety purposes, the navigator is secured using a harness which completely covers their body. Current technology allow individuals to stay in the air for hours, which ultimately allow them to reach great altitudes.

Getting in the air is one step in the gliding process, but launching is completely different. There are many different types of launch techniques like foot-launching from a high surface, using a tow system, or even aerotowing (towing behind a high powered aircraft). Even hot air balloons have been used to launch gliders by dropping them from high altitudes. “Thermals” are the most common use of air lifting. Using the suns energy, the ground is heated, and in turn releases warm air that lifts the glider.

Hang gliding isn’t as hazardous as people tend to believe. Modern hang gliders are manufactured to deliver safer flights and include several safety features. Using modern materials, gliders are constructed to withhold certified standards. These aircrafts have built in dive recovery mechanisms in case of accidents during flight. Pilots are equipped with both a helmet and a parachute for extra safety measures. In case of an accident, both the flyer and the glider descend safely to the ground by parachute. They carry light weight knives for cutting the parachute and ropes to lower themselves from trees after impact. There are also training sessions for pilots wanting to try out hang gliding to ensure ultimate safety.

For the most part, people believe hang gliding to be extremely dangerous. Unfortunately due to misuse and foul weather conditions many fatal accidents and injuries have occurred. Hang gliders should not be used in a careless manner or in risky weather conditions. Thermal and wind currents have been the main cause of crashes. Although there are risks, many people still find hang gliding to be exhilarating and lively.

For more information about hang gliding, check out the hang gliding and paragliding association.