k_marr08 0 #1 April 8, 2006 hello, new to the sport - have 8 tandems and 2 aff jumps (failed #2 but that's besides the point) - I am a college student and have to write a paper on the origin and developement of a sport (of course I picked "sport parachuting") --- It has to be at least 6 pages and am looking for sources - I've found parachuting: the skydivers handbook and a few articles in the uspa magazine, but wondering if there's more that anyone knows of? preferably books with general history, but websites are appreciated too... thank you!"I believe the risks I take are justified by the sheer love of the life I lead" - Charles Lindbergh Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #2 April 8, 2006 Here is a good website. Some books to look for include "Sky People" and "Great Moments in Parachuting History" - don't have them handy and I don't remember the author's names, sorry... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
k_marr08 0 #3 April 8, 2006 well thank you :-)"I believe the risks I take are justified by the sheer love of the life I lead" - Charles Lindbergh Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JerryBaumchen 1,422 #4 April 8, 2006 Hi k_marr08, There is a guy by the name of Jim Bates, who is a member of Connetictut Parachutes (sp?). They might have a website, but he is world of info on our history. Try to locate him, Jerry Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
itllclear 1 #5 April 8, 2006 try http://www.parachutehistory.com/"Harry, why did you land all the way out there? Nobody else landed out there." "Your statement answered your question." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Orange1 0 #6 April 8, 2006 It might be interesting to point out that this is one of the few sports where women were heavily involved at the start... do a search under "Tiny Broadwick", which may lead you to other interesting history pages.Skydiving: wasting fossil fuels just for fun. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
drjump 0 #7 April 8, 2006 The Skydiver's Handbook by Dan Poynter and Mike Turoff is a good start. Filled with all kinds of history. The go to The Parachute Manual (A technical Treatise on Aerodynamic Decelarators) by Dan Poynter. Or just find some old farts with four digit D-license numbers at the drop zone and listen to the stories we tell. Doc D-2785 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
howardwhite 6 #8 April 8, 2006 The books alrady suggested are useful. You need --especially in such a short paper -- to figure out a focus. The first collegiate parchute meet was in 1957, at Good Hill Farm in Connecticut. The first commerical sport parachute center opened May 2, 1959 in Orange MA. For a look at the history of those and related things, see: http://projectpi.skydiveworld.com/index.htm which is somewhat inaccurate in places and is no no longer being actively maintained. Jim Bates's articles in recent Parachutist magazines also shed some light on this. Meanwhile, parachute clubs seemed to sprout all over the country in 1959 -- there's lots of argument about which was the first. And while the big commercial operations did their thing in the northeast and southern California, the Star Crest site referenced here points to a different kind of skydiving life. So do you want to write about people and how they decided to jump out of planes? Or about commercial vs. club approaches to supporting the habit? Or about how equipment has evolved from military surplus rounds to tiny squares? Or how training has evolved from static line to AFF and Tandem. Only six or so pages? Have fun. HW Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freakflyer9999 1 #9 April 8, 2006 QuoteHere is a good website. Some books to look for include "Sky People" and "Great Moments in Parachuting History" - don't have them handy and I don't remember the author's names, sorry... The Sky People is by Peter Hearn. ISBN 1 853101141 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JerryBaumchen 1,422 #10 April 8, 2006 Hey k_marr08, Just take what we tell with a large grain of salt. Jerry D-1543 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #11 April 10, 2006 "Birdman" about Leo Valentine. Leo learned to freefall during the 1930s, served in teh French SAS during World War 2. He taught himself how to fall stable in 1948 and started teaching the "arch" position to other skydivers before moving on to experiment with early wing suits. Those Frenchmen were doing stable freefalls and relative work long before Americans were in diapers (inside joke). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zoobrothertom 5 #12 April 10, 2006 QuoteHey k_marr08, Just take what we tell with a large grain of salt. Quote Well said... A grain of salt and double check...____________________________________ I'm back in the USA!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Ugali 0 #13 May 3, 2006 the wild, wonderful world of parachutes and parachuting. by Bud Sellick Tom, Tom Tom, Tommy, Tom Love Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites riggerrob 643 #14 May 4, 2006 Also research Jacques Andre Istel, a French-American who imported French techniques to the USA in the late 1950s. Istel established the first commercial parachute schools in Orange, Mass and Hemet, California. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0 Go To Topic Listing
Ugali 0 #13 May 3, 2006 the wild, wonderful world of parachutes and parachuting. by Bud Sellick Tom, Tom Tom, Tommy, Tom Love Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #14 May 4, 2006 Also research Jacques Andre Istel, a French-American who imported French techniques to the USA in the late 1950s. Istel established the first commercial parachute schools in Orange, Mass and Hemet, California. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
