Teddy bear parachuting
Teddy bear parachuting, sometimes referred to as parafauna, is a game in which teddy bears equipped with parachutes are dropped from a height. It is increasing in popularity as a charity fundraiser, and competitions based on the descent time are also common.
A typical teddy bear parachute may be made from an old umbrella canopy or other lightweight material. A simple hemispherical pattern of multiple tapered gores may be sewn from ripstop nylon kite or sail fabric.[1] Many bears are dressed and fully equipped with parachute packs, helmets and goggles.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Teddies_in_Space.jpg/220px-Teddies_in_Space.jpg)
While jumps are commonly from high buildings such as church towers[3][4] and castles, some are more ambitious, with at least one regular event including parachuting from a light aircraft.[5]
The first bears to do a jump from a light aircraft are still around, and go under the name of the "Ted Devils". A unique item that takes place at airshows (including those at fetes and private functions) devised and run by a well known UK display pilot and aircraft.[6] Additionally, these bears are fund raisers that support the local community, by letting the local community take part in the event before the day.[7]
Parachuting bears are also lifted by kite and released with a dropper mechanism. This method is cheap and highly portable.[8] Kites such as parafoils or large deltas are particularly suitable for this.[1] As many kite fliers also make their own kites, the parachutes are usually self-manufactured too. Most bears must be lifted aloft along with the kite. Some small bears may be transported along the line of an already flying kite by a messenger, a small carriage with sails.[9] When the messenger reaches the top of the kite line, the bear is released automatically.[1] This is a much simpler method for repeated drops or charity events.
The parachuting of teddy bears was used as a political statement when several hundred of the stuffed toys bearing protest slogans were dropped over the Belarus city of Minsk on 4 July 2012.[10]
See also
- Rocky (bear)
- Rubber duck race
References
- ^ a b c Moulton, Ron; Lloyd, Pat (1998). Kites: A Practical Handbook (3rd ed.). ISBN 1-85486-143-3.
- ^ "Cambridge University Spaceflight (Society)" (PDF). Retrieved 4 December 2011.
- ^ "Teddy Bears Go Parachuting". Archived from the original on October 3, 2006.
- ^ "St. Nicolas Church Bells | North Stoneham & Bassett Parish | Southampton". Hants.gov.uk. Retrieved 2011-12-04.
- ^ "BBC Cambridgeshire". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-12-04.
- ^ Nigel Willson. "UK Aerobatic display and Ted Devils act". yakdisplay.com. Retrieved 2011-12-04.
- ^ Willson, Nigel. "The Ted Devils". Yakdisplay.com. Retrieved 2011-12-04.
- ^ "Parafauna UK". Parafauna.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-12-04.
- ^ "Messengers, Droppers and Releases". parafauna.co.uk.
- ^ Carlstrom, Johan (3 August 2012). "Sweden in Diplomatic Row With Belarus After Teddy Bear Drop". Bloomberg News. Bloomberg. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
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- Applause (defunct)
- Build-A-Bear Workshop
- Chad Valley
- Dakin (defunct)
- J. K. Farnell (defunct)
- Gund
- Ideal Toy Company
- Margarete Steiff GmbH
- Merrythought
- Teddy Atelier Stursberg
- Teddy-Hermann
- Ty Inc.
- Vermont Teddy Bear Company
- AG Bear
- Beanie Babies
- Boyds Bears
- Care Bears
- Coffee Bean Bears
- Forever Friends
- Furskin Bears
- Gund Snuffles
- Holiday Beanie Babies
- Me to You Bears
- Punkinhead
- WereBears
teddies
- Aloysius
- Archibald Ormsby-Gore
- Baloo
- Bamse
- Banjo
- Benjamin Bear
- Berlino
- Big Ted & Little Ted
- Bobo (The Simpsons)
- Boog
- Corduroy
- Costco bear
- Duffy the Disney Bear
- Fozzie Bear
- Freddy Fazbear
- Grizzly Teddy
- Gummibär
- Harrods Christmas Bears
- Humphrey the Bear
- Hyde
- Lotso
- Microsoft Bear
- Misha
- Uszatek
- Monokuma
- Mr Whoppit
- Nassur
- Nev
- Norm
- Paddington Bear
- Pink teddy bear (Breaking Bad)
- Po
- Pooky
- Pudsey Bear
- Rasmus
- Roger (Guilty Gear)
- Rilakkuma
- Rupert
- Rupert (Family Guy)
- Sebastian Star Bear
- Smokey
- Snuggle Bear
- Sooty
- SuperTed
- Teddy (The Forgotten Toys)
- Teddy (Mr. Bean)
- Teddy Ruxpin
- Winnie-the-Pooh
- Disney version
television
- A.I. Artificial Intelligence
- The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin
- Adventures of the Gummi Bears
- Bananas in Pyjamas
- Bear Behaving Badly
- Becky and Barnaby Bear
- Boonie Bears
- C Bear and Jamal
- Charley and Mimmo
- Corduroy
- Colargol
- Gooby
- Hey Mister, Let's Play!
- Imaginary
- Issi Noho
- Kissyfur
- Kooky
- Little Bear
- Misery Bear
- Old Bear Stories
- Paddington (TV series)
- Paddington (Paddington 2 and Paddington in Peru)
- The Pit
- Rilakkuma and Kaoru
- "Rosebud" (The Simpsons)
- The Secret World of Benjamin Bear
- Special Agent Oso
- SuperTed
- The Tangerine Bear
- Ted (Ted 2 and Ted (TV series))
- Teddy
- Teddy Bear
- Teddybears
- The Teddy Bear Master
- The 'Teddy' Bears
- Teddy Edward
- Teddy Trucks
- Unicorn Wars
- The Upstairs Downstairs Bears
- The Yogi Bear Show
- A Pocket for Corduroy
- Corduroy
- Hyde & Closer
- Little Bear
- Old Bear and Friends
- The Berenstain Bears
- Polar the Titanic Bear
- The Sharpie of the Culebra Cut
- Supertoys Last All Summer Long
- The Toyminator
- Undertown
- Uppo-Nalle
- Winkie
- Winnie-the-Pooh
- "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear"
- "Psycho Teddy"
- "Teddy Bears' Picnic"
- "The Teddy Bear Song"
- "Itsumademo... Teddy Bear"
- Ah Diddums
- Among the Sleep
- Bear with Me
- Big Huggin'
- Build-A-Bear Workshop
- Fatty Bear's Birthday Surprise
- Hubert the Teddy Bear: Winter Games
- Opération Teddy Bear
- Teddy Together
- Naughty Bear
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