The first parachute jump was made by Andre-Jacques Garnerin from a balloon over Paris in 1797, and skydiving became a sport in the 1950s.
The timeline covers Leo Valentin’s stable body position that made free fall controllable and judgeable, the parachuting commission of the Federation Aeronautique Internationale, accelerated free fall training from 1981 and the tandem jump introduced in 1983.
Curious about the athletes who made history? Here’s a look at the best skydiving coaches.
Key Facts
| Who made the first parachute jump? | Andre-Jacques Garnerin, from a balloon over Paris in 1797, at roughly 1000 metres with a silk canopy. |
| When did it become a sport? | The 1950s. Leo Valentin’s stable body position turned falling into something that could be controlled and judged. |
| Who governs it? | The Federation Aeronautique Internationale, through its parachuting commission. |
| What is a tandem jump? | A jump attached to an instructor, introduced in 1983. It is how almost everyone makes their first jump today. |
| What is terminal velocity? | About 190 km/h belly to earth, and well over 300 km/h head down, which is what speed skydiving is scored on. |
| What is AFF? | Accelerated free fall, the training method from 1981 in which students free fall with instructors from the first jump. |
Skydiving History Summary
- ⏳ Origins and Evolution: Skydiving originated from the development of successful parachute designs in the early 20th century. Innovators like André-Jacques Garnerin and Charles Broadwick pushed the boundaries of parachuting, paving the way for modern skydiving.
- 🚀 Rise to Prominence: Military applications during World War II popularized parachuting, while advent of sport parachuting in the mid-20th century captured public interest. Pioneering skydivers set records, forming teams and competitions that elevated the sport to prominence.
- 🥇 Noteworthy Growth and Adaptation: The past decades have seen skydiving evolve through technological advancements, new disciplines, and global expansion. Safety improvements and accessibility have made skydiving more inclusive, contributing to its ongoing popularity in the world of extreme sports.
Timeline
| Year | What Happened |
|---|---|
| 1797 | Andre-Jacques Garnerin jumps from a balloon over Paris with a frameless silk parachute. |
| 1911 to 1914 | Grant Morton and Charles Broadwick jump from aircraft, and Broadwick demonstrates a quick-release harness. |
| 1930s | Germany and the Soviet Union form the first military parachute units and mass training begins. |
| 1939 to 1945 | Airborne operations in the war train hundreds of thousands of jumpers, who come home wanting to keep jumping. |
| 1950s | Leo Valentin develops the stable spread position and free fall becomes controllable rather than survivable. |
| 1951 | The first World Parachuting Championships are held in Yugoslavia. |
| 1964 | The ram-air square canopy is patented and steerable, flareable landings replace round parachutes. |
| 1981 and 1983 | Accelerated free fall training and then tandem jumping open the sport to people with no military background. |
| 1990s to today | Freeflying, wingsuits and canopy piloting emerge as disciplines with their own competitions. |
Tandem jumping in 1983 changed who the sport was for. Before it, becoming a skydiver took a training course and several solo jumps, and afterwards anyone could try it once on a weekend.
Skydiving is the best known of the air sports but far from the only one. See the full air sports list for the rest.
1797
André-Jacques Garnerin, a Frenchman, made the first recorded parachute jump, launching skydiving’s beginnings. Instead of free-falling, Garnerin ascended in a hot air balloon and jumped at approximately 3,200 feet with a silk parachute. His courageous feat influenced future parachute designs and ignited the dawn of parachuting.
1911-1914
Early 20th century inventors like Grant Morton and Charles Broadwick vastly improved parachute technology. Morton notably jumped from an aircraft using a parachute in 1911, while in 1914, Broadwick demonstrated a parachute with a quick-release harness. Their innovative designs significantly advanced the sport of skydiving.
1930s
During the 1930s, the military began to establish dedicated parachute regiments. In 1931, Germany’s Luftwaffe created the first airforce parachute unit, and the Soviets soon followed suit in 1935. These formations marked the beginning of a thriving military parachuting culture that would lead to further growth in the sport.
1937
Russian skydiver Mikhail Gushchin achieved a new milestone, completing 101 jumps in one day. This record-breaking feat showcased the potential of skydiving and attracted attention to the newfound sport. The excitement stirred by Gushchin’s daring accomplishment propelled the sport toward wider recognition.
1950s-1960s
Post-World War II, sport parachuting surged in popularity. In 1951, the first sport parachuting schools opened in France, spreading swiftly across Europe and the United States. The foundation of the Parachute Club of America, now the United States Parachute Association (USPA), in 1956 further legitimized the sport.
Competitive skydiving advanced during this period. The first World Parachuting Championships took place in Yugoslavia in 1951. In 1960, American skydiver Dan Sanborn set a new world record for the highest free-fall jump from 25,150 feet, a remarkable accomplishment that pushed the limits of what was possible.
1970s
The 1970s saw the advent of new, thrilling skydiving disciplines. Freeflying, a form of skydiving involving different body positions and orientations, emerged in the early 1970s. The sport’s evolution continued with the introduction of relative work, a discipline where jumpers create formations during free-fall.
1980s
Safety in skydiving saw major improvements during the 1980s. Automatic Activation Devices (AADs) became more widely adopted, greatly reducing the risk of accidents during parachute deployment.
The introduction of tandem skydiving in 1984 allowed inexperienced jumpers to experience the sport, making it more accessible to the general public.
1990s-2000s
With ongoing advancements in parachute technology, newer disciplines such as swooping (high-performance landings) and wingsuit flying emerged. The sport maintained its exponential growth, attracting more participants and enthusiasts than ever before.
Media coverage of skydiving events, like the 1997 World Air Games in Turkey, further elevated the sport’s profile on the global stage.
FAQ
Who invented Skydiving?
André-Jacques Garnerin is credited with inventing skydiving. He made the first recorded parachute jump from a height of 3,200 feet in 1797.
How did Skydiving become so popular?
Skydiving gained popularity due to the thrill and adrenaline rush it provides. Its visibility in the military and media also contributed to its popularity.
Where did Skydiving originate?
Skydiving originated in France, when inventor André-Jacques Garnerin made his pioneering parachute jump in 1797.
