International Team Of 84 Skydivers Claim The New Mark

An international team of 84 elite skydivers are claiming a new world record for largest formation while flying in an upright position, which they set on Friday, July 26. The team traveled from around the globe for the record event at Skydive Chicago in Ottawa, Illinois, aiming to surpass the previous record of 72 skydivers set in Arizona in April 2015.

After leaping from five aircraft flying in formation 18,000 feet above the ground, the group built the formation flying in a position that looks like sitting in a chair—“upright” in skydiving lingo. They had about 60 seconds to complete the formation while plummeting toward the ground at speeds approaching 200 mph before separating from each other and opening their parachutes.

The group completed the record skydive on the fifth day and 20th skydive of the event. Videographers jumped with the team to capture all the action.

The U.S. Parachute Association will submit the record to the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, the international air sports governing body, for ratification as an official world record.

(Image provided with USPA news release)

FMI: www.uspa.org