Skydiving, today, is a very popular sport that attracts millions
of people each year to participate. The feeling of freedom and the
exhilaration of falling weightless through the air are experiences many
people pay big bucks to get. However, the origins of how skydiving
started may be a surprise to many people.
The earliest recorded skydiving attempt or recognition goes all the way back to China in 90 B.C. Emperor Shun was in peril of his life; his father was trying to kill him. In an attempt to escape, he went into a granary tower and while he was in there, his father set fire to it. Seemingly with no other option to escape, he strung together several straw hats which were conical in shape. After making his 'first' parachute, he jumped from the top of the granary tower, holding the conical hats which acted like a parachute and actually delivered him safely to the ground.
In 1100, Canton, an Arab escaped after stealing property by climbing to the top of a mosque and using two umbrellas, one in each hand (without handles). These acted like mini parachutes and also landed him safely to the ground.
China continued to amaze with the invention of parachute like devices. Acrobats, both Chinese and Thai, were known to use parachute like devices to entertain the courts at the Imperial Court. This inspired the first 'real' prototype of a parachute to be constructed in the 1680s in France, during the reign of King Louis XIV.
However, official recognition for developing the parachute goes to Joseph Montgolfier from France, who used a parachute during the late 18th century to jump successfully out of a hot air balloon. This success led to people using parachutes as a precaution and safety method while traveling in hot air balloons, which, during that time, could be very dangerous and not always the most desired way for travel.
Later, the parachutes were brought in to help the military so that soldiers could safely escape an aircraft that was disabled or going down as well as to deliver rations and other necessities to their armies. As the continued use of parachutes became more and more popular just for their safety benefits, they also became extremely popular with enthusiasts who wanted to test their endurance and experience the freedom of skydiving.
Thus, skydiving had officially been born. The booming popularity of skydiving only increased with the invention of the airplane and other aircraft. Today, skydiving enthusiasts can be seen enjoying their passion by jumping out of most anything including planes, helicopters, balloons and other flying machinery as well as jumping from buildings, cliffs and other high places. Skydiving has become so popular and such a widespread sport that it has grown into various types of competitions that competitors travel around the world to test their skill and abilities against others.
Skydiving has changed a lot since the Emperor Shun's frantic attempt to escape death at the hands of his father. Today, Skydiving isn't just used for sporting events, but also to save lives and aid in military movements. From the conical hats to the huge (and much safer) parachutes of today, skydivers everywhere are always looking for that better jump, the higher free-fall, the total freedom that skydiving allows.
The earliest recorded skydiving attempt or recognition goes all the way back to China in 90 B.C. Emperor Shun was in peril of his life; his father was trying to kill him. In an attempt to escape, he went into a granary tower and while he was in there, his father set fire to it. Seemingly with no other option to escape, he strung together several straw hats which were conical in shape. After making his 'first' parachute, he jumped from the top of the granary tower, holding the conical hats which acted like a parachute and actually delivered him safely to the ground.
In 1100, Canton, an Arab escaped after stealing property by climbing to the top of a mosque and using two umbrellas, one in each hand (without handles). These acted like mini parachutes and also landed him safely to the ground.
China continued to amaze with the invention of parachute like devices. Acrobats, both Chinese and Thai, were known to use parachute like devices to entertain the courts at the Imperial Court. This inspired the first 'real' prototype of a parachute to be constructed in the 1680s in France, during the reign of King Louis XIV.
However, official recognition for developing the parachute goes to Joseph Montgolfier from France, who used a parachute during the late 18th century to jump successfully out of a hot air balloon. This success led to people using parachutes as a precaution and safety method while traveling in hot air balloons, which, during that time, could be very dangerous and not always the most desired way for travel.
Later, the parachutes were brought in to help the military so that soldiers could safely escape an aircraft that was disabled or going down as well as to deliver rations and other necessities to their armies. As the continued use of parachutes became more and more popular just for their safety benefits, they also became extremely popular with enthusiasts who wanted to test their endurance and experience the freedom of skydiving.
Thus, skydiving had officially been born. The booming popularity of skydiving only increased with the invention of the airplane and other aircraft. Today, skydiving enthusiasts can be seen enjoying their passion by jumping out of most anything including planes, helicopters, balloons and other flying machinery as well as jumping from buildings, cliffs and other high places. Skydiving has become so popular and such a widespread sport that it has grown into various types of competitions that competitors travel around the world to test their skill and abilities against others.
Skydiving has changed a lot since the Emperor Shun's frantic attempt to escape death at the hands of his father. Today, Skydiving isn't just used for sporting events, but also to save lives and aid in military movements. From the conical hats to the huge (and much safer) parachutes of today, skydivers everywhere are always looking for that better jump, the higher free-fall, the total freedom that skydiving allows.
