The team traveled from around the globe for the vertical sequential world record event at Skydive Chicago in Ottawa, Illinois.
After leaping from two aircraft flying together more than 16,000 feet above the ground, the group built the formations flying upside-down with their heads pointed toward the earth—“head-down” in skydiving lingo. They had less than 60 seconds to complete the formations while plummeting toward the ground at speeds approaching 200 mph before separating from each other and opening their parachutes.
The group claimed their first record on the eighth jump by building three formations and then completed the four-formation record skydive two jumps later on their 10th attempt. Three 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.
Next month, a team of 200 skydivers will again gather at Skydive Chicago to attempt to break the record for largest head-down formation. The previous record of 164 skydivers was set at Skydive Chicago in August 2016.
Photos by Daniel Angulo
