If more than 164 people can link up in formation while all of them are going down headfirst, they’ll break a seven year old vertical skydiving record. That record was set at the Skydive Chicago airport in Dayton and that’s where the record-breaking attempt is going on this week. Ten airplanes are taking 200 people up to 19,000 feet.
Owner Rook Nelson says the people chosen for it have demonstrated a lot of skills and the ability to skydive safely. They have practiced and work well in teams. Nelson says safety is goal number one. The new record is goal two.
The air at 19,000 feet is thin enough to cause foggy thinking and quick exhaustion. Some people may even pass out at that altitude. To prevent trouble, the skydivers are getting extra oxygen above 12,000 feet.
Going headfirst, they fall at more than 200 miles per hour. Each skydiver has just a few seconds to do what he or she needs to do to for everyone to have time to make the formation before they have to deploy the parachutes. Even with the clearest thinking and the most ready bodies, it’s hard. The skydiving flights will continue, as weather conditions allow, each day this week until a new record is set.
We will have more stories on this subject later this week.
Skydivers board one of ten airplanes at the Skydive Chicago airport on August 22, 2022 for a vertical dive record attempt.
One of the ten airplanes takes off from the Skydive Chicago airport while a staff photographer documents the record breaking attempt.
One skydiver reunites with his family while others are still landing after a jump at Skydive Chicago August 22, 2022.