July 31st (and some from the 30th) record day..

29th July…

9 am briefing in the auditorium, yeah! Skydive Chicago have an auditorium that seats at least 100 for those big way de-brief moments. Rook Nelson takes the centre stage to brief the crowd about the day’s events. Two 44 way’s and a 40 ish way with Babylon, Rook /Mike Swanson and Dave Gershfeld running the 3 groups…

Rook and Mikes group build a fairly nice formation, and on the second attempt after a few slot changes the build is even swifter. Babylon’s 44 way seems to be going well also and on the 3rd attempt Rook and Mikes group build a fairly trouble free formation.

Ok, I have been lame with updates today… will upload video shortly!!

30th July

After an awesome night jump with fireworks and impressive swoops the evening was lit up with a huge firework display.. A 9 am start for the record participants confirms that the Skyvan is indeed out of action and cost prohibits getting another one in, another Otter however is due here in a few hours. So the aircraft scenario means that an 80 way is the first goal of the day as soon as the cloud dissipates.

Rook has given the briefing for the O² use and everyone has been alloted a slot for the formation. the “Alpha team” or hungry bench are waiting to see the outcome and putting together some smaller dives.. video taking time to upload with everyone on their laptops e-mailing away!!!

So far after not being on the original 80 way I went to update and grab a coffee, only to be grabbed 5 minutes later by an excited David G, dragging me to the dirt dive that i was late for?? I had been pulled into the 80 way just not told ha ha! hence lack of keyboard action… So, 2 x 80 way attempts later and the weather has come in a little cloudy so were on a weather/blogging update hold…

The first 80 way attempt the aircraft had some climb out/communication issues causing the left Otter to stay on board as they hadn’t received a green on climb out call.. No wonder the dive to the base was traffic free!! but the rest seemed to build quite smoothly..

Second attempt was way better with a 5 minute, 2 minute and 1 minute call before Green on making everyone more aware of the fast approaching exit. The build went well with really spot on heading base and fast flowing traffic free flight to slot, some issues in one of the pod or pod links mean’t that a 74 way was completed.. sure was the biggest formation I have ever been in… as the current world record is 69 😉

Another 80 way attempt, awesome skydive, the pod i was in built and must have flown for 15 seconds, seemed more like 30!! the base was super smooth and everything seemed to go well, upon landing most people seemed to think it all went well! Alas 1 out by about a ft… 12″ away from a WR 80 way AAAhhhhhh!! how close can it get.. So on with the 108 way.. We are all chilling between de-brief and call to dirt dive. My new lens has arrived, HD Opteka, wicked!

laters (will edit and post video later)

Fordy

18:30 Having dirt dived the 108 way we are at the mercy of the weather and that isn’t a good thing by the colour of the skies… stood down until 8am tomorrow for the 108 way H/D WR attempt. Will attempt to get some stuff up here to read and watch asap.

Ciao

Fordy