This is one of the pool camera shots. The guys that are not connected to the formation are cameramen. I will post some of my own pictures when I get the time.
Posted on 02/08/2006 8:25:42 PM PST by killjoy
UDON THANI, Thailand (AP) - Skydivers from 31 countries have claimed a world record of 400 people holding hands in a mid-air free-fall formation.
The record was certified by judges from the Switzerland-based Federation Aeronautique Internationale at the scene, announced the World Team '06, the informal association of international skydivers who made the attempt over an airfield in northeastern Thailand.
"It was beautiful. It was one of my absolute favourite dives of my life," said World Team skydive director B.J. Worth.
He said in order to set the record, "100 per cent of the people in the air have to be holding hands, even if only for a split second."
The group had failed to completely link up for a measurable amount of time in two earlier jumps Wednesday.
They had made three failed attempts on Monday and again on Tuesday.
The previous record, of 357 skydivers over Takhli, Thailand, in February 2004, had also been set by the World Team.
The latest attempts were organized to honour Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-reigning monarch, who celebrates 60 years on the throne this year.
Five C-130 Hercules planes provided by the Royal Thai Air Force carried the divers, who jumped out of the rear cargo doors at 7,315 metres.
Appearing first as specks in the sky, the divers suddenly grasped hands and drifted down as a circular formation for a few seconds. They then broke off and hundreds of parachuting skydivers rained to the ground, their fists in the air and their legs kicking in triumph.
Video and still footage were rushed to three judges on the ground, and they verified that all 400 divers were linked for more than four seconds.
A large amount of credit needs to go to the Thai Air Force. They did an incredible job with flying the 5 C-130s in a very tight formation allowing the skydivers to do their job. Congradulations to everyone!
I saw that on tv. Skydiving is one of those things I'll do when the doctor tells me my condition is fatal and I only have 2 months to live.
This is one of the pool camera shots. The guys that are not connected to the formation are cameramen. I will post some of my own pictures when I get the time.
Skydivers from 31 countries assemble above Thailand's Udon Thani Province, north of Bangkok on February 8, 2006. The international sky divers, calling themselves the World Team '06, set a new world record of a 400-way formation free fall jump at 24,000 feet, officials from the Royal Thai Airforce said. NO ARCHIVES NO SALES REUTERS/Royal Thai Airforce/Handout
Looks like a giant doily in midair... :)
They don't make an airplane big enough to hold all the people it would take to throw me out of it.
Me too. Actually, I feel this way about everything to do with aviation, even though I have a pilot's license. I'll do it after my kids are grown and I've had a chance to hold my first grandchild in my arms. I've known too many people who augered in.
-ccm
WoW, thanks for the post. Biggest jump I did was an 8 way. And I thought that looked cool!
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