AUTOGRAPHS

PUT SKYDIVING ON YOUR BUCKET LIST – BEFORE YOU KICK THE BUCKET!

Way back in the 1840s, the man who painted the world’s most famous portrait, the Mona Lisa, was also the first man with the vision of man’s ability to skydive.  That man was Leonardo da Vinci, who was not only a talented painter but a scientist, architect, musician, engineer and inventor too – and he demonstrated a belief in man’s ability to fly when he sketched pyramid-shaped, wooden framed parachutes.

No doubt da Vinci never envisaged skydiving would become so popular.  He could never have imagined the simple parachute being involved in such extraordinary feats such as 400 people joining hands to achieve a world-record for the largest formation of freefalling jumpers or a 4-year old becoming the youngest ever skydiver.

The modern history of the sport began in the late eighteenth century with a Frenchman, Jacques Farnerin, boldly jumping out of hot air balloons over Europe.  Parachutes were initially designed to save the lives of people in the event of a plane accident – but after the world wars, the idea of parachuting as an adventure hobby started to take off.  The growth of the sport necessitated greater regulation and in during the 50s and 60s, many official clubs and associations were formed.  Intially, skydiving was seen as a hugely risky activity but as it grew in popularity and the facts became more widely known, more and more people signed up for their ‘leap of faith’.

Talking of risk – how risky is it to jump from a plane at around 14 000 feet above terra firma?  Well, if the experts are to believed, it’s not nearly as risky as driving to the shops – and much more exhilarating!  A typical jump involves between 45 to 60 seconds of freefall (around 1000 feet for every six seconds), then about five minutes of gentle descent, floating in incredible stillness and surrounded by breathtaking beauty. 

It’s not surprising that parachuting is on so many people’s ‘to-do’ lists.  And if you don’t want to wait until your twilight years to try it (unlike 101-year old Australian Frank Moody who successfully completed a tandem jump or 92-year old Herb Tanner of Ohio who was the oldest solo jumper on record – complete with artificial knees and hearing aid) – there’s a solution.  And if it’s not on your list of things to do – you may know someone whose list it is on   A company that specializes in gift certificates for skydiving gifts from one side of Australia to the other, from gifts in Sydney to great gifts in Perth – can help them earn their wings.

A simple piece of paper could be their licence to fly.  Of course, there are essential requirements such a fitness certificate and the local drop zone’s weight requirements, but if you know someone who dreams of an adrenalin rush – a gift certificate is one of the best men’s gifts to give someone the green light.   

Don’t wait.  Dare to dream.  A voucher for a joy flight could be that dream come true.   Could it be that the Mona Lisa was also dreaming of flying – hence her enigmatic smile?

craig stadler signing autographs