Q: What's a drogue chute? A: A small parachute that the skydiver uses to pull out and open the main canopy.

Skydiving is one of those things that you probably see all the time. Pretty much every major soft drink has done a commercial with skydivers in it. Lots of action films feature skydivers. Skydiving appears in reality shows and is a mainstay of the military.

And it's easy to see why. The sport definitely has an edge to it. There is something about leaping from a plane and falling through the air at 120 miles per hour that really gets people's attention.

Have you ever wondered how skydiving works?

• What kind of equipment do skydivers use?
• How safe is skydiving as a sport?
• How do you become a skydiver and how much does it cost?

In this article, we will answer all of these questions and many more. The next time you watch someone skydiving on TV, you will have a whole new appreciation for what's going on!

Let's start by looking at what a typical jump is like for an experienced skydiver.