After the first 100-Way in 1986 most skydivers never would have imagined we’d see a 200-way, 300-way and 400-way. With such progress in building bigger and bigger large formations it is easy to think the world record will continue to climb undeterred forever. But there are limitations that will ultimately put a cap on it and all indications are we’re starting to reach them now. This includes most notably available aircraft, a wide open landing area, realistic safe altitudes, and the skill/experience of the skydivers themselves. As the organizers of the Dubai 500, P3 is looking at everything that can safely be done to overcome these obstacles and to push our sport and ourselves to reach our full potential in building the next world record.
AIRCRAFT / LOCATION
In 2002, after successfully completing the first 300-Way from one Skyvan and thirteen Twin Otters we knew we were very close to reaching the aircraft and altitude limitations that the fleet of US Sport Skydiving aircraft could achieve. Continuing to go bigger would require a host nation that could provide the necessary aircraft and an open location that would both be necessary to succeed.
With the support of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, we have been given the opportunity and tools necessary to get past these two most significant obstacles. His Highness has already demonstrated his passion for skydiving by building a state of the art drop zone and raising the bar for first class international events. He is committed to providing a fleet of C-130s and allowing us to operate out of an Air Force Base in the desert with literally miles of clear landing area. This is an enormous investment on the part of His Highness and there is no telling how many more times, if any, we will have an opportunity like this.
ALTITUDE
After much research and actual experience most of the large formation organizers agree that 24,000 feet is close to as high as we would want to push it. Jumps have previously been made from this altitude using O2 only in the aircraft prior to exit but many individuals still experienced varying degrees of hypoxia. To maximize both the safety and aerial performance of all the athletes it is far better to have individual O2 systems in freefall as well. P3 has nearly completed developing a personal freefall O2 system that will allow each jumper to switch from aircraft oxygen to personal oxygen without any pause in the flow of O2. This system should nearly eliminate any chance of hypoxia.
Even from 24,000 feet every second counts. Exit timing is crucial towards putting everyone out on the air in the most efficient position to minimize the distance and flying time to the formation. P3 has a radio system that will be used to synchronize the exit timing from each airplane. This system was very successfully tested last October on the Square One 200-Way done from nine airplanes.
DUBAI 500 TEAM
There may be no aircraft better suited for FS world records than C-130s and we don’t want to go much higher than 24,000 feet. But, fortunately the flying skills of skydivers themselves have no such limits. Every previous FS world record was only achieved because of the talented and dedicated teams that were willing to take on the challenge. But to build a 500-Way from the same altitude and out of the same type of airplanes as a 400-way, we need to put together the strongest team possible and one that is at a higher level of skill, experience, training and physical conditioning than any world record team before.
The next generation of World Record team members will need to have the individual flying skills of trained FS competitors AND the aerial awareness, understanding and familiarity of big way strategies, maps and traffic that can only be achieved by being in the air with hundreds of jumpers executing a clearly defined plan.
At the core of the Dubai 500 Team are many multiple World Record holders as well as FS National and World Champions from across the globe including members of the French 4 and 8-way teams, The Golden Knights, AZ Airspeed, Russian 8-Way, Evolution the Canadian 4-way, Perris Fury, Deland Fire, The German National 4-Way Team, Hayabusa and many other World Class FS competitors (go to the Dubai 500 web site for a complete list, www.dubai500.com).
Most past world record participants didn't have much team experience, and most team jumpers haven't had much interest in big ways. At the P3 camps we have seen how quickly a well trained 4-way or 8-way jumper can learn the discipline of large formation skydiving and become a valuable member of a world record team. By combining the expertise of the best of the big way specialists and the sharpened skills of the FS competitors we plan to build the "next generation" of world record holders that is at a level never reached previously.
It is also true that with two years to prepare, the opportunity of being a part of the Dubai 500 team is there for every motivated FS jumper. With modern tools and learning systems today’s skydivers can do in 100 jumps what used to take 1000. Many 4-way teams have broken the 20 point average that was once thought of as the limit in 4-way. In the same way P3 has developed training programs that have enabled people to reach the level of skill and experience necessary to be a part of a World Record team in a much shorter time than used to be required.
Even the best FS team jumpers and prior world record holders will be attending P3 Big Way Events to train, practice and demonstrate mastery of P3’s modern methodology in order to be a part of the Dubai 500 Team. (For the full calendar of upcoming Dubai 500 qualifying P3 events go to www.p3skydiving.com).
The Dubai 500 application process will be opening soon and every motivated FS jumper is encouraged to apply. After receiving your application P3 will contact you personally and explain the training and experience that you as an individual will need over the next two years to potentially earn a slot.
We haven’t reached the limit in building the largest FS World Record possible yet and if we have anything to say about it we never will. We strongly encourage and invite every ambitious FS jumper to apply to be a part of this next generation of World Record participants and join us for what will certainly be a one of a kind world record, world class event.