World Record: Parachuting Across the Gibraltar Strait

Thierry De Montfort, a French Marine officer, made a remarkable parachute jump from 5000 meters above Tariff, Spain, to Tangiers, Morocco, covering 28 kilometers in 1 hour and 48 minutes. Known for his world record in tandem free fall and crossing the English Channel by parachute, De Montfort used a hybrid parachute combining features of paragliders and freefall parachutes to achieve lift similar to an aircraft's wing. His rig included a computerized instrument panel akin to that of a glider. Despite his expertise, De Montfort faced a rough landing due to high winds over Morocco.

What notable achievement did Thierry De Montfort accomplish in 1999?

• Inventing the first hybrid parachute

• Crossing the English Channel by parachute

• Setting a world record for the longest parachute jump

• Becoming the first person to skydive from space

Why did De Montfort use a hybrid parachute for his journey?

• To increase his vertical descent speed

• To travel a significant lateral distance

• To perform acrobatic stunts

• To reduce the weight of his equipment

What feature of the hybrid parachute helped it generate lift?

• Its configuration similar to an aircraft's wing

• Its large canopy size

• Its lightweight material

• Its colorful design

What kind of instrumentation did De Montfort's rig include?

• A parachute deployment timer

• A GPS navigation system

• A computerized instrument and communications panel

• A weather forecasting device

What challenge did De Montfort face during his landing?

• Low visibility

• High winds

• Equipment malfunction

• Bird interference