Demystifying the High-Flying World of HALO Jumping

For most people, jumping out of a perfectly good airplane is scary enough. Now imagine leaping from a jet cruising at 30,000 feet or higher. That‘s what makes High Altitude, Low Opening (HALO) parachute jumps so incredible. This guide will illuminate everything about these daring freefalls that embody courage, skill, and science.

A Brief History of Human Flight…Without Wings

Jumping from extreme heights with parachutes dates back surprisingly far…

9th century AD – Islamic scholars speculate about using a tent-like apparatus to float down from high structures. The idea was rudimentary, but revolutionary for its time.

15th century – Leonardo da Vinci sketches a pyramid-shaped parachute concept, well ahead of actual attempts. The genius polymath theorized correctly on aerodynamics.

1783 – Louis-Sébastien Lenormand makes the first recorded successful parachute jump, from a tower in France. He would jump again in 1785, inspiring more pioneers.

1797 – André-Jacques Garnerin leaps from a hydrogen balloon at 3,200 feet over Paris, steering himself down.

1918 – The US Army develops the first manual ripcord-operated parachutes for wartime aircrew escape. These evolve rapidly with aircraft technology.

1940s – Soviet experiments lead to the first intentional freefall jumps from extreme altitudes – paving the way for HALO.

1960s – US covert ops units adopt HALO jumping and refine techniques for stealth infiltration missions.

Today HALO capability is integral to elite special forces worldwide. Let‘s examine what sets it apart from ordinary skydiving.

HALO vs. Ordinary Skydiving: Putting the "Extreme" in Extreme Sport

HALO jumps happen between 15,000 and 35,000 feet, or over 5 to 7 miles high. That‘s 10 to 15 times normal skydiving altitudes!

Normal jumps deploy parachutes within 1 minute. HALO jumpers freefall for 2 to 3 minutes before opening chutes just 1,000 – 1,500 feet above terrain.

Why so extreme? Stealth and distance. That high entry point means:

• Radar avoidance for covert entry.
• Up to 30 miles of horizontal glide under canopy.
• Precise delivery of troops or equipment.

But thin air at such heights also leads to:

• Rates of 160+ mph in freefall! Ordinary skydivers drop at under 120 mph.
• Greater risk of hypoxia, frostbite, hypothermia, and death.
• Smaller margin for error on chute timing and handling.

Managing these hazards requires special training, gear, and nerves of steel. Next let‘s see how they prepare.

Training for the Jump…of a Lifetime

Given the risks inherent in HALO jumps, trainees undergo rigorous conditioning both physical and mental. Selection is stringent; even among elite spec ops only about 20% qualify to become HALO jumpers.

Physical conditioning involves building stamina, strength and agility through extensive exercise programs tailored to HALO. This reduces fatigue and the chance of mid-air injuries.

Mental preparation utilizes visualization, repetition, and conditioning exercises that simulate sensory conditions of freefall. Trainees overcome fear and develop the ability to execute complex aerial sequences despite overwhelming sensations of chaos.

Skydiving experience is absolutely mandatory before HALO training. Most candidates already have over 50 standard jumps. Then they must perform 20 additional qualifying jumps with supplementary oxygen for high altitudes.

Finally, they undertake supervised training HALO jumps incrementally increasing in height. 10 jumps from 18,000 ft, 10 jumps from 24,000 ft, and 5 verification jumps from 30,000 ft plus.

This meticulous advancement ensures they have the skills and nerves to handle any surprises.

Gearing Up: Advanced Equipment That Gives Wings

You can‘t just show up to a plane in street clothes and leap out for a HALO jump. Specialized equipment is essential both for survival and mission success.

Oxygen rigs with masks and canisters provide supplementary O2 for the long freefalls. Some newer systems even have onboard computers that track altitude.

Insulated jumpsuits protect against freezing temperatures and wind chill during the fall from 30,000 feet.

Altimeters on the wrist allow jumpers to track their altitude and altitude loss rate during descent. Critical for timing their chute openings.

Navigation aids like GPS trackers help jumpers steer towards target landing zones, either in freefall or under canopy.

Helmet up-displays project key data like altitude, heading, speed and nearby teammates in the visor. This leaves hands free.

Specialized parachutes are designed with high lift capacity to arrest the fast descent. They must also be steerable and stable at low openings.

This space-age gear gives HALO jumpers the situational awareness to take advantage of the heights rather than be overwhelmed by them.

HALO in Action: Epic Feats of Aerial Infiltration

Now that we‘ve covered the basics of these exceptional freefalls, let‘s look at some famous HALO jumps made history:

• 1975, Operation Eldorado Canyon – SEALs HALOed into Libya to assault terrorists.

• 1983, Operation Urgent Fury – SEALs dropped into Grenada to secure key sites.

• 1989, Operation Just Cause – SEALs covertly inserted into Panama to capture Manuel Noriega.

• 2001, Operation Rhino – Special Forces troops HALOed into Afghanistan to launch the War on Terror.

• 2011, Operation Neptune Spear – SEALs secretly parachuted over Pakistan to raid Osama bin Laden‘s compound.

• 2016, Operation Inherent Resolve – Special forces used HALO jumps to retake key areas from ISIS control.

These missions exemplify the unique capabilities of HALO insertion. When secrecy and precision are paramount, very few options compare.

HALO Jumping: Not Just for Military Anymore

With its growing popularity fueled by extreme sports and games like Halo, HALO jumping has extended beyond just classified special ops work.

Though still rare, some commercial skydiving centers now offer HALO jumps. For example, Arizona-based Aerodyne Research offers HALO jumps for civilians starting from lower altitudes of 12,500 feet.

"It‘s the ultimate skydiving experience," says Matt Gerdes, an instructor and parachute designer at Aerodyne. "There are so many more possibilities at high altitude – more time in freefall, greater area to cover under canopy. The views are just breathtaking."

Of course, civilian HALO participants must be very experienced skydivers and pass rigorous vetting. But opening up the world of high altitude jumping enables more people to appreciate this thrilling feat.

So while HALO capability began as an elite military practice, it has captured the imagination of the public. And as technology keeps advancing, human flight without wings can keep reaching new heights!