Claude Gillard

Claude Gillard was among the most influential figures in the history of skydiving, shaping the sport across competition, training, governance, and international leadership for more than five decades.

He began jumping in 1959 and quickly rose to prominence, becoming Australian Parachuting Champion by 1962. A pioneer of relative work in Australia, Claude performed the country’s first two-way freefall and completed several early baton passes—laying the groundwork for team skydiving disciplines in the region. In September 1961, he made national headlines with a record-setting skydive from 23,600 feet, spending two minutes and eight seconds in freefall—a feat that captured public imagination and brought visibility to the sport.

Throughout his career, Claude was a prolific innovator. He wrote Australia’s first instructor manual, established the country’s first standardized instructor training course, and co-founded Southern Cross Parachutes. Through that venture, he introduced key innovations like the Gilstar canopy, the piggyback container system, and ram-air parachutes—modernizing skydiving equipment in Australia and improving performance and safety for generations of jumpers.

His impact extended far beyond the dropzone. Claude served as President of the Australian Parachute Federation from 1966 to 2001, leading the organization through a pivotal period of development and institutional growth. He became an FAI (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale) judge in 1968 and served as President of the FAI’s International Parachuting Commission (IPC) from 1994 to 1999, shaping international competition rules and helping unify global standards for safety and judging.

In 2003, the FAI honored Claude with its Companion of Honour title, one of the most prestigious recognitions in aviation, acknowledging his lifetime of leadership and service. He was inducted into the International Skydiving Hall of Fame in 2012.

Claude Gillard passed away on August 3, 2020, at the age of 92. His legacy lives on through the institutions he helped build, the athletes and instructors he influenced, and the global skydiving community he helped elevate.