Franck Eloffe is a swiss-army-knife kind of skydiver, capable of hopping into any type of jump with any type of jumper. With 16,000 skydives over more than 20 years in the sport, he spends his time at Skydive Arizona in Eloy or traveling the world organizing at boogies or setting world records.
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“Frigo’s a valuable asset on any drop zone, in any aircraft, and—most importantly—at any party. He genuinely cares about the sport and the skydivers in it. While so many vets in the sport can get jaded or stale, Frigo manages to keep his input fun, positive and exciting. No matter where a skydiver is in their journey, he knows how to share his knowledge in a kind, engaging way.” –Benjamin Forde, Parachutist profilee #190
Nickname: Frigo
Age: 48
Height: 5’10”
Birthplace: France
Nationality: American and French
Marital Status: Married
Children: None
Occupation: Professional skydiver
Education: Bachelor of Engineering
Pet Peeves: A lot, but I keep it to myself—if not, my friends will do them on purpose.
Hobbies: Traveling, having food with friends
Favorite Food: Smoked meat
Rock, Rap or Country? All of them. No good day without music.
Life Philosophy: One day at a time, but make sure to cover the future.
Neat packer or trash packer? Neat and picky
Did you start with AFF, static line or tandem? French version of AFF
Jump Philosophy: Fun, fun, fun.
Sponsors: Aerodyne Research, Airtec CYPRES, Phreshair and Tonfly
Container: Aerodyne Icon L
Main Canopy: Fluid Wings HK2 64, Aerodyne Pilot 90 and Zulu. My favorite for demos is the Pilot7 128.
Reserve: Aerodyne Smart ULPV 120
AAD: CYPRES
Disciplines: Angle, vertical, belly
Home Drop Zone: Skydive Arizona
First Jump: 2002
Licenses/Ratings: D-34832; USPA Tandem and AFF Instructor, AFF-I and PRO; FAA Senior Rigger
Records: World records in belly (sequential), head-up, head-down and night formation.
Total Jumps: 16,000
Freefly: a lot
AFF: 4,000
Tandems: 4,000
Camera: 2,000
Wingsuit: 150
Demos: 47
Largest completed formation: 96-way head-up (almost a head-down 200-way)
Cutaways: 16, with 16 more intentional
Going back to student status, what was your canopy progression?
Performance Designs Navigator, Icarus (now Jyro) Safire, Aerodyne Pilot, Icarus Crossfire, Icarus Neos, Performance Designs Velo, PD Valkyrie, Jyro Leia, Fluid Wings HK2
Most people don't know this about me:
I’m a third-generation skydiver.
What makes you a successful boogie organizer?
I enjoy skydiving with people as much as they enjoy skydiving with me.
Is there one particular jump that stands out the most?
Max Pyro!
What do you like most about the sport?
The people.
What do you like least?
The people.
Who have been your skydiving mentors?
Stephane Zunino from France and, of course, Fred Fugen and Vince Reffet.
What are your future skydiving goals?
This year, there will be the Californian head-down state-record attempts, and later on, head-down world-record attempts.
What safety item do you think is most often neglected?
Gear checks. I see a lot of things wrong in the plane.
How did you become interested in skydiving?
I was on a drop zone at six months old. The fruit didn’t fall too far from the tree. However, I have three brothers and I’m the only skydiver.
Any suggestions for students?
If you’re in it to impress your family or friends, you’ve got the wrong sport.
Is there one discipline you plan to focus on, or is the goal to be a multi-faceted skydiver?
I love staying current at everything. Maybe a wingsuiting world record? I’m lucky to be surrounded by amazing wingsuiters at Skydive Arizona.
What is your favorite jump plane?
A Pilatus Porter with the right pilot can drop skydivers anywhere (in between mountains) and then land at a restaurant (such as in Bex, Switzerland).
If you could do a fantasy 2-way with anybody, whom would it be with and where would it take place?
Probably with my grandfather (who passed before I started) somewhere above the ocean.
Were you a hard child to raise?
My mom says yes, but we all know that I’m an angel.
Someday I am going to own …
A place close by the ocean, warm if possible, like I used to have in France.
The toughest thing to do in skydiving is:
Seeing your friends go in.
What kind of skydiving student were you?
An absolute natural, just like every other student.
Is there one jump you would like to do over again?
Every “first.”
What do you consider your most significant life achievement?
Being happy with myself and my wife. I’ve also successfully changed my life, country and language, with a lot of help from my people.
While in freefall, what has been your strangest thought?
Double-checking that my magic backpack was on.
What is your perfect day like?
Coffee in bed with my wife. Get a few work skydives in, then fun jump with my friends. Then we barbecue.
What’s unique about a world-record skydive?
During the jump, there is this inexplicable moment, when everyone knows that we are actually succeeding.
Describe Franck Eloffe in five words or fewer:
Dependable, passionate, devoted, bourbon-loving French-American.