Sorry for the lack of new posts the last week but I’ve been at Skydive Chicago getting checked out to fly the Twin Otter. While I was there a large group of jumpers were attempting to set a new world record for the largest linked formation of skydivers in vertical flight. Which means they were all falling head first holding hands, not as easy as it sounds. The plane I was getting checked out in was part of the six plane formation used to haul 142 skydivers up to 18,000 feet for the record attempts. As a rookie Otter pilot I wasn’t allowed to fly the formation loads but I did get to ride along on one of the attempts. Actually the view from the ground was spectacular, and the sound of 142 skydivers falling through the sky at 180 Mph was incredible. On Friday they successfully linked 142 jumpers together but when the judges reviewed the video they found that one jumper had the wrong grip, it must be perfect. The next day the organizers cut a few of the jumpers that weren’t doing so well and went up with 138 for one more try. With just seconds to spare the last jumper took his grip and set a new world record. The party that night was epic.
