Air Sports
Sports whose arena is the air itself: skydiving, paragliding, hang gliding, wingsuit flying, ballooning and formation aerobatics.
8 sports in air sports.
Aerobatics
Aviation sport of performing acrobatic maneuvers in aircraft — loops, rolls, spins, tumbles, inverted flight. Governed by FAI CIVA (Commission Internationale de Voltige Aérienne). World Aerobatic Championships biennial since 1960; Red Bull Air Race (2003-2019) popularized. Iconic aircraft: Extra 300, Sukhoi Su-26, Pitts Special.
Air Racing
Race light aerobatic planes through a course of inflatable pylon gates at 370 km/h and up to 10G.
Canopy Piloting
Skydiving discipline of high-speed final swoops — piloted parachute traverses a set course just above the ground.
Formation Skydiving
Team skydivers link up in prescribed belly-to-earth formations during a 35-second freefall — most formations per jump wins.
Gliding
Unpowered fixed-wing flight in a high-aspect-ratio sailplane — ride thermal, ridge and wave lift for hours.
Hot Air Ballooning
Aviation sport using large fabric envelope filled with hot air (heated by propane burner) for lift. Modern hot air balloon first flown November 21, 1783 by Montgolfier brothers (France). Iconic sport in Albuquerque NM (Balloon Fiesta since 1972; world's largest annual balloon event; 500+ balloons). FAI Ballooning World Championships.
Hot Air Ballooning
Sport of piloting a hot-air balloon — competitive tasks include target-drop, hare-and-hounds and flight distance.
Paramotor
Foot-launched flight beneath a paraglider wing with a small back-mounted motor — the simplest form of powered flight.