The team has just come down from its third attempt of the day, practicing the first point of the 222-way skydive formation. It was a good jump but not nearly a completion. They are focused at this point on building a solid 222-way. Once the first point is achieved, the team will make the move to fly the second point.

50% improvement

On the first jump, the base built and the skydivers in the six sectors got close to the base, with some docking. The second jump of the day looked really good. About a 50% improvement over the first one with two sectors completing and other sectors quite close. Winds and dust devils, mini-tornados, that frequent the desert, came up a bit on this jump but everyone landed safely.

Our director, BJ Worth, is pleased. The team is progressing on a steady pace. “Several sectors of the third and last jump today looked close to completion but we need the whole formation to build before moving onto the 2nd point,” BJ told the Team Captains. “The 2nd point is a three second move, so it will happen quickly once the first point is built.”

Tomorrow

After completion of the 222-way, the move to the second point could occur later tomorrow or Thursday. Tomorrow the group has a 0630 show at Skyventure Arizona, with the 10 planes launching at 0700. There may be high winds again later on in the day. The team will try to get in 3-4 jumps before the afternoon.

Captain’s Commentary

Dieter Kirsch, Sector 4

How was today for you, Dieter?

“We did 3 jumps. Our Sector didn’t have a very good day. We had some minor problems and we fixed them. At the last jump we had some ‘visitors’ from the other sectors, so is hard to judge the performance… The previous days have been definitely better.
Overall, the Base have been doing very good, although it needs to increase the fall rate a little and the sectors will build.”

How do you feel about the World Team coming to an end?

“Well… sad. I will miss the people. The worst part is losing BJ as an organiser because he put so much heart in what he was doing and always took care of the people.
I am thankful to BJ for giving me the opportunity to work with the World Team “.

Do you see the team reach its goal?

“I see it coming, but I am also careful. Everybody needs to understand how difficult and ambitious this goal is… Not many people do. People look at the video of a World Record and think it is easy. It is not.”

Day 5 Jump 2 Sec C of 222-way Fly it Forward World Team Video by Mustafin

Open question, what does World Team need to do better?

“We should have a quick dive down to the formation but then put on the brakes. Don’t get too excited. Don’t over-boogie.”
Rob Laidlaw BASE sector Captain

“We need to be able to make a clean BASE to keep the fall rate up [for the rest of the sectors].”
Herman Landsman, BASE sector co-captain,

“You have to have some understanding of where you are relative to the BASE. You have to hold your radial and keep it aligned with the BASE. You can’t just look at the skydiver in front of you. If we’re not building [the formation] straight out from the center, we are infringing on other sectors.”
Solly Williams from South Africa while debriefing his sector 2

“We need to go faster.”
Lou Tommaso, sector 2 Captain

“We need what we’ve always needed, a deadline.”
Skydiver Chris Gade