the other one below the fliers' pedestal, a Korean cradle above the catcher, and a static cradle above the flyers' pedestal), along with the traditional fly bar and catcher method. Safety In the early years of young Mr. Leotard's performances, the flying trapeze did not have the safety net as is typically seen today. He would perform over a series of mattresses on a raised runway to give the audience a better view of his tricks, or "passes". Most modern flyers start out wearing a safety harness, while a trainer on the ground controls the lines and would pull them if the flyer is in a dangerous situation. Pulling on the lines will suspend the flyer in the air, and letting go of the lines slowly will bring the flyer to the ground safely. Once a flyer has mastered a particular trick, they will take off the safety harness. Every safe flying trapeze rig has a large net underneath the rig. Many flyers in the circus do not start out using safety belts. Those flyers who are not wearing safety harnesses learn how to fall safely into the net in case they miss a catch or unexpectedly fall off the bar or off the catcher. Several risky flying trapeze acts have been performed without safety nets in earlier circus days, but it would be rare to find this kind of act today, as most flying trapeze acts are performed between 20 and 40 feet above the ground. Terminology Hep - Signal to leave the board and/or the fly bar. Sometimes used by the catcher to tell the flyer to let go after a catch when landing in the net. Catch Bar - The trapeze that the catcher swings on. Fly Bar - The bar the flyer uses. Apron - The net in front of the catch bar. (The back apron is the net in back of the board.) Rise/Riser - A narrow board placed on the rungs of the ladder to allow the flyer to take off from a higher point. Mount - When the flyer mounts the board after a return. Return - When the flyer, after a successful catch, manages to return to the fly bar, and often all the way back to the board. In professional shows, the flyers rarely come down from the board. Grips - Can be gymnastics grips or ones made out of tape.