A NEW SPORT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22628, 20 July 1935, Page 24

A NEW SPORT

FOR YOUTH OF RUSSIA PARACHUTE JUMPERS. The aeroplane slowly circles over the green field of the aerodrome. I lie unceasing hum of the motor is scarcely heard by those on the ground, who have crowded near a gigantic “ F ” dressed in blue «y----ing clothes and helmets, with strange haversacks on back and breast. D rom below (writes 0. Dimin in the Melbourne Argus) the aeroplane looks like a bird of prey with outstretched wings. But what is happening there on the wing . A small figure creeps out from the cockpit, and a minute later, with a sudden jerk, falls headlong into the emptiness of the cool morning air. All the thoughts of the watchers are focused on the small figure lost in the vast ocean of air. Feelings of time space vanish in the expectancy of these tense moments. “Will it open or not. As suddenly as the figure had fallen a huge umbrella seems to open above it. The precipitous approach to the eartn slows. The parachute shining in the bright spring sunlight like a rainbow, descends with a smooth and slowly rocking motion. Already the form of the P. ara ' chute jumper can be seen clearly outlined against the cloudless background. He reaches the ground, the billowing heaves of the parachute spreading behind like a huge train. Rapidly, and in business-like fasnion he begins to unfasten it, gathu it together, and pack it. The crowd rushes towards him, calling, “Well, how did it go?” . "Everything went all right. Quite a good descent, the map answers trying to speak calmly to conceal his feeling ot Pride ’ THE FIRST JUMP. Well may he be proud! This w a npvpr-to-be-forgotten day—the day ot flis first trial jump. Now he is entitled to pin on his breast the blue enamelled badge of a parachute jumper a badge ot couiagt, intreoiditv, and skill. ... The Osoaviakhim Parachute-junipin b School is situated at Tushmo, near Moscow Every day when the weather is good you may see a fine display of .parachutejumping here. This new sport is becoming oopX- and the number of its devotees increases almost from day to day. LRUe known a year or two ago when there we e fewer than 10 parachute-jumpers, it tab now become a “ mass sport in the Soviet U Alf this is due to the activity of the Osoaviakhim School and Moshkovski, its founder and leader .In Februaryoflast year Moshkovski, himself a flyer paia chutist, together with two coUaboUitoiß, Balashov and Ostnkov, orgamsed t s school. Since that tune several thousand people have passed through the school and Eave been given the-title of parachutist Most of them have already made scoies ot jumps and several hundred have become ln ThEre°a S re few parachutists who have not experienced involuntary feelings ol fear before their first jump, and it takes considerable screwing up of one s courage to launch oneself thus into space. Actual demonstration is a decisive factor. Mosli kovski has set the record in tins, having made 101 jumps. Balashov and Ostnkov have each made about 70. Moshkovski e success is clue to the fact that he has complete control over lus nerves, which ia the first- necessity for every paiachutist, since an error of judgment in opening the parachute too soon or too late may have fatal consequences. The period of training in the school last's only 10 days. In this period the students are taught to pack and unpack the parachute and the different theories of landing. The training is so good tha-, although jumps from an aeroplane may seem dangerous, in the life of the school there has never been any case either Ot death or injury.

FEELING THE AIR. In August of last year, at the Aircraft Festival at Tushino, the picturesque sight was seen of 62 parachutists plunging through the air at the same time from a squadron of aeroplanes 62 manycoloured tulips burst into flower in the bright blue of the sky. These 62 parachutists belong to the school, and by their daring example they induced manjr new members to join. Now in Moscow alone there are several score circles of parachutists in mills and factories. In the provinces, too. schools and circles have been organised, in the Ukraine, in Rostov. in Leningrad, and in other towns. The effect of parachute jumps on the human constitution has scarcely been studied yet, but the school plans this year to begin research in this problem. The sport can be successfully practised even bv people of 40 years and over. Many women and girls have made numbers of successful descents, and have become instructcrs of others. One noteworthy fact is that, while' men have been found who at the last moment could not face the plunge into space and refused to jump, there has opt yet been such a case among the women. , . . As well as ordinary parachute-jumping, the school is beginning to train people for delayed jumps. These are done from heights of several thousand feet, and they require great nerve. The parachutist jumps from a great height and then wqjts until he is only a few hundred feet above the ground before nulling the cord opening the parachute. Interesting data may be provided from such jumps on the adaptability of the human to withstand great strains.