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Parachute. Facts about parachutes

A parachute is a means of falling through the air safely from a great height. Looking rather like a large umbrella, it works by air resistance. The large inverted curved surface moves downwards slowly because of the resistance of the air pressing up against it. For the same reason, a leaf or a sheet of paper falls more slowly than a stone does.

Facts about parachutes: its are important in war. A cluster of six parachutes supports a 2V2 ton army truck	Peacetime - uses of parachutes as fact include the sport of sky-diving. Six airmen join hands in mid-air during a dive

Today parachutes have four main uses. They are used in emergencies by airmen after they have jumped or been ejected from aircraft and by paratroopers for landing safely. They are used for slowing down the fall of cargoes dropped from aircraft or space capsules after they have re-entered the Earth's atmosphere. Parachutes are used as brakes by high-speed aircraft or 'drag' racing cars. And they are used in the sport of sky-diving. Special steerable parachutes allow people to control their falls and land accurately on target. Many countries have parachute jumping teams which compete in international matches.

Parachutes are packed in a special way and worn on a harness. A ring on the front of the pack connects with the rip-cord. When the ring is pulled, the parachute billows out. The person then falls - at a speed of about 16 feet per second.

Military parachutes have a recommended service life - 16.5 years. The personnel parachute has term of use too, which is equal 12 years.

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