Parachutes and Parachuting : A Modern Guide to the Sport

Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall. Very Good/Very Good. 1971. First Edition. Hard Cover. 8vo 0136485359 Dust jacet complete. Parachuting buffs, pull your ripcords and read on. Here is the all-in-one handbook for enthusiasts of today's fast-growing sport. In his lucid and free-wheeling style, veteran parachutist Bud Sellick probes all the aspects of the sport, the how-to and the history, in a volume destined to become required reading for professionals and amateurs alike. From Leonardo da Vinci's first conceptions to the World War I rush to develop a reliable parachute, from the hilarious airshows of the 20's to the first flyers ejected from supersonic flights-the often humorous, sometimes tragic history of parachuting is traced. The amazing feats of parachuting "greats," such as Jaques Istel and Lew Sandborn, are depicted along with the problems they faced in developing a sport which doubles as a life-saving precaution. Bud Sellick dispels the "daredevil" myth of today's parachuting, and embraces it as a sport to be enjoyed. He gives expert tips and instructions on accomplishing turns, barrel rolls, frontloops, and jumps with others, which provide the unique thrill of seeing another person drifting weightless. He also explores the use of instruments-stopwatches and altimeters. .