Most people consider skydiving a product of the 20th century, but its history actually goes further back than that.
Most
people
consider
skydiving
a
product
of
the
20th
century
,
but
its
history
actually
goes
further
back
than
that
.
The Chinese attempted to parachute in the 10th century, a thousand years before we did.
The
Chinese
attempted
to
parachute
in
the
10th
century
,
a
thousand
years
before
we
did
.
The Chinese did what we would today call base diving; that is, they jumped off a place that would allow them to float from a height to the ground.
The
Chinese
did
what
we
would
today
call
base
diving
;
that
is
,
they
jumped
off
a
place
that
would
allow
them
to
float
from
a
height
to
the
ground
.
The first person to attempt to parachute was a Frenchman named Jacques Garnerin.
The
first
person
to
attempt
to
parachute
was
a
Frenchman
named
Jacques
Garnerin
.
He jumped from his hot-air balloon at the end of the 18th century and did tricks on the way down and stupefied the crowds by landing safely on the ground.
He
jumped
from
his
hot-air
balloon
at
the
end
of
the
18th
century
and
did
tricks
on
the
way
down
and
stupefied
the
crowds
by
landing
safely
on
the
ground
.
At the end of the 19th century, Kathie Paulus, a brave German woman, became famous for her skydiving skills.
At
the
end
of
the
19th
century
,
Kathie
Paulus
,
a
brave
German
woman
,
became
famous
for
her
skydiving
skills
.
Once the airplane was invented, skydiving took on a whole new form.
Once
the
airplane
was
invented
,
skydiving
took
on
a
whole
new
form
.
The airplane made it possible to dive from greater heights at greater speeds, allowing for more range in the movements in the air.
The
airplane
made
it
possible
to
dive
from
greater
heights
at
greater
speeds
,
allowing
for
more
range
in
the
movements
in
the
air
.
A woman named Tiny Broadwick became the first woman to jump from a plane in 1913 and dive free fall in 1914.
A
woman
named
Tiny
Broadwick
became
the
first
woman
to
jump
from
a
plane
in
1913
and
dive
free
fall
in
1914
.
Skydiving was not called skydiving until the middle of the 1950s, when Ronald Young invented the word.
Skydiving
was
not
called
skydiving
until
the
middle
of
the
1950s
,
when
Ronald
Young
invented
the
word
.
It had been called parachuting before this and was mainly used by the military to land troops in inland locations, or for pilots to jump out of their planes when necessary.
It
had
been
called
parachuting
before
this
and
was
mainly
used
by
the
military
to
land
troops
in
inland
locations
,
or
for
pilots
to
jump
out
of
their
planes
when
necessary
.
Once World War I was over, parachuting became a sport, which we now call skydiving.
Once
World
War
I
was
over
,
parachuting
became
a
sport
,
which
we
now
call
skydiving
.
After World War II, this activity became more a hobby than a military action.
After
World
War
II
,
this
activity
became
more
a
hobby
than
a
military
action
.
Soldiers were trained in parachuting and enjoyed the thrill so much that they continued on for fun.
Soldiers
were
trained
in
parachuting
and
enjoyed
the
thrill
so
much
that
they
continued
on
for
fun
.
From this, teams and competitions were formed.
From
this
,
teams
and
competitions
were
formed
.
Skydiving schools appeared in the late 1950s and now it is a recognized extreme sport enjoyed by many.
Skydiving
schools
appeared
in
the
late
1950s
and
now
it
is
a
recognized
extreme
sport
enjoyed
by
many
.
Most people consider skydiving a product of the 20th century, but its history actually goes further back than that. The Chinese attempted to parachute in the 10th century, a thousand years before we did. The Chinese did what we would today call base diving; that is, they jumped off a place that would allow them to float from a height to the ground.  The first person to attempt to parachute was a Frenchman named Jacques Garnerin. He jumped from his hot-air balloon at the end of the 18th century and did tricks on the way down and stupefied the crowds by landing safely on the ground. At the end of the 19th century, Kathie Paulus, a brave German woman, became famous for her skydiving skills.  Once the airplane was invented, skydiving took on a whole new form. The airplane made it possible to dive from greater heights at greater speeds, allowing for more range in the movements in the air. A woman named Tiny Broadwick became the first woman to jump from a plane in 1913 and dive free fall in 1914.  Skydiving was not called skydiving until the middle of the 1950s, when Ronald Young invented the word. It had been called parachuting before this and was mainly used by the military to land troops in inland locations, or for pilots to jump out of their planes when necessary. Once World War I was over, parachuting became a sport, which we now call skydiving.  After World War II, this activity became more a hobby than a military action. Soldiers were trained in parachuting and enjoyed the thrill so much that they continued on for fun. From this, teams and competitions were formed. Skydiving schools appeared in the late 1950s and now it is a recognized extreme sport enjoyed by many.