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File:Skydiving 4 way.jpg
4-way FS (Formation Skydiving)
File:Skydive runaway.jpg
Breaking off from a formation before parachute deployment.
File:DC-3 loading; plus dirt diving.jpg
DC-3 loading; plus 'dirt diving'; 1977

Formation skydiving is a skydiving event where multiple skydivers attach themselves to one another by grabbing each other's limbs or by the use of "grippers" on their jumpsuit while free falling through the sky. The goal of this skydiving program is to build a formation of multiple divers arranged in a geometric pattern.

Sub-categoriesEdit

Formation skydiving can be further divided into several sub-categories, so named for the number of members in a team:

  • 4-way sequential
  • 4-way vertical sequential (VFS, Vertical Formation Skydiving)
  • 8-way sequential
  • 16-way sequential
  • 10-way speed
  • Large formations (Big-ways)

Competitive formatEdit

A competition in 4-way formation skydiving (FS-4) takes place like this:

There are two kinds of formations, called randoms and blocks. The randoms are singular formations with full separation of all grips both before and after building the formation. The blocks are double formations with a special designated movement pattern in between, called an inter. The start formation may, or may not be similar to the ending formation. The inters are differently performed. Here are some examples:

Inter 1: The grips are released between some of the flyers, so they become two pieces of two team members. they both do a 270 degree turn, and reconnect to a different formation

Inter 2: Three people stay connected, and do a 360 turn, while the last person, flies alone.

Inter 15: All grips are released and everyone does a 360 turn back to the original formation.

Blocks are designated by numbers, while randoms got letters. Blocks are worth one point for each correct formation, that makes 2 points, and randoms count as 1 point. There are 22 blocks and 16 randoms.

competition consists of up to 10 rounds, and each round consists of 5 or 6 points, which the teams are to repeat as many times as they can within the working time of 35 seconds. The score judging are based on the videographers material.

A competition draw may look like this:

  • 1: C-E-B-13
  • 2: 14-20-8
  • 3: 15-16-H
  • 4: J-O-1-D
  • 5: 6-18-19
  • 6: 5-F-21
  • 7: 10-K-G-M
  • 8: 22-3-P
  • 9: 12-9-4
  • 10:11-17-Q

The winning team will be the team that has collected most points, by completing the most correct formations within time after the final round is ended. In case of weather or technical problems, or other causes, a competition will be valid as long as all teams has completed at least one round.

A recent sub-category of formation skydiving is vertical formation skydiving (VFS). Skydivers build formations using higher-speed body positions normally associated with freeflying, such as head down and sitflying.

World recordEdit

  • BIG-WAY:

The current FAI world record for largest free-fall formation is a 400-way,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> set on February 8, 2006, in Udon Thani, Thailand by the World Team.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It was held for 4.3 seconds. With the support of the Thai government, they used five C-130 Hercules airplanes and exited from an altitude of 25,400 feet.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In April 2013 the World Team tried to break the record for the largest 2-point formation dive in skydiving history. All 222 members came together and made a formation, broke apart, and then reformed to make a completely different formation. The team attempted the jump many times and came very close to breaking the record, but were unsuccessful each time. The World Team has not made anymore official statements about attempting the record again. <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Longest sequence in one round:

  • 4-Way

Set by the Belgian team(NMP-PCH Hayabusa), at the World Meet 2018 in round 6, where they posted 62 points in working time (35 seconds)

  • 8-Way

Set by the U.S. (GKXP8) national team, at the World Meet 2024 , in round 9, where they posted 37 points in working time (50 seconds)

World championshipEdit

Year Venue Airplane 4-Way Champion Points (avg) 8-Way Champion Points (avg) 4-Way Female Champion Points (avg) 4-Way Vertical Formation Points (avg)
1975 Template:Flagicon West Germany
Warendorf
Template:Flagicon United States 40/49.92* Template:Flagicon United States 100/163.85* Not Held Not Held
1977 Template:Flagicon Australia
Gatton, Queensland
Template:Flagicon Canada 73 (7.3) File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon United States
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon West Germany
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon France
42 (4.2) Not Held Not Held
1979 Template:Flagicon France
Châteauroux
Template:Flagicon Canada 82 (8.2) Template:Flagicon United States 66 (6.6) Not Held Not Held
1981 Template:Flagicon United States
Zephyrhills, Florida
Template:Flagicon United States 116 (11.6) Template:Flagicon United States 83 (8.3) Not Held Not Held
1983 Template:Flagicon South Africa
Sun City, North West
Template:Flagicon Switzerland 115 (11.5) Template:Flagicon United States 102 (10.2) Not Held Not Held
1985 Template:Flagicon Yugoslavia
Mali Lošinj
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Canada
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon France
118 (11.8) File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon France
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Canada
120 (12.0) Not Held Not Held
1987 Template:Flagicon Brazil
Foz do Iguacu
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconFrance
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconAustria
134 (13.4) File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon France
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USSR
119 (13.2) (9 rd) Not Held Not Held
1989 Template:Flagicon Spain
Gerona
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon France
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USSR
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
152 (15.2) File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USSR
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon France
138 (13.8) Not Held Not Held
1991 Template:Flagicon Czechoslovakia
Lučenec
Mil Mi-8 File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon France
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Template:Flagicon Italy
171 (17.1) File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon France
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Template:Flagicon USSR
181 (18.1) Not Held Not Held
1993 Template:Flagicon United States
Eloy, Arizona
DHC-6 Twin Otter File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon France
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Denmark
195 (19.5) File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon France
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Template:Flagicon Russia
169 (16.9) Not Held Not Held
1995 Template:Flagicon France
Gap, Hautes-Alpes
Pilatus PC-6 Porter File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon France
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Denmark
207 (20.7) File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon France
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Template:Flagicon Russia
195 (19.5) Not Held Not Held
1997 Template:Flagicon Turkey
Efes
CASA C-212 Aviocar File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon France
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconSouth Africa
210 (21.0) File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Russia
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon France
224 (22.4) Not Held Not Held
1999 Template:Flagicon Australia
Corowa
DHC-6 Twin Otter File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon France
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Norway
208 (20.8) File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Russia
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon France
211 (21.1) Not Held Not Held
2001 Template:Flagicon Spain
Granada
CASA C-212 Aviocar File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon France
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Norway
214 (21.4) File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconRussia
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon France
193 (19.3) File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Norway
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Sweden
147 (14.7) Not Held
2003 Template:Flagicon France
Gap, Hautes-Alpes
Pilatus PC-6 Porter File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon France
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Norway
229 (22.9) File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconRussia
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon France
221 (20.9) (11 rd) File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Great Britain
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Norway
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
165 (16.5) Not Held
2004 Template:Flagicon Croatia
Rijeka
Mil Mi-8 File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon France
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Russia
227 (22.7) File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon France
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Russia
172 (19.1) (9 rd) File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon France
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Russia
169 (16.9) Not Held
2006 Template:Flagicon Germany
Gera
DHC-6 Twin Otter File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon France
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Italy
117 (23.4) (5 rd) File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon France
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Russia
123 (20.5) (6 rd) File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Great Britain
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon France
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Russia
95 (19.0) (5 rd) Not Held
2008 Template:Flagicon France
Maubeuge
Pilatus PC-6 Porter File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon France
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconBelgium
195 (24.4) (8 rd) File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon France
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Italy
151 (21.6) (7 rd) File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Great Britain
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon France
120 (20.0) (6 rd) Not Held
2010 Template:Flagicon Russia
Menzelinsk
L-410 Turbolet File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon France
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Russia
277 (27.7) File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon France
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Russia
203 (20.3) File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon France
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Great Britain
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
236 (23.6) Not Held
2012 Template:Flagicon UAE
Dubai
DHC-6 Twin Otter File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconUSA
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconBelgium
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconFrance
279 (27.9) File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconUSA
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconFrance
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconRussia
229 (22.9) File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconUSA
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconFrance
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconNorway
207 (20.7) File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconFrance
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon UAE
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconUSA
185 (23,1) (8 rd)
2014 Template:Flagicon Czech Republic
Prostějov
L-410 Turbolet File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Belgium
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Canada
264 (26.4) File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconUSA
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconRussia
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconFrance
216 (21.6) File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconFrance
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconUSA
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconGreat Britain
214 (21.4) File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconFrance
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconUSA
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconCanada
179 (22,4) (8 rd)
2016 Template:Flagicon United States
Chicago
DHC-6 Twin Otter File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconBelgium
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconUSA
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconFrance
262 (26.2) File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconUSA
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconFrance
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconRussia
239 (23.9) File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconUSA
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconFrance
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconGreat Britain
224 (22.4) File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconFrance
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconCanada
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconUSA
168 (22.4) (8 rd)
2018 Template:Flagicon Australia
Gold Coast, Queensland
Cessna 208 Caravan File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconBelgium
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconUSA
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconFrance
279 (27.9) File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Russia
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Qatar
224 (22,4) File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconFrance
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconGreat Britain
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconSweden
257 (25,7) File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconUSA
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconCanada
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconAustralia
217 (21,7)
2020
(2021)
Template:Flagicon Russia
Kemerovo region
L-410 Turbolet File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Belgium
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Qatar
193 (32,2) (6 rd) File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon France
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconRPF
166 (23,7) (7 rd) File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconRPF
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon France
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconPoland
150 (25,0) (6 rd) File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconRPF
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:FlagiconItaly
143 (20,4) (7 rd)
2022 Template:Flagicon United States
Eloy, Arizona
DHC-6 Twin Otter File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Belgium
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Qata
261
228
219
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Qatar
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Germany
205
164
131
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Great Britain
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon France
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
200
189
184
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Australia
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Norway
212
190
140
2024 Template:Flagicon United States
Crystal Coast, North Carolina
DHC-6 Twin Otter File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon France
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Qatar
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Qatar
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Germany
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon China
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon France
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon USA
File:Silver medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Norway
File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svgTemplate:Flagicon Italy

See alsoEdit

ReferencesEdit

Template:Reflist

External linksEdit