Photo by Zach Lewis | D-21616

Vanessa Meyer of 4-way formation skydiving team Victorious Secret waves hi to the camera flyer during a training day at Skydive Spaceland–Dallas in Whitewright, Texas.

Photo by Raymond Adams | D-30158

Mariana Franceschetto shoots Greg Crozier as he swoops in from the last jump of the head-down world record attempts at Skydive Chicago in Ottawa, Illinois.

Brought to you by Niklas Daniel and Brianne Thompson of AXIS Flight School at Skydive Arizona in Eloy. Photos by David Cherry. Information about AXIS’ coaching and instructional services is available at axisflightschool.com.

“The Front Office” is your worldly salvation when it comes to answering questions about jump pilots and piloting. We talk about what exactly pilots do behind the scenes to make your favorite time of week happen. We talk about what they see, what decisions they face and why they might be in a bad mood between loads. We talk about why you are wrong if you haven’t seen “Top Gun.” Mostly, you get a one-of-a-kind inside view from the one seat in the airplane you never get to be in.

A senior parachute rigger received this harness and container for some work, and when he closed the rig following the repairs, he discovered that the main closing loop was more than two inches too long. The main closing pin had no tension on it at all in this configuration. He shortened the loop to the correct length and helped the owner of the rig understand why it is essential for everyone in the airplane and on the skydive to have the proper tension on the closing pin to prevent an inadvertent container opening.

Wikipedia defines target fixation as “an attentional phenomenon observed in humans in which an individual becomes so focused on an observed object (be it a target or hazard) that they inadvertently increase their risk of colliding with the object.” Motorcyclists, automobile drivers and even fighter pilots flying strafing runs during World War II have focused so intently on an impending hazard that they actually maneuvered directly into it. And skydivers fall prey to the phenomenon, too.

At the July 13-15 USPA Board meeting in Milwaukee, the board passed a motion to change the Basic Safety Requirements regarding accelerated freefall student training. The new language spells out the minimum requirements for students who train in wind tunnels before they make their first jumps with only one AFF instructor.

Instructors Tammer Ramini (left and Dan Doyle take and AFF student on his first jump at Skydive Orange in Virginia.

Photo by David Cherry | D-33500

Planning and organizing multi-point big-way formations is not as easy as you might think. Even with a first point already designed, coming up with a challenging but doable second point—much less one that is visually attractive—is tough. But Larry Henderson is someone who can sit down and create smooth dives and make it look easy.

One hot summer day back in 2008, Karl Gulledge, the owner of Skydive Elsinore in California, decided it was time to throw a party. He wanted a big celebration with a water slide; hoop, banana and rubber-chicken jumps; a Slip ’n’ Slide in the landing area; and a party in the evening with a luau theme. And that’s just what the Karlfornia Boneanza—this year held July 27-29—has become.

On the weekend of July 28-29, jumpers at Skydive Suffolk in Virginia worked to set head-down and head-up state records.

On August 11, the Vertical Elite—a team consisting of some of the world’s best skydivers—gathered at Skydive Chicago in Ottawa, Illinois, to attempt to set the world record for largest head-down formation. After a rigorous selection process spanning over nine tryout camps beginning in October of last year, more than 250 jumpers received an invitation to attempt a 200-way head-down formation to replace the 164-way record set in 2015.

In April, a longtime skydiver at Vermont Skydiving Adventures in Addison read the article “Why Marian Sparks Jumps for the Rose (and Why You Should Too, No Matter Where You Live)” by Annette O’Neil in Parachutist. Inspired, he contacted JFTR founder Marian Sparks, who lives in Texas, and began fundraising efforts on behalf of the organization, which provides mammograms and other breast cancer services to those without insurance. Before long, the money began to pile up and he started sending her envelopes full of checks!

July 13-15, Skydive Spaceland–Houston in Rosharon, Texas, hosted its second annual Pre-Nationals Competition, a Nationals-style meet with Nationals-quality judging for competitors to tune up before the USPA National Skydiving Championships.

The country of Botswana is stepping up as a leader in big-way formation skydiving and is opening new doors for skydivers on the African continent. To help this cause, event organizers Thabang Segaetsho, Eugene Potgieter of Johannesburg Sky Events and Munyaka Makuyana and Cyril Nfila of the Parachute Association of Botswana hosted the Makgadikgadi Epic formation skydiving event July 13-16. The event, which the Botswana Tourism Organization, Botswana Defence Force, Johannesburg Skydiving Club and the Parachute Association of Botswana supported, featured world-class organizers Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld and Milko Hodgkinson.

The incredible team at Lincoln Sport Parachute Club hosted its annual Redemption Boogie July 19-22 with Skydive Arizona’s Super Otter. Jumpers enjoyed the best weather in eight years, delicious food, cheap registration, even cheaper jump tickets, fun organizers and ridiculous nighttime activities, all on the grass strip at the DZ’s home in Weeping Water, Nebraska.