Template:Multiple issues
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
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:
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)
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
|
|
ReferencesEdit
Template:Reflist
External linksEdit