More than 20 world records, 17,000 jumps and decades spent shaping formation skydiving have earned Kate Cooper-Jensen one of American aviation’s longstanding honors.
Skydiver, organizer and International Skydiving Hall of Fame member Kate Cooper-Jensen has been named one of the National Aeronautic Association’s 2026 Distinguished Statesmen and Stateswomen of Aviation.
Established in 1954, the recognition honors Americans who have made significant, lasting contributions to aeronautics and spaceflight.
NAA recognized Kate for “shattering over twenty world records in human flight, leading historic formation achievements, and raising millions for charitable causes through an inspiring, empowering legacy of service.”
A Record-Breaking Career
Kate made her first jump in 1978 at age 17 and went on to take part in some of formation skydiving’s biggest milestones.
She was part of the 100-way World Record in 1986, the 200-way in 1992, the 300-way in 2003 and the historic 400-way in Thailand in 2006 — the only woman to participate in all four.
Her record résumé also includes the 2-point 202-way in 2015 and the 2-point 219-way and 3-point 217-way records in 2017. She also represented Denmark internationally in 4-way FS Women. Her most recent World Record came with the 2-point, full-break sequential women’s 64-way.
Jump for the Cause
In the late 1990s, Kate helped establish Jump for the Cause, combining women’s formation skydiving with fundraising for breast cancer charities.
The project produced four women’s large-formation world records, culminating in the 181-way over Perris Valley in 2009. The formation brought together women from 31 countries and remains the largest all-women formation skydive on record. The projects collectively raised millions for breast cancer causes.
Kate’s contribution to the sport has previously earned her USPA’s Gold Medal for Meritorious Service in 2015 and induction into the International Skydiving Hall of Fame in 2019.
She joins Jeff Goin, Thomas Haines, Sara Nelson and Brian Utley in the NAA’s 2026 class. Kate and the other recipients will be formally recognized at the NAA Fall Awards Dinner in Washington, D.C., on November 5, 2026.
