List of Air Sports A-Z
While many sports occur on a field, court, or track, there is a category of sports that require either the athlete or the equipment to be airborne. Some of these sports bring an extra level of danger because of the height above the ground at which they occur. Aeronautical competition was born in the early 1900s as advances in technology allowed individuals to push the limits of air travel. As a result, numerous new air sports would be developed in the following years. This led to the formation of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, which governs all air sports to this day. Air sports provide a unique and thrilling sporting experience that attracts millions of participants each year. Read below to learn about all the sports that can be considered air sports.
Air Sports List A to Z
| Sport | Description |
|---|---|
| Aerial Silks | A performance done hanging from fabric attached to the ceiling that shows strength and flexibility. |
| Aerobatics | A sport that consists of planes doing maneuvers and patterns mid-air. |
| Aeromodeling | An activity that includes building and flying small model aircrafts. |
| Air Racing | A sport that includes airplanes racing on specific courses trying to achieve the fastest time. |
| Ballooning | An activity of flying in a hot air balloon either recreationally or competitively. |
| Banzai Skydiving | A sport where skydivers will throw their parachute from the plane first and then jump to catch up with it before deploying it. |
| Base Jumping | A sport where athletes jump from fixed objects, and use a parachute to get to the ground safely. |
| Bungee Jumping | A sport that involves jumping from a high surface attached to an elastic cord. |
| Canopy Piloting | A category of sports that includes using a parachute. |
| Cliff Diving | A sport that includes jumping from a high cliff either into water or with a parachute. |
| Cluster Ballooning | A sport where someone is harnessed into a cluster of balloons and travels while inflating and deflating the balloons. |
| Drone Racing | A sport where participants control drones through predetermined courses, trying to finish the course the fastest. |
| Hang Gliding | A sport that utilizes an air glider to soar through the air on air currents. |
| Hopper Ballooning | A sport similar to hot air ballooning, but with a smaller balloon and a hanging seat instead of a basket. |
| Hydroflying | A sport that uses water jet propulsion to fly a person above the surface of a body of water. |
| Kite Fighting | A sport that includes flying kites with the aim of cutting down others’ kites with the sharp point of your own kite. |
| Kite Flying | A sport that involves flying a kite propelled by natural wind. |
| Parachuting | A sport that includes jumping from a high surface and traveling to the ground with the help of a parachute. |
| Paragliding | A sport where someone hangs in a harness below a parachute and glides above the ground. |
| Paramotoring | A sport similar to paragliding, but that uses a motor for propulsion rather than natural wind patterns. |
| Skydiving | A sport where people jump from airplanes high above the ground and fall before deploying a parachute to land safely. |
| Skysurfing | A type of skydiving where the athlete is strapped into a board (similar to a snowboard) and does tricks while falling through the air. |
| Trapeze | A type of aerial performance commonly found in circuses that utilizes a short metal bar hung by ropes or straps. |
| Wingsuit Flying | A sport that includes jumping from a tall height and “flying” using a wingsuit that expands the body surface. |
FAQ
What are air sports?
Air sports are a category of sports that involves any sort of air aspect to the activity or competition. Some air sports involve a race, such as drone racing or air racing, while others involve death-defying theatrics and stunts that far exceed the aspirations of the average person, such as skydiving and wingsuit flying. Air sports can involve a variety of vehicles like planes, accessories that allow an athlete to take flight such as wingsuits or hang gliders, or flying objects that participants control such as kites and drones.
What are the most popular air sports?
There are a variety of air sports that interested individuals can take part in, but some of the most popular include skydiving, hang gliding, and bungee jumping. Skydiving is widely known as one of the more adrenaline-filled activities in the world. Hang gliding is a popular activity featured in remote locations and resorts. Meanwhile, bungee jumping provides instant adrenaline and excitement. Each of these sports provides a remarkable thrill, but also comes with its share of risks, so be sure to research and always listen to instructors before taking to the sky.
How dangerous are air sports?
Air sports do come with some inherent risk, due to the nature of the sports themselves. Any activity which takes place high above the ground poses a level of danger to participants. However, each air sport has its own set of rules, regulations, and equipment to make the sport as safe as possible for all participants. Almost all air sports suggest the use of helmets, safety goggles, or other more specialized equipment such as parachutes or wingsuits to reduce the risk of injury. The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale regulates all air sport activities to ensure safety measures are followed in competitions.
What are the best air sports for kids?
The top two air sports for kids are drone racing and kite flying. Kite flying is a staple of large parks and open spaces, in which people allow kites to soar through the air as they control the kite by a string. Meanwhile, drone racing features the use of airborne drones that users can control and race through the air. These sports carry far less risk than your typical air sport, and are a great way to get kids out of the house and participating in air sports.