Summary
In the "Stuff You Should Know" podcast episode, "How Skydiving Works," the hosts delve into the fascinating history, evolution, and modern-day techniques of skydiving, while also providing valuable information about the types of jumps, necessary certifications, and various equipment used by skydivers.
Tracing its origins back to France, the hosts highlight the evolution of parachute technology, from simple silk and wooden-framed parachutes to the backpack parachute developed by Charles Broadwick, which would go on to be adopted by militaries worldwide. As the sport continued to grow in popularity, the 1960s brought further innovation with Domino Jalbert's ram-air parachute design, and the introduction of tandem jumps in the 1970s made skydiving more accessible to amateurs, many of whom can experience free fall after just a one-hour course.
Moving on to certifications, the hosts detail the different types of skydiving training courses, instructor-assisted deployment (IAD), and accelerated free fall (AFF). To be fully licensed, skydivers must pass various exams and invest in quality equipment. The class A skydiving license, for example, requires a minimum of 25 free-fall jumps, five group jumps, and months of training.
In addition to discussing the process of obtaining a license, the episode explores the thrilling modern twists on traditional skydiving experiences, including formation flying, free-flying, sky surfing, tracking, and wing-suiting. The hosts also emphasize the importance of having proper skydiving equipment, ranging from parachutes and altimeters, to automatic activation devices (AADs), harnesses and containers, helmets, and goggles.
Lastly, the podcast takes an adventurous turn by delving into the unique and exciting world of hot air balloon jumps and space dives, showcasing the ever-evolving nature of skydiving as a sport and adrenaline-filled pastime. Overall, this engaging episode manages to inform and entertain, while providing listeners with the knowledge and insight needed to better understand the exhilarating world of skydiving.
