In the Olomouc region of the Czech Republic lays Prostějov, a city of more than 44,000 people that dates back to the 12th century. Home to the 601st Special Forces Group of the Czech Armed Forces, the airport in Prostějov has a history in parachuting going back to 1960. The drop zone Jump-Tandem, owned by Martin Dlouhý, a professional skydiver of more than 33 years, has been host to multiple world events, including two Vector Festivals, the CYPRES 25th Anniversary Boogie, three European Championships, two Féderátion Aéronautique Internationale World Cups and now two FAI World Championships.

Determining world champions is not the only purpose for holding world championships. Promoting the sport, exchanging knowledge and information and strengthening friendly relationships between participating nations are equally important. The 35th Fédération Aéronautique Internationale Freefall Style and Accuracy Landing World Championships at Dropzone Erden near Montana, Bulgaria, August 24-31 offered the chance to do all of those things.

Photo by Juan Mayer | D-26130

At Skydive Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Adbulrahman Mohammed Almaamari flies over Bluewaters Island and its famous Dubai Eye Ferris wheel.

On August 18, USPA Tandem Instructor Jen Stewart took her mother, Janell, on a skydive at Mid-America Sport Parachute Club in Taylorville, Illinois. Janell was marking the day when she would’ve been married to her late husband, Dennis, for 50 years. It was a memorable jump for both mother and daughter, and to make the skydive even more noteworthy, Lew Sanborn, D-1, joined them for it. 

Sometimes in life, things just click. Almost like the universe decided that, yes, you will be successful this time and not too many ordeals will be placed in your way.

Photo by Steve Shorten | D-27932

Robert Camire, Tom Camire, Paul Cochran, Art Cross, Kim Groves, Daryl Harmon, Phil Lamm, Mike McCormick, Dick Pigg, Audrey Tobias, Nick Yoder and Ed Zell set an Indiana Skydivers Over Sixty Record for Largest Formation Skydive at Skydive Indianapolis in Frankfort.

Labor Day weekend in Central Texas means a lot of different things to different people: a tasty plate of barbecue with friends and family, another fun outing to the lake or one last trip to the coast. For skydivers, the lure is Skydive San Marcos’ once-a-year Jump Your Ass Off event. For almost a decade, the DZ has dedicated the first weekend in September to the pursuit of fun jumping (with the emphasis on fun). The terms are simple: Pay $99 and jump as many times as you wish on Saturday and Sunday.

I have an intense fear of heights. My hands sweat on carnival Ferris wheels, during cliff scenes in movies and in my office (I’m on the 44th floor of a downtown building). Whenever I mention this, people just shake their heads in disbelief and say, “How did you skydive?” My answer is simple: a very persistent friend. And I will always be thankful his persistence paid off.

Hannah Betts, D-30022, is a competitive skydiver, instructor and stunt performer who began her jumping career in the U.K. but now lives in California. Betts’ 4-way formation skydiving team—Bodyflight Storm—won the Féderátion Aéronautique Internationale Women’s World Championships and twice won the British Championships, and she was a member of the 181-way team that set the FAI Women’s World Record for Largest Formation Skydive. Skydiving opened the door to a career in Hollywood, where she now does stunt work for TV shows and movies, which have included “NCIS,” “The Walking Dead” and “Antman.”

Photo by David Cherry | D-33500

Dallas Disturbance builds a formation on its way to taking the silver medal in 16-way formation skydiving at the USPA National Skydiving Championships at Chicagoland Skydiving Center in Rochelle, Illinois.

So, you’d like to form a skydiving team and you’ve found other skydivers to join you. Congratulations! Now what? The good news is that the greatest hurdle is behind you. The next step is to come up with a team budget.

All USPA Foreign Affiliate group memberships expire December 31. Drop zones that have not already submitted renewal applications should do so as soon as possible. 

At Skydive Paraclete XP in Raeford, North Carolina, the U.S. Army Golden Knights 8-way formation skydiving team trains for the World Championships.

Photo by Elliot Byrd | D-32251

At the Big O Boogie at Skydive Orange in Virginia, (from left) Nancy Koreen, Zachary Hoffman and Grayson Hoffman enjoy a head-down skydive.

Photo by Craig O'Brien | D-19294

I just began my 41st year of skydiving at age 82. I have been current throughout all those years, rarely missing a single month. I once went 34 years and 11 months without a miss until a bicycle crash sidelined me for three months. However, I notice myself becoming more apprehensive every time I drive or fly to the jump center, and I do not know why and wish to stop being that way.

It appears to be almost mandatory that the person who announces a jump over the radio must garble the name or location.

Today, USPA membership stands at 40,512 and continues growing with over a half-million people in the U.S. making their first jumps every year. General aviation, however, is still in a downward arc despite the best efforts of general aviation groups to attract and keep more pilots.

Digital

Ben Harris | D-30873

Salisbury, Maryland