The allure of hot air ballooning is easy to understand. Traveling high above the earth enjoying a bird’s-eye view of everything below, it is a form of flight which harkens back to simpler times. Perhaps this is why it is a favorite of romantics everywhere, who celebrate their most important moments while traveling in a hot air balloon. This simplicity does not mean that hot air ballooning is completely safe. In fact, 11 people lost their lives in hot air balloon accidents from 1997 to 2007. Equipment failure and inclement weather contribute to accidents every year but pilot error accounts for 85% of all mishaps.

Most people hear the word “skydiving” and immediately envision a highly dangerous sport in which they would never participate for fear of a skydiving accident. In reality, skydiving is relatively safe. The United States Parachute Association estimates that 350,000 people in the United States complete approximately 3 million jumps each year. Yet there are only about 30 fatalities each year. Statistically, driving a car is more dangerous than skydiving.

Paragliding is a popular sky sport where a pilot sits in a harness suspended below a fabric wing. The paraglider is foot-launched into the wind and becomes airborne. In the 1950′s, several developments to the parachute contributed to the evolution of the paraglider. Some of the most exciting advancements came after NASA technology, using parachutes for the recovery of space capsules, was applied to paragliders.