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Parachute Shapes: History and Relevance

December 30th, 2009
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Parachutes are fairly easy to make, as toy ones that is. However the parachutes that are made to use for real life is not as easy as you think. Parachutes have gone through a lot of development but at the costs of several lives.

When you’re free falling thousands of feet up in the air you can fall like pot from a window and literally break when you smash into the ground. No one wants this to happen. Parachutes have to made and prepared correctly. Fortunately modern designs have enabled safer and softer landings.

The shape of a parachute is very important. Parachutes have come in different shapes through the years. Improvements have led to the creation of more stable ones in square shapes.

Shapes and surface area

The early forms before the modern design was invented were conically shaped. They were usually made up of cloth and wooden struts. The very first one was a conic shaped parachute stiffened by wooden struts in 9th century.

The inventor was able to make a landing from a tower in Cordoba and suffered only minor injuries. Leonardo da Vinci made sketches of them but there were no evidence that showed it was put to use.

Sometimes the most important aspects of a subject are not immediately obvious. Keep reading to get the complete picture.

It was also used for entertainment because it enabled people to jump and float to the ground which was very fascinating at that time. In China parasols were used for entertaining people. A breakthrough in the development was made when silk was used. This time parachutes were intended to be used for disembarking from a hot air balloon.

In 1783 the modern parachute was invented. The shape was round and was compared to the jellyfish. Its major use was in the military in World War I and II. It was given to artillery spotters and pilots. Unfortunately they were heavy in those times. Further developments lead to the creation of paratroopers. These were soldiers dropped into the enemy lines for attack.

There are variations to the round shape parachute. Additions were made for other purposes. Annular and pull down apex were round parachutes with suspension lines. Ribbon and ring designs on the other hand are made for deployment at super sonic speeds.

It later on developed into a cruciform or square shape which is also used in modern designs today. The design gave the parachute more stability. Further improvements enabled the passenger to steer the parachute to a landing site. Modern designs are called “Ram air” with parafoils that enable the skydiver to control the speed and direction of the parachute.

The shape of the parachute is important because of its relation to surface area. The surface are is responsible for creating drag or air resistance which slows down the descent. The surface area blocks the air which creates the drag. The problem is the force of the air changes the parachute’s shape. This spills the air out of the parachute. A distorted parachute has less surface area which leads to less air resistance and more speed.

This is what makes creating parachutes more complicated than you think. The size of the parachute will depend on the payload or weight of its passenger.

Other materials also play a part in stabilizing the parachute and make sure that the canopy does not rip. Fortunately there are experts who can take care of that for us.

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By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit my latest acquisition: Free Google Traffic System and make sure to visit my bonus site!

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What are Parachutes?

December 26th, 2009
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This interesting article addresses some of the key issues regarding Parachuting. A careful reading of this material could make a big difference in how you think about Parachuting.

Skydiving is now one of the most popular extreme sports in modern times. The thrill of free falling in the sky and landing softly on the ground is an undeniably adrenaline pumping experience. The most important thing about this sport is the parachute. Kids can make homemade parachutes with the right materials.

Having a real one is a totally different story. Parachutes have a long history and development. Thanks to several daredevils it is now much safer to use compared before.

Parachutes have been made of different materials through out its development. There are also different types of parachutes that have been used throughout history. Before you think of going for skydiving lessons you have to know what parachutes are to ensure your safety. If your parachute does not deploy the way it should, it will fatal for you.

Parachutes

The word parachute means against the fall. It is designed to slow the motion of an object. Normally it used by people to slow down their descent to earth or to other celestial bodies. It can also be used to slow down the descent of objects to the atmosphere.
They can slow down not just vertical but also horizontal deceleration. Drogue parachutes are used to slow down fixed wing aircrafts and drag racers.

If your Parachuting facts are out-of-date, how will that affect your actions and decisions? Make certain you don’t let important Parachuting information slip by you.

They are have been made of different materials through the years. The very first one was made of a cloak with wooden struts. The parachute was conical shaped the same with Leonardo da Vinci’s sketches. Rigid parasol was used in China for entertainment. Modern designs are made of nylon that has “rip stop” and “Zero porosity” technology. Rip stop gives it a weave pattern which prevents it from tearing and ripping apart when used. The zero porosity technology prevents the air from passing through the fabric.

The first modern design was invented by Louis-Sébastien Lenormand in 1783. At that time it was thought to be used as a means for getting off a hot air balloon. It was then used for military purposes in the 19th century. It was used by artillery spotters in World War 1 that were secured to observation balloons. In World War II they were used for surprise attacks by landing soldiers on the enemy line.

First modern designs where round and usually used by paratroopers when they are deployed by an aircraft. These are usually drag devices which means they are not maneuverable and provide no lift. These were replaced by square ones through the Advance Tactical Parachute System.

Another variation of the round parachutes is the annular and pull apex. It’s a round parachute with suspension lines to the campy apex. A fabric can be removed at the apex to open a hole that releases the air and provides annular geometry. A similarity to this is the ribbon and ring parachutes that were designed to deploy at high speeds. They have ring shaped canopies with a hole in the center to release the pressure.

The commonly used design today is the Ram-air parachute. They have parafoils that have the same capabilities as paragliders. They enable the person to control the speed and direction for a soft landing.

Ram-air parachutes are used for skydiving and recreational purposes. They also have reserves for emergency and are packed in such a way that will guarantee proper deployment.

Now might be a good time to write down the main points covered above. The act of putting it down on paper will help you remember what’s important about Parachuting.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit my latest acquisition: Free Adsense eBook and make sure to claim your free adsense ebook download!

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Parasailing: The Thrill of Flying with Less Risks

December 18th, 2009
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Do you ever feel like you know just enough about Parachuting to be dangerous? Let’s see if we can fill in some of the gaps with the latest info from Parachuting experts.

Parachuting is not for the faint of heart. Although modern parachutes are now safer than they were decades before fear of heights will always permeate through society. Up in the air anything can still happen. When you’re free falling up in the air you only have a parachute to help you from falling to your death.

Let’s just hope that your reserve works when your parachute fails. Fortunately for those who are extra cautious, there is a recreation that will still give the opportunity that is harmless.

Most parachute skydiving involves a lot risk. Jumping off an aircraft thousands of feet from the ground already strikes fear. Fortunately parasailing eliminates that for a more comfortable ride. This recreational activity is usually offered at resorts for vacationers and tourists.

Harmless fun by the beach

The concept of parasailing began in the 60′s. Pierre Lamoigne unintentionally started the sport. He attached a parachute to his moving car to help his training for safe landing techniques. He used this method because it’s the easiest way to raise the pilot without having to use an aircraft. He was a parachute teacher and used this method to instruct his students.

How can you put a limit on learning more? The next section may contain that one little bit of wisdom that changes everything.

The intention was to raise the pilot high enough and then set him free to float. However when he did not set the pilot free this contributed to the start of the sport. Colonel Michel Tournier flew behind a tractor using his parachute in 1961.

In the 70′s Mark McCulloh used the parachutes at sea. He started raising the parachutes on the shore. After that he used a motorized platform he designed and later on a boat to raise his parachute. Water provided safer landings so parasailing were done at sea since then. He later on created the parasail winchboat.

In 1963 the Parachute Pioneer Company began making parasails. Jacques-André Istel bought the license from Pierre Lamoigne who made the first parasail to able to manufacture and sell it. Brian Gaskin also made some of the early parasails. He experimented with parachutes that were made in the 60′s and later on created the “Waterbird”. It’s the first true parasail that became the template for modern ones used today. In 1975 Brain Gaskin founded “Waterbird Parakites”, a company that makes parasails for commercial and recreational use in United Kingdom.

McCulloh’s parasail winchboat (which was introduced in the 80′s) along with Brian Gaskin’s “Waterbird” created a combination that made parasailing widespread. All parasailing operators use winchboats that are equipped with a power take off. The boat’s engine serves as a hydraulic winch. Parasails are annular and pull down apex type of parachutes. It is originally a variant of the round parachute with suspension lines and a hole in the apex that can be opened.

Water parasailing is mostly recreational while the ones done in land is a competitive sport in Finland. In land parasailing, instead of using a boat, they use a car or a snowmobile to raise the parasail. The vehicle towing the parasail controls the height and speed while the parascender controls lateral movement.

If you are looking for a safe thrilling ride then parasailing is for you. The faint of heart does not need to jump of a plane into dizzying heights. The water provides soft landing and a life vest comes as standard equipment.

Now that wasn’t hard at all, was it? And you’ve earned a wealth of knowledge, just from taking some time to study an expert’s word on Parachuting.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit my latest acquisition: Free Adsense eBook and make sure to claim your free adsense ebook download!

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Finding the Best Sites for Parachuting in Ohio

December 9th, 2009
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If you like parachuting, then Ohio is one of the best places to go. This state in the Midwest is host to a handful of exhibitions and aerial show annually. The weather and terrain, not to mention the scenic background that the Midwestern sunset brings, make it the perfect haven for parachuting spectators, enthusiasts and professional skydivers. That is why parachuting in Ohio is one of the most favorite pastimes of the state.

There are many parachuting sites in Ohio. All you need to do is to find one in your locality. Search the internet for listings of the sites and see if there is one in your area. But if you do not want to be a spectator anymore and are considering skydiving as a sport, you must first choose a skydiving school. You can find one in your area by visiting some websites or by driving around town. You can also ask your neighbor or some skydiver friend if there is any particular school that he can suggest.

Once you’ve chosen a skydiving school, it is time to register or enroll. Prior to enrolment, there shall be some screening to check if you are fit for skydiving. The good news is these skydiving schools are available for practically any type of skydiver, whether you are still a beginner or a more experienced one. This means that you are able to see and interact not only with new skydivers like you but also with those who live and breathe the sport. There are also some skydiving club or organization that you can join in these schools. Here you may also learn more information on your new sport.

Truthfully, the only difference between you and Parachuting experts is time. If you’ll invest a little more time in reading, you’ll be that much nearer to expert status when it comes to Parachuting.

After registering comes the actual training. Training period depends on your level and on the course that you enrolled in. After you’ve taken the basic course, you may opt for the next level in skydiving, where free fall techniques, tandem skydiving and skydiving formations may be taught, among others.

You may need some parachuting equipment for the training and, of course, the actual jump. You need to have a parachute system. A second parachute is also necessary. Aside from the parachutes, you may also be required to purchase altimeters and automatic activation device. Lastly, you may be required to purchase some gear or apparel such as a jumpsuit and other protective gear such as helmets and spinal protectors. Heavy-duty shoes are also essential.

These devices and equipment are necessary to make you “survive” the jump. That is why it is important to consider the quality of the product before buying them. You can visit a local sports store in Ohio to inquire about these. Advances in technology enable the production of better, more efficient pieces of equipment, that’s why you must know the latest trends in this field.

Parachuting in Ohio is a fun and thrilling activity that any person with no physical or medical constraints must try. Just remember to know what there is to know about parachuting before actually doing your first jump. While everybody may not be allowed to jump, or may not have the guts to do so, you may still enjoy the sport by watching the show. So if you reside in this state, watch out for announcements on a skydiving exhibition in your area.

If you’ve picked some pointers about Parachuting that you can put into action, then by all means, do so. You won’t really be able to gain any benefits from your new knowledge if you don’t use it.

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By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit my latest venture: GVO and make sure to claim your $1 trial membership!

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Videos of Parachuting ? Fun Way to Know the Sport Better

December 8th, 2009
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When one talks about parachuting, several things come to mind. The exhilarating feeling it gives to most skydivers, the high cost of its equipment, and the danger that comes along with it are some of them.

But just the same, the sport remains popular not only among skydivers but spectators as well. In fact, more enthusiasts are enjoying the sport not only by going to actual skydiving and parachuting events but also by watching videos on parachuting.

Skydiving and parachuting is one of the most popular activities in most sunny areas of the world. The excitement and adrenaline rush that it gives the skydiver is something that no other sport can give. Maybe because it gives men the illusion of flying that makes it really popular.

Because it is now considered more of a sport than just a recreational activity, there are several disciplines that call for both recreational and competitive events. Among the other disciplines are formation skydiving, sky surfing, free fall skydiving, paraski, canopy formation and BASE skydiving.

While there may be some accidents that occur during skydiving, these could be attributed to negligence and inexperience. These fatalities should not hinder you from trying it anyway. It is estimated that less than 1 in 1,000 jumps experience opening malfunction.

Before any jump, you must make sure that you have the proper equipment and training that you need. Examine your gear. Check them for any problems. Sometimes trained riggers do the packing of the parachute. Most people pack a second chute as back-up in case the main chute fails to open.

Truthfully, the only difference between you and Parachuting experts is time. If you’ll invest a little more time in reading, you’ll be that much nearer to expert status when it comes to Parachuting.

You must also learn the sport well. Look for skydiving facilities in your area and ask a trainer to teach you. You can join a skydiving club or organization in your area. You can also look at some listings of professional skydivers and see if anyone can train you.

Some trainers use videos in teaching. This makes learning more effective, since you will be able to see how it is actually done aside from reading it in books or hearing it from your trainer.

Aside from these instructional videos, you may also watch videos in some websites dedicated to skydiving. Here enthusiasts upload videos that are both instructional and entertaining. You will also learn tips and techniques in skydiving. Other skydiving enthusiasts can post their comments and opinions on important areas of skydiving such as equipment, apparel and skydiving sites.

To find more videos, you can look at websites which provide video sharing and type the keywords “parachuting” or “skydiving.” You will be surprised at the number of videos uploaded by members. You will see different formations and styles in shows and skydiving exhibitions. Of course, there may also be accidents that will be uploaded there.

There are many videos of parachuting that you can watch. When watching the instructional ones, you can actually learn the basics of skydiving before doing your first jump.

On the down side, watching videos which feature accidents may leave you feeling afraid, causing you to dread the sport without even trying it first. However it may affect you, watching the videos remains to be entertaining and educational at the same time. And they are readily available and accessible when you want to watch them.

There’s no doubt that the topic of Parachuting can be fascinating. If you still have unanswered questions about Parachuting, you may find what you’re looking for in the next article.

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By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit my latest venture: GVO and make sure to claim your $1 trial membership!

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Jump without a Parachute

December 7th, 2009
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The use of parachutes when jumping off a plane has been customary. It’s natural to rely on these devices to get you down on earth in one piece, even Evel Knievel used one. However some people are not thrilled by skydiving anymore. It was just a matter of time before someone pushed the limits of aerodynamics and parachute skydiving. Enthusiasts have found a way to jump off the plane without the use of parachute.

Using the flying squirrel as a model, skydivers are now attempting to disembark from a plane and land safely on the ground without a parachute. Many consider this as dangerous but tests are still being done around the world. The technology is still being developed and designers refuse to divulge their own idea due to competition.

Wing suit

Jumping off an airplane without a parachute is practically stupid but many skydiving enthusiasts are all competing to be the first one. Skydiving has been a common parachute sport today. Skydivers are willing to push the limits for a world record. Some skydivers have come up with their own design to enable them accomplish the feat.

Skydivers are attempting to land by using a wing suit without the use of a parachute. Wing suits are not new. A safer modern version has been created in 1990 by Patrick de Gayardon. Since then it has been put to use by enthusiasts with the aid of parachutes.

Using the wing suit and landing without the aid of parachute is almost akin to flying which has inspired many skydivers to push their abilities to the test. The trajectory is vertical as compared to the usual skydiving which is horizontal.

Now that we’ve covered those aspects of Parachuting, let’s turn to some of the other factors that need to be considered.

The wing suit has nylon woven tightly between the legs, arms, and torso. This creates wings that get filled with air and produce lift. The suit allows forward movement and aerial maneuvers while slowing down to descend.

Jeb Corliss, a BASE jumper, have designed his own wing suit that he thinks will enable him to land without a parachute. Currently he is still testing his design but hasn’t made any attempts to actually land using it. The first test involved jumping out of a plane, making a 270 turn and then re-enter the aircraft.

Unfortunately the first test didn’t do well; he missed the plane and was forced to land with a parachute. He plans to get funding and make the first landing on a runway that he will also design. The design will borrow from principle behind Nordic ski jumping.

Another designer has also made her own prototype wing suit. Maria von Egidy cannot test the suit herself so she employs skydivers to test them for her. She is also looking for funding and is still working on a way to land the pilot safely.

The main problem with wing suits is landing. Pilots can slow down vertical descent by 30 miles an hour but they are moving 75 miles per hour forward. Even though a pilot can manage to slow down their descent any wrong movement can be fatal. Mr. Corliss plan is to slide down while von Egidy is planning to create a form of forward brakes.

For now landing without a parachute is still in the works. Individuals may have to settle themselves with skydiving for now before they can glide through the sky like a flying squirrel.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit my latest venture: GVO and make sure to claim your $1 trial membership!

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A Brief History of Parachutes

November 11th, 2009
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The physics behind a parachute is easy to understand. But making real ones are far from easy. Making toy parachutes seem like a good idea for an easy science project but experimenting with different variations is not as easy as tying strings to a fabric. Making parachutes for use in real life takes a lot of risk and accuracy.

Before modern parachutes gave us the thrill of skydiving it took a lot of guts for early investors to design parachutes that actually work and not fall them to their death. The history of parachutes went through a lot of development and a few deaths.

The modern parachute was invented by Louis-S?bastien Lenormand in 1783. However there are earlier versions of parachutes created by a few centuries earlier. Before the silk parachute was invented, there were basic designs built that worked in the same principles.

Parachutes, past and present

The earliest form was a cloak attached to wooden struts. It was made by an Arab Muslim named Arem Firman in the 9th century. He jumped from a tower in Cordoba and suffered only minor injuries. Parasols were used in China for entertainment. It allows entertainers to jump form high places and float to the ground.

Leonardo da Vinci also sketched parachute with conical designs. It served as an escape device to enable people to jump from burning buildings. In 1617 Faust Vrancic was the first person to be able to make a successful jump with a parachute.

Jean Pierre Blanchard developed his own parachute as a means to get off a hot air balloon. His first demonstrations were done with a dog as the passenger. He later on unintentionally put his invention to the test as he escaped from his ruptured hot air balloon.

Those of you not familiar with the latest on Parachuting now have at least a basic understanding. But there’s more to come.

In the 1790′s he made a parachute out of silk which were more stringer and lighter than previously used materials. Early parachutes were made of linen with a wooden frame.

Andre Garnerin invented the vented parachute in 1797 and made a successful jump using Blanchard’s design. The vented parachute improved stability during descent. Gleb Kotelnikov invented he knapsack parachute. It was popularized by Katchlen Paulus and Paul Letterman.

The first major use of parachutes was in the military. It was by artillery spotters and pilots. Unfortunately the parachutes were heavy and pilots were not able to use it entirely. The German Air Service provided parachutes to their pilots. Unfortunately there were many setbacks that most of the pilots died when using them.

Leslie Irvin was able to invent a parachute that can be used by pilots when jumping out of an airplane in 1919. The Irvin parachute became successful leading to the creation of the Caterpillar Club.

Experiments on parachutes were continued by several countries. It was then used in surprise attacks by dropping soldiers in enemy lines in World War II. The soldiers were called paratroopers. Airborne forces and crew were trained and equipped with parachutes.

Their designs were developed and improved over time. After the war parachutes were used in skydiving which is an extreme sport. The latest parachute is called Ram-air which has the same capability of a paraglider.

It enables its passenger to control the speed and direction of the parachute for a soft landing. It’s made of nylon and uses the latest technology to prevent tearing.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, owner of this excellent site: Product Profits Club (click to claim your FREE membership)

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Military Parachuting ? History and Later Developments

October 26th, 2009
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When you think about Parachuting, what do you think of first? Which aspects of Parachuting are important, which are essential, and which ones can you take or leave? You be the judge.

From the first demonstration by a girl in 1914 to the final jump in the Pacific in the World War II, military parachuting proved to be of great value in military operations.

The year 1914 marked the first occasion that the military considered the use of airborne attack during battles and attacks. The use of parachuting was demonstrated by Charles Broadwick through his adopted 20 year old daughter Tiny. She gave perfect steering and landing but she was never seen after the jump. The design then was a basic backpack container which resembled a sleeveless coat.

While the military officers who witnessed the demonstration were enthusiastic about the project, the Army never approved of it, dismissing the benefits that could have otherwise turned the war in their favor. Later in the World War I, the pilots were made to fly without parachutes due to the belief of the generals that these men would abandon their planes in the slightest sign of provocation.

However, the Germans were already using parachutes for their military operations. While the design is rather basic, composed only of a canopy, several suspension lines and a container for the parachute, the parachutes gave the Germans good advantage over their enemies. The mechanism was a bit crude but it was a cause of envy among pilots.

After which, the Army was forced to adopt the use of parachutes in their operations which caused different results. In Normandy for example, of using parachutes yield great results in spite of the fact that the troops were highly disorganized thus the paratroopers went in different directions.

Several developments were made on the military parachutes. Nowadays, there are several designs that are being used for military operations. These are highly sophisticated designs that were made exclusively for military use. Also, there are some military divisions that are dedicated to the use of parachuting to deliver men and supplies to ground.

Think about what you’ve read so far. Does it reinforce what you already know about Parachuting? Or was there something completely new? What about the remaining paragraphs?

Special Operations Force, for example, performs high altitude jumping to accomplish missions. They include forces like Navy SEALS and Army Green Berets. On the other hand, Pararescue PJs make use of the HALO/HAHO as an important component of their paramedic operations.

HALO and HAHO jumps, High Altitude Low Opening and High Altitude High Opening jumps respectively are very unlike static-line jump which is the basic type of military parachuting and is done at a maximum altitude of 1000 feet. Static-line deploys paratroopers at the quickest way possible.

In the HALO or military skydiving, the jumpers freefall in groups. In sport sky divers this means no-contact RW. On the other hand, HAHO is similar to cross country skydiving where the jumper glides from an altitude of 25, 000 feet.

HAPPS or High Altitude Precision Parachute System (also popularly known as stealth parachutes because these cannot be seen easily on the ground) is the skydiving rig used in military operations. This rig is quite similar to the ones used by sports skydivers; the only main difference is that there are attachments in the HAPPS that allow for other items to be carried.

Also, there is a harness for the O2 gear. For both canopies, the usual size is 360 sq feet. Oftentimes, the soldiers have to carry 150 lbs of equipment when deployed in remote areas which require special features that will support this weight.

Military parachuting, with all its sophistications and advancements, is made for tactical operations alone and not for recreation.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit my latest venture: GVO to claim your $1 trial membership!

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Parachuting Statistics on Accidents

October 24th, 2009
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Despite the lack of concrete parachuting statistics, misconceptions still surround both parachuting and skydiving. Many people believe that every year, there are a lot of individuals who die or get injured because of parachuting and they attribute a great number of reasons to these wrong assumptions.

There are only several reasons why parachuting accidents occur including malfunctioning equipment such as a canopy or a reserve canopy that did not open, collisions between jumpers, and difficulties during landing. Malfunctioning equipment is said to have claimed more lives than the other two major causes of accidents. However, operator error is the real culprit for most of the time.

For one, jumpers do not use just one canopy, instead they have a main canopy and second canopy which makes it almost impossible for jumpers to get injured because of malfunctioning equipment. Also, it is usually the problem of lines tangling rather than broken parachutes. On the other hand, difficulty in landing is usually contributed by factors that are often not subject to the control of the jumper.

Usually, accidents due to landing are attributed to poor estimation of how much longer jumpers have to take to perform maneuvers in the air. The third reason is largely due to jumpers deploying their parachutes so closely together.

It is easy for people to believe that novices are involved in more parachuting accidents than experts. But in reality, there are lesser chances that students will get injured or die during jumps. In fact, there are more expert jumpers who die each year in parachuting than students due to the fact that they tend to try higher altitudes which increase the risk of accidents.

You may not consider everything you just read to be crucial information about Parachuting. But don’t be surprised if you find yourself recalling and using this very information in the next few days.

According to studies, parachuting is considerably safer when compared with perceived lesser risky sports such as scuba diving or board surfing. In fact the average death due to parachuting is only 30 in every 100,000 jumps while there is a higher rate of 47 deaths in every 1000,000 scuba diving exercises every year. There is a higher rate of death in mountain climbing totaling to 50 deaths in every 100,000 and 67 lives are claimed every year because of hot air ballooning.

Interestingly history proved that parachuting accidents could be deterred even when it seems most impossible. There are so many accounts in the past, particularly in World War I and II, which proved that people jumped and met accidents while airborne and still managed to get through it with minor injuries. And there are those who miraculously survived the feat with only bruises.

In all there are 21 people who died during 2004 due to parachuting, 25 in 2003, 33 jumpers in 2002, and 35 people in 2001. Some of these deaths may have occurred due to jumping without parachutes.

Accidents in extreme sports are inevitable. However, it is surprising that people’s common perception is not always right. A sport may seem to be less risky but actually has higher risks than those sports that are more exciting and exposes people to more hazards.

Parachuting is among those sports that are perceived to excite the nerves because of thrill but actually has a lot lower percentage of injuring or killing people. This is just not another false perception; it is real and is backed by parachuting statistics.

Take time to consider the points presented above. What you learn may help you overcome your hesitation to take action.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit my latest venture: GVO to claim your $1 trial membership!

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Parachute Science Projects

October 8th, 2009
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Parachutes are a good way to learn about physics and aerodynamics. They are also fairly easy to make with the right materials. The materials can be made out of plastic bags, nylon fabrics from discarded tents, strings and an object that will serve as the payload.

The instructions are very easy and there many resources that you can find in the internet. This is why parachutes are common science projects.

There are many variations that can be done with a parachute. You can make different designs and make a few variations with your over all design to yield different results.

Parachute Projects

Parachutes work by slowing down the descent of a person or object in the atmosphere. They create drag or air resistance that slows down the descent while being pulled down by gravity. You can experiment with different designs but the easiest to make would be round shaped parachutes.

Sometimes the most important aspects of a subject are not immediately obvious. Keep reading to get the complete picture.

When an object falls down it has to push air molecules away. This causes the drag or air resistance that inflates parachutes. The amount of drag can be measured through the cross sectional area of the object. The canopy of a parachute has a large cross sectional area which results to more drag. This is what makes the falling object with a parachute slow down.

To be able to make a falling object have a soft landing, it must reach a terminal velocity. This is accomplished when the weight of the object is equal to the drag or air resistance. To be able to get the right drag you must have a chute with the right size. The size of the chute will depend on the payload or your weight. Generally, heavier objects need canopies with bigger radius. There is a formula for a decent speed for payloads that is applied to round parachutes.

The best way to start is to go simple first so that you will have an idea on how it works. Then you can go from there and experiment with different materials and weights. Using sand can be a bit hard to gauge. You can opt to go for large canopies if you want to try heavier weights. There are materials that are air resistant while some are not. Most if the time it will depend on the weight of your materials.

Toy parachutes can be made from plastic bags and strings. Apart from plastic bags you can also use a bandanna, handkerchief, scarf or any lightweight fabric. If fabrics are not available use lightweight paper. You can decide on what object you are going to use for the payload. The simplest payload would be metal washers. It’s preferable to use lightweight strings.

Make small overhand knots at the corners of your cloth. Then tie the string above the knots. Hold the center of your cloth and pull the strings. Tie the ends of your strings with an overhand knot. Lastly tie the strings to the metal washer. Release the parachute 6 feet high.

It’s more convenient to use a lark’s head knot so that you will able to easily untie your payload. You can add more metal washers if you want to experiment. You can also add suspension lines if you want a different design. There are also other materials that you can use. After you know the basics you can try out nylon fabrics from discarded tents and have heavier weights.

It never hurts to be well-informed with the latest on Parachuting. Compare what you’ve learned here to future articles so that you can stay alert to changes in the area of Parachuting.

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By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit my latest venture: GVO to claim your $1 trial membership!

Parachuting