High-altitude parachute jump, 1962

Photograph, 1962.

Most military parachuting occurs at relatively low altitudes as its primary goal is to get men and equipment on the ground quickly. High altitude parachuting is a specialist form of parachuting carried out by the Special Forces and military display teams like the Red Devils. They use use steerable chutes that they deploy themselves at whatever altitude is required. Their square parachutes are more maneuverable than the standard round static line chutes used by most airborne forces and are used for precision landings.