World Record for Largest Wing Suit formation Set

By Lyle Press

Sebastian Florida: Skydive Sebastian and Skydiving.com teamed up this Saturday, March 3rd to help 19 skydivers set a new world record utilizing a newly innovated wing suit.

Large webbing under the arms and between the legs of the specialized suit creates a wing like surface area that slows a skydiver's fall rate from 120 MPH to approximately 50-70 MPH. At the same time the suit increases the jumper's forward speed to over 80 MPH. The dynamics of the suit change the skydive to allow the experience of a 'flight' rather than just a descent.

Jumpers used a tailgate airplane called a CASA, and exited from 14,500 feet. The team of 19 attempted the record three times before getting enough jumpers in a close enough formation to beat the previous record, organized in Vichy, France by Jean Loic.

Jumpers exclusively used the "Birdman Suit" for the formation flight. The suit, manufactured by record organizer Jari Kuosma and Birdman International, is one of only two wing suit manufacturers in the world. The late Patrick De Gayardon invented the original Design. Globally renowned cinematographer, Norman Kent photographed the flight. Norman is known for his contribution to films such as "Drop Zone" and "Cutaway".

Later this month in South Africa 10 jumpers, organized by Jari Kuosma of Birdman International, will take part in a historic and symbolic flight attempting to fly between two islands. The "Challenge of Freedom" flight will take place over four shark infested miles between Robben Island, the site of Nelson Mandela's captivity, and the western coastline. The "Challenge of Freedom" is set to coincide with Human Rights Day, March 21st, and dominate recent wing suit events.

Vladi Pesa, based in Deland, Florida, is another pioneer of the wing suit phenomenon and was also involved in organizing the jump. His venture, "Wings and Things," concentrates on instructing wing suit jumping and cutting edge canopy swooping for both new and experienced skydivers.

The world record took place at the Sebastian Skydiving.com boogie, a gathering of hundreds of international skydivers that launched the website's promotional and instructional summer tour of the USA.

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