Mankind looked to the sky and dreamed of flying. We checked that box. Then we wanted to fly from the comfort of our local park without fulfilling the prerequisite of being millionaires, so we invented RC aircraft. Naturally, the next logical step was to look at someone jumping out of a perfectly good airplane and think, “You know what? Let’s do that too.” Thankfully, this time, it’s only an RC figure taking the plunge.
So, yes, an RC Skydiver is indeed a thing. What’s more, it ain’t just a hobbyist thing; it is available as a ready-to-fly—or, well, in this instance, ready-to-jump—kit.
From Paul Mini Parachute, a brand created by a French hobbyist named Paul, who hand-builds and sells his own RC skydivers and parachute systems, the RC Skydiver is offered in three versions: Skydiver only, Skydiver with electronics, and a complete pack that has everything you need to make the jump—except for the RC aircraft required to take the little guy into the sky for the jump.
Speaking of which, Paul Mini Parachute said it will work with a variety of RC aircraft, drones, helicopters, and FPV platforms. Oh, right. You will also need a release mechanism to let the little man go when the aircraft gets up to a suitable altitude.
The RC toy is described as a handmade mini paratrooper with a steerable parachute, which basically means a figure with articulated arms rigged to servos that allow it to pull the chute left and right for steering. It is not clear if it can do more than control direction, like, you know, adjust the speed of descent. It comes with two chute color options: yellow or red, white and blue.
So, what’s next after the RC Skydiver? Well, just like RC vehicles eventually went FPV, it has gone FPV too. That’s right, my friends, RC skydiving with a first-person view. Perfect for folks like me who are too afraid to pull the stunt without being strapped to an instructor.
Anyhoo, popular RC YouTuber Jay Kujan had a go with this little parachutist, and during the process, he came up with the idea of hacking it to achieve FPV. The result is pretty much what you’d expect when you jump out of a C-130 Hercules or C-17 Globemaster III in Call of Duty: Warzone.
Obviously, the RC Skydiver is not a traditional RC toy. The game is up the moment you land on the ground—not when the battery calls it quits. Also, to enjoy it, you’ll need a buddy to fly a suitably sized RC aircraft to bring it up to altitude. The product page suggested dropping it off a building, but I guess it is only worthwhile if it is tall enough for you to make the trip down, and also only if it is legal to do so.
That said, going FPV feels like the way to go. Though, with today’s technology, you do have to hack up the head to turn it into an FPV platform, and this little man has to carry the extra burden of the electronics. But the moment you “jump” off the plane and experience it in first person, you’ll forget you’re a cyborg.
Skip ahead to check out Jay’s video.
Oh, before that, the RC Skydiver by Paul Mini Parachute starts at US$300. The price is currently discounted, though I have no idea how long that will last.
Images: Paul Mini Parachute/Jay Kujan.