Sentence:  Like most human activities, ballooning has sponsored heroes and hucksters and a good deal in between. For every dedicated scientist patiently recording atmospheric pressure and wind speed while shivering at high altitudes, there is a carnival barker with a bevy of pretty girls willing to dangle from a basket or <WSD>parachute</WSD> down to earth. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To jump, fall, descend, etc. using such a device.