Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) Largest Freefall Formation record in February 2006 with 400 skydivers linked together thousands of feet above Udon Thani, Thailand. Photo © Wendy Smith Please click to expand

JANUARY 30 - FEBRUARY 9, 2006 Udon Thani, Thailand     FEBRUARY 11, 2006 The New Suvarnabhumi Airport Bangkok, Thailand

Udon Thani, Thailand, February 8, 2006 – A team of 400 skydivers representing 31 nations and the Royal Thai Air Force established a new World Record for the largest connected formation skydive today in the skies over Udon Thani, Thailand.

This exceptional achievement breaks World Team's current Fédération Aéronautique Internationale Largest Freefall Formation record of 357 skydivers.

The record setting attempts are a part of the Royal Sky Celebration honouring the 60^th anniversary of the reign of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

The members of World Team 2006 had come very close to completing the predetermined formation over the past days and were gaining confidence that the record was within their reach. On the third attempt on 8 February, the team came together and completed the predetermined formation which was larger than the size of a U.S. football field and were linked together for 4.25 seconds.

To be declared a world record jump, a clear image must be presented to the on-site team of officiating judges from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. The image must demonstrate that every jumper in the predetermined formation has grips established at the same time.

After landing, members of the team had to await the review of the on-site judges.
The review by the judges took just over an hour as they verified that every grip was complete and the formation was exactly as planned. After just over an hour, the Head Judge emerged from the video reviewing area and word quickly spread among the World Team ’06 that the record was theirs. The entire airfield erupted with cheers and screams of joy.

Video and still photographs of the record setting jump are being immediately released through AP and SNTV. The video is indeed eye-popping. Thirteen camera flyers jumped along with the 400 skydivers from an altitude of 24,000 feet. The video and still photographs show all 400 skydivers departing from five Royal Thai Air Force C-130 aircraft and all the team members flying into their slots, linking together, thus establishing the new record, and then breaking off at 7,500 feet and flying away so that they could safely deploy their parachutes.

World Team 2006 organiser and record jump participant B.J. Worth, upon hearing that the record was established said, “What an amazing jump it was, 400 people in one huge formation! It was beautiful! When we landed we all felt that everything had come together and that we had the record! The team has been working hard to make this happen. Our hosts, the Royal Thai Air Force have been amazing. The support they have given us on the ground and in the air made this record possible. The flight crews flew with tremendous precision and professionalism.”

Worth went on to say, “All of on World Team ’06 would like to thank His Majesty, King Bhumibol Adulyadej for his kind and generous support. It has been an honour for all of to be a part of the Royal Sky Celebration!”

About World Team ’06:
Comprised of over 400 skydivers from 31 nations and the Royal Thai Air Force, World Team ’06 includes current and former world champion skydivers. The 13 professional camera flyers on the team are among the world’s best skydivers. 17 per cent of the team is made up of women, many of whom are world champions, world record holders for the largest women’s formations and part of the old record formation of 357 skydivers.

World Team'06 Participating Countries
Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Russia, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, Ukraine, United States of America, Venezuela

About B.J. Worth
With over 5,000 skydives, B.J. Worth is the organiser of World Team 2006. The holder of many current and former world records, B.J. has been jumping for over 34 years. B.J. is a former member and founder of the United States Freefall Exhibition Skydiving Team and is currently the Chairman of the Board of the United States Parachute Association. Among his other skydiving accomplishments, B.J. has appeared in many James Bond movies as a skydiving stunt double.

B.J. Worth is available for interviews from Bangkok over the next few hours and days and will be available in the USA on February 15^th for in studio interviews.

THE ROYAL SKY DIAMOND JUBILEE 2006 CELEBRATION
Please click to view

For more information on World Team 2006, previous World Teams and the Royal Sky Celebration, please visit:
Web site: www.theworldteam.com

Contact information:
Kevin Gibson, Media Director
Royal Sky Celebration
World Team ‘06
+ 66 (0) 1-426-9266 (Thailand through 13 February)
(703)380-0549 (USA)

Karina Willerup, Media Associate
Royal Sky Celebration
World Team ‘06
+66 (0) 6-986-9982 (Thailand through 13 February)
+31 222-311658 (the Netherlands)
Jamie Lindsay, USA (703) 628-1954

Media Opportunities
The skydiving world records provide a backdrop to present the story of the Kingdom of Thailand and the cooperation among world cultures and interests. The World Team media staff stands ready to coordinate video news releases for broadcasts on the world news to assist with documentary and magazine coverage of this remarkable effort, and to arrange one-on-one interviews with World Team members, with translators available.

Contact information:
Media and Public Relations:
E-mail: prworldteam06@yahoo.com

Media director on-site in Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 1 426 9266